logo
Mohali: Homi Bhabha hospital begins DNA testing for advanced cancer diagnosis

Mohali: Homi Bhabha hospital begins DNA testing for advanced cancer diagnosis

Hindustan Times17-07-2025
The Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (HBCHRC) in New Chandigarh has started in-house DNA and RNA-based Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), marking a major upgrade in cancer diagnostic services in the region. Hospital director Dr Ashish Gulia said that only a few hospitals in this region currently offer such testing. (HT file)
The department of oncopathology at the hospital will now use NGS technology to analyse genetic mutations in cancer patients, enabling doctors to personalise treatment based on individual tumour profiles. The facility is available for both solid tumours and blood cancers.
Officials said that until now, samples for this test had to be sent to laboratories in Mumbai. The new facility will reduce diagnostic time significantly and allow quicker initiation of targeted treatments. 'NGS is a molecular diagnostic method that allows detailed analysis of DNA and RNA to identify genetic drivers of cancer. It also helps detect hereditary cancer syndromes and monitor disease progression,' they added.
Hospital director Dr Ashish Gulia said that only a few hospitals in this region currently offer such testing. He explained that cancer treatment has evolved from broad chemotherapy protocols to targeted therapies that depend on genetic profiling.
Dr Sankalp Sancheti, head of the oncopathology department, noted the test's complexity and emphasised that the development of the facility was a team effort.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Dog bite cases surge in Punjab, 1.5 lakh cases reported in first 6 months
Dog bite cases surge in Punjab, 1.5 lakh cases reported in first 6 months

Hindustan Times

time5 hours ago

  • Hindustan Times

Dog bite cases surge in Punjab, 1.5 lakh cases reported in first 6 months

With an average of around 840 dog bite cases reported daily, Punjab has witnessed a sharp increase in incidents this year. In the first six months of 2025, the state has recorded over 1.5 lakh dog bite cases, with Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Patiala being as the worst-affected districts, accounting for nearly 36% or 53,432 cases. With an average of around 840 dog bite cases reported daily, Punjab has witnessed a sharp increase in incidents this year. In the first six months of 2025, the state has recorded over 1.5 lakh dog bite cases, with Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Patiala being as the worst-affected districts, accounting for nearly 36% or 53,432 cases. (Getty Images/iStockphoto/ Representational image) Last year, the state reported a total of 2.13 lakh dog bite cases. The data, accessed by HT, has revealed a steady jump in cases over the past few years. From 1.10 lakh cases reported in 2020, the number of dog bite cases has gone up to 2.13 lakh in 2024, a rise of more than 1 lakh in four years. Three deaths have been reported this year. Last month, a mother-daughter duo died of rabies in Pathankot, and on July 17, a 32-year-old man succumbed in Patiala after being bitten by a stray dog. Dr Sumeet Singh, district nodal officer of the National Rabies Control Programme, said that rabies is 100% fatal. 'Of the total cases of dog bites, nearly 70% of the cases were from stray dogs. People should immediately rush to the nearest government health centres for treatment, which is free. People should not be ignorant at all. Punjab government has now extended treatment of dog bite cases to all the Aam Aadmi Clinics across the state,' he said. Failure of sterilisation programmes The senior officials from the local bodies department admitted that the animal birth control (ABC) programme has failed to deliver the desired results across Punjab, particularly in major cities. 'Most of the municipal corporations in Punjab have outsourced the sterilisation of dogs to private agencies, but this has not yielded effective outcomes. Sterilisation remains the only scientifically proven method to control the stray dog population and, in turn, reduce dog bite incidents,' said a senior official, who didn't wish to be named. An expert epidemiologist said that of the total dog bite cases, more than 50% of patients had grade-3 wounds, who needed immunoglobulin to be administered before the dog bite vaccine, said the epidemiologist. A grade-3 dog bite is a single or multiple transdermal bite with contamination of the mucous membrane with saliva. 'The grade-3 bite requires anti-rabies serum (ARS) before the anti-rabies vaccine, to make the dose effective. Without ARS, the vaccine is of no use as the victim may die within a few days,' the expert said. Patiala municipal corporation commissioner Paramvir Singh said after seeing a rise in the cases, they have stopped outsourcing the sterilisation programme. 'Instead of giving a contract for the sterilisation of stray dogs to a third party, we have decided to carry it out ourselves. We have got three veterinary surgeons with us, and we will sterilise 50 dogs per day in the coming weeks,' he said. Dr Sandeep Jain, co-opted member, Animal Welfare Board of India, said a lack of follow-up and accountability in sterilisation efforts has seen a sharp rise in the dog population. 'In rural areas, panchayats are not involved in the ABC programme. There is no accountability in rural and semi-urban areas. In rural areas, stray dogs get used to eating animal flesh because of designated places for the disposal of dead animals. If these strays don't get animal flesh, they start biting people. If the government sterilises 70% of the stray dog population in a year, then dog bite cases will start to decline,' he said. No SOP for dog bite compensation The Punjab health department is yet to issue standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the government doctors on whose diagnosis the compensation for dog bite cases would be fixed. The department had constituted a five-member committee to formulate SOPs following the order of the Punjab and Haryana high court, last year, announcing the compensation of ₹10,000 for each tooth mark and that of ₹20,000 for every 0.2 cm of wound where the flesh is torn off. One of the five committee members, pleading anonymity, told HT that they had already formulated the SOP, but the department did not issue it to the doctors. Dr Arshdeep Kaur, state nodal officer, did not respond to repeated calls and text messages.

‘Sarcomas usually painless, any lump or swelling in muscles, bones that continues to grow can be tumour'
‘Sarcomas usually painless, any lump or swelling in muscles, bones that continues to grow can be tumour'

Indian Express

time2 days ago

  • Indian Express

‘Sarcomas usually painless, any lump or swelling in muscles, bones that continues to grow can be tumour'

In recognition of Sarcoma Awareness Month, observed globally in July, the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (HBCHRC), Punjab, hosted a session on its New Chandigarh campus that brought together senior doctors, sarcoma patients, and their caregivers for a dialogue and awareness session. Dr Ashish Gulia, director, HBCHRC, said that the intent of organising this meeting was to raise awareness about sarcomas among the public. Explaining the symptoms and its nature, Gulia said, sarcoma is a type of cancer that can originate in muscles or bones, and treatment depends on the stage of cancer. 'Any lump or swelling in the muscles or bones that continues to grow could be a tumour, and sarcomas are usually painless; however, if it causes persistent pain, there is a high chance it may be bone-related.' He reassured patients not to panic, as effective treatments for these tumours are available and emphasised the importance of early medical consultation when symptoms appear. Gulia also spoke about the support available at the hospital, including financial aid for underprivileged patients, and underscored the value of community and peer interaction among patients and caregivers. 'Being connected helps patients encourage one another and gain strength from shared experiences. Sessions like this foster a sense of unity and support. At Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital, we do everything in our power to treat every patient who comes to us. While we may not be able to save every life, we ensure that every possible treatment available in the world is made accessible to our patients,' added Gulia. Dr Seema Gulia and Dr Nikhil Tandon explained to patients that sarcoma may require other therapies apart from surgery for treatment, and that there are different types of bone cancer, and various combinations of surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy are used for different types of cancers. Dr Prabhat Ganju and Dr Sahil Sood said that patients and their families must understand not to stop treatment after just surgery. The experts advised that patients must complete the entire treatment plan prescribed by doctors, whether it's radiotherapy or additional chemotherapy, and stressed the importance of ensuring the full course of treatment is completed, as this is essential to save lives.

Real-time surveillance begins at 2 more STPs in Greater Noida
Real-time surveillance begins at 2 more STPs in Greater Noida

Hindustan Times

time2 days ago

  • Hindustan Times

Real-time surveillance begins at 2 more STPs in Greater Noida

GREATER NOIDA: The Greater Noida authority has installed Online Continuous Monitoring Systems (OCMS) at two more sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Ecotech-2 and Ecotech-3 for real-time surveillance and better wastewater management and environmental compliance, officials said on Monday. The OCMS technology enables real-time tracking of key pollution parameters like Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), and other indicators before and after sewage treatment. (HT Photos) The OCMS technology enables real-time tracking of key pollution parameters like Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), and other indicators before and after sewage treatment, they added. 'The system was first introduced at the 2 MLD Badalpur STP, and within a month, has been extended to the 15 million litres per day (MLD) plant in Ecotech-2 and the 20 MLD plant in Ecotech-3,' said additional chief executive officer (ADCEO) Prerna Singh. To be sure, the initiative is part of the Namami Gange programme that mandates online monitoring of all STPs to ensure proper treatment of sewage and discharge of compliant effluent into water bodies. As per the central government's Namami Gange flagship programme that mandates online monitoring of all STPs, Greater Noida authority's chief executive officer NG Ravi Kumar instructed the concerned department to prioritise implementation of OCMS across all STPs in the region, Singh added. The only major STP now left without this system is a 137 MLD capacity plant at Kasna that is expected to be equipped with OCMS within a month, said officials. Meanwhile, the data collected by OCMS will be accessible not only to the authority's sewerage department but also to the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) and the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), who can monitor operations remotely from their offices, they said. 'We are working on a plan to equip all STPs with online monitoring systems and Kasna STP is next. The move will help ensure improved operations and quality control,' she added. The system enables up to six users—officials from the authority, contractors, UPPCB, and Namami Gange officials—to access real-time data through laptops or mobile devices. The estimated cost of installing OCMS at each STP is around ₹30 lakh, fully borne by the authority, said senior manager (sewerage department, Greater Noida authority) Vinod Sharma. Beyond compliance, the authority is also exploring the utility of treated water. Currently, the water obtained after treatment is used for irrigation and construction purposes. Officials said that talks are underway between the authority and National Thermal Power Corporation to use this water for thermal power generation as well. Officials said that citizens or contractors interested in using treated water for irrigation or construction can obtain it at a nominal rate of ₹7 per kilolitre by contacting the sewerage department on 9211825118. The initiative comes as part of Greater Noida authority's broader strategy to modernise wastewater treatment infrastructure. The authority is working to transition to advanced technologies to enhance treatment efficiency and meet stricter discharge norms, HT had reported on July 26. The integration of OCMS is viewed as a complementary step towards ensuring transparency, accountability, and long-term sustainability in sewage management, officials said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store