What are the market entry strategies for a startup can establish to enter in developing countries like India?
I can recommend a couple of fields that start-ups can cater to service. There are a growing number of biopharmaceutical businesses which find it hard to perform the whole process of drug discovery in-house. India can potentially provide more affordable infrastructure for such processes. Perhaps, this explains the increase in contracts for the clinical research organisations specialising in drug discovery services along with custom manufacturing services. These services are largely focused on molecular biology, chemistry, pathology and bioinformatics.
Moreover, I have found some interesting information that relates specifically from a health-gain standpoint in the cancer field. There is an agreement that India’s immediate priorities should include improving preventive and primary care services to reduce the burden of disease linked to factors such as inadequately managed hypertension and, in the case of cancers, tobacco product use, indoor and outdoor pollution, and infections such as human papillomavirus, hepatitis B, and Helicobacter pylori. Diagnosis of diseases like oral, cervical, and breast cancers at earlier stages is also needed to save lives and reduce distress, especially when this can be linked to better and more accessible pain management. These are untapped opportunities that start-ups can leverage to build their businesses.
What is it about breast cancer that we still are not aware of?
Breast cancer is top cancer in women both in the developed and the developing world. As stated recently by the WHO, the key message is that early detection is needed to improve breast cancer outcome and survival, this remains the cornerstone of breast cancer control. As researchers around the world endeavour to make advanced developments in the field, we work in many active areas of research including:
- Breast cancer causes
- Causes and treatment of metastatic breast cancer
- Reducing breast cancer risk
- Managing ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
- New lab tests for breast cancer
- New imaging tests for breast cancer
- Breast cancer treatment
- Supportive care
Cancer is pandemic, is there any natural way to tackle the situation?
Absolutely. There is much epidemiological evidence that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables could lower the risk of certain cancers. The effect has been attributed, in part, to natural polyphenols. Besides, numerous studies have demonstrated that natural polyphenols could be used for the prevention and treatment of cancer. Potential mechanisms included antioxidant, anti-inflammation as well as the modulation of multiple molecular events involved in carcinogenesis.
This is an exciting topic! In our Biomolecular Research Centre at Sheffield Hallam University, this is one of our active research interests. We have recently published several journal articles on dietary polyphenols in the treatment of leukaemia (blood cancer) and their impact on standard chemotherapy treatments. You’ll be able to find details on our staff profiles and google scholar profiles on our website. We have just had another paper accepted in Oncotarget.
At Sheffield Hallam University, we are proud of our reputation in this area, I believe international students would greatly benefit from our new programme.