Translational research refers to making use of knowledge derived from studies in the laboratory to improve the diagnosis and care of patients with cancer, or to learn how best to prevent cancer. Translational research is a critical component of the overall INCTR initiative.

The main goals of the program are to provide support for the development of correlative science studies, to build capacity for optimal practice and integration into patient care of relevant molecular diagnostic and prognostic assays, to accrue information on how the biology of cancers in developing countries both differ from that of corresponding cancers in western countries and is relevant to their clinical behavior and response to particular treatment approaches, and how differences in the genetics of populations in developing countries, in the context of specific environmental exposures, may influence their risk of developing cancer. Additionally, the program is committed to helping build the requisite resources that are necessary for the conduct of correlative science studies in countries with limited resources.

To date, much of the work has been devoted to the analysis of molecular sub-types of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in India. This work is a component of the on-going treatment protocol currently in progress and has involved the training of laboratory scientists in India in molecular sub-typing.

A training course for laboratory scientists in developing countries in human papilloma virus sub-typing will be held later in 2006. This initiative is a collaborative effort between INCTR and Institut Pasteur.