Thiruvananthapuram, October 18 — Researchers at the BRIC–Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (BRIC-RGCB) have received a Rs 7 crore grant to develop an automated diagnostic device for rapid, biopsy-free cervical cancer detection using a simple blood sample, a project that could make early screening far more accessible across India.
The project has been supported through the MAHA MedTech Mission, launched by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation, the Indian Council of Medical Research and the Gates Foundation. According to reports, the proposed technology aims to reduce the need for invasive diagnostic procedures and minimise reliance on specialised technical expertise, potentially bringing early cervical cancer detection within reach of smaller towns and rural areas.
BRIC-RGCB is undertaking the research in collaboration with IndZita Biotech Private Limited, a start-up based in Thiruvananthapuram, and Karkinos Healthcare Private Limited, based in Barshi, Maharashtra. Together, the partners aim to translate laboratory findings into a practical diagnostic platform for future clinical use.
The project was selected from more than 1,000 proposals received by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation, of which only 33 secured support, underlining the promise reviewers saw in the team’s approach. Dr Beena Pillai, director of RGCB, said the selection reflected the research’s potential to advance medical diagnostics in the country.
How the cervical cancer detection device will work
The fully automated device works by detecting piRNA-based biomarkers in blood and measuring them using nanopore technology, a highly sensitive method of detecting molecules at the nano scale. Unlike conventional screening methods such as Pap smears or HPV tests, the process requires only a blood sample and no specialised training to operate, the researchers said.
“The idea is that anyone should be able to use this machine — a patient just gives a blood sample, and the machine does the rest,” the project’s lead researcher, Dr Jackson James, said. The vision is a device simple enough to operate beyond specialised laboratory settings, extending cervical cancer detection to places where conventional screening is unavailable.
Cervical cancer remains one of the most common cancers among women in India, and doctors say early identification significantly improves treatment outcomes. Existing screening methods, however, are often invasive, require trained personnel and are not always accessible outside major urban centres — gaps the RGCB team hopes its device will help close.
Why accessible cervical cancer detection matters in India
Although screening can identify cervical abnormalities before they progress to invasive disease, access to appropriate services remains uneven in India. Underserved communities face challenges including limited laboratory infrastructure, shortages of trained personnel and poor access to specialised diagnostic facilities, according to public-health experts.
An automated, minimally invasive blood test could sidestep many of these barriers. “The technology is designed to be minimally invasive, require limited technical intervention and potentially provide faster and more accessible testing,” said Dr Ani V Das, a member of the research team. “Our objective is to develop a platform that could eventually support screening and early detection in settings where conventional laboratory infrastructure is limited.”
From laboratory validation to a cervical cancer detection prototype
The research team has already secured a patent for the technology and completed laboratory-scale validation using cell cultures and mouse models. A pilot study involving human blood samples has also been completed at laboratory scale, and the team is now developing an early-stage prototype of the diagnostic device.
The MAHA MedTech Mission backing the cervical cancer detection project is a joint initiative of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation, ICMR and the Gates Foundation aimed at accelerating indigenous medical devices from the laboratory to the market. RGCB said its device would need further clinical validation and regulatory clearance before deployment — the standard pathway for new diagnostics in India.
The project team at BRIC-RGCB comprises Dr Jackson James, Dr Ani V Das and Dr Mahendran K R, working alongside their industry partners to turn the laboratory findings into a functional system. Further studies will still be needed to establish the device’s diagnostic accuracy, reliability and suitability for clinical use, and the technology will require clinical validation and regulatory approval before it can be adopted for routine cervical cancer detection.