Latest news with #ICMR-funded
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
CAR-T therapy can be safely manufactured at hospital, finds ICMR-funded trial led by CMC Vellore
An ICMR-funded trial led by CMC Vellore demonstrated that CAR-T therapy, which uses a patient's own T cells to fight cancer, can be safely manufactured at the hospital and infused to treat patients in India at a low cost. For the first time, these CAR-T cells were produced and infused in a hospital in India. CMC Vellore director and principal author of the study Vikram Mathews explained that Chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T cells) are normal T-cells that are part of the patient's own immune system. In CART-T cell therapy, these cells are engineered to recognise and target the specific cancer cell, thus using the immune system to fight the disease. CAR-T cell therapy has been proven to be very effective even in patients who have failed all other therapies, he said. This process usually involves inserting into the normal T cells, the required genetic information to produce an antibody receptor that will recognise the antigen/substance on the surface of the cancer cell. "This process is usually done in large centralised commercial corporations, which contributes to logistic challenges, increased costs, and decreased efficacy," Dr. Mathews said. One of many strategies to reduce the cost of this therapy, is to produce the CAR-T cells at the hospital site itself, this strategy is called decentralized or point-of-care manufacturing (PoC). In this study, the authors provided evidence that this is feasible in India. What did the study find? Early data from this study establishes its safety and also shows promising results, said Dr Mathews said. A total of 10 patients, aged 6-59 years, six of them with acute leukemia and four with lymphoma, who had failed all earlier treatments, were treated with CAR-T cells manufactured at CMC Vellore under this PoC strategy. The study found that the therapy brought about 100 per cent remission in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia patients, 50 per cent remission in large B-cell lymphoma patients. Overall, eight of the ten patients remained cancer-free at a median follow-up of 15 months since starting the therapy. The doctors further reported that this was safe, well-tolerated, and had minimal side effects. The study, 'Safety, efficacy and total cost of point-of-care manufactured anti-CD19 CAR-T cell therapy in India: VELCART trial' has been published in the journal Molecular Therapy. The study also stated that when CART-T cells are manufactured in this PoC model, the cost of the therapy is nearly 90 per cent less than the global average. The production time for the CART-T cells was nine days in in-hospital settings. Dr Mathews said that the use of a fresh, unfrozen product also contributed to better outcomes. "This trial redefines how cancer therapy can be delivered - efficiently, affordably, and close to patients. India is leading the way in developing next-generation, in-house biotherapies with global relevance," he said. "This model could be easily replicated in most tertiary healthcare facilities in the country," Dr Mathews said.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
GMCH training on epilepsy for govt schools teachers
Guwahati: In a pioneering initiative to create ' epilepsy smart schools ' in Assam, the neurology department at Gauhati Medical College & Hospital (GMCH) commenced training for approximately 150 govt school teachers in Kamrup district on Wednesday. The programme is an essential part of an ICMR-funded project 'Tele_ESSI', officially named 'Tele-school health-led Epilepsy Smart Schools in India: An Implementation Initiative with Mixed Methods Assessment'. This multi-dimensional public health initiative, funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), is being implemented in Assam by GMCH's neurology department. Dr Marami Das, a senior neurologist at GMCH, leads the project as principal investigator. Under Dr Das's guidance, an awareness and training session for about 150 govt school teachers from Kamrup district took place at the DK Girls' College community hall in Mirza, near Guwahati, on Wednesday. "By integrating neurological health into school-based health systems, Tele_ESSI aligns with India's broader goals under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) and aims to serve as a model for nationwide replication," said Dr Das. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Glicemia alta? Pingue isso na água antes de dormir Saúde Melhor Idade Veja agora Undo The training session focused on improving teachers' knowledge about epilepsy, eliminating stigma, and providing them with essential skills to handle student seizures during school hours. During the meeting, the project team presented educational modules and demonstration videos to explain medical information and develop practical readiness among teachers. The session included instruction on basic first-aid procedures, addressing epilepsy myths and facts, and establishing school-based support systems. Teachers participated in discussions to voice their concerns and seek clarification, leading to a deeper understanding of challenges faced by students with epilepsy. The initiative aims to establish 'epilepsy-smart schools' — institutions equipped to understand, identify, and assist students with epilepsy, particularly in rural and underserved regions. The project incorporates telemedicine, structured awareness programmes, and capacity-building modules to incorporate epilepsy care awareness into Indian schools. "The project uses a mixed-methods approach, combining tele-health, in-person engagement, and qualitative assessments to evaluate the feasibility and impact of implementing epilepsy education across Indian govt schools. The initiative aligns with broader national health goals of integrating neurological health into primary education systems through awareness, capacity-building, and sustainable implementation," said an official. Health officials said this community-focused approach represents a crucial step towards removing epilepsy stigma in schools, encouraging early detection, and ensuring timely, compassionate care. The programme supports national health objectives by incorporating neurological health into primary education through awareness, capacity-building, and sustainable implementation.
