On May 6th and 7th, 2023, postgraduate life science students from SSSUHE visited the TATA Memorial Centre - Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research, and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), located in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, as part of their internship program. ACTREC is the research arm of the prestigious Tata Memorial Centre and is committed to advancing cancer research, treatment, and therapies.
During their visit to ACTREC, the students had the opportunity to witness cutting-edge research in action and explore state-of-the-art laboratories equipped with advanced technology. They were given a tour of the facility and saw various research labs equipped with the latest technology and equipment, as well as the animal facility where animals are used for pre-clinical studies. They also saw the clinical trial unit where patients are enrolled in various clinical trials to test new cancer treatments and therapies.
The students had the privilege of interacting with researchers and learning about their ongoing projects and the collaborative efforts involved in cancer research. Witnessing clinical trials and understanding the vital role of biorepositories in research further broadened their perspectives. They learned about the challenges involved in cancer research and the importance of collaboration between different research groups and institutions.
In addition to the tour, the students attended a session on biorepositories. They learned about the importance of biorepositories in research, including the role they play in preserving and protecting samples, as well as facilitating data sharing and collaboration. They also learned about the ethical considerations involved in collecting, storing, and using biological samples for research purposes.
The students also visited the Khanolkar Shodhika Research Centre at ACTREC and met many research scholars. They visited the labs of Mr Sanjeev and Mr Sanjay Gupta and saw a variety of equipment, including Flow Cytometry, Electron Microscopes, MALDI coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), Nano Spectrometry, and many more. The research scholars explained the state-of-the-art equipment and molecular devices used extensively in the study of molecular biosciences and cytogenetics.
Overall, the visit to ACTREC provided the students with additional insights into the various aspects of healthcare research. They gained a better understanding of the different techniques and tools used in research and the importance of ethical considerations in conducting research. The sessions on Raman Spectroscopy and biorepository were a valuable addition to the event and provided the students with a well-rounded perspective on healthcare research. At the end of the day, the students left having gained a wealth of knowledge and were excited to apply the knowledge they gained in their future research endeavours.
September 12th, 2023
