Cancer is an affliction that upends lives which brings physical, emotional and financial burden to not only those affected, but also to their friends, family, and society in general. It is a dreadful disease that mostly leads to huge suffering and eventually to death for many.
Indian American Harit Nandani, who hails from Gujarat and lives in San Carlos, California has been playing an instrumental role in the development of the world’s first multi-cancer early detection test GalleriⓇ, which can detect the presence of DNA shed by cancer cells in your bloodstream.
Talking to Asian Voice from California, Harit said, “Every year millions of people die of cancer, several more who are diagnosed mostly suffer from huge pain. However, if cancer is detected at a very early stage, even before a person experiences any symptoms, it can be treated right away, significantly reducing the risks of suffering and death.”
Galleri, GRAIL's first multi-cancer early detection test uses advanced genomic sequencing technology and machine learning to detect over 50 types of cancer, including those that are typically difficult to detect. Harit has been working in cancer research for over 10 years and has been at GRAIL over the last five and a half years. He leads teams in the US and UK for the research and implementation of Galleri as Director of Clinical Data Management at the firm.
In fact, the test was successfully launched as a lab-developed test in the US with thousands of people already tested. It has successfully helped several hundred people by detecting their cancer. Currently, it is being assessed at a large scale by the UK NHS in a trial called NHS-Galleri. Harit is eagerly awaiting the launch of Galleri in his home country India, as he has seen many of his dear ones suffering from cancer, back home.
For the NHS-Galleri trial, over 140,000 people aged 50 to 77 have volunteered to take part in the trial after receiving an invitation letter from the NHS. Participants will attend three appointments over two years, about 12 months apart. If successful, the trial could transform early cancer detection in England. The study is now well into its second year and is closed to recruitment.
The recommended screening interval for the Galleri test is annually to provide the opportunity to detect more cancers early, according to the Galleri website (www.galleri.com). It is up to the patient’s healthcare provider to determine the appropriate screening interval based on the individual’s underlying risk factors.
Harit, who went to the US to study pharmaceutical science and clinical research after schooling in the city of Rajkot, has been an inspiration for many others back in India. His work profile involves collaborating with scientists, statisticians and doctors on challenging projects that could last several years - clinical research is impactful work that takes rigor and time to show successful results. However, according to Harit it is his dream to get mankind free from this public health crisis that keeps him on his toes all the time.