India Research Center
The India Research Center, based in Mumbai, serves as a hub for Harvard Chan School’s research projects, educational programs, and knowledge translation and communication work across India.
Dextrus, 6th floor,
Peninsula Towers,
Peninsula Corporate Park,
Lower Parel, Mumbai 400013
India
Nutrition, Lifestyle, and Cancer in India: Integrating Evidence into Public Health Action
December 2025
The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health – India Research Center recently hosted a webinar, “Nutrition, Lifestyle, and Cancer in India: Integrating Evidence into Public Health Action” on December 4, 2025.
The third session in the webinar series, “The Impact of Diets on Non-Communicable Diseases: Evidence and the Next Steps,” aimed at strengthening public health responses in India.
The discussion began with opening remarks by Dr. K. Viswanath, Lee Kum Kee Professor of Health Communication, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, followed by a panel discussion featuring esteemed experts and thought leaders in the field:
Dr. Heather Eliassen, Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Dr. Shalini Singh, Director, ICMR- National Institute of Cancer Prevention & Research, Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Dr. Stephanie Smith-Warner, Senior Lecturer on Nutritional Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
The discussion focused on the role of nutrition and dietary approaches in the prevention and management of cancer. Panelists highlighted ongoing nutritional gaps and the importance of dietary diversity for cancer prevention. They explored how shifts toward less varied, processed diets increase risks and emphasized the need to integrate nutrition with early detection and effective policies. The discussion emphasized coordinated, evidence-based approaches that focus on improving diet quality and diversity through multisectoral collaboration, offering a vital path forward for India’s changing health landscape.