PRESS RELEASE - 13 October 2025
Sri Ramachandra Institute, Chennai wins the Fujio Cup Quiz (FCQ) at 20th anniversary NCRM NICHE 2025, an International Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Conference.
Cutting edge technologies in clinical application on NK cells for cancer & longevity and buccal epithelial cells for Urethral stricture presented
Chennai, 13th October, 2025: Kavya V and Pradeepa R from Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, India won the 20th Anniversary edition of the Fujio Cup Quiz (FCQ), marking the institute’s second consecutive championship in this prestigious international active knowledge gaining (AKG) event in the field of stem cells and regenerative medicine. Ravisagar K and Anirudh Bantwal Baliga from Ramaiah Institute of Technology, India emerged as Runner-up while Keerthana S & Jeothilashmi A from Rajalakshmi Engineering College showcased strong performance in the finals of the FCQ 2025. A special presentation by David Maximillian Nsemiwe & Dean Khang Dang of St. Joseph University, Tanzania highlighted the prevalence of Corneal Blindness & Eye-Bank Services in Africa with Special Emphasis on Tanzania.
NCRM NICHE, the annual commemorative event of the Nichi-In Centre for Regenerative Medicine (NCRM), marked its 20th year and this event has been a platform that has brought numerous scientists and clinicians together to translate regenerative medicine research from bench to bedside. Launched in 2006 and hosted in India till 2016, NCRM NICHE was held in Tokyo (2017–2019) before adopting a global virtual format from 2020, expanding access to participants worldwide. This year’s edition also spotlighted NCRM’s Mauritius lab established in partnership with Soul Synergy to bring Japanese healthcare solutions to Mauritius and develop the island nation as a tech-transfer hub for Indian Ocean rim and African countries addressing regional priorities such as the high burden of corneal blindness in sub-Saharan Africa.
NCRM traced its translational journey from corneal limbal regenerative work since 2002 to the urology breakthrough, the BEES-HAUS (Buccal epithelium Expanded and Encapsulated in Scaffold – Hybrid Approach to Urethral Stricture) which is now a clinical application in Japan under the Act on the Safety of Regenerative Medicine, as explained by Dr. Akio Horiguchi of National Defence Medical College Hospital, Saitama, Japan in his plenary lecture. Building on this success, Dr. Suryaprakash Vaddi, Consultant & Head, Surya Kidney Centre and Professor of Urology, Kamineni Medical College Hospital, Hyderabad, India explained the simplified procedure, BHES-HAUS (Buccal Epithelium Hashed and Encapsulated in Scaffold – Hybrid Approach) which is currently in clinical trial, presenting the encouraging preliminary outcome in a patient with post buccal mucosal graft (BMG) plasty failure who developed urethral stricture, in the plenary session.
In the inter-disciplinary conclave (IDC), Prof Dr. Nguyen Thanh Liem, Director, Vinmec Research Institute Institute of Stem cell and Gene Technology, Vietnam presented about the outcomes of Autologous Immune Enhancement Therapy (AIET) for Cancer Treatment in his hospital in whom there was increase of mean survival time of 14 months in colorectal cancer patients and 18 months in patients with liver and lung cancer who underwent AIET along with conventional treatments compared to patients who underwent conventional treatments alone apart from improvement in quality of life (QoL). Dr. Hiroshi Terunuma, Biotherapy Institute, Japan presented on how autologous NK cell therapy can help restore immune surveillance and suppress the chronic inflammation proven by biomarkers of aging such as p16 and beta-galactosidase and how NK cell therapy approach represents a promising avenue for slowing age-related decline and promoting healthy longevity.
