Project 1: “Molecular Characterization of HPV testing Using Hybrid Capture: Integrating Phenotypic and Genotypic Analysis”

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the leading cause of cervical cancer, which continues to disproportionately affect women from underprivileged communities due to limited access to preventive healthcare and screening services. This project aims to bridge the gap between cutting-edge molecular research and community outreach by implementing Hybrid Capture technology for HPV testing.

Through this initiative, CPAA will conduct community-based cervical cancer screening programs, focusing on underprivileged and at-risk women. Samples collected will undergo Hybrid Capture analysis, enabling both phenotypic and genotypic characterization of HPV strains. This dual approach will provide critical insights into the prevalence of high-risk HPV genotypes in the community, their correlation with clinical outcomes, and potential protective or susceptibility markers.

The project further integrates awareness and education campaigns to empower women with knowledge about cervical cancer prevention, HPV vaccination, and the importance of regular screening. Results from the molecular analysis will not only guide individual-level preventive measures but also contribute to population-level data, strengthening public health strategies and scientific understanding of HPV-related cancer risks in India.

Ultimately, this project seeks to create a sustainable model of translational research, where laboratory innovations like Hybrid Capture are directly applied to community outreach programs, ensuring that the benefits of advanced molecular diagnostics reach the most vulnerable populations.

Project 2: “Eliminating Cervical Cancer through Free HPV Vaccination”

Vaccination is recognized as the most effective preventive measure against cervical cancer. However, accessibility to vaccines and awareness about their importance remain critically low among socio-economically disadvantaged groups.

The project “Eliminating Cervical Cancer through Free HPV Vaccination” aims to bridge this gap by providing free HPV vaccines to underprivileged girls, thereby safeguarding their health and ensuring a future free from the burden of cervical cancer. Alongside vaccination, the initiative will incorporate community-based education and awareness programs, engaging girls, parents, and caregivers to emphasize the significance of prevention and long-term protection.

In partnership with schools, NGOs, and healthcare providers, the project will conduct vaccination camps in underserved communities, while also implementing systematic monitoring and evaluation to track coverage and impact. By combining access to life-saving vaccines with community empowerment, this initiative directly supports both national and global goals to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health concern, while addressing health inequities and protecting future generations.

Project 3:  Standardized Approaches to HPV Vaccination and HPV DNA Screening for Cervical Cancer Prevention and Biomarker Identification

This seeks to develop optimized, evidence-based approaches for HPV vaccination and DNA testing. Leveraging Hybrid Capture molecular technology, the study will establish sensitive and reproducible methods for genotype detection while designing scalable vaccination models tailored to underserved populations.

By uniting scientific rigor with community-based implementation, the initiative will ensure ethical oversight, systematic monitoring, and measurable outcomes. Integrating vaccination and molecular screening into a single early detection framework, the project aims to lower cervical cancer incidence and mortality, especially among vulnerable groups. The outcomes will provide a replicable model for large-scale prevention, advancing both national and global goals of eliminating cervical cancer as a public health priority.

Psychosocial Projects: To Study the Psychosocial Effect of Cancer On Patients And Family Members

B. RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS: (2012 – 2022)

Clinical Implications of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Oral Cancer

2022: Hetal Damani Shah and Dhananjaya Saranath

Modern Research Dentistry, Published: June 03, 2022 Volume 7 – Issue 2

Oral cancer is a high incidence cancer with well-established risk factors including tobacco, alcohol, areca nut, and HR-HPV 16/18. Additional risk factors such as Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with genetic susceptibility, disease progression and prognosis. A comprehensive review of clinically relevant SNPs is synopsized in the current article.

Cervical Cancer in India: Prevention and Control

2022: Dr. Dhananjaya Saranath
SCRIBE, Annual Science Journal, Sophia College (Autonomous), Mumbai | Volume 3, 2022
Cervical cancer ranks as the second most common cancer in females in India with 123,992 new cases annually, and 77,348 deaths (25% of global burden). Every 7-8 minute a woman in India dies due to the cancer. Cervical Cancer is caused by High-Risk Human Papilloma Virus (HR-HPV) and is preventable by simple means of HPV vaccination.

Perceived Risk, Anxiety and Alexithymia in Sisters of Breast Cancer Patients
 2018: Veena Mishra and Dhananjaya Saranath
Journal Womens Health, Issues7 Care 2018, 7:2. DOI: 10.4172/2325-9795.1000303

High-Risk Human Papillomavirus in Oral Cancer: Clinical Implications.
 Subuhi Yete, Wendy D’Souza, Dhananjaya Saranath Oncology, 94(3), 133 – 141, 2018.

Whole genome expression profile in chewing-tobacco-associated oral cancers: a pilot study. Medical Oncology
2015: Sanjukta Chakrabarti, Shaleen Multani, Jyoti Dabholkar, Dhananjaya Saranath
doi: 10.1007/s12032-015-0483-4 , 32:60-71, 2015.

Editorial: Current status of cancer burden : Global and Indian Scenario
2014: Dhananjaya Saranath and Aparna Khanna | Biomedical Research Journal, 1 (1), 2014.

Biomedical Research Journal
 2014: Editors–in-Chief: Dr. Dhananjaya Saranath & Dr. Aparna Khanna
April Issue Volume 1, Issue 1, pp1-85, 2014.

Perception of young adults toward hookah use in Mumbai
Karnik Dani K, Oswal K, Maudgal S, Saranath D Indian Journal Cancer 2013

Assessing long-term motivation of trained volunteers of a psycho-oncology workshop.
 2013: Asawari Gupta, Dhananjaya Saranath The National Medical J India, 26(3) 184-185, 2013

Genome-wide disease association study in chewing tobacco associated oral cancers
2012: Renu Bhatnagar, Jyoti Dabholkar, Dhananjaya Saranath
Oral Oncology, 2012, 48 (9): 831-835, 2012 | DOI information: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2012.03.007

C. ABSTRACTS AND POSTER PRESENTATIONS:

Association between demographic features and perceived social support in the mental adjustment to breast cancer.
Dr. Veena Shukla Mishra, Dr. Dhananjaya Saranath. Psycho-oncology, 28(3), 629-634, 2019

Assessment of coping in hematological childhood cancer patients.
 Mallika Narayan , Veena Shukla Mishra, Dhananjaya Saranath.
Presented at in 2019 Kochi conference on Palliative care | Paper Awarded 2nd Prize.

Understanding the Experiences of Breast Cancer Patients in Seoul, South Korea-Patient Reported Outcome Study
 Maudgal S, Han W | 44th Annual Meeting of Korean Cancer Association and 4th International Cancer Conference, Seoul-21st – 22nd June, 2018

Alexithymia in Breast Cancer Patients and Their Sisters in Seoul
 Maudgal S, Han W, e-Poster presentation | UICC World Cancer Congress, Kuala Lumpur-1st-4th October, 2018

Patient Engagement for Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients-Whats App Counseling
 Maudgal S, e-Poster presentation | UICC World Cancer Congress, Kuala Lumpur-1st-4th October, 2018

Perceived risk, anxiety and Alexithymia in sisters of breast cancer patients.
 Dr. Veena Shukla Mishra and Dr. Dhananjaya Saranath. Presented at UICC 2018 conference, Kuala Lampur, Malaysia.

Assessing the quality of life among caregivers of patients with hematological cancer.
 Dr. Veena Shukla Mishra and Dr. Dhananjaya Saranath.  Presented at UICC 2018 conference, Kuala Lampur, Malaysia. 16 participant

Challenges in India About Breast Cancer and Breast Reconstruction: Methil B, Maudgal S, CANREHAB 2017 | Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai-7th-9th April, 2017

Knowledge and attitude towards cervical cancer screening among women in Mumbai, India.
Ms. Masara Shameem, Dr. Veena Shukla Mishra and Dr. Dhananjaya Saranath (Study Completed), 2014

Alexithymia in children with cancer and their siblings
 Veena Shukla Mishra, Shubha Maudgal, Stephanie C.P.M. Theunissen, Carolien Rieffe
Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 72 , 266–268, 2012

D. Communicating Paper’s:

Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers in cervical cancer: A comprehensive review, communicated paper- Prasad.P (Priya Prasad) & Khare.N  (Dr. Noopur Khare) (2025)

Precision in prevention: Optimizing HPV Screening Systems, communicated paper- Lawrence.R  (Rochelle Lawrence) & Khare.N (Dr. Noopur Khare) (2025)

E. LIST OF PUBLICATIONS IN THE FIELD OF CANCER

1. The Role of a Counsellor in Understanding Treatment Options- PsychoOncology 2001, A Conference on Emotional, Social, Psychological, Spiritual and Caring aspects of Cancer, 26 and 27th November, 2001, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore
2. The Role of a Counselor in Understanding Treatment Options-World Conference on Breast Cancer, June 4-8, 2002 at the Victoria Conference Centre, Victoria, Canada
3. Breast Cancer Incidence and Screening Measures in Native and Immigrant South Asian Women: A Comparative Study, R. Serene Perkins, M.D., Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University; Shubha Maudgal, Ph.D.,; Lavonne Urban, Richard Treat, M.D., Chief, and Prasanta K. Raj, M.D., Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Fairview Hospital/Cleveland Clinic Health Systems, Cleveland, OH, Research Study in 2003
4. Counseling Patients with Cancer: An Indian Perspective, Research Study by Shubha Maudgal, Cancer Patients Aid Association, India and Khushnud A. Dhanbhoora, Ball State University, 2004
5. HPV Screening for Prevention and Early Detection of Cervical Cancer-A collaborative project between Reliance Life Sciences, Navi Mumbai and CPAA, Mumbai, Investigators-Dr. Mrs. Dhananjaya Saranath, RLS, Dr. Mrs. Smita Dharap, CPAA, Dr. Mrs. Shubha Maudgal, CPAA, 2006
6. Art Therapy for Children with Cancer-Vinaya Chacko and Shubha Maudgal, CPAA, SIOP conference, 16-21st September 2006, Geneva, Switzerland
7. Reaching the Hard to Reach-Shubha Maudgal, Workshop at Reach to Recovery conference “Jagruti”, Mumbai December 2007.
8. Problems Faced by Parents of Childhood Cancer Patients in Mumbai- Susmita Mitra and Shubha Maudgal, SIOP conference, 30th October-4th November, 2007, Mumbai, India
9. Reaching the Hard to Reach-Shubha Maudgal, Oral presentation at World Conference on Breast Cancer, June 4-8, 2008 at Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
10. Cancer on the Internet-Shubha Maudgal and Aditi Bapat, Poster presentation at UICC World Cancer Congress, 27-31 August 2008, Geneva, Switzerland.
11. Study on tobacco use and awareness amongst marginalised children, Shubha Maudgal, Susmita Mitra, Neeta More, Shital Raval, CPAA Report on research done under the Capacity Building Programme funded by UICC, Indian Journal of Cancer 2010 Jul;47 Suppl 1:14-8.
12. Study on Tobacco use by School Children and Modalities for Motivation to Quit-Shubha Maudgal, Shital Raval, Nimit Lad, Sharmishtha Rudra, Research study with students from Duke’s University, USA, 2009.
13. Development of Appropriate Breast Cancer Support Group, Alison Macdonald, Shubha Maudgal, Research Study with student from University of London, 2009.
14. Total Management Concept in Breast Cancer-Shubha Maudgal, Y.K. Sapru-International Symposium on “Frontiers in Carcinogenesis and Cancer Prevention: Scientific Endeavours and Public Health Initiatives”, Reliance Life Sciences, Navi Mumbai, 5th-7th February, 2010.
15. Emotional difficulties experienced by childhood cancer patients’ siblings-Veena Shukla, Maitreyi Nigwekar, Shubha Maudgal-Oral presentation at World Cancer Congress of International Union against Cancer, Shenzhen, China, 19-21 August 2010.
16. Tobacco Habits of School Children in Mumbai- Shubha Maudgal, Shital Raval, poster presentation at World Cancer Congress of International Union against Cancer, Shenzhen, China 19-21 August 2010.
17. Effective branding and marketing through fundraising activities-Piali Syam and Shubha Maudgal poster presentation at World Cancer Congress of International Union against Cancer, Shenzhen, China 19-21 August 2010
18. Tactics Used by Tobacco Industry for Advertising in Mumbai-Shital Raval, Helen Rendell, Shubha Maudgal-Oral presentation at 2nd National Conference on Tobacco or Health, Mumbai-23rd-25th September, 2010.
19. Role of Celebrities in Motivating Tobacco Control-Piali Syam and Shubha Maudgal- Oral presentation at 2nd National Conference on Tobacco or Health, Mumbai-23rd-25th September, 2010.
20. Study on tobacco use and awareness amongst marginalised children in India-Shital Raval and Shubha Maudgal- Oral presentation at 2nd National Conference on Tobacco or Health, Mumbai-23rd-25th September, 2010.
21. Educating School Children on Tobacco Hazards-Shital Raval and Shubha Maudgal-Poster presentation at Asia Pacific Conference on Tobacco or Health, Sydney, Australia, 6 – 9 October 2010
22. Study on tobacco use and awareness amongst marginalised children in India-Shital Raval and Shubha Maudgal-Poster presentation at Asia Pacific Conference on Tobacco or Health, Sydney, Australia, 6 – 9 October 2010
23. Emotional difficulties experienced by childhood cancer patients’ siblings-Veena Shukla, Maitreyi Nigwekar, Shubha Maudgal-Oral presentation at 42nd SIOP Congress, Boston, USA-21-24th October, 2010
24. Emotional difficulties experienced by Breast Cancer Patients’ Siblings-Veena Shukla, Shubha Maudgal-Oral Presentation at 6th World Conference on Breast Cancer Foundation, Hamilton, Canada-7th-11th June, 2011.
25. Creation of a Dynamic Volunteer Team-Sustaining a Breast Cancer NGO- Susmita Mitra and Shubha Maudgal, Oral Presentation at 6th World Conference on Breast Cancer Foundation, Hamilton, Canada-7th-11th June, 2011
26. Alexithymia in children with cancer and their siblings-Veena Shukla Mishra, Shubha Maudgal, Stephanie C P M Theunissen, Carolien Rieffe, Journal of psychosomatic research 04/2012; 72(4):266-8.
27. Tobacco industry tactics with advertisements at the point of sale in Mumbai-Patel S, Rendell H, Maudgal S, Oswal K, Indian Journal of Cancer, Volume 50, Issue 3, 245-249, 2013
28. Twinning Programme to train cancer organisations in India in the CPAA methos-Report on research done under the Capacity Building Programme funded by UICC, 2012-2017
29. Perception of young adults toward hookah use in Mumbai- Dani, KK; Oswal, K; Maudgal, S; Saranath, D, Indian Journal of Cancer, Volume 52, Issue 4, 694-697, 2015
30. Breast Cancer Advocacy-Syam P, Maudgal S, 5th Breast Cancer Survivors Conference, Pune-17th-18th October, 2016
31. Challenges in India About Breast Cancer and Breast Reconstruction, Methil B, Maudgal S, CANREHAB 2017, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai-7th-9th April, 2017
32. Psycho-social effects of breast cancer on patient and siblings-Poster presentation at ”Leadership in action: Cancer Control in the Asia-Pacific region”, June 21 2017 – COEX conference center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
33. Project on Spreading Awareness about Prostate Health, 2018-30 lectures in 14 cities in India. Supported by Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories.
34. UICC and Pfizer Oncology “SPARC Metastatic Breast Cancer Challenge”, Advanced Breast Cancer Conference, November 7, 2017, Lisbon, Portugal
35. Challenges in India about Breast Cancer & Breast Reconstruction, Dr. Shubha Maudgal, Jayeeta Rajagopalan, Cancer Patients Aid Association; Dr. Nagraj Huilgol, Nanavati Hospital; Dr. Prabha Yadav, Tata Memorial Centre, 2018
36. Spiritual Change in Caregivers of Childhood Cancer Patients in India, Shah A, Maudgal S., SIOP Asia Conference, 2022, Online 17th April, 2022
37. “When Cancer grows old”-Project to study geriatric cancer in India supported by Sanofi Healthcare India, September 2022-August 2023.
38. Unveiling the therapeutic benefits of Expressive Therapies in Paediatric Cancer Care, Oral presentation by Karishma Pavaskar at CCI 2024, 22nd-24th June, Yokohama, Japan
39. Digital Session on Geriatric Cancer-UICC World Cancer Congress 17th to 19th September, 2024, Geneva with participation by Amanda Drury, Dublin, Ireland; Krishna Moorthy, London, UK; Vanita Noronha, Mumbai, India; Enrique Soto, Mexico City, Mexico; Martine Extermann, Florida, USA.
40. Effect of Expressive Therapies on Quality of Life of Paediatric Cancer Caregivers through Online Support Groups, Oral Presentation by Karishma Pavaskar at CCI 2025, 12-15th April, Riyadh, Saudi
41. Understanding the needs of Geriatric Cancer Patients in India, Poster accepted for SIOG 2025, 20-22nd November, 2025, Ghent, Belgium.
42. Unveiling the therapeutic benefits of Expressive Therapies in Paediatric Cancer adapted to Palliative Care Oral presentation by Karishma Pavaskar at IAPCON 2026, 12-15th February, Hyderabad, India