IfWH at UCL had established an ongoing collaboration in Gynaecological Oncology with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, India. AIIMS is India’s premier institute for medical education, research and training. This has involved a number of meetings and exchanges between the UCL team (Prof Usha Menon, Dr. Ranjit Manchanda, Prof. Ian Jacobs) and the AIIMS team (Prof Neerja Bhatla, Prof G.K.Rath, Dr. Rakesh Thakur, Dr. Sandeep Mathur, Prof Lalit Kumar, Prof Raina, Prof A.Kriplani) over the last year to explore collaborative work in gynaecological oncology.

As part of this ongoing collaboration India’s first organised familial gynaecological cancer clinic is being established at AIIMS. Members of the AIIMS team (Prof Bhatla, Dr. Thakur) are currently visiting UCL / UCLH to gain experience in issues related to familial cancer risk assessment and management and to develop collaborations in other areas of mutual interest. Development of joint research projects, and co-ordinated research activity is being planned. In addition a visit by consultant pathologist Dr. Mathur is planned for September 2010.

There has been tremendous support across the board in both institutions in developing and taking this collaboration forward. Prof Vincent Emery Pro Provost South Asia recently met members of the AIIMS team visiting UCL and regular meetings and exchanges are planned to foster this venture. It is hoped this could lead to further collaborative work across other areas of gynaecological cancer and women’s health issues in the future.