LEAP / Challenge Buckets

1. Standardization of protocol for various cancers in resource-constrained settings

Standardizing cancer treatment protocols in resource-constrained settings is a complex but necessary endeavor. It requires a multidisciplinary approach, collaboration, and a focus on optimizing outcomes within the limitations of available resources.

You are required to:

• Identify steps and considerations for standardizing protocols in such settings.

• Identify what alliances with national and international cancer organizations, medical professionals, and experts are needed to develop or adapt standardized cancer treatment guidelines.

• Identify what solutions can encourage and support research to find more cost-effective and innovative treatment solutions.

2. Evidence-based screening in high-risk populations

Evidence-based screening in high-risk populations is essential for identifying individuals at greater risk of specific cancers and initiating early interventions. High-risk populations typically include individuals with specific risk factors, such as family history, genetic predisposition, or exposure to environmental hazards. What are some of the key considerations for implementing evidence-based screening in high-risk populations?

You are required to:

• Identify criteria for high-risk populations specific to the oncology context.

• Provide best-case scenarios for using existing risk assessment tools or suggest the need for developing new ones specific to different types of cancer.

• Elaborate on what existing public awareness and advocacy measures can support these initiatives at the community and policy levels.

3. How to set up a successful multidisciplinary team in a cancer practice?

Setting up a successful multidisciplinary team (MDT) in a cancer practice is essential for providing comprehensive and coordinated care to cancer patients. MDTs bring together various healthcare professionals with different specialties to collaboratively plan, deliver, and manage patient care. What are the steps to establish a successful MDT in a cancer practice?

You are required to:

• Identify the ideal composition of an MDT in oncology settings.

• Elaborate on a simple patient-centered approach, and on how to ensure that decisions are made with the patient's best interests in mind.

• Develop standardized processes and workflows for MDT meetings and patient care coordination that can serve as a blueprint in cancer care settings.

4. Role of artificial intelligence play in optimizing treatment decision-making and patient management in oncology?

Artificial intelligence (AI) in oncology aids in analyzing complex datasets to support personalized treatment plans and efficient patient management, ultimately improving clinical outcomes and care quality.

You are required to:

1. Identify areas in clinical oncology that are data intensive, complex and multimodal

2. Identify various stakeholders of a patient journey, data sources

3. What kind of clinical decision making, patient impact can be enabled upon AI implimention on the data?

4. How will the models improve itselft? what are the systems that can be put in place for continuous improvement of AI models?

5. Advances in Surgical Oncology for Organ-Preserving Techniques

Advances in surgical oncology for organ-preserving techniques focus on minimizing the functional and aesthetic impacts of cancer treatments while maintaining effective oncological outcomes. These techniques are particularly relevant in cancers where traditional approaches could lead to significant morbidity, emphasizing the need for innovative surgical strategies.

You are required to:

1. Identify mechanisms to improve adoption of minimally invasive techniques

2. How to Integrate Neoadjuvant Therapies as SOC

3. Develop a mechanism for multidiciplinary colloboration for decision making in surgical oncology

6. Personalizing Treatment in Precision Oncology

Personalizing treatment in precision oncology involves tailoring cancer therapies based on individual genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors to enhance treatment efficacy and minimize adverse effects. This approach aims to move away from the traditional "one-size-fits-all" model, addressing the unique characteristics of each patient's cancer.

You are required to:

1. Idetify areas in oncology where precision approach can be applied

2. Identify barriers in uptake of precision oncology in clinical practice

3. Comeup with practical solutions for addressing these barriers

4. Develop a processes and workflows for molecular tumor board meetings and patient care coordination that can serve as a blueprint in cancer care settings.

7. How do you create Risk assessment model adoption in oncology?

Adopting a risk assessment model (RAM) in oncology can significantly enhance clinical decision-making and improve patient outcomes. Risk assessment models help healthcare providers identify individuals at higher risk of developing cancer or experiencing specific outcomes. What are the steps to successfully adopt a RAM in oncology?

You are required to:

• Focus on a RAM that applies to the specific type of cancer or outcome you are targeting.

• Elaborate why the RAM is underused in clinical settings.

• Develop solutions for integrating the RAM into the clinical workflow to support healthcare providers in identifying high-risk patients and making informed decisions.

8. How can we ensure that the benefit to risk ratio of anti-cancer therapies is favourable?

Ensuring a favorable benefit-to-risk ratio of anti-cancer therapies is crucial for optimizing patient outcomes while minimizing adverse effects. This involves evaluating the therapeutic effectiveness against potential risks associated with treatments, ensuring that the benefits justify their use.

You are required to:

1. List out major parameters that a clinician uses to judge the risk and benefits of a therapeutic regimen

2. List of clinical parameters based on which you can objectively decide on the outcome of the therapy *eg: adverse reaction, QoL, satisfaction score etc.

3. Develop a schema for comprehensive evaluations of both short-term and long-term risks associated with anti-cancer therapies

4. How can this schema be implemented in the clinic?

9. Tailoring therapy to the unique way in which Indians experience cancer and respond to anti-cancer drugs

Tailoring therapy to the unique experiences of Indians with cancer and their responses to anti-cancer drugs is essential for improving treatment outcomes in a diverse population. Given the significant genetic, environmental, socio-economic, and lifestyle differences, personalized approaches can enhance the efficacy and safety of cancer therapies.

You are required to:

1. Identify various factors that a clinician considers while suggesting anti-cancer therapy to patients in India in various settings

2. What are population level differences one must consider while deciding on anti-cancer therapy?

3. What are the challenges in implementing global guidlines of therapy in India?

4. Priovide and describe a few ideas that can be used for tailoring anti-cancer therapy in India

1. Accessibility and affordability of immunotherapy in oncology care

The accessibility and affordability of immunotherapy in oncology care are critical factors that impact the availability of this advanced treatment to cancer patients. Immunotherapy has shown significant promise in the treatment of various cancers, but its cost and availability can be challenging for many patients. What are the potential solutions to enhance accessibility and affordability?

You are required to:

• Identify global patient access programs from other therapies (optional) that can serve as an example in oncology.

• Develop a path on how pharmaceutical companies work with healthcare providers and governments to find solutions for reducing the cost of

• immunotherapy and improving patient access.

  Look at what advocacy efforts can help push for legislative changes that improve access to affordable immunotherapy for cancer patients.

2. How can we effectively integrate emerging immunotherapies and targeted therapies into existing treatment protocols to improve patient outcomes?

Effectively integrating emerging immunotherapies and targeted therapies into existing treatment protocols is crucial for enhancing patient outcomes in oncology. This integration aims to leverage the strengths of both approaches, potentially leading to more effective and personalized cancer treatments.

You are required to:

1. Identify effectiveness of immunotherapies and targeted therapies, their advantages and challenges in using them in the clinic

2. Identify biomarkers that help in therapy decision making

3. List challenges in utilization of Immunotherapy and targeted therapies in all patients

4. Find possible solutions for these challenges

3. Impact of steroids on cancer immunotherapy

Steroids can have a significant impact on cancer immunotherapy, as they can modulate the immune response and potentially affect the effectiveness of immunotherapeutic treatments. The use of steroids in cancer patients receiving immunotherapy is a complex issue, and its impact can vary depending on several factors, including the type of immunotherapy, the timing of steroid administration, and the patient's circumstances. What are some of the key considerations regarding the impact of steroids on cancer immunotherapy?

You are required to:

• Elaborate on the optimal timing of steroid administration.

• Develop approaches that can help balance the potential benefits of managing side effects with the potential reduction in immunotherapy efficacy.

• Develop solutions on individualizing steroid administration in cancer care.

4. Navigating Immunotherapy Resistance in Oncology

Navigating immunotherapy resistance in oncology involves understanding the mechanisms that prevent effective immune responses against tumors, which can significantly hinder treatment outcomes. The resistance can necessitate tailored strategies to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapeutic approaches.

You are required to:

1. Identify current landscape of Immuotherapy and resistance mechanims

2. Identify combination therapies that are showing to overcome resistance to Immunotherapy

3. What are the current knowledge gaps in resistance mechanism to Immunotherapy

4. Prepare a list of possible ways to predict and overcome resistance to immunotherapy

1. How to bring chemotherapy/immunotherapy closer to patients' homes?

Bringing chemotherapy and immunotherapy closer to patients' homes can improve access to cancer treatment, enhance patient comfort, and reduce the burden of traveling long distances to receive care. What are some of the strategies and models for making chemotherapy and immunotherapy more accessible in a home or community setting?

You are required to:

• Identify barriers in the overall cancer care experience in India.

• Develop a roadmap for close collaboration among healthcare providers, patients, caregivers, and policymakers to address logistical, safety, and regulatory considerations in this space.

• Make a case for home-based cancer care models in specific rural settings in India.

2. Challenges in Early Cancer Detection and Prevention. How can we ensure Indian patients with cancer get detected earlier?

Challenges in early cancer detection and prevention in India are primarily driven by low awareness, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, and socio-economic barriers, leading to a high rate of late-stage diagnoses. With approximately 70% of cancer cases detected at advanced stages, enhancing early detection efforts is critical for improving survival rates.

You are required to:

1. Find solutions to improve awareness among general public

2. How can one improve access to screening?

3. List the challenges in early cancer detection in India?

4. Provide possible solutions and strategies to overcome these challgenes

3. Multimodal Pain Management in Oncology and Palliative Care

Multimodal pain management in oncology and palliative care focuses on employing a combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies to effectively alleviate pain while minimizing opioid use. This approach aims to enhance patient comfort and improve quality of life for individuals facing cancer-related pain.

You are required to identify and list various factors that can improve administration of palliative care and pain management. You may consider Implementing Multimodal Analgesia Protocols, Integrating Non-Pharmacological Interventions, Personalized Pain Management Plans etc

4. End-of-Life Care in Oncology: Ethical and Clinical Dilemmas

You are required to describe various ethical and clinical dilemmas in ehd-of-life care and ways to address these conundrums.

5. The importance of subcutaneous formulations from a cancer patient's perspective

The importance of subcutaneous formulations from a cancer patient's perspective lies in their potential to enhance comfort, convenience, and adherence to treatment regimens. These formulations can significantly reduce the time spent in healthcare settings and may alleviate some of the psychological burdens associated with intravenous therapies.

You are required to give a detailed writeup on how subcutaneous formulation is transforming cancer therapy administration in light of clinical evidences and patient convinience. List of challeneges and mechanisms to address these challenges to enhance the uptake of this formulations.

1. How can we bridge the gap between Innovation and Access in cancer treatment?

Bridging the gap between innovation and access in cancer treatment is essential for ensuring that all patients benefit from advancements in medical technology and therapies. This challenge is particularly pronounced in low- and middle-income countries, where disparities in healthcare infrastructure and resources can hinder timely access to innovative treatments.

You are required to give a detailed writeup on gaps that exist in access to innovations in cancer treatment and identify novel ways to bridge the gaps.

2. Develop a framework for overall cost of treatment or burden of cancer (and not just anti-cancer drugs) for pharmacoeconomic or cost-effectiveness evaluation

Establishing a robust framework for data sharing and data policy in oncology care is essential to facilitate research, improve patient outcomes, and enhance the quality of cancer treatment. This framework should balance the need for data accessibility with patient privacy and data security. How can a structured framework for data sharing and data policy be implemented in oncology care?

You are required to:

• Make a case for data stewardship at the central level.

• Propose a framework for data collection and integration at the central level.

• Develop solutions for balancing data accessibility to advance research and treatment with stringent privacy and security measures to protect patient information and rights.