Mumbai, In commemoration of World Cancer Day, Illuminate 3.0 – an Oncology Leadership Townhall 3.0 was hosted and led by Dr. Sewanti Limaye, Director – Medical & Precision Oncology, Sir. H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital, and also the Organising President & Program Convenor of the event. The three-day multidisciplinary oncology symposium was hosted at the Jio World Convention Centre, convening leading global and Indian oncology experts to discuss advances in precision oncology, diagnostics, immunotherapy, cellular therapies, and emerging cancer vaccines.
The event was flagged off with an introductory speech by Dr. Sewanti Limaye, setting the context and was followed by insightful keynote discussions where prominent names in the global oncology ecosystem, from the likes of Dr. Wafik El Deiry and Dr. Ben Wesphalen, participated. As a part of the inaugural phase, Veteran filmmaker and cancer survivor Mr. Rakesh Roshan marked his presence at Illuminate 3.0 and presented awards to oncologists, recognising their service and contributions to cancer care.
The discussions during the day spanned multiple branches of cancer, including Precision Oncology, Breast Oncology, Paediatric Oncology, Adult Hemato-Oncology and, and captured critical aspects, including CAR-T cell therapy, advanced immunotherapeutics, precision oncology, and emerging cancer vaccines. Illuminate Oncology Townhall 3.0 served as a platform for meaningful, evidence-led conversations shaping the future of cancer care. Insights on critical topics centric to strengthening the Indian oncology ecosystem like focusing on multi-cancer early detection and importance of new-age cancer detection methods, evolution of cancer-care treatment over decades, what’s next in the role of immunotherapy and precision medicine, and issues with access to having novel drugs in India – how to bridge the gap for seamless approvals.
True to its name, the forum sought to enlighten the oncology community by fostering pan-specialty collaboration, breaking clinical silos, and reinforcing the role of multidisciplinary decision-making in improving outcomes.
The evening of day 1 at Illuminate witnessed the gracious presence of leading actress and cancer advocate Hina Khan. In her presence, the audience was enriched with a vibrant dance performance “Karuna Shakti” celebrating life with a blend of Bharatanatyam and Odissi performance. The art performed by a husband and wife, where the latter is a breast cancer survivor, added a strong message of solidarity, support and cultural dimension that reflected the spirit of healing and unity.
As a breast cancer warrior herself, Hina Khan underlined the importance of preventive testing to keep breast cancer at bay in a fireside chat. Followed by this, Hina Khan walked the ramp along with breast cancer survivors, underscoring the significance of Nari Shakti.
Dr. Tarang Gianchandani, Group CEO – Healthcare Initiatives and Chief Executive Officer, Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital, said,
“Cancer continues to rise at an alarming pace and has become a serious concern for communities across the world. As a leading healthcare institution in India, we believe it is our responsibility to work towards a healthier society by enabling access to globally benchmarked medical practices for the prevention, treatment, and management of cancer.
This three-day initiative has been envisioned to bring together leading oncology experts from across the globe under one roof to exchange knowledge, deliberate on pressing challenges, and explore the future of cancer care. Our shared goal is to strengthen the delivery of advanced treatments and ensure quality, patient-centric care for those impacted. I extend my sincere gratitude to all the eminent medical experts who have taken the time to be part of this collective effort to align cancer care with evolving global realities and patient needs.”
Dr. Sewanti, Director of Medical and Precision Oncology, Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital, and the Convener of Illuminate Oncology Townhall 3.0, said, “Our focus remains steadfast on building a robust ecosystem for cancer treatment in India that thrives on research innovations, and it is only possible through a collaborative approach. Today, we witnessed a fine amalgamation of provoking insights from our colleagues across the world emphasizing on critical aspects of cancer, with most of them highly relevant to our geography.
Over the next two days, we look forward to a substantial amount of knowledge exchange that will align the medical experts across boundaries and equip them with real-life life-saving insights that will eventually help defy the growth of cancer.”
Marking a strong opening, Day One of Illuminate Oncology Townhall 3.0 highlighted how global expertise and patient-first, multidisciplinary approaches are shaping the future direction of oncology care in India.