2025-Newsletter

ICGA Annual Newsletter 2025

A Year of Breakthroughs in Mapping India’s Cancer Genome

Note from Chief Operating Officer

Reflecting on a year of transformative progress, ICGA has made significant strides in mapping India’s cancer genome. Our initiatives have set the stage for tailoring treatments for Indian cancer patients and fostering collaborative research efforts.

This year has been a landmark in our commitment to precision oncology and multi-omics research. With the launch of India’s first Multi-Omics Data Portal, we now provide free access to clinically correlated omics data, driving innovative treatment strategies and early detection frameworks for cancer patients.

Collaboration has been at the heart of our success. ICGA has expanded its partnerships with leading national and global research institutions, fostering a team-science approach to tackling the complexity of cancer in the Indian context. By leveraging cloud-based genomic repositories, we are revolutionizing the way cancer is understood and treated in India.

We extend our gratitude to our researchers, clinicians, data scientists, and institutional partners who have played a crucial role in this journey. As we look ahead to 2025, our focus remains on expanding the genomic dataset, enhancing AI-powered research tools, and driving new collaborations to push the frontiers of cancer genomics in India.

Thank you for being a part of this mission. Together, we will transform cancer care for generations to come.

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📩 Contact Us for Collaborations & Queries: communications@icga.co.in

New ICGA Teams and Committees

As ICGA expands its research capabilities, several new teams and committees were established this year to ensure efficient governance, data management, research ethics, and outreach initiatives. These teams will play a crucial role in advancing cancer genomics and strengthening institutional collaborations.

The ICGA Advisory Committee has been instrumental in guiding ICGA’s strategic direction. Their expertise has been pivotal in shaping our research and collaborative frameworks.

With the rapid expansion of genomic data, ICGA created the Data and Tech Team to manage the storage, annotation, security, and integration of multi-omics data.

As ICGA’s data repository grows, the Data Access Committee was formed to oversee ethical and regulatory compliance in data-sharing.

To enhance public engagement, institutional partnerships, and awareness, ICGA established the Outreach Team to promote the organization’s mission and connect with stakeholders.

Recognizing the urgent need for lung cancer-specific genomic research, ICGA established the Lung Cancer Working Group to enhance genomic profiling and biomarker discovery for Indian lung cancer patients.

🔗 Read More: ICGA Teams

Key Achievements in 2024-25

1. Launch of the Multi-Omics Data Portal

One of our biggest milestones was the launch of India’s first comprehensive multi-omics data portal, offering open access to clinically correlated genomic data from 50+ breast cancer patients. This marks a pivotal step toward making high-quality, clinically relevant genomic data available for cancer research, precision medicine, and AI-driven treatment planning.

🔗 Read More: ICGA Multi-Omics Data Portal

2. ICGA Annual Meeting 2024: Data-Driven Discovery in the Indian Cancer Landscape

Our 5th Annual ICGA Conference (September 2024) brought together top global researchers, oncologists, and bioinformaticians to discuss:

Advancements in AI & Genomics – Integrating AI to predict cancer progression
Multi-Omics Data Integration – Improving treatment outcomes using data-driven insights
Expanding Institutional Collaborations – Strengthening research efforts with national and international partners
Career Pathways in Cancer Genomics – Encouraging young scientists to join this rapidly evolving field

📢 Annual Meeting Summary: Read More

3. Strengthening Research & Institutional Partnerships

The ICGA has actively expanded its network of collaborators to accelerate cancer genomics research. Our partnerships now include: AIIMS New Delhi, Amala Institute of Medical Sciences, Thrissur, Amaranth Medical Analytics Private Limited, BRIC-National Institute of Immunology, Cancer Institute, Adyar, IIT Bombay, RGCB and TCG CREST.

4. Unified Front: Integrating Survivor Perspectives for Effective Cancer Research and Translation

On September 22, 2024, a panel discussion was held at BRIC-National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi where Dr. Aastha Aggarwal (CCDC) explored the vital role of survivor insights in shaping research and improving outcomes. The shared stories and expertise highlighted how collaboration can drive impactful change. The panel included Dr. Aastha Aggarwal, Centre for Chronic Disease Control (CCDC), Prof. Amal Chandra Kataki (Ex- Director Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute – India), Dr. Aruna Korlimarla (Sri Shankara Cancer Hospitals), Mrs. Jyotsna Govil (Chairperson Indian Cancer Society – Delhi), Dr. Siuli Mitra (DBT/WT India Alliance & CMC Vellore), and Ms. Soumya Rajesh (Cancer Survivor).

5. Career Options-Inspiring Trajectories

This insightful session, featuring Dr. Banya Kar (BRIC-NII), Dr. Madhuri Dutta (The George Institute for Global Health), Dr. Nitya Nand Sharma (Premas Life Sciences Pvt Ltd.), Dr. Amitavo Mitra, Ph.D. (Saikrishna & Associates) and Dr. Narendra Kumar (BRIC-NII) provided guidance on diverse career paths. Experts shared their remarkable career journeys, offering invaluable insights into the diverse paths available in these fields. The discussion emphasized the growing opportunities in academia, industry, and intellectual property law, and how young professionals can shape the future of cancer genomics. It was an enlightening session full of guidance and inspiration for anyone considering their next career move.

ICGA in News

1. Press Release: Launch of ICGA Data Portal

ICGA proudly announced the launch of India’s first comprehensive Multi-Omics Data Portal, an open-access platform that provides clinically correlated genomic data to support cancer research and precision medicine. This groundbreaking initiative aims to accelerate AI-driven treatment strategies, empower researchers, and enhance early detection frameworks for cancer patients across India.

📰 Read More: Full Press Release

The portal launch received extensive media coverage, highlighting our groundbreaking work in mapping India’s cancer genomes. Check out the coverage below:

🔹 Featured Coverage:

ANI Financial Express, The Hindu, NDTV, Indian Express, Deccan Herald, The Print, NewsX, One India, MSN, Devdiscourse-1, Devdiscourse-2, The Daily Pioneer, Republic World, BioSpectrum India, Pharmabiz, BioVoice News, Daijiworld, PTI

2. Mapping India’s Cancer Genome – A New Era in Personalized Medicine with ICGA

A featured blog on Indiaspora explores ICGA’s journey—from its inception to its current achievements in building a diverse genomic database representing the genetic diversity of Indian cancer patients. This piece provides an in-depth look at our mission while highlighting the vital role of community engagement and CSR contributions in advancing our research.

📖 Read the Blog: Indiaspora Feature

3. The Print: Why India Needs Its Own Cancer Genomic Data

An opinion piece in The Print discusses how India’s cancer research has long relied on Western genomic data, which may not fully represent the unique genetic variations found in Indian patients. ICGA is bridging this gap by building an extensive India-specific cancer genomic database, which will revolutionize treatment approaches and enable personalized medicine tailored to Indian populations.

📢 Read More: The Print Feature

4. Strand Life Sciences Launches CancerSpot & New Research Facility

Strand Life Sciences Private Limited has recently launched CancerSpot, a groundbreaking initiative leveraging unique methylation signals for early detection… It also inaugurated its new facility Genomics Diagnostics and Research Centre where ICGA was represented by Professor LS Shashidhara, Director of TIFR-NCBS.

What’s Next?

The 2025 Roadmap

ICGA is poised to take the next big steps in cancer genomics:

🔬Expanding our Genomic Database– Increasing datasets to include 500+ breast cancer patients and broaden its focus to more cancer types – lung, colon and pediatric blood cancers, etc.

🌎 Long-term Collaborations – Strengthening partnerships to bring global research insights to India’s healthcare ecosystem.

📢 Public Engagement & Awareness – Hosting more webinars, educational programs, and community outreach initiatives.

🤖 Capacity Building – Empowering young scientists and clinicians to use the cancer genomics tools.

6th ICGA Annual Meeting (2025)

Building on the success of previous meetings, the 6th Annual ICGA Meeting (14-16 November 2025 at IIT Madras) will focus on “Transforming Cancer Genomics into Clinical Excellence.” This event will feature:

Cutting-edge Research Presentations showcasing breakthroughs in genomics and targeted therapy for Indian cancer patients.
Expert Panel Discussions on cancer diagnosis and treatment strategies.
Workshops on omics data analysis tailored for clinicians.
Industry-Academia Collaborations fostering innovation in cancer research.
Networking Opportunities with top researchers, clinicians, and industry leaders.

Stay tuned for further details and registration information!