Dr Ashwin Oommen Philips
In 2019, I received a call from my mentor, Dr Prasanth Ganesan from JIPMER, who shared his vision of applying for a clinical research capacity-building project under the National Biopharma Mission (NBM), supported by the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC). That call marked the beginning of a journey that transformed not just my professional direction but also contributed to shaping the research landscape in oncology across India.
The initiative, which would become the Network of Oncology Clinical Trials India (NOCI), aimed to strengthen infrastructure and capacity for conducting high-quality, industry-sponsored and investigator-initiated clinical trials, while also building a prospective, collaborative cancer registry to support data-driven decision-making.
The project brought together six centers, including institutions from North, South, East, and West India, comprising a mix of government and private setups, with and without prior experience in regulatory trials. Each site assessed its clinical trial infrastructure, identified areas for improvement, and submitted a comprehensive plan as part of a joint ‘Letter of Intent’.
At that time, I was working at Christian Medical College (CMC), Ludhiana. Being part of the NOCI network was instrumental in helping establish and grow our Medical Oncology research unit. The mentorship, structure, and funding support enabled us to build capabilities in clinical trials, regulatory processes, and collaborative research—foundational skills that continue to shape my approach today.
Among the many exciting developments within NOCI are the ongoing Phase III investigator-initiated trials, such as:
POICE 2024: Post-operative intraperitoneal chemotherapy after interval cytoreduction in epithelial ovarian cancer.
Buprenorphine Study: An open-label, multi-centric, non-inferiority randomized controlled trial comparing sublingual buprenorphine versus oral tramadol for cancer pain. These studies represent a pivotal moment for Indian oncology—addressing local challenges through locally led research.
In 2024, I transitioned to the Amala Institute of Medical Sciences, another NOCI-affiliated center. Here, I had the opportunity to initiate two multi-centric observational studies grounded in real-world clinical questions:
TIDE-R: Total Neoadjuvant Therapy in High-Risk Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer – A Multi-centric Observational Study in the Indian Population.
MECASIS: Multi-centric Evaluation of Comparative Assessment of Staging in Endometrial Cancer – FIGO 2009 vs. FIGO 2023 and the Role of Molecular Insights in Stratification.
These studies aim to generate evidence for practice refinement in the Indian context. As we approach the Kerala Cancer Conclave 2025, I reflect with pride on this journey. NOCI is a testament to what can be achieved with vision, collaboration, and shared purpose—an Indian network capable not only of participating in research but leading it.
