OU-AIG Hospitals Research Wins First Prize At World Congress Of Gastroenterology
OU research scholar Anil Vashapaka, a PhD scholar working at the Asian Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the research wing of AIG Hospitals: Reports
HYDERABAD: Collaborative research by Osmania University (OU) and AIG Hospitals on the molecular landscape of colorectal cancer in Indian patients has won the first prize in the luminal session under the Young Investigator Awards at the World Congress of Gastroenterology (WCOG) 2026 in New Delhi.
OU research scholar Anil Vashapaka, a PhD scholar working at the Asian Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the research wing of AIG Hospitals, received the award for his work on the multi-omic landscape of colorectal cancer specific to the Indian population.
The research, presented at WCOG, focused on identifying novel molecular signatures, cancer drivers and potential therapeutic targets associated with colorectal cancer, according to a statement. He said it aimed to improve understanding of the molecular characteristics of the disease among Indian patients and contribute to population-specific approaches in precision oncology.
The work was carried out under the guidance of Dr V.V. Ravikanth, genomics and sequencing laboratory, Asian Healthcare Foundation, Hyderabad, and Dr K. Srinivas Naik, Centre for Plant Molecular Bilogy, department of genetics and biotechnology, OU.
The collaborative programme received clinical and scientific support from the AIG Hospitals team, including Chairman Dr D. Nageshwar Reddy, Dr G.V. Rao, Dr M. Sasikala and Dr V.V. Ravikanth. Their clinical, translational and scientific expertise contributed to the research programme and its application in cancer genomics and precision medicine, Vashapaka said.
Osmania University said the recognition the growing role of multi-omics, cancer genomics and bioinformatics in precision oncology, particularly in understanding population-specific health challenges. It also points to the potential of academic-clinical collaborations to translate genomic research into clinically relevant insights.