NIMS Launches Telangana’s First Public Genetic Cancer Diagnostics Facility
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The latest facility is aimed at advancing access to precision oncology diagnostics within the public healthcare system.
Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) in Hyderabad has launched Telangana’s first government-sector Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) cancer testing facility.
The latest facility is aimed at advancing access to precision oncology diagnostics within the public healthcare system.
Established under the Department of Health Research–Indian Council of Medical Research (DHR-ICMR) Advanced Molecular Oncology Diagnostic Services (DIAMOnDS) project, the center seeks to offer advanced molecular diagnostic services.
The NGS technology enables detailed analysis of DNA and RNA alterations associated with cancer, enabling earlier detection, which is expected to support accurate diagnosis alongside improved treatment selection through precision medicine approaches.
By identifying specific genetic mutations and molecular biomarkers, it enables clinicians to tailor therapies based on an individual patient’s disease profile.
According to NIMS, the institute is among approximately 25 centres selected nationwide under the DIAMOnDS initiative and is currently the only participating centre serving Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka.
The newly established laboratory will provide a broad range of molecular oncology diagnostic services, including Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Digital Droplet PCR (ddPCR), Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH), Immunohistochemistry (IHC), and other specialised molecular tests.
Highlighting the importance of the facility, NIMS Director Dr N. Bheerappa stated the facility strengthens the institute’s role in delivering advanced cancer diagnostics within the government healthcare ecosystem while improving access to precision medicine for patients who may otherwise be unable to afford such testing.
In addition, outlining the impact of the initiative, Dr Shantveer G Uppin, Professor and Head of Pathology, who leads the DIAMOnDS project at NIMS, stated that around 1,443 cancer patients have already benefited from these free molecular oncology diagnostic services since 2024.
This includes 784 lung cancer patients and 659 breast cancer patients.
Dr Shantveer further stated that the specialised facility gives patients access to advanced cancer tests that are usually expensive and difficult to obtain.
Patients from across Telangana can avail themselves of these specialised tests at NIMS, enabling doctors to provide more targeted and effective treatment.
The launch comes as NIMS continues to strengthen its focus on advanced healthcare diagnostics.
In earlier development, the institution had announced a partnership with IISc Bengaluru to develop AI-based healthcare solutions, research, and precision medicine applications.
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