Diana Fernandes
Margao
Scientist Carino Gurjao, whose father hails from Agassaim and mother from Ambelim, was named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 (Health) list in 2022 for his contributions to cancer research. Based in Canada, Gurjao is leading groundbreaking work on the earliest DNA changes that trigger cancer, offering a compelling example for Goan youth to pursue scientific research.
Born and raised in France amid a close-knit Goan community in Paris, Gurjao completed his engineering degree and PhD in computational biology before spending nearly a decade at MIT, Harvard and Columbia. Earlier this year, he established the Gurjaolab at the University of Montreal, where his team studies tiny DNA alterations that occur years before cancer becomes detectable.
“DNA is like an instruction manual,” he said. “We are interested in events — smoking, sun exposure and other factors — that slowly push a healthy cell toward becoming cancerous. These early changes are extremely subtle, like a whisper in a storm.”
The lab works on prevention, by identifying high-risk DNA markers early, and treatment, by analysing cancer DNA to predict which therapies may work best for individual patients. Cancer, he said, is fundamentally a disease of DNA errors that accumulate over time.
“About 70% of cancers are believed to be preventable, yet only a small fraction of funding goes to prevention,” he said, adding that this gap motivated his research focus. His work spans various influences on DNA — from aging, inflammation and infections to environmental exposures, diet and microbes — and relies on collaboration across disciplines from microbiology to nutrition. “The most exciting moments are when results defy expectations,” he said.
Gurjao also contributed to research strengthening the long-suspected link between red meat and DNA damage, noting that processing, high-temperature cooking and individual genetics all play a role. But he emphasised that lifestyle risk does not mean blame. “Even with perfect habits, cancer can still happen. No one deserves the burden of guilt,” he said.
Running a six-month-old lab with Rs 6 crore in funding brings its own challenges, especially managing enormous DNA datasets requiring high computational power. Yet, he remains motivated by discovery rather than accolades. Staying connected to his Goan roots, he hopes his journey encourages young Goans to explore scientific research. “I learn something new every day — that’s the joy of this work,” he said.
