LUMHS sets up cancer research lab

Facility will conduct research on about cancer-causing elements in the environment as well as the cancer patients

The Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS), Jamshoro, has established a cancer research laboratory.

The facility will conduct research on about cancer causing elements in the environment as well as the cancer patients and types of tumours.

The LUMHS Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Bikha Ram Devrajani told a press conference at Hyderabad Press Club on Thursday that Higher Education Commission is providing Rs1,582 million funds to the university for starting six separate projects on cancer.

According to him, the varsity is starting phased work over the projects. He also apprised that another funding of Rs400 million has been provided by the Sindh government for production of medicines locally for treatment of the cancer patients.

He said the varsity has planned to expand its institute of pharmacy with the aim to produce the required medicines. He told that two wards for treatment of patients are also being constructed on provincial government's funding.

"We are acquiring services of oncologists of Pakistani origin who are practising in the foreign countries for the cancer research laboratory and other projects for serving the cancer patients," he said.

The VC introduced Dr Shariq Anwar Abid as the designated in charge of the experimental lab for treatment and the cell culture section. Dr Ali Muhammad Waria will lead a team which will research genetics of the cancer patients.

Dr Benafsha Manzoor, head of the research laboratory at LUMHS, said the medicines procured from the foreign countries are not turning out to be effective on the patients in Pakistan owing to which the need is being felt to produce local medicines. The lab will not only conduct research but will also provide treatment to the patients.

She told that they have registered more than 22,000 patients for treatment since 2008. The varsity's officials said the World Health Organization has predicted that the number of the cancer patients will almost double in Pakistan by 2040.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 22nd, 2021.