MGM Medical College (file photo)
Digital Desk, Indore. Cancer genome sequencing lab is going to start soon in MGM Medical College, Indore, which will be the first such facility in Madhya Pradesh. As soon as it starts, patients' samples will no longer have to be sent to Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai or private testing centers in Bengaluru for testing cancer cells and mutations in DNA. This state-of-the-art testing facility will now be available in Indore only.
Till now, after sending samples to other cities, it used to take 10 to 15 days to get the report, whereas in this lab of MGM Medical College, the report of cancer cell mutation will be available in just 5 to 7 days. In the initial phase, genome sequencing of breast cancer and brain cancer cells will be done here.
Multi disciplinary research unit took shape
The project was conceptualized in 2014 by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Department of Health Research. Now Multi Disciplinary Research Unit (MDRU) has been started in MGM Medical College, where the process of research and advanced testing related to cancer will gain momentum. Necessary equipment for this has been purchased and their installation will be done soon. At present, five member staff including two scientists and three technicians are working in this unit.
State-of-the-art equipment worth three and a half crores
Under the Central Government project, state-of-the-art equipment has been procured in MDRU at a cost of about Rs 3.5 crore. These include next generation gene sequencing machines and PCR-RTPCR testing equipment. Apart from this, reagents and consumables worth about Rs 20 lakh have also been made available, which will currently be used in the diagnosis of breast and brain cancer. Additional reagents for testing other types of cancer will have to be purchased by the medical college itself.
Also read- Contaminated water continues to wreak havoc in Indore, two more deaths, death toll reaches 35
Research on other diseases including diabetes, thyroid also
In future, it will also be possible to screen for mouth, stomach, cervical and other cancers in this lab. Apart from this, research will also be done on non-communicable diseases like heart disease, metabolic disorders, diabetes and thyroid. According to Dr. Tarun Verma, scientist of MDRU, MGM Medical College, under molecular biology, DNA, RNA and protein of cancer cells will be examined, which will help in understanding the causes of these diseases and developing better treatments in future.
Free testing facility for first 200 patients
About 200 patients suffering from early stage breast and brain cancer will be examined free of cost in the samples taken during research through reagents obtained from the centre. Apart from research, if any other patient wants to get tested, he will have to pay the prescribed fee. This information was given by Dr. Shilpa Mishra Shukla, Senior Scientist of MDRU, MGM Medical College.
Chyawanprash is a part of every Indian's life, it reduces diseases and increases energy.