Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), a grant-in-aid institution under the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) recognizing TMC as an "Anchor Centre" for IAEA’s Rays of Hope initiative.

Launched in 2022, the initiative aims to focus on improving access to cancer care in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

The signing ceremony was held at the Rustum Choksi Auditorium,Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai.

IAEA director general Rafael Mariano Grossi, while elaborating on the Rays of Hope initiative, said that the initiative aims to establish Anchor Centres like TMC which will play a critical role in training healthcare professionals, organizing specialized training programs, participating in IAEA coordinated research projects supporting radiotherapy and medical imaging facilities  and providing mentorship to medical institutions in LMICs.

With this MoU, TMC has been officially recognized as an Anchor Centre for the Asia-Pacific and African regions, reinforcing its role in advancing cancer treatment and research on a global scale.

Shambhu S Kumaran, India's ambassador to the Republic of Austria and permanent representative to the International Organizations in Vienna, reiterated India’s commitment to IAEA’s Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy (PACT), launched in 2004, which focuses on improving global cancer care.

He said that as part of this collaboration, India has donated its indigenous radiotherapy machine, the Bhabhatron, to several developing nations, including Mongolia, Sri Lanka, and Madagascar. Additionally, TMC experts have actively contributed to IAEA’s imPACT missions, assisting numerous countries in enhancing their cancer treatment capabilities.

Speaking about TMC’s contributions to cancer care in India and highlighting its network of affordable, comprehensive cancer treatment facilities in Punjab, Varanasi, Guwahati, and Visakhapatnam, Dr Umesh Mahantshetty, director of Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital & Research Centre, TMC, Visakhapatnam, emphasized upon TMC’s deep-rooted partnership with the IAEA since 1981, detailing its extensive role in research, training, and the development of advanced cancer treatment protocols.