Vedanta's BALCO Medical Centre (BMC) has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Indian co-researchers in a team to be honored with the esteemed Cancer Grand Challenges Award. This recognition comes with a substantial $25 million grant for cancer research, solidifying BMC's standing as a pioneering institution in India's oncology landscape. The recipient team, named PROSPECT, includes clinicians, advocates, and scientists from BALCO Medical Centre and other renowned institutions worldwide, focusing on addressing the critical challenge of early-onset cancers.

Jyoti Agarwal, Chairperson of Vedanta Medical Research Foundation, expressed her gratitude, stating, "We are honored to have been chosen for this prestigious award, which significantly advances the battle against cancer. Over the past six years, at BMC, our leaders, employees, and stakeholders have worked tirelessly to ensure that we have access to the best technologies, and that our patients and communities feel safe and confident."

"With this support from Cancer Grand Challenges, our efforts are not only continued but also strengthened. With collaborative efforts, I am confident that we can positively contribute to the overall healthcare landscape," Agarwal added.

Team PROSPECT is one of five global teams funded this year by Cancer Grand Challenges, founded in 2020 by Cancer Research UK and the National Cancer Institute US. This initiative invites diverse world-class research teams to join forces, think differently, and tackle some of cancer's toughest challenges.

The teams will be funded by Cancer Research UK, the National Cancer Institute, the Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK, and Institute National Du Cancer through Cancer Grand Challenges, with a total investment of $125 million to address some of the most challenging issues in cancer research.

Dr. David Scott, Director of Cancer Grand Challenges, stated, "Together with our network of visionary partners and research leaders, Cancer Grand Challenges unites the world’s brightest minds across boundaries and disciplines and aims to overcome cancer’s toughest problems. With this investment, our largest to date, we continue to grow our global research community, and fund new teams that have the potential to surface discoveries that could positively impact cancer outcomes."

Vedanta's BALCO Medical Centre, a state-of-the-art tertiary care Oncology facility in Central India, has been at the forefront of cancer care, providing multidisciplinary treatment and support. Recognized as a referral center for advanced radiation therapy, brachytherapy, nuclear medicine, surgeries, chemotherapy, and more, BMC has treated over 37,000 patients since its inception in March 2018.

Dr. Bhawna Sirohi, Medical Director at Vedanta Medical Research Foundation (BALCO Medical Centre) and the lead principal investigator for the PROSPECT-India study, emphasized the worrisome increase in colorectal cancers and the importance of early detection. The grant will accelerate global cancer research, focusing on understanding the reasons behind the rise in early-onset colorectal cancer and strategies for prevention.

Early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) is an emerging global problem among individuals younger than 50 years. Team PROSPECT aims to address this by understanding the pathways, risk factors, and molecules involved in its development. The team's vision is to understand and ultimately try to reverse the network of causal factors throughout the life course that disrupts normal biological processes to promote EOCRC.

This achievement aligns with Vedanta's core values of giving back to the community and making a lasting impact on society. The company sees this recognition as a step closer to fulfilling its vision of contributing to the community and leaving a lasting imprint on society.