RGCB Researchers Get ₹7 Crore Grant for Blood-Based Cervical Cancer Device

The research team at the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (BRIC-RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, is developing an early-stage prototype of an automated device that could detect early signs of cervical cancer from a blood sample.

The project has received a ₹7 crore grant and is intended to reduce the need for invasive procedures and specialised technical expertise in cervical cancer detection.

Project supported by MAHA MedTech Mission

The project is supported through the MAHA MedTech Mission, which was launched by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and the Gates Foundation.

Research is being carried out at RGCB in collaboration with IndZita Biotech Private Limited, a start-up based in Thiruvananthapuram, and Karkinos Healthcare Private Limited (KHPL), Barshi, Maharashtra, according to an official release issued by RGCB.

Beena Pillai, Director of RGCB, said more than a thousand proposals were considered for the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) grant.

She said she felt extremely proud that RGCB’s proposal was one among the 33 selected for the grant.

The proposed device is designed to detect piRNA-based biomarkers in blood and analyse them using nanopore technology, described as a highly sensitive molecular detection platform.

Device aimed at automated testing

The project aims to develop a rapid and automated testing system that can eventually be operated without technical expertise.

“The idea is to make the technology simple enough to be used beyond specialised laboratory settings. The patient would just need to produce a blood sample, which will be autoanalysed by the device,” Jackson James, the project’s lead researcher, said.

The proposed system is therefore being developed around a blood sample that can be processed by the device, rather than a procedure requiring specialised laboratory settings.

Cervical cancer remains an important public-health concern in India, according to the project’s stated context.

Screening and early detection can help identify cervical abnormalities before they progress to invasive disease.

However, access to screening is often limited by the non-availability of trained personnel and diagnostic facilities, particularly in under-served settings.

The RGCB-led project is intended to address some of these challenges by developing a testing platform that can eventually function with less dependence on technical expertise and specialised facilities.

Laboratory validation completed

The technology has already been patented, and the research team has completed laboratory-scale validation in cell culture and mouse models.

A pilot study involving human blood samples has also been completed at a laboratory scale.

The next stage involves the development of the early-stage prototype, which is currently under way.

The project team includes Ani V. Das and Mahendran K. R.

The team aims to develop a functional diagnostic platform that could ultimately support minimally invasive and automated cervical cancer screening.

Source: The Hindu