04/02/2025
Seven years ago, two friends dared to dream of a world where cancer diagnosis wasn’t a privilege but a right—especially in underserved regions with limited healthcare access.
Bengaluru's Dr Narayana Subramaniam, a head and neck surgical oncologist, had seen too many families shattered and lives lost simply because cancer was detected too late.
Hardik Pandya, an IISc engineer-scientist, believed technology could bridge this gap. But innovation alone wasn’t enough—it needed to reach the people who needed it most.
Together, they created a revolutionary device that digitises biopsy images on-site in just two minutes, eliminating the need for multiple hospital visits and long wait times. This is especially crucial in smaller towns, where biopsy samples are often sent to metro cities for analysis.
This breakthrough could mean faster, more accurate diagnoses—and ultimately, more lives saved.
Their relentless pursuit of change has now earned them a prestigious Rs 20.6 crore ($2.4 million) U-01 grant from the US National Institutes of Health. With GE Healthcare as their partner, they are working towards mass-producing this life-saving technology, ensuring no patient—no matter where they live—suffers due to late diagnosis.
“India is the oral cancer capital of the world. If we can detect it earlier, we can not only improve survival rates but also reduce treatment costs and suffering,” Dr Subramaniam told TOI.
If this model succeeds, they plan to expand their technology to detect other cancers, like cervical and breast cancer.
This innovation is a future where cancer doesn’t have to be a death sentence.
[World Cancer Day, Cancer diagnosis, early cancer detection, oral cancer, healthcare innovation, Bengaluru, India healthcare startups]
