ALL INDIA INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and AIIMS-Rishikesh have signed a memorandum of understanding to conduct clinical trials and advanced research in biomedical devices for extreme environments.

• Indigenously developed HPV test kits for cervical cancer screening were launched in Delhi, targeting the seven to eight most common cancer-causing HPV types specific to India's population. • The RTPCR-based diagnostic kits, validated through collaborative research led by AIIMS Delhi, offer a cost-effective alternative to traditional Pap smears and HPV DNA tests for national cancer screening programs. • With cervical cancer being the second most common cancer among Indian women and accounting for 25% of global mortality, these kits align with WHO's recommendation for HPV testing as the preferred screening method.

The phase 3 ACCELERATE trial found that adding chemoradiation (CRT) to chemotherapy did not improve relapse-free survival (RFS) in patients with resected gallbladder cancer.

Early, intensive 'top-down' therapy with TNF blockers plus immunomodulators shows superior outcomes compared to the traditional 'step-up' approach for newly diagnosed Crohn's disease.