ICMR Calls Indian Scientist & Researchers to Submit Expressions of Interest Related to Cancer Screening & Diagnostic

This initiative aims to enhance and elevate the quality of cancer screening within the current healthcare system, utilising established and validated approaches.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has issued a call for expressions of interest (EOI) from Indian scientists and researchers. The aim is to expedite the screening, early diagnosis, and treatment of cancer at the district level.

The deadline for EOI submissions is October 30, 2023, with shortlisting scheduled for November 30, 2023, followed by a proposal development workshop on December 20, 2023.

This initiative seeks to expand and improve the quality of cancer screening through the existing healthcare system, employing established and validated methods.

It will engage non-specialist physicians and healthcare workers within a supportive healthcare structure to screen for cancer and pre-cancerous conditions. The focus is also on ensuring that individuals who test positive are linked to facilities for early diagnosis and treatment.

Community involvement is a pivotal component in encouraging the target population to seek early screening, diagnosis, and treatment.

Anticipated outcomes include the development of an optimised, evidence-based implementation model for screening, early diagnosis, and treatment, which can be integrated into the National Program for Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) in a practical and scalable manner.

This will involve documenting the necessary resources, including human resources, logistics, and costs. Further, the effectiveness of the program will be gauged by the proportion of cancers detected at an early or pre-cancerous stage, district-wide coverage and quality of screening interventions, and strategies for scaling up the implementation model to entire state(s), taking contextual factors into account.

The Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN) estimated that there were 19.3 million new cancer cases globally in 2020, with India ranking third in incidence, following China and the United States.

Alarmingly, projections indicate a 57.5% increase in cancer cases in India from 2020 to 2040. This aligns with the World Health Organization's (WHO) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.4, which aims to reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases, including cancer.

India launched the National Program for Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, and Stroke (NPCDCS) in 2010, later renamed NP-NCD in 2023.

Frontline health workers, such as Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), are recognised for their potential role in promoting and conducting home-based cancer screening, offering privacy and convenience. In cervical cancer screening, Health Worker-assisted/self-collected HPV sampling has emerged as an empowering approach.

Eligibility criteria for this initiative include submitting a one-page CV of the Principal Investigator (PI) and key investigators, focusing on qualifications, current positions, previous research grants, and publications. Proposals will be evaluated based on factors like study design, feasibility, data management capabilities, prior experience, engagement with public health, and potential for integration.