On Oct 6th 2003 University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Center President Dr. John Mendelsohn and Dr K.A. Dinshaw, Director of Tata Memorial Center , Mumbai signed a historic Sister Institution Agreement in Mumbai India. In the 62 years of M.D. Anderson's history this was the first ever visit by its President to India. Another step in MDACC's effort in "Making Cancer History" the agreement will aim in cooperation in academic and clinical exchange programs, research collaborations especially in genetic and molecular and chemo-prevention methods and quality assurance programs.

In his talk and subsequent discussions Dr Mendelsohn touched on emerging research themes and new targeted therapy. He talked about research on identification of molecular and genetic markers which would help in predicating the precursors of cancer and could help prevent the disease.

Due to IACCGH's dogged determination and due to no small effort of the IACCGH founding directors Dr Durga Agrawal & Ashoke Nath M.D.Anderson and Dr Mendelsohn recognized the level excellence Indian Hospitals represent and were convinced that both sides will benefit from this new relationship if they work together by participating across the seas in their common goal of eradication of cancer.

On Sept 29th 2003 the IACCGH MDACCC delegation with Dr John Mendelsohn visited the AIIMS Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital Delhi and met Dr Vinod Kochupillai and her colleagues at IRCH AIIMS. The two institutions have identified areas that they could work in which include Pharmacolology of natural products like Tulsi and Turmeric, Chemoprevention , Leukemias/lymphomas, Cervical cancer screening and gall bladder cancers/

The delgation also visited IT Capital Bangalore and met the heads of leading IT companies Digital Globalsoft and Infosys.  At Digital Globalsoft their host was Digital's President SOM MITTAL (who also chairs the NASSCOM and will be keynote at the IACCGH IT BPO summit in Houston on Nov 19th).

At Infosys the delgation met Infosys founder & Mentor Narayan Murthy and spent over an hour with the "Bill Gates" of India.

The Chamber strongly feels partnering with IT companies can provide a strong IT support for research which can be very useful in forging strong relationship.

Background:
IACCGH initiated a fact finding mission in October 2002 accompanied by Dr Thomas Brown (VP Extra Mural Affairs at MDACC )and the IACCGH - M D Anderson Cancer Center delegation met Indian President Kalam and the then Health Minister Shatrughan Sinha.

In March 2003 the IACCGH facilitated a visit by a seven member M D Anderson delegation to Mumbai and Delhi.

The Team visited AIIMS Delhi and participated in a symposium on "Common Cancers in India: Evidence Based Management" at Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH).

IACCGH President Deepa Thakur , founding President Durga Agrawal , Past President Ashoke Nath and Past President Ashok Shah, Founding Member & Executive Director Jagdip Ahluwalia and IACCGH Advisor Vijay Goradia and IACCGH Member Ajit Thakur CPA and IACCGH Director at large (Pune based) Pankaj Dhume joined the delegation when they visited TMH in Mumbai on Oct 6th 2003 and witnessed the historic Sister Insitution agreement signing ceremony.

In its ongoing effort to raise awareness and gain support the IACCGH made the M. D. Anderson initiative the focus of its 4th annual IACCGH Gala on June 7th, 2003.