New Delhi: The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi facilitated the first ever U.S.-India Cancer Moonshot Dialogue on August 5-6 at the National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi and hosted by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT). The dialogue focused attention on cancer, strengthening U.S.-India biomedical research cooperation, and jointly developing solutions to improve the health and well-being of the global community.
The U.S. Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti gave remarks and Nobel Laureate Dr. Jim Allison presented a scientific public lecture titled ‘Beyond Checkpoint Inhibition’. Participants included the U.S delegation, key Government of India (GOI) senior officials, leadership from the American and Indian private sectors, NGOs and Patient Advocacy Groups that work in cancer-related fields, faculty members from various GOI institutions, young researchers including PhD and post docs from government Universities. At the event, Ambassador Garcetti said ‘This exchange embodies the strength of the bond between our two great nations, built on a foundation of shared values, mutual respect, and a common vision for a healthier future; it’s a tangible way to show how the United States and India are moving our partnership forward for health’.
Dialogue participants included senior officials from various U.S. government agencies, including the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), Department of Energy (DoE), Veterans Affairs (VA), and cancer experts/scientists from institutions such as MD Anderson, Harvard University, the Mayo Clinic, and the American Cancer Society, and officials from DBT, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), and Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, and senior scientists from several Indian academic Institutions across the country.
Dr. Rajesh Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology Ministry of Science and Technology said, “The Department of Biotechnology is committed to accelerate discovery of innovative solutions towards cancer treatment through multidisciplinary approaches. The India-U.S. Cancer Moonshot Dialogue, which included two-days of scientific discussions, is a testament to our commitment to revolutionize cancer cure, leveraging biotechnology advancements for a cancer-free tomorrow.”
Adding to that, Dr. Rajiv Bahl, the Secretary to Government of India, Department of Health Research and Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research said, “The two-day scientific deliberation was very fruitful and will foster collaboration between people, organizations, and between public and private entities to identify potential areas of mutual interest between the two countries in cancer research and management.”
Non-communicable diseases, including cancer, account for about 63 percent of all deaths in India. Cancer cases in India are estimated to increase by nearly 13 percent in 2025, compared to 2020. In June 2023, President Biden and Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed the strong health partnership between the United States and India by announcing new commitments to accelerate the fight against cancer, including convening a U.S.-India Cancer Dialogue to advance the prevention, early detection, and treatment of cancer.
