NIMS Hyderabad launches Telangana's first government genetic cancer testing facility
On Saturday, May 30, 2026, the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) in Hyderabad launched Telangana’s first government-sector Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) cancer testing facility. This state-of-the-art diagnostic center provides advanced molecular oncology services free of cost to patients, enabling local doctors to detect cancer-related genetic changes with greater accuracy.
The new facility was established under the Department of Health Research-Indian Council of Medical Research Advanced Molecular Oncology Diagnostic Services (DIAMOnDS) project. NIMS Director Dr. N Bheerappa explained that about 25 centres across India have been selected under this national initiative. Currently, NIMS is the only designated centre representing Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka.
The newly introduced NGS technology detects changes in DNA and RNA associated with cancers at an early stage. By identifying these genetic variations, the technology helps doctors diagnose cancer more precisely and choose the most effective, targeted treatment for their patients.
In addition to Next Generation Sequencing, the specialized laboratory at NIMS is offering a wide range of molecular diagnostic tests. These include PCR, Digital Droplet PCR (ddPCR), FISH, Immunohistochemistry (IHC), and other advanced molecular oncology tests. All of these services are being provided free of cost to needy patients.
Dr. Shantveer G Uppin, Professor and Head of Pathology, who leads the DIAMOnDS project at NIMS, stated that 1,443 cancer patients have already benefited from these free molecular oncology diagnostic services since 2024. This group of beneficiaries includes 784 lung cancer patients and 659 breast cancer patients.
According to Dr. Uppin, the specialised facility gives patients access to advanced cancer tests that are usually highly expensive and difficult to obtain. Patients from across the state of Telangana can now avail themselves of these specialised tests directly at NIMS, allowing medical teams to provide more targeted and effective treatment.
