title: First International Workshopson Provocative Questions (PQ) in Cancer Research, October-November 2014, New Delhi, Bengaluru, and Thiruvananthapuram, India.
abstract: In 2011, the National Cancer Institute (NCI, USA) introduced the Provocative Questions (PQ) Initiative, a new approach allowing active researchers to define major unsolved or neglected problems in oncology unaddressed by existing funding. Last year, the U.S. NCI teamed up with the Indian Department of Biotechnology (DBT) to pilot the PQ approach in three cities in India. Workshop outcomes includedthe generation of fundable "PQs" (perplexing questions understudied by the international scientific community), as well as the identification of several non-PQ projects and research-related issues of importance to DBT and other Indian funding groups. The workshops clearly indicated the need to expand beyond crafting "PQs" when considering the best areas for research funding in international settings. Nonetheless, the first set of PQ workshops provided a forum to discuss key issues regarding cancer research in India, including the paucity of cancer research funding, and the lack of relevant human resource training and technology sharing platforms. Continued open debate between researchers, funders and policymakers will be essential to effectively strengthen the cancer research portfolio in India.
authors.affiliation: Center for Global Health, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, USA 20892.
authors.forename: Preetha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rajaraman
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Bindu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dey
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, Netaji Subhas Sanatorium, 2nd Floor, P.O.: N.S.S., Kalyani 741251, West-Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Partha P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Majumder
authors.affiliation: Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine (inSTEM) and National Centre for Biological Science (NCBS),Bellary Road, Bangalore 560065.
authors.forename: Satyajit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mayor
authors.affiliation: Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram 695014, India.
authors.forename: M Radhakrishna
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Pillai
authors.affiliation: Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine (inSTEM) and National Centre for Biological Science (NCBS),Bellary Road, Bangalore 560065.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramaswamy
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Immunology, ArunaAsaf Ali Marg New Delhi 110067, India.
authors.forename: Chandrima
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shaha
authors.affiliation: Office of the Director, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, USA.
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Center for Global Health, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, USA 20892.
authors.forename: Sudha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sivaram
authors.affiliation: Center for Global Health, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, USA 20892.
authors.forename: Edward L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Trimble
authors.affiliation: Office of the Director, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, USA.
authors.forename: Edward E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Harlow
authors.affiliation: Secretary, Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: VijayRaghavan
keywords: Cancer Research; Department of Biotechnology; Funding; India; National Cancer Institute; Provocative Questions