Mumbai: A symposium on “Stem Cells & Cancer – India 2019” with theme of Detection and Therapeutic interventions of Stem cells in Cancer was organized by Sathgen Biotech A division of Godavari Biorefineries Limited, National Centre for Cell Sciences and Somaiya Vidyavihar recently.
The symposium brought together renowned personalities in the field of cancer research including, Dr. Christopher J. Logothetis academicians, research students and industry delegates.
Samir Somaiya, CMD, Godavari Biorefineries of which Sathgen Biotech is a division said, “Since its inception in 2007 Sathgen Biotech has been working on developing drugs, which could work to eliminate cancer stem cell population, drugs which will also work in combination with existing chemotherapies to eliminate cancer-related mortality. Stem cell therapy is a new targeted method being evaluated by various academic & research groups across the globe. This symposium is being organized to address the most updated research and information available in the area of cancer stem cell therapy. We believe that collaboration between Industry, Research Centres & Academic Institutions can work towards finding new and innovative methods to understand cancer & eventually circumvent it.”
Dr. Christopher J. Logothetis, Department Chair and Professor of the Genitourinary Medical Oncology Division of Cancer Medicine at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, USA, said “Research is all about precision and how focused we are. In his journey, his research work experience in the hospital has helped him to upgrade his knowledge in healthcare. He further said that the future of science can be only improved if we work together.
Former Director of Tata Memorial Centre Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer Dr. Chiplunkar said, she was also a student of Microbiology at Somaiya Vidyavihar. She further said, it is good to have a Research Centre and Hospital under one umbrella as the research can be enhanced and translated to clinical trials easily. She also spoke about importance of creating awareness about the causes of cancer, translation of all cancer related research for common man is needed.
Governing Council Member of K J Somaiya College of Science and Commerce Dr.Mani Sendurai, Co-Director, Center for Stem Cell & Developmental Biology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX mentioned that, “prevention is the best medicine ever” Diet & pre diagnosis is what we need to focus.He also spoke about the biology of primary tumor growth as well as metastasis. He explained how more than 20,000 genes are affected by mutation and gene expression and how each one of them are co-relate with primary tumor.
Since Dr Bapat was the first one to propose a report on the isolation and identification of cancer stem cells in ovarian cancer, she spoke about the difficulties that she faced while preparing them. She gave an idea about the advancements made in the field of ovarian cancer in India and around the world.
The conference was organised at Somaiya Vidyavihar to enlighten students of Medical & Science College and other colleges about stem cells and cancer, pooling together the recent advances from the scientists and industry.This edition witnessed researchers & clinicians presenting their exciting work & case studies to the forum on:
Cancer stem cells & the tumor microenvironment, Biomarkers of cancer stem cells (CSC),Cancer stem cells and metastasis, Therapies targeting cancer stem cell,Novel CSC regulatory mechanisms,Cancer stem cells and clinical applications,Cancer stem cell immunology and Radiation oncology.
About Sathgen
Sathgen Biotech is a division of Godavari Biorefineries Ltd. and is actively involved in anti-cancer drug screening using novel methods. The laboratory has achieved some major breakthroughs in developing few anti-cancer stem cell molecules, which are showing better performance than the standard chemotherapeutic drugs. Shortly, these molecules would be taken ahead for IND filings and further preclinical trials. One of these molecules has received Government of India (BIRAC) grant.
About Somaiya Vidyavihar:
Padmabhushan Karamshi Jethabhai Somaiya founded Somaiya Vidyavihar an education trust in 1959, to provide quality holistic education. It was founded on the belief that, education is an important pillar of nation building with the power to change lives, and education must innovate to encourage holistic development of youth. It is known as much for its Science, Technology, Engineering, Management, Social Sciences and Commerce programs, as for its programs for academic studies in various faiths and cultures of India.
Somaiya Vidyavihar fosters a start-up ecosystem that encourages multi-disciplinary collaboration, accelerates innovation, and cultivates the next generation of start-up leaders. Somaiya Vidyavihar encompasses 34 institutions, with more than 39,000 students and 1,500 faculty. Its main campus is in Mumbai, but Somaiya Vidyavihar also operates six schools in rural India, i.e. in Dahanu, Sakarwadi, Laxmiwadi, Kopargaon, Sameerwadi, Kutch, Bagalkot and Bhopal.
