By: Express News ServiceNovember 6, 2025 09:57 PM IST 3 min readProf Banks has a distinguished 30-year-career with the UN, particularly within ICGEB, focusing on science for development, especially in low-resource settings.Nearly 12% of all cancers worldwide are associated with viruses, making them potentially preventable through vaccines, said Lawrence Banks, director general, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy on Thursday. He was delivering the keynote address at the inauguration of the international conference on cutting-edge cancer research and innovations for improving patient outcomes at the National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS) in Pune.“One such virus is the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), which is responsible for many cancers, including cervical cancer,” Prof Banks said.Drawing on insights from his extensive research, he explained that his work focuses on how these viruses enter and infect human cells and the ways in which they manipulate cellular processes to promote tumour formation. He said the development of HPV-induced malignancies requires the activity of two viral oncoproteins, E6 and E7, and explained the insights gained through his research towards understanding the molecular mechanisms by which they contribute to the development of cancer. Prof Banks said that since E6 and E7 were found to be essential for maintenance of the tumours, they are excellent candidates to develop new therapeutic interventions in HPV-induced disease.Prof Banks has a distinguished 30-year-career with the UN, particularly within ICGEB, focusing on science for development, especially in low-resource settings. ICGEB is an Intergovernmental Organisation headquartered in Trieste, and with a branch in New Delhi.NCCS has brought together renowned international and national cancer experts at this conference (November 6 to 8) to share ideas and cutting-edge advances in cancer research, and explore innovative solutions to fight cancer more effectively. This event aims to promote interdisciplinary collaborations that will help channelize key scientific outcomes towards improving cancer management and patient care.Prof Sharmila Bapat, Director (Additional Charge, NCCS), said that this conference is serving the vital purpose of unifying scientists, clinicians, and students for collectively driving progress in cancer biology.Prof Bapat pointed out that the current era is marked by remarkable technological breakthroughs such as mRNA vaccines, single-cell sequencing and AI-driven drug discovery, that are accelerating progress in understanding and treating diseases.Story continues below this ad“Despite these advances, complete success in curing cancer remains elusive, underscoring the need for continued collaboration, innovative thinking, and rigorous scientific debate,” she said. Prof Bapat also stressed that cancer research is more than just science, it is a humanitarian mission that offers hope to many affected individuals. She called for an open, constructive dialogue among the conference participants, to challenge old assumptions and strengthen ideas, ultimately aiming to turn scientific discoveries into real, tangible benefits for patients.Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd