IIT Kharagpur and TCG Crest sign MoU to establish a cancer research centre with a 25-bed facility, OPD and day care at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Hospital.
A joint centre for translational cancer research
IIT Kharagpur and TCG Crest will develop a centre of excellence for cancer research in Kolkata. The two institutes signed an MoU on Friday to formalise the partnership and outline the scope of collaboration. The centre aims to integrate cutting-edge technology, clinical care and translational research to improve cancer outcomes in eastern India.
By combining IIT Kharagpur’s strengths in engineering, data science and health technology with TCG Crest’s clinical and research ecosystem, the partners seek to create a hub for innovation in oncology. The initiative responds to the growing burden of cancer and the need for affordable, high-quality diagnostics and therapies.
Clinical research across super-specialised care
Chakraborty said, “Clinical research will be conducted on super-specialised cancer care, involving Syama Prasad Mookerjee Superspeciality hospital, the health science division of TCG Crest and the faculty of integrated health science and technology of IIT Kgp.” This tripartite arrangement connects a tertiary care hospital, a dedicated cancer research organisation and a premier technical institute.
The collaboration will focus on translating laboratory discoveries into clinical protocols. Teams can work on biomarker discovery, personalised treatment plans, image-guided interventions and AI-enabled decision support. By embedding research within routine care, the centre can generate real-world evidence and refine therapies for local patient populations.
Infrastructure: 25-bed facility, OPD and day care
A 25-bed facility, OPD and day care facilities will be developed at the superspeciality hospital. This infrastructure will support clinical trials, advanced therapies and supportive care under one roof. The day care unit can handle chemotherapy, immunotherapy and minor procedures, reducing hospital stays and costs.
The OPD will serve as the entry point for screening, diagnosis and follow-up. Integrated electronic health records can link patient data with research databases, enabling longitudinal studies and outcome tracking. Dedicated research coordinators can ensure protocol adherence and patient safety.
International faculty and knowledge exchange
Mentor and VC of TCG Crest Malabika Sarkar said, “We have a policy for visiting international faculty. Two or three have joined and they will spend some time here at TCG Crest while also working virtually. These international faculty will work with both institutes.” This policy brings global expertise into the centre’s core activities.
Visiting faculty can co-lead projects, teach short courses and mentor young investigators. Virtual collaboration allows continuous engagement beyond physical visits. Such exchanges expose local teams to international best practices in trial design, regulatory compliance and data management.
Focus areas in oncology research
The centre can prioritise research in high-burden cancers such as oral, lung, breast, cervical and gastrointestinal malignancies. Projects may span early detection, risk stratification, treatment optimisation and survivorship care. Engineering teams can develop low-cost diagnostics, point-of-care devices and wearable sensors for monitoring.
Data scientists can build predictive models for treatment response and toxicity. Clinicians can test these tools in prospective studies and refine them based on feedback. This loop of innovation, validation and deployment accelerates the path from bench to bedside.
Training the next generation of clinician–scientists
Beyond research and care, the centre will train clinicians, engineers and data analysts in translational oncology. Joint PhD programmes, fellowships and certificate courses can create a pipeline of clinician–scientists who understand both medicine and technology.
Hands-on rotations in the 25-bed facility and OPD will give trainees exposure to real patients and complex cases. Mentorship from international faculty will broaden their horizons and prepare them for global collaborations.
Leveraging IIT Kharagpur’s technical strengths
IIT Kharagpur brings expertise in biomedical engineering, AI, robotics, materials and systems design. Faculty from the integrated health science and technology division can co-develop devices for imaging, surgery and rehabilitation. They can also work on drug delivery systems, biosensors and lab-on-chip platforms.
By embedding engineers within clinical teams, the centre ensures that solutions address actual pain points. This proximity reduces the risk of developing technologies that look promising in the lab but fail in practice.
TCG Crest’s clinical and research ecosystem
TCG Crest contributes a focused cancer research environment, access to patient cohorts and experience in running clinical studies. Its health science division can coordinate multi-centre trials, biobanking and genomic profiling.
The organisation’s policy of hosting international faculty enriches this ecosystem. Visiting scientists can introduce new assays, analytical methods and trial designs. Their presence also raises the centre’s visibility in the global oncology community.
Syama Prasad Mookerjee Hospital as the clinical anchor
Syama Prasad Mookerjee Superspeciality Hospital serves as the clinical anchor for the centre. Its existing infrastructure, specialist teams and patient flow provide a strong foundation. The new 25-bed block, OPD and day care units will expand capacity and create dedicated research spaces.
Hospital administrators can streamline approvals, ethics reviews and procurement to support time-bound studies. Clinicians can enrol eligible patients into trials while maintaining standard-of-care options. This balance protects patient interests and generates robust data.
Funding, governance and sustainability
The partners will need to secure funding from government grants, industry collaborations and philanthropy. A joint governance body can oversee budgets, milestones and compliance. Clear IP policies will encourage industry participation while protecting academic interests.
Sustainability will depend on delivering measurable outcomes: improved survival, reduced toxicity, lower costs and high-quality publications. Regular audits and stakeholder reviews can keep the centre on track.
Looking ahead
With this MoU, IIT Kharagpur and TCG Crest lay the foundation for a comprehensive cancer research centre in Kolkata. The next steps include finalising designs, recruiting staff, launching pilot projects and onboarding international faculty.
If executed well, the centre can become a reference for translational oncology in eastern India, attracting talent, patients and partnerships from across the country and beyond.
#IITKharagpur #TCGCrest #CancerResearch #CentreOfExcellence #TranslationalOncology #Kolkata #SyamaPrasadMookerjeeHospital #ClinicalTrials #InternationalFaculty #HealthTechnology
Disclaimer
The information in this article is based on available public sources and official statements as of the time of publication. While we aim for accuracy, we do not guarantee completeness or correctness. We advise readers to verify key details from official sources before making any decisions. The website (iitiimsamvaad.com) is not liable for any loss or damage arising from the use of this content. The authors are also not responsible for any such loss or damage.