LONDON (TIP): Leading India-origin gynecological oncologist Ranjit Manchanda from London’s Cancer Research UK Barts Centre has bagged the prestigious Infosys Chair in Oncology at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. Manchanda, an alumnus of AIIMS New Delhi, completed his MBBS and MD from AIIMS in 1990s before proceeding to the University College London, UK for PhD in gynecological oncology. An acclaimed super specialist, Manchanda’s research spans targeted precision prevention of cancer. His core work includes population-based germ line testing for risk prediction, targeted screening and cancer prevention; developing targeted surgical prevention strategies for ovarian and endometrial cancer; developing genetic testing strategies as cancer diagnosis and prevention and management of familial gynecological cancer.

Currently Professor, Gynecological Oncology at the Wolfson Institute of Population Health at Queen Mary University of London and Consultant Gynecological Oncologist at Barts Health National Health Services Trust, Manchanda is leading several crucial research projects, early detection of ovarian cancer among them.

“This award means a lot to me and it is an honor and privilege to have received it. I am excited at the opportunity to work with colleagues at AIIMS across both clinical and academic domains, and bring our institutes together with the common aim to reduce the burden of disease and improve the lives of women affected by gynecological cancer,” Manchanda said. His work at Infosys Chair will support the division of Gynecological Oncology at AIIMS and will grow collaborative working between Queen Mary University of London, Barts Health NHS Trust and AIIMS.

It will aid early screening strategies for ovarian cancer, the second most common gynecological cancer in India and a leading cause of death from cancer in Indian women with 3.34 per cent (24,015) of cancer deaths in one year.

Advanced ovarian cancer has a dismal prognosis, with the highest case fatality ratio amongst all gynecological cancers globally – which explains the criticality of Manchanda’s expertise in the area.

While 5-year survival from ovarian cancer is 94 per cent when diagnosed in Stage I, only 15 per cent cases are diagnosed at this stage. Most (62 per cent) of cases are diagnosed in Stages III and IV, when 5-year survival is only 28 per cent. Manchanda was previously Director Graduate Studies, Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London and Clinical Senior Lecturer, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London.

He has several top awards to his credit including Columbia Hospital for Women Research Foundation Award for the most impactful paper in 2020-21, NHS Innovation Accelerator NIA Fellowship and the William Blair Bell Memorial Lecture Award of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.