ICMR launches major cancer screening initiative in J&K, seeks research proposals

Srinagar, Jun 4: In a significant move aimed at strengthening cancer prevention and early detection in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Council of Medical Research has invited Expressions of Interest (EOI) from researchers and institutions across the Union Territory for a large-scale implementation research project on the prevention and screening of oral, breast, cervical and gastrointestinal cancers.
The initiative comes amid growing concerns over the rising cancer burden in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in the Kashmir Valley, where gastric (stomach) and oesophageal cancers remain among the most commonly reported malignancies.
According to ICMR, more than 67,000 cancer cases were reported in J&K between 2018 and 2024, highlighting the urgent need for improved screening, early diagnosis and timely treatment.
The proposed four-year implementation research study will seek to develop an evidence-based and scalable model for cancer prevention and screening that can be integrated into the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD). The programme will focus on increasing screening coverage, ensuring early diagnosis, and strengthening referral and treatment pathways across the healthcare system.
Under the project, screening interventions will target women aged 30 years and above for breast cancer, sexually active women aged 30 to 60 years for cervical cancer, adults aged 18 years and above for oral cancer, and individuals aged 40 years and above for gastrointestinal cancers.
The study is expected to be conducted through district hospitals, community health centres, primary health centres and Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, with at least one full district required to be included in each proposal.
ICMR has emphasised the need for a culturally sensitive and geographically adapted model tailored to the unique healthcare challenges of Jammu and Kashmir. The project will also explore ways to involve non-specialist doctors, frontline healthcare workers and ASHAs in cancer screening, counselling, referral and follow-up care.
Among the key objectives are improving awareness about cancer prevention, increasing participation in screening programmes, ensuring that screen-positive individuals receive timely diagnosis and treatment, and generating evidence that can guide future policy decisions.
The council said the study will use both quantitative and qualitative research methods and will evaluate indicators such as screening uptake, confirmed cancer cases, treatment initiation rates, patient satisfaction, community awareness levels and programme feasibility.
Researchers from medical colleges, universities, research institutions, government and semi-government organisations, and eligible NGOs are invited to submit proposals through the ICMR’s online EPMS portal. Collaborative and multidisciplinary projects with strong links to public health systems will be given preference.
The online submission process opened on June 1, and the last date for submission of EOIs is June 25, 2026. Shortlisted teams will subsequently work with ICMR and the J&K government to develop a detailed implementation protocol.
Health experts believe the initiative could play a crucial role in improving early cancer detection in the region, where many patients continue to be diagnosed at advanced stages, reducing treatment success rates and increasing healthcare costs.
If successfully implemented, the programme is expected to strengthen cancer screening services at the grassroots level and provide a roadmap for a sustainable and scalable cancer control strategy across Jammu and Kashmir. (KNO)