SunAct Cancer Institute & Smita Memorial Hospital Launch CAR T-Cell Therapy Centre

The collaboration aims to offer affordable, globally benchmarked cell and gene therapies, emphasizing precision oncology, pediatric care, and access to international clinical trials.

SunAct Cancer Institute and Smita Memorial Hospital have opened a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for CAR T-Cell Therapy and Bone Marrow Transplantation at Smita Memorial Hospital in Thodupuzha, Kerala.

The collaboration, formalized in March 2025, aims to offer affordable, globally benchmarked cell and gene therapies, emphasizing precision oncology, pediatric care, and access to international clinical trials.

Expanding Access to Advanced Cancer Therapies

Dr. Suresh H. Advani, Founder of Smita Memorial Hospital, stated, “This Centre represents the next frontier in cancer care, combining science, compassion, and collaboration to improve patient outcomes. With SunAct’s leadership, we are setting a model for the future of oncology in India.”

The Centre will introduce CAR T-Cell Therapy for solid tumors and offer additional therapies like TCR (T-Cell Receptor) Therapies, Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TIL), and Gene Therapies. A dedicated pediatric oncology program, along with bone marrow transplantation (BMT) and clinical trials, will also be available.

Dr. Vijay Patil, Co-Founder of SunAct Cancer Institute, added, “We are proud to launch this Centre in South India, making the most advanced therapies affordable and accessible to Indian patients. This marks an important step in our mission to bring world-class precision oncology to all regions of India.”

Furthermore, this Centre aims to increase access to advanced therapies, particularly in underserved regions, and launch clinical trials from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. It will also serve as a training hub for oncologists and researchers, to attract global partnerships in research and biomanufacturing.