Feature of the Month – India

INDIA

Capital: New Delhi

Largest city: Mumbai

Official languages: Hindi, English

Total population: 364,659,883

MOBI-Kids population: 4,191,567

Popular foods: Paneer Tikka Masala, Kheer, Golgappa

The Tata Memorial Hospital was initially commissioned by the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust on 28 February 1941 as a center with enduring value and a mission for concern for the Indian people. Every year nearly 43,000 new patients visit the clinics from all over India and neighboring countries. Nearly 60% of these cancer patients receive primary care at the Hospital of which over 70% are treated almost free of any charges. Over 1000 patients attend the OPD daily for medical advice, comprehensive care or for follow-up treatment.

Centre for Cancer Epidemiology has developed Nationally and Internationally recognized and well funded multidisciplinary research programs in Epidemiology with emphasis on assessing cancer Burden ,assessing prevalence of risk factors, identifying risk factors related to lifestyle and genetics, and to study risk factors for disease progression. It operates a Molecular Epidemiology research and resource laboratory that promotes collaborative research. It provides epidemiological consultation, collaboration and service to multidisciplinary basic science, clinical and translational research program. It also focuses on developing education and training program in Epidemiology including Doctorate and Master program in Epidemiology.

Dr. Rajesh Dikshit, National Principal Investigator: Rajesh is Professor – Epidemiology in Centre for Cancer Epidemiology at Tata Memorial Centre. His interest involves disease etiology, molecular studies and cohort studies. He is also a Principal Investigator of IARC Regional Hub for Cancer Registration (Asia-Pacific Region). He has been awarded ASCBI of UICC and AACR-NCI International Opportunity grant from American Association for Cancer Research.

Dr. Rajini Nagrani, National Fieldwork coordinator: Rajini is Scientific Officer in Tata Memorial Hospital, a PhD in epidemiology. Her main research focus is non communicable disease epidemiology. She also has interest in molecular epidemiology work. She has been awarded ICRETT fellowship of UICC for analysis of Molecular epidemiology data.

Collaborating Hospital : Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital and Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College, Sion Mumbai

Brief background of study: After a lengthy procedure of grant application and later approval we were successful in starting fieldwork in July 2013 and intend to enroll study participants till March 2016. To date we have recruited 19 Mobi-kid cases.

L to R: Dr. Rajesh Dikshit, Ashwini (Former Staff), Rajini, Chelsea, Sujata, Ankita and Karim(Former Staff)

Front to Behind (New Joinees): Naina, Rebecca and Aarti

How did your centre become involved in MOBI-Kids?

Dr. Dikshit and Dr. Cardis were former colleagues in IARC, due to their association, Tata Memorial Hospital got involved with MOBI-Kids

What is your/your centre’s previous experience with radiation research? And with environmental exposures/epidemiology?

Our centre is part of Atomic Energy and they have measured the radiation measured emitted by Mobile tower in Mumbai City.

What are your research interests (beyond MOBI-Kids)?

Dr. Dikshit focuses on Cancer epidemiology and has answered various Cancer site specific etiology questions through Hospital based case control studies. Cancer registration, descriptive epidemiology has also been of interest to him. He has now been involved with Adult Cohort and Molecular Epidemiology studies.

Why do you think MOBI-Kids is an important study?

With an overwhelming use of Mobile phone use in adults and an increasing use of Mobile phone use in teenagers and early adulthood, Mobi-kids started at a perfect timing in addressing a research question which is also of social interest.