Bengaluru Innovators Secure Rs 20.6 Crore Grant for Breakthrough Cancer Screening Technology, ET HealthWorld
Bengaluru: Seven years ago, two friends came together to make their dream of accessible, efficient and affordable cancer diagnostics a reality, particularly in underserved regions like tier 2 and 3 cities.
With the Bengalureans’ prototype of a rapid, low-cost oral cancer screening platform standing out among competitive global entries, Dr Narayana Subramaniam, a head and neck surgical oncologist, and Hardik Pandya, an IISc engineer-scientist, have secured the prestigious Rs 20.6 crore ($2.4 million) U-01 grant from the US National Institutes of Health.
The duo’s ‘pan-cancer diagnostic platform’ prototype, built in partnership with GE Healthcare, utilises advanced imaging technology to examine cells from the human body for the detection of cancer, with the primary focus initially on ‘oral cancer’. Dr Subramaniam explained that current cancer diagnostics require patients to travel to hospitals multiple times for tests. This process delays diagnosis by days or weeks, creating a significant barrier, particularly for economically disadvantaged patients. “In smaller towns and rural areas, where biopsies often need to be sent to metropolitan centres for analysis due to a lack of local facilities or pathologists, this technology could allow digital imaging to be done on-site,” he said.
Pandya added: “Our prototype will digitise the images locally, so only the images need to be transmitted over the internet for analysis. This could reduce the turnaround time for diagnosis. At the end of the day, it’s an efficient, accurate way of looking at cells in the human body. With the resources provided by this grant, we aim to build out the platform further, helping patients and doctors in several ways.”
While conventional slide scanners cost upwards of Rs 30 lakh, the duo’s goal is to make the portable device available at an affordable cost. They hope to complete validation and move towards mass production within five years. “India is the oral cancer capital of the world. With this platform, we aim to improve survival rates and reduce treatment costs by diagnosing cancer earlier and integrating patients seamlessly,” Dr Subramaniam said.
The two said if the present model succeeds in the market, they have further plans to expand into other areas like cervical and breast cancer.
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