Dear ISNO Members and colleagues

It is indeed an honour and privilege to serve as President of the Indian Society for Neuro Oncology (ISNO) for the year 2026-2027.

The need for a collaborative platform for neurooncology started in the year 2000 when joint neurooncology clinics were started formally for the first time in the our country with interest ed clinicians from the prestigious Tata Memorial Neurooncology group and the Department of Neurosurgery in KEM hospital, Mumbai in collaboration. It was held once a week. I was happy to be an active member of the group. The collaborative education became immensely popular with a similar model being adopted by many centres all over India. This strengthened the idea for formation of ISNO in 2009 of which I was fortunate to be a founder member. The primary aim was to create an awareness amongst peers about the comprehensive management of central and peripheral nervous system tumors. ISNO as a multidisciplinary organization has been at the forefront to foster advances in surgical neurology, radiation and medical on cology, neuropathology and basic sciences. Since then, ISNO has fostered multiple academic programs and held high quality scientific meetings. Recently the molecular neurooncology and targeted therapies are gaining momentum and form an integral part of the treatment algo rithm.

ISNO was highly successful in sensitising specialists all over India in developed as well as remote areas involved in treatment of brain tumors to come on a common platform to form an integrated and comprehensive approach relating to evidence based treatment protocols, edu cation and research. I would sincerely urge young neurosurgeons interested in neurooncology practice from our country to take a lead and involve other allied specialities as well to expand their horizon in understanding the basic molecular and translational neuroscience since there are numerous unexplored challenges in the biology and treatment of brain tumors. It is para mount to engage in global knowledge and harmonize our clinical guidelines with in ternational best practices and carefully tailoring them to our unique regional reality should remain a priority. The building and disseminating these standardized protocols will elevate the baseline of care across the subcontinent and foster a culture of quality and safety.

ISNO is looking forward to host the joint ISNO- ASNO 2027 meeting on March 4-7, 2027 in Jaipur under the leadership of Prof. Rakesh Jalali. It will be an exciting meeting with an op portunity to explore shared experience and close collaboration amongst young clinicians and researchers in the Indian and the Asian Oceanic region. I encourage our Indian Neurooncolo gy community to become members of ASNO and grab this opportunity for future academic exchange through scientific meetings and collaborative research opportunities. The young clinicians and researchers should also avail of the annual ISNO awards and scholarships to the residents and trainees are an added incentive to attend and participate in national and in ternational meetings which help them to gain further experience and research.

The illustrious legacy created by the past Presidents and office bearers of ISNO since its in ception is instrumental for the present recognition of the society. I am forever indebted to them. The active participation of the delegates, faculty of various academic and practicing neurosciences departments in the country is indeed memorable. It is a herculean task and a challenge to maintain this legacy and contribute towards its growth. I seek your support in further strengthening the foundation of the society and work alongside you all for advancing the objectives of ISNO on a local as well as international platform.

I wish to thank you all for the opportunity and the profound trust you have placed in the lead ership of ISNO. It has been a great honour to lead this prestigious association as its President for year 2026/2027.



Best regards

Dr. Dattatraya Muzumdar, MCh FRCSI FRCSEd FACS (USA)
President, Indian Society of Neurooncology (ISNO)