In a landmark collaboration that bridges visionary science with decades of clinical excellence, SunAct Cancer Institute and Smita Memorial Hospital, founded by the Father of Medical Oncology, Dr Suresh H. Advani (Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan), have announced the opening of South India’s premier Centre of Excellence in CAR T-Cell Therapy and Bone Marrow Transplantation at Smita Memorial Hospital in Thodupuzha, Idukki district, Kerala.
The newly launched Centre introduces India’s first CAR T-cell therapy for solid tumours, a major milestone in global oncology and currently unavailable elsewhere in the country.
In addition to CAR-T, the Centre will offer TCR (T-Cell Receptor) Therapies; TIL (Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes); Gamma Delta T-Cell Platforms; Gene Therapies; and a dedicated Paediatric Oncology Programme
The Centre will also accelerate access to Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT), clinical trials, and new immunotherapies, reinforcing a shared commitment to next-generation care.
The partnership is focused towards creating equitable access to elite therapies across underserved regions; launching internationally benchmarked clinical trials from tier-2/3 cities; building a training ecosystem to develop the next generation of oncologists, researchers, and cell and gene therapy (CGT) specialists; and attracting global partnerships for joint research, biomanufacturing, and IP co-development.
