Fellowship - Molecular Pathology

**Fellowship in Molecular Pathology**

Conceptualized in the year 2004 as a philanthropic initiative for the Eastern and North-Eastern

parts of India and the neighboring countries, the Tata Medical Center (TMC) started operations in

Kolkata on May 16, 2011. The hospital is governed by a charitable trust - Tata Medical Centre Trust.

It is an integrated Oncology facility with well-trained professional staff and equipped with modern

facilities and the most contemporary medical equipment. The hospital was designed by Cannon

Design, a renowned architectural firm from North America. It is located on 13 acres of land at New

Town in Kolkata, West Bengal.

The Hospital, with a capacity of 437 beds, serves all sections of the society, with 75% of the

infrastructure earmarked for subsidized treatment for the underprivileged sections. It provides a

wide spectrum of services from diagnosis and therapy to rehabilitation and palliative support. The

Institution’s objective is to excel in service, education and research. To fulfil the above objectives

**About the Department**:
Molecular assays are performed in diverse fields of Medicine, including Oncology, Infectious
diseases, Pharmacogenomics and others, providing personalized medical care to patients. At Tata
Medical Centre, Kolkata, the diagnosis, sub-classification, management, prognostication and
monitoring of treatment response of various haemato-lymphoid malignancies and solid tumors
have been made possible by easy-to-understand and implement, customized panel-based molecular
assays using laboratory developed tests (LDTs) & commercially available tests; aiding in Precision
Medicine. The molecular laboratory is a state of the art facility hosting some of the best equipments
for the assays.

Separate facilities are available for Nucleic acids (DNA/RNA) extraction, Polymerase Chain Reaction
(PCR), Post-PCR process, Sequencing (Sanger sequencing and Next Generation Sequencing), Droplet
Digital PCR (ddPCR) and Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) laboratory, which provide a
comprehensive contamination-free environment and reliable assay results.

The Molecular Genetics Laboratory performs both Basic (RT-PCR/AS-PCR/Real Time Quantitative
PCR/Fragment Analysis/Sanger Seq) as well as Advanced Molecular techniques(Next Generation
Seq - IONTORRENT & ILLUMINA platforms/Digital PCR). Major workload of the laboratory
encompasses RQ-PCR for _BCR_-_ABL1_ gene fusion transcripts and _EGFR_ gene mutation analysis. The
laboratory handles nearly 4000 molecular assays of all types annualy, using all the different
platforms installed in the molecular laboratory including the Next Generation Sequencers (NGS)
equipments.

The departmental faculty participates in various extra-mural and intra-mural research projects
pertaining to haematological malignancies, solid tumours, and clinical trials, which are funded by
agencies like DBT-Wellcome Trust, Tata Trust, ICMR etc.

The fellow will learn and gain experience in a broad range of molecular techniques including
nucleic acid extraction and amplification (PCR, RT-PCR, real-time PCR), sequencing, capillary
electrophoresis, next generation sequencing technology. Trainees will be actively involved in test
development, performance, preparation of report of sign-out, participation in MDTs. Fellows are
also exposed to administrative aspects of directing a modern molecular diagnostics laboratory.

**Departmental Teaching / Training Programs**:
1. Post-Doctoral Fellowship programme in Molecular Pathology (2 Years Duration - 2 positions),
which is extendable to a 3rd year.

2. Training the DNB (Hematology) students (2 students per academic year).

3. Yearly Annual Workshop in Molecular Pathology; includes participants from various parts of
India, SAARC and other countries.

4. Regular Weekly Inter-lab Training Sessions (WITS) for continued training, education
and assessment of Consultants, Fellows and Technical Staff.

5. Training / Academic sessions to DMLT students.

6. Training Visitor - Observers from various institutes in India and abroad (1-3 month’s duration).

**Objectives of Fellowship Program**:
1. Broaden the knowledge of basic molecular biology and genetics.

2. Application of molecular techniques in the diagnosis of inherited and acquired

haematological disorders / Solid tumours.

3. Ability to perform a variety of molecular diagnostic assays.

4. An understanding of the heterogeneity, variability, and natural history of haematological

disorders.

5. Diagnostic and interpretative skills in a wide range of clinical molecular pathology.

6. The ability to supervise and direct the operations of a clinical molecular diagnostic

laboratory

7. Technical experience and knowledge in quality control and quality assurance procedures in

molecular pathology.

8. Ability to develop hypotheses and develop experiments in a research project.

**Fellowship Duration**:
The fellowship will be of 02 year duration. The fellow spends the first year pred