Mumbai, February 12 To provide a national platform for clinicians, researchers, and policymakers to discuss the integration of AYUSH systems with contemporary oncology based on evidence, the Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC) at the Tata Memorial Centre organized "Samaakalan 2.0" – a National Conference on Integrative Oncology.
India is witnessing a strong push to integrate AYUSH systems through scientific validation, and the government of Goa is proud to partner with leading institutions such as the Tata Memorial Centre and the All India Institute of Ayurveda, Goa, to promote integrative oncology and make holistic cancer care accessible to people. Goa Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant told reporters on the sidelines of the conference, "Goa has taken the pioneering step of integrating evidence-based Ayurveda with modern oncology, using the framework that it is used for. This initiative has facilitated high-level consultations beginning from March 11, 2025, marking a decisive shift from concept to action. We have formal collaboration between the Goa government, the Director of the Health Services, India Institute of Ayurveda, and ACTREC, the Tata Memorial Centre, and EMC Mumbai."
Sawant added, "Goa is emerging as a national 'demonstration state' for integrative oncology, aligned with the Ayurvedic model and a nationalized vision."
He said this model would be replicated across India, integrating policy, research, clinical care, and digital innovation.
"We are building a scientifically governed, digitally enabled, patient-centric model of cancer care that can serve as a template for the nation," Sawant said.
"Samaakalan 2.0," a two-day National Conference on Integrative Oncology, began on Thursday at ACTREC – Tata Memorial Centre, Navi Mumbai, under the aegis of the Centre of Excellence for Drug Discovery and Development in Ayush for cancer care, officials said.
The conference aims to provide a national platform for clinicians, researchers, and policymakers to discuss the integration of AYUSH systems with contemporary oncology based on evidence, with a focus on strengthening research, clinical practice, and policy frameworks in integrative cancer care, they added.
Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, Director of ACTREC, said that ACTREC has developed a robust ecosystem for evaluating AYUSH-based interventions through in silico, in vitro, in vivo, and clinical research.
"Translational research is the bridge between laboratory discoveries and patient care, and it is central to positioning integrative oncology as a scientifically validated, patient-centric model," he said.
ACTREC is developing a centre of excellence – the Integrative Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer, with a capital of Rs 300 crore from the government. It will be a 100-bedded centre, located in Koholi, and is expected to become operational early next year, Chaturvedi said.
"Our work focuses on identifying promising leads from AYUSH and understanding their mechanisms of action, safety, and efficacy, thereby creating a strong evidence base for integration with standard cancer therapies," said Dr Vikram Gota, Principal Investigator of Ayush Centre of Excellence.
Through research, there will be validation of claims on the benefits of medicinal plants as well as medicines, he added.