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The icddr,b has launched its next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based cancer diagnostic service - a major step forward in making precision cancer care more accessible and affordable in the country.
Offered by the icddr,b Genome Centre, this is the most comprehensive molecular testing service of its kind in Bangladesh. It has been developed to support cancer specialists with faster, more accurate, and locally available diagnostics system to guide personalised treatment plans.
The centre is well positioned to play a vital role in improving outcomes and reducing the national cancer burden. It offers testing for breast, lung, colon, ovarian, and blood cancers, enabling doctors to intervene when treatment is most effective, said officials.
To facilitate patients' access, samples will be collected from any of the icddr,b diagnostics centres and booths at Mohakhali, Mirpur, Motijheel, Dhanmondi, Uttara, Niketon, Gulshan, and Baridhara.
The initiative addresses a longstanding call from Bangladesh's cancer specialist community to reduce dependence on overseas laboratories, according to an icddr,b announcement on Wednesday.
Currently, many patients wait for four to five weeks for results, often at a high cost and with questionable report quality. In contrast, the icddr,b will deliver reports in less than two weeks, backed by internationally trained experts, cutting-edge equipment, and globally benchmarked standards, it added.
"We are taking a transformative step towards accessible and precise cancer care in Bangladesh," said Dr Md Mustafizur Rahman, Senior Scientist and Acting Senior Director of Infectious Diseases Division at the icddr,b.
"We are ensuring the highest quality through globally trained professionals, rigorous validation, and world-class infrastructure. Our commitment is to provide cancer specialists and patients with timely and trusted insights that can make all the difference in cancer care."
The service was developed under the leadership of icddr,b Executive Director Dr Tahmeed Ahmed, who envisioned the Genome Centre as a strategic initiative to strengthen national cancer care.
Dr Tahmeed said, "It was a gap we could not ignore. Our goal is to ensure that no patient has to wait for weeks or travel abroad for critical test results. We invite cancer specialists to work with us to bring this service to more people, who need it most."
"This is not just a service. It's a promise to deliver hope, trust, and better outcomes for all the parties in cancer treatment and management in Bangladesh," he added.
The announcement follows a high-level visit to the icddr,b Genome Centre on 12 December 2024 by the Oncology Club of Bangladesh, and joined by members of the Lancet Oncology Editorial Board, and SAARC cancer specialists - attending the Bangladesh International Cancer Congress.
The delegation praised the icddr,b's efforts to build world-class diagnostic capacity and advance cancer care in the country.
A 2025 nationwide study by BSMMU found that cancer affects over 100 in every 100,000 people in Bangladesh, with breast, oral, stomach, throat, and cervical cancers being the most common. Many patients are facing delays in diagnosis, whereas early and reliable testing is essential.
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