Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston (IACCGH) has been focused on building a Research and Technology Bridge in the field of Cancer Research between M D Anderson Cancer Research Center and major Cancer Research Centers in India.

On Monday Oct 14^th a delegation headed by M. D. Anderson’s Dr. Thomas D. Brown, Vice President and Medical Director of Business Affairs and Professor, Department of GI Medical Oncology left for India to visit Mumbai , Bangalore and Delhi to explore the possibility of establishing a sister institute relationship with Indian Cancer Research Centers.

IACCGH Founding President Dr Durga Agrawal , President Ashok Shah and Past President Ashoke Nath are already in India to facilitate and co-ordinate the visit of the delegation in the respective cities.

As a precursor to this mission, on Oct 8^th and 9^th Dr. Vinod Kochupillai, Chief, Rotary Cancer Center Hospital & Institute, Professor & Head, Department of Medical Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), was in Houston as a guest of the Indo American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston.

Dr. Kochupillai was instrumental in creating the Department of Medical Oncology, initiating DM (Doctor of Medicine) teaching program in Medical Oncology, started Ph.D training, developed haematopoietic stem cell transplant activity.
Her clinical and research interests include management of hematological cancers and lung cancer. Her current clinical and research interest is in the area of "Sudershan Kriya" (arhythmic breathing process introduced through Art of Living workshops). Apart from subjective improvement in physical health, emotional balance and mental processes, definite EEG changes have been demonstrated in those who practice "Sudarshan Kriya" regularly. There is a suggestion that this process might prolong the remission duration in hematological cancers.

Dr Kochupillai toured the facilities, met with Dr. Hagop M. Kantarjian, Chair, Department of Leukemia and other Professors at M.D.Anderson . She also had a meeting with Dr. Thomas D. Brown, Vice-President and Medical Director of Business Affairs Professor, Department of GI Medical Oncology along with the IACCGH Board members to discuss the trip to India. Following which there was a seminar on "Science of Yoga in Human Health". On October 9^th Dr Kochuplillai’s trip ended with her addressing the Leukemia Conference where she spoke on "Hematological Malignancies in India".