Research Scientist of Cachar Cancer Hospital will represent India at the UNESCO; "We're proud of her", said Dr Ravi Kannan

Dr Litika Vermani hailing from Jammu is a researcher in the Cachar Cancer Hospital in Silchar and has recently been recognized as a research scientist. This time she is getting the opportunity to represent India at the UNESCO. In the field of cancer research, UNESCO and the Global Verium Project have jointly launched a special training program to find new directions in the treatment of cancer. A total of 16 scientists from 16 countries of the world have got the opportunity to take part in it. India is being represented by Dr Litika Vermani, a researcher at the Cachar Cancer Hospital in Silchar.

Talking to Barak Bulletin, she said that the human genome is being given importance in cancer research these days. Research is being done in different countries in this regard and new revelations are coming up. “The training program that I had the opportunity to participate in was supposed to be in the Netherlands initially. However, keeping in mind the current situation in the world, the organizers have decided to hold the entire event online. Many scientists from different parts of India applied for it but at last, I got the chance to attend”, said Dr Vermani.

The training will run for six months and will focus on human genes, especially cancer prevention. Many reputed scientists of the world will take part there. Among them is Dr Johann den Dunnen, an expert at the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), who will be accompanied by a special team from the Leiden Open Variation Database (LOVD).

Dr Litika Vermani joined the Cachar Cancer Hospital in 2017 as a researcher. She has studied molecular oncology and is discussing the causes of cancer in Northeast India. In this context, she said, “Dr Ravi Kannan is one of the most renowned cancer specialists in India. He has renovated the most reliable cancer medical institution of the entire Northeast in the Cachar district. The Government of India has awarded him the Padmashri for his mammoth work. The lifestyle in this area increases the risk of cancer. Many people use tobacco products and betel nut, which increases their risk of various types of cancer. There are many more problems that can only be addressed through awareness. Padmashri awardee Dr Ravi Kannan is working to spread cancer awareness in different areas besides treating cancer patients and we are also working with him.”

Not only in cancer but this human genome technology is also being used by scientists in different parts of the world to build resistance against the coronavirus. In this regard, Dr Litika Vermani said, “Coronavirus has grown much stronger this year than it was last year. That means it is changing its type which is called mutant. Through human gene research, we can certainly see how the human body can further increase its immunity. Research is being done in this area as well, but it is still in its infancy. I hope to meet with 15 researchers so that they can shed some light on this matter as well.”

India is being represented on international platforms like the UNESCO by Dr Litika Vermani, a scientist at the Cachar Cancer Hospital, and Padma Shri Dr Ravi Kannan is very happy and proud about it. He said that it is a matter of pride that Dr Litika Vermani is representing India on a platform like UNESCO today after conducting research at a medical institute in the Cachar district. But even more important is the message that hailing from a small-town region doesn’t mean that world-class research in medical science isn’t possible there. Today, a researcher doing research in the remote Cachar district is representing the entire country. The whole country will be looking up to her work today. Willpower and hard work are the most important things to succeed in any good deed. Dr Litika Vermani has overcome all the obstacles and reached the world stage today through her willpower and sheer hard work. It is an exemplary feat indeed.”