Sankara Nethralaya and Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (SRIHER) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Friday, 19th May 2023 for collaborative initiatives in the management of Retinoblastoma (childhood eye cancer).  The MoU signing ceremony coincided with the Retinoblastoma Awareness program held on May 15th, 2023 to observe World Retinoblastoma Week from 14th May – 20th May 2023.  

Dr. Girish S. Rao, President (MRF) and Dr Sudagar Singh, MD, SRIHER, signed this historic MoU, which will pave the way for the joint management of Retinoblastoma by a multidisciplinary team, including ocular brachetherapy, facilitation of multidisciplinary team meetings and the sharing of medical expertise, such as a medical physicist, etc.  With this collaboration, ocular oncologists from Sankara Nethralaya will be able to work routinely with radiologists, radiation oncologists and pediatric oncologists from SRIHER in a concentrated effort to save more human lives, preserve vision and globe salvage.

Present at the signing of the MoU were Dr. K. Balaji Singh, Dean, Dr Uma Shekar, Vice Chancellor, Dr. Mahesh Vakamudi Pro Chancellor, Dr. K. V. Somasundaram, Academic Officer, Dr. Sudhagar Singh, Medical Director, Dr. Radha Annamalai HOD – Ophthalmology, Dr. Julius Scott, HOD – Pediatric Oncology, and Dr. Satish Srinivas, HOD – Radiation Oncology from SRIHER.

Dr. T. S. Surendran, Chairman & Director – Pediatric Ophthalmology, Dr. Pramod Bhende, Director, Shri Bhagwan Mahavir Department of Vitreo Retinal Services and Dr. Suganeswari Ganesan, Senior consultant, (Vitreoretina and Ocular Oncologist) represented Sankara Nethralaya’s Retinoblastoma team of doctors on this occasion.