Markey Welcomes Indian Sister Center

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 5, 2011) — The University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center has formed an international partnership with Kailash Cancer Hospital in Waghodia, Baroda, India.

The relationship between the two centers was made official at a "sister center" signing ceremony held at the University of Kentucky this morning. At the ceremony, representatives from both institutions signed a memorandum of understanding outlining plans for cooperative initiatives in cancer prevention and treatment, research collaboration and personnel exchanges for training and education.

Dr. Yogendra Shah and Dr. Vikram Patel were present on behalf of Kailash Cancer Hospital. The Markey Cancer Center was represented by its director, Dr. Mark Evers, and Vivek Rangnekar, one of Markey's prominent cancer researchers.

Rangnekar, a UK professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, played a leading role in bringing the two centers together.

"This international collaboration between the Markey Cancer Center and Kailash Cancer Center is a new milestone that will facilitate the exchange of educational, scientific, and clinical expertise in oncology," Rangnekar said. "Such an exchange is expected to provide a greatly enriching professional experience and a synergistic outcome at the participating institutions. Over the years, it will lead to new discoveries and approaches for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer."

Evers remarked that Markey and its new Indian sister center are similar in many ways.

"We see similar types of patients, and we see some of the same challenges that our colleagues at Kailash do," Evers said. "They are in a largely rural area, and smoking is a major challenge for them as it is for us here."

Kailash Cancer Hospital is Markey's second international sister center. Shanghai First People's Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, in China, became Markey's first sister center in April, 2010.

"That has been a tremendously productive partnership, and it was on the strength of that experience that we decided to go ahead with a second sister center in India," Evers said. "I hope there will be many more."

MEDIA CONTACT: Keith Hautala, (859) 257-1754, ext. 231; keith.hautala@uky.edu