Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: In a major boost to public health research, the Directorate of Health Services (DHS), Goa, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Centre for Cancer Epidemiology (CCE), Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, for the implementation of the Goa CARES: Longitudinal Cohort Study 2025 in collaboration with the University of Oxford, United Kingdom.
The MoU was signed by Dr. Rupa Naik, Director of Health Services, Goa, and Dr. Rajesh Dikshit, Director of the Centre for Cancer Epidemiology, Tata Memorial Centre, marking the commencement of one of the largest public health research projects ever undertaken in the state.
The study aims to track the health of one lakh adults across Goa over the next ten years, generating crucial data on the causes and risk factors associated with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic respiratory conditions and cancer.
Officials noted that NCDs currently account for nearly 75 per cent of the disease burden in Goa, highlighting the urgent need for long-term research and preventive healthcare strategies.
The findings from the study are expected to provide valuable evidence for policy formulation, improve disease prevention programmes and strengthen early detection and intervention efforts across the state.
The collaboration brings together expertise from Goa’s health department, Tata Memorial Centre and the University of Oxford, reflecting a shared commitment to advancing healthcare through research, innovation and international cooperation.
Authorities said the Goa CARES initiative is expected to play a key role in shaping future public health policies and improving the overall well-being of citizens across the state.
