Tata Memorial Centre

Tata Memorial Hospital
Geography
Location	Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Coordinates	19°00′17″N72°50′36″E / 19.004861°N 72.843235°E / 19.004861; 72.843235
Organisation
Funding	Government hospital
Type	Specialist
Affiliated university	Homi Bhabha National Institute
Services
Speciality	Oncology Teaching hospital
History
Opened	28 February 1941
Links
Website	tmc.gov.in

The Tata Memorial Hospital is situated in Parel, Mumbai, in India. Also popularly known as TMH. It is one of the 62 specialist cancer treatment and research centres in India. ^[1] It is closely associated with the Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC). The centre is the national comprehensive cancer centre for the prevention, treatment, education and research in cancer, and is recognised as one of the leading cancer centres in this part of the world. It is an autonomous body funded and controlled by Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India which also oversees the administration of the institute since 1962. ^{[2] [3] [4]}

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. Current Director of the hospital is Dr. Rajendra A Badwe, who took over from former director Dr. K. A. Dinshaw. ^[5]

History

A 1991 stamp dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Tata Memorial Centre

The Tata Memorial Hospital was founded by the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust on 28 February 1941. ^[6] In 1952 the Indian Cancer Research Centre was established as a pioneer research institute for basic research—later called the Cancer Research Institute (CRI). In 1957 the Ministry of Health took over the Tata Memorial Hospital. The transfer of the administrative control of the Tata Memorial Centre (Tata Memorial Hospital & Cancer Research Institute) to the Department of Atomic Energy in 1962 was the next major milestone. The Tata Memorial Hospital and Cancer Research Institute merged as the two arms of the Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) in 1966 as a classic example of private philanthropy augmented by Government support with a mandate for Service, Education & Research in cancer.

Patient care

The Department of Surgical Oncology provides minimal access surgeries, skull-base procedures, major vascular replacements, limb salvage, microvascular surgery and robotic surgeries. The department conducts investigator-initiated and sponsored research studies. Staff members contribute chapters to various books and author numerous publications in international peer reviewed journals. The department trains national and international residents and fellows providing exposure to basic and advanced surgical techniques and hands on courses in collaboration with external clinical labs.

One of the fields of specialization of this hospital is in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (A.L.L). Every year nearly 30,000 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 1,000 patients attend the OPD daily for medical advice or for follow-up treatment. During the year 2003, over 20,000 new cases were registered in addition to over 13,000 Referral Cards issued for only special investigations. Nearly 8,500 major operations are performed annually and 5,000 patients treated with Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy annually in multi-disciplinary programmes delivering established treatments.

The TMH was the first Centre in the country to initiate Bone Marrow Transplant in 1983. PET-CT scanner has been procured to make this technology available for cancer management. In an effort to provide access to patients and their families who lack access or the means to visit the hospital, TMH has started an initiative to provide an online expert opinion through Navya. ^[7]

Preventive oncology

The Department of Preventive Oncology which was commissioned in the year 1993, gives a special focus on education in cancer prevention and early detection, cancer screening. Of the 2–2.5 million cases of cancer in the country, more than 70% of cases are detected late and report for treatment in very advanced stages. The emphasis on early detection would go a long way to dealing with the large numbers as well as to mitigate avoidable suffering and a financial burden. ^[8]

ACTREC

The Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research, and Education in Cancer (ACTREC) is a new R&D satellite of the Tata Memorial Centre (TMC). It has the mandate to function as a national center for treatment, education, and research in cancer. ^[9]

ACTREC comprises two arms—a basic research arm constituted by the erstwhile Cancer Research Institute (CRI) which has shifted from the Parel Campus to the new location in August 2002, and a Clinical Research Centre (CRC), The latter comprises a 50-bed research hospital which is equipped with diagnostic and therapeutic facilities. In the first phase, the focus will be on Pediatric Oncology and emerging therapies, including gene therapy.

Research investigations at CRI currently focus on molecular mechanisms responsible for the causation of major human cancers relevant to India. It is envisaged that in the future, ACTREC will play a greater role in drug development and emerging therapies for treatment and prevention of cancer.

The radiotherapy at ACTREC is equipped with a dual-energy linear accelerator, IMRT, stereotactic therapy and HDU-brachytherapy units. The centre is committed to carrying out clinical trials under GCP conditions, including Phase I/II trials for investigational new drugs. In addition, the centre would specialize in cancer genetics including counseling and genetic testing and molecular pathology. ^[10]

Cancer Research Institute (CRI)

Several studies are ongoing in Cancer Research Institute (CRI), Such as analysis of cytokine profiles and the role of antibodies to the viral proteins E6 and E7 in cervical cancer, cytokine imbalance in lung cancer patients, and the role of urinary cytokines in intravesical BCG therapy in superficial bladder cancer. The biology of HIV-2, the virus which has spread only in India and Africa is being studied in-depth. ^[11]

Studies on tobacco mediated carcinogenesis have encompassed chemical analysis, Sizeable effort has been directed towards delineation of the mechanisms of chemopreventive action of agents from Indian foods, such as turmeric, tea and grapes, and development of mechanism-based biomarkers of exposure.

The first transgenic mouse in the country, which was made at the institute, hosts a gene for a growth modulator. This mouse is being developed as a model for squamous cell carcinoma. In parallel, newer cell lines useful for cancer research and an expression system for the E6 protein of HPV are being developed. During 2002, scientists at the Institute have obtained extramural support from different funding bodies to the tune of Rs. 100,000,000. Work from the institute has led to 19 publications in peer-reviewed journals. Its current director is Dr. Sudeep Gupta

National Cancer Grid (NCG)

The National Cancer Grid is a network of major cancer centers, research institutes, patient groups and charitable institutions across India with the mandate of establishing uniform standards of patient care for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer, providing specialized training and education in oncology and facilitating collaborative basic, translational and clinical research in cancer. ^[12]

There are over 300 NCG centres across India and other countries. ^[13]

Koita Centre for Digital Oncology

The Koita Centre for Digital Oncology (KCDO) was established in August 2022 in collaboration with Koita Foundation. KCDO supports NCG and NCG affiliated hospitals to adopt digital health tools with the objective of improving the quality, affordability, accessibility and outcomes of cancer care. ^[14]

Tata Clinic

A 12-story block "The Tata Clinic and Faculty Block" has recently been constructed on the premises vacated by the CRI. This facility will house site specialty clinics, 50 additional beds, Minor theatre complex, daycare beds, academic offices, postgraduate education, seminar rooms, and a Telemedicine Centre. It is renamed as "Homi Bhabha Block"

Education

The Tata Memorial Centre is a recognised training centre for cancer education and research by national and international organisations such as WHO, IAEA and UICC.^{[ citation needed ]} Tata Memorial Hospital is a post-graduate teaching centre and is affiliated to the University of Mumbai, National Board of Examinations and Maharashtra University of Health Sciences. Every year about 80 post-graduate students register with the centre for doing their Master's or Doctorate courses. There are about 400 students undergoing training every year in medical and non-medical fields in long and short term courses. ^[15]

Digital Library

The Library of the Tata Memorial Hospital has been maintained since the inception of the hospital. It was relocated on 17 November 2000, on the ground floor of the main building now known as Digital Library. It caters to the needs of clinicians, nurses, other paramedical staff, medical administrators, and visitors from other hospitals, health care industries, academic institutions from all over the country. ^[16]

Konark Cancer Foundation

Set up by the Neurosurgeon, B. K. Misra, Cardiac surgeon, Ramakanta Panda and former Police Commissioner of Mumbai, Arup Patnaik, Konark Cancer Foundation is an NGO for patients coming to the Tata Memorial Hospital for treatment, providing them with financial support of up to INR 1 lac per patient, logistical support such as finding food and shelter for their attendants, providing other voluntary support, collecting and donating blood, medications and prosthesis. Around 10,000 patients and their families have been benefited since its inception. ^{[17] [18]}

See also

• Regional Cancer Centres
• Tata Medical Center

References

1. "List of Centers".
2. "Nuclear India | Department of Atomic Energy". www.dae.gov.in. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
3. "Tata Memorial Centre - About Us". www.actrec.gov.in. Archived from the original on 22 February 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
4. "Rs 4369.17 Grant released to various Cancer Hospitals in Financial Year 2014–15". pib.nic.in.
5. "Welcome to Tata Memorial Centre | Governing Council". Archived from the original on 24 May 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
6. History. tmc.gov.in
7. G. S. Mudur, "Cancer advice network expands – Second opinion can be sought from a wider pool of consultants", The Telegraph (Calcutta), 7 January 2017.
8. "TATA MEMORIAl CENTRE – About Us". www.actrec.gov.in. Archived from the original on 22 February 2020. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
9. "LEGACY OF INSTITUTIONS – Tata Medical Center". Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
10. "About Us - ACTREC". tmc.gov.in. Archived from the original on 14 October 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
11. "Tata Group Website: TMC Information".
12. "NCG - Tata Medical Center".
13. "NCG - List of Centers".
14. "India's National Cancer Grid sets up Digital Cancer Centre". 29 August 2022.
15. "Home | Advanced Centre for Treatment Research & Education in Cancer". actrec.gov.in. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
16. "About us - Digital Library". tmc.gov.in. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
17. Shelar, Jyoti (11 April 2017). "Ex-Mumbai police chief now helps cancer patients". The Hindu– via www.thehindu.com.
18. "About – konark".

External links

• Official website
• Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC) Archived 21 October 2020 at the Wayback Machine