Tag: Photodynamic Therapy

USISTEF 2024 Award for ICanCaRe and Photodynamic Solutions Inc.

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!

#USISTEF #AwardWinner #CancerCare #AIForHealth #ICanCaRe #MaxOncology #InnovationInHealthcare #photodynamicsolutions #photobiomodulations #pawangupta #jonathancelli

India emerging as a major change for Photo-Dynamic therapy (PDT) and Photo-biomodulation (PBM) for Oral lesion management.

As a follow-up to my presentation and learning at the International Photodynamic Association Conference 2023 at FINLAND, and my quest to know more about photodynamic and photo-biomodulation for the oral cavity I was invited to the “WORKSHOP on PHOTOBIOMODULATION THERAPY IN HEAD AND NECK CANCER” at Indore on 11th September 2023 at the Indian Institute of Head and Neck Oncology, Indore.

It was an opportunity to understand the diverse use of the new modality of PBM and PDT in Oral Lesions. Although PDT has been available for quite some time and I have had some successful cases with PDT for oral cancers, the new molecules with fewer side effects and ease of use is going to change the way cancer will be treated in the future.

It is also good to know that so much is being done in this field in India and many takers for this.

I got to meet some of the pioneers in this field:

Dr. Praveen Arany, Past President of WALT (WORLD ASSOCIATION OF LASER THERAPY), Oral Biologist, Biomedical Engineering and Surgery, School of Dental Medicine, University of Buffalo, USA.

Dr. Rene Jene Bensandaoun, President, WORLD ASSOCIATION for PHOTOBIOMODULATION Therapy. He is from France and promoting PBM extensively the world over with new insights and use for the same.

Dr. Digpal Darkar, President of the Indian Institute of Head and Neck Oncology the pioneer and probably the first in India to do PBM for his patients of Oral cancers. He has shown that it is easy to do and gives immense relief to the patients. Would be starting the course on PBM at his Institute.

Dr. Rajkumari Sachdeva, ENT surgeon and HN oncologist is using the PBM for her patients extensively. She gave a demonstration of the same.

Here, I had the opportunity to meet the Director of RRCAT, Dr. Shankar V Nakhe, who invited me to his center where extensive research is being done for oral diagnosis and treatment with optics – spectroscopy, PBM, and PDT.  

The emerging technology and use of light as therapy and for the diagnosis of oral lesions it is going to change the way we treat oral lesions and cancers in the future.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/india-emerging-major-change-pdt-pbm-oral-lesion-management-gupta-1f