Cancer research: Mysore Univ joins hands with Israel Science Foundation
Mysuru, Jan 11: Just days after the successful culmination of 103rd Indian Science Congress, University of Mysore (UoM) landed a significant project in aid of cancer treatment.
Senior scientist and UoM Vice-Chancellor Prof K S Rangappa said the project will be jointly funded by the Israel Science Foundation and University Grants Commission (ISF-UGC).
The international collaborative project has been sanctioned under a grant of over Rs 1 crore for a period of 3 years. The project is titled: Development of Inhibitors of Heparanase for Cancer Therapy.
The project will have two Principal Investigators (PIs) - with Prof Rangappa from Indian and Prof Israel Vlodavsky from the Cancer and Vascular Biology Research Center, Technion, Israel.
Significant
step
in
aid
of
mankind:
V-C
"It's
a
significant
step
in
the
direction
of
cancer
cure.
We
are
delighted
to
be
part
of
an
international
effort
aimed
at
helping
mankind.
The
programme
mainly
aims
to
encourage
research
collaboration
between
Israeli
and
Indian
scientists,"
Prof
Rangappa
told
Oneindia.
As per the records available on the public domain, Prof Rangappa has 10 patents related to development of anticancer agents, in addition to over 400 research papers related to medicinally important compounds also called as therapeutic agents.
Many
of
the
patented
molecules
developed
by
Prof
Rangappa
are
in
clinical
trials
against
different
types
of
cancers.
Prof
Vlodavsky
a
pioneer
in
cancer
research
On
the
other
hand,
Prof
Vlodavsky
has
over
400
research
papers
and
is
a
pioneer
in
the
field
of
establishing
the
role
of
heparanase
in
cancer
progression.
"In cancer cells, heparanase enzyme (kinva) catalyzes the cleavage of heparan sulfate which results in dislodging of cells from the primary tumor leading to metastasis and spreading of tumor to other organs (advancement of cancer to higher stages)," says Prof Rangappa.
Designing of heparanase inhibitors is excellent therapeutic strategy to treat cancer.
From the Indian side Prof Rangappa will be aided by a team consisting of Dr Basappa and Dr Mohan C D.
OneIndia had recently featured Dr Mohan who had networked with Nobel Laureates for over six months for the Science Congress. (When 2 Mysuru boys won the hearts of Nobel Laureates!)
In their role aiding the PI, the duo has to identify and synthesize the chemical scaffolds with potential heparanase inhibitory activity using computational techniques. Later the team has to screen them for their anticancer activity and in vitro enzyme inhibitory activity.
Path-breaking
research
on
the
cards
The
Israel
counterpart
will
work
on
in
vivo
efficacy
of
the
identified
lead
compounds
and
possible
advancement
to
clinics.
Speaking to OneIndia, Dr Mohan said the project findings could be path-breaking in the field of cancer research.
"It is challenging, but we are geared up to dive deep into this project considering the priceless significance it has in aiding mankind," Dr Mohan said.
During the Science Congress, Cancer Science Institute of Singapore PI Peter E. Lobie had has spoken about the progress being made by UoM on this front.
OneIndia news