🚭 Tobacco Awareness Session at Prometheus School, Noida – February 12, 2025
A powerful awareness session was conducted at Prometheus School, Noida, engaging 200 students in a critical discussion on the dangers of tobacco and vaping.
🔹 Organized by the Interact Club, led by Samaera Rana and Arush, the event was chaired by Mr. Mukesh Sharma, Chairman of the institution. 🔹 The session emphasized a zero-tolerance approach towards all forms of tobacco use, including vaping. 🔹 As a recognition of her leadership in promoting the cause, Samaera Rana was honored with the Tobacco MARSHAL Cap, Badge, and Mug by Akansha Sethi.
The message was clear: Say NO to tobacco and vaping – for a healthier future! 🚫🚭
Dr. Pawan Gupta and Dr. Jonathan Celli were honored with the USISTEF 2024 Award for AI-Enabled Oral Cancer Screening and Treatment Project
We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Pawan Gupta, representing ICanCaRe (Indian partner), and Dr. Jonathan Celli from Photodynamic Solutions Inc., Boston (U.S. partner), have been honored with the prestigious USISTEF 2024 Award. This recognition was awarded under the joint call for proposals on ‘Critical and Emerging Technologies and Artificial Intelligence for Transforming Lives’ by the United States-India Science and Technology Endowment Fund. The project focuses on AI-enabled technology for oral cancer screening and treatment, addressing a significant healthcare challenge in India.
The award ceremony took place on October 10, 2024, at the Leela Palace, New Delhi. The Hon. Eric Garcetti, U.S. Ambassador to India, and the Hon. Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Earth Sciences and Science & Technology, presented the award. Dr. Pawan Gupta graciously accepted the award certificate on behalf of both organizations, marking a significant milestone in the collaborative fight against oral cancer.
Oral cancer poses a severe public health challenge in India, largely fueled by high rates of tobacco use, betel nut consumption, and low awareness. Compounding these issues is the lack of adequate healthcare access, particularly in rural areas, which makes early detection and treatment difficult. These obstacles make it critical to develop new solutions to overcome the barriers to effective oral cancer screening and management.
This project aims to revolutionize oral cancer detection and treatment by developing a comprehensive, portable, and low-cost solution targeting high-risk populations. The innovative technology will incorporate AI-assisted autofluorescence and white light imaging for optical pathology diagnosis, ensuring early and accurate identification of pre-malignant and malignant lesions. Treatment will be initiated with tobacco cessation and facilitated through photo-biomodulation (PBM) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) for on-the-spot care of potentially pre-malignant lesions.
With this technology, ICanCaRe and Photodynamic Solutions Inc., Boston, are committed to transforming the way oral cancer is diagnosed and treated, particularly in underserved areas. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the entire team working on this groundbreaking initiative. Together, we strive to create a future where early detection of oral cancer is accessible to all, improving patient outcomes and saving lives.
Stay tuned for more updates on this revolutionary project!
ICanCaRe PINK ANGEL – CATCH THEM EARLY CAMP – 06.10.2024 with KAL & AVISHKA by MAX – Vaishali and I CAN WIN FOUNDATION
The PINK ANGEL camp, held at Royal Nest, Techzone 4, Greater Noida West, on October 6, 2024, was a tremendous success. With the theme CATCH THEM EARLY, the camp was a collaborative initiative between KAL Foundation, Avishka Council, I CAN WIN FOUNDATION, and organized by MAX Vaishali and ICanCaRe. Dr. Pawan Gupta, Sr. Director at MAX Vaishali and Founder of ICanCaRe, served as the Chief Guest. Dr. Rashi Agrawal, Clinical Oncologist at MAX, and Mr. Sumeet Ankur from Kashiyana Foundation were Guests of Honor. Dr. Nishant Srivastava (Avishka Foundation), Dr. Rajeev Verma (KAL Foundation), and Ms. Akansha Sethi (MAX) managed the event arrangements.
The camp focused on essential health screenings, with 30 women receiving mammography services and 112 individuals undergoing general screenings, including bone densitometry, oral examinations, and routine blood tests. Volunteers were acknowledged for their efforts with certificates presented by the dignitaries.
In his address, Mr. Sumeet Ankur emphasized the importance of drug control among youth and families.
Dr. Rashi Agrawal provided insights into the risk factors and early detection of breast cancer, highlighting it as the most common cancer among women worldwide.
As Chief Guest, Dr. Pawan Gupta underscored the significance of adopting a healthy lifestyle to prevent chronic diseases, resonating with the camp’s theme, which aligns with the mission of the I CAN WIN FOUNDATION. He encouraged women to perform regular breast self-examinations, stating, “Three minutes, three fingers, once every 30 days can save lives.”
Dt. Sonal Bhatia, Co-Director (Social) of ICanCaRe’s PINK ANGEL Campaign, in her message emphasised the importance of women prioritising their health, stating, “The greatest mistake a woman can make is neglecting her own well-being. If she is healthy, the entire family benefits.“
The camp, which ran from 10 AM to 4 PM, concluded with a vote of thanks and certificates awarded to all volunteers for their contributions.
