IGCPR Research Projects

Our research projects support the IGCPR mission by informing cancer prevention in populations with a disproportionate burden of cancer and incorporate capacity building and training to promote sustainability of our research programs.

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Analytical Capacity Building for the Study of Tobacco Carcinogen Exposures in India

About

Cancer risks associated with the use of smokeless tobacco (SLT) products worldwide differ drastically. Variations in the amounts of cancer-causing chemical constituents present in SLT are believed to play a key role in determining the differences in the carcinogenic potential of SLT products. Better understanding of this relationship by linking carcinogen exposures from specific SLT products with particular health effects has been identified by the World Health Organization as one of key research gaps in addressing the public health challenge of SLT. India, where nearly one third of the population uses various forms of SLT and oral/head and neck cancer (OHNC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death, represents both the area of critical need and the unique setting for such studies. 

Our research is assessing the impact of carcinogen content in SLT products marketed in India on exposures and OHNC risk in users. In addition to generating novel scientific data, this study incorporates capacity building activities such as the development of analytical laboratory resources, training of young investigators from Mumbai in tobacco research and relevant procedures, and establishment of tobacco product and biospecimen repositories for future research. Our team includes established and new tobacco researchers and clinicians in Mumbai who are based in institutions with complementary backgrounds and resources, ensuring the long-lasting and comprehensive impact of this work. 

Our long-term vision is that the capacity developed through this proposal will serve not only to expand relevant research by our collaborators and trainees in Mumbai, but also as a unique national/regional research and training resource in the field of tobacco carcinogenesis

Our Team

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Samir S. Khariwala, MD, MS, FACS

University of Minnesota

https://med.umn.edu/bio/ent-faculty/samir-khariwala 

Irina Stepanov, PhD

University of Minnesota

https://directory.sph.umn.edu/bio/sph-a-z/irina-stepanov 

Pankaj Chaturvedi, MD

Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, India

 

Co-Investigators

Dr. Vikram Gota – Dept. Of Clinical Pharmacology

Prakash Gupta - Academia.edu

Dorothy K. Hatsukami, PhD | Tobacco Research Programs

Vikram Gota, MD

ACTREC, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, India

https://actrec.gov.in/dr-vikram-gota 

Prakash Gupta, PhD

Healis – Sekhsaria Institute of Public Health

https://www.healis.org/the-board.html 

Dorothy Hatsukami, PhD

University of Minnesota 

https://cancer.umn.edu/staff/dorothy-hatsukami 

Trainees

Hitesh Sanghvi

Tata Memorial Hospital

Sampada Nikam

ACTREC, Tata Memorial Centre

Keyuri Adhikari

Healis – Sekhsaria Institute of Public Health

Project Publications

  • Gupta PC, Ray CS, Papke RL, Stepanov I, Khariwala SS, Chaturvedi P, Gupte HA, Pednekar MS. (2018) Perspectives on areca nut with some global implications: Symposium report. Translational Research in Oral Oncology 3, 1-8. 
  • Singhavi, H., Ahluwalia, J. S., Stepanov, I., Gupta, P. C., Gota, V., Chaturvedi, P., and Khariwala, S. S. (2018) Tobacco carcinogen research to aid understanding of cancer risk and influence policy. Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol 3, 372-376.