Kochi, April 18, 2025 — 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), today 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 Centre was inaugurated on the auspicious occasion of Vishu by Ms. V. Vigneshwari, IAS, District Collector and District Magistrate of Idukki, in the presence of Dr. Advani, SunAct’s co-founders Dr. Vijay Patil and Dr. Ashay Karpe, and other dignitaries from the oncology and healthcare ecosystem.
This collaboration, formalised in March 2025, represents a significant stride in delivering affordable, globally benchmarked cell and gene therapies to India, with a strong emphasis on precision oncology, pediatric care, and access to global clinical trials.
Dr. Suresh H. Advani, Founder, Smita Memorial Hospital, stated: “Over the decades, I have witnessed the evolution of cancer care in India — from limited options to remarkable possibilities. This new Centre of Excellence represents the next frontier: where science, compassion, and collaboration come together to transform patient outcomes. I am proud to see this movement rooted in Kerala, and confident that with SunAct’s scientific leadership, we are building a model for the future of oncology in India.”
Dr. Vijay Patil, Co-Founder, SunAct Cancer Institute, said: “We are honoured to launch the first Centre of Excellence in CAR T-Cell Therapy and Bone Marrow Transplantation in South India. With the visionary guidance of Dr. Suresh Advani, we are committed to making the most advanced cancer therapies — previously only available in elite global centres — both accessible and affordable for Indian patients. This marks a pivotal step in our mission to bring world-class precision oncology to every corner of India.”
Dr. Ashay Karpe, Co-Founder, SunAct Cancer Institute, noted: “This collaboration is a convergence of cutting-edge science and seasoned clinical wisdom. By combining SunAct’s pioneering Cell and Gene Therapies with Dr. Advani’s clinical legacy and Smita Memorial’s infrastructure, we are setting a new benchmark for how cancer should be treated — precise, humane, and accessible.”
Scientific Breakthroughs for Indian Patients
The newly launched Centre introduces India’s first CAR T-Cell Therapy for solid tumors — 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
– A dedicated Pediatric Oncology Program
The Centre will also accelerate access to Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT), clinical trials, and new immunotherapies — reinforcing a shared commitment to next-generation care.
Vision and Impact
This partnership goes beyond treatment. It marks the beginning of a pan-India movement to revolutionise cancer care, anchored in Indian scientific innovation and global collaboration: – Developing Made-in-India CGT platforms for Indian patient biology
– 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 CGT specialists
– Attracting global partnerships for joint research, biomanufacturing, and IP co-development
This Centre of Excellence is designed to become a lighthouse project — setting the standard for oncology care, research, and patient impact across India.
A Track Record of Scientific Firsts: SunAct’s Milestones
– 2023 – Establishment of SunAct Cancer Institute
– May–July 2024 – First CAR T-Cell Therapy in India for Rhabdomyosarcoma, Ovarian Cancer, Head & Neck Cancer, and Esophageal Cancer
– August 2024 – First TCR targeting TP53 mutation (Cholangiocarcinoma), First CAR T-Cell for Small Cell Lung Cancer
– September 2024 – First KRAS TCR & HER2+ CAR T-Cell Therapy for Gastric Carcinoma, Colorectal, and Salivary Gland Cancers
– October 2024 – First bispecific CS1-BCMA CAR-T (Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma), First bispecific TCR targeting TP53 & APC (Colorectal Cancer)
– November 2024 – First Claudin 18.2 CAR-T Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer
– January 2025 – First CAR-T Therapy for Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM)
– February 2025 – First Dual CD19/CD20 CAR-T Therapy for Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL)