IIT-M developing device to detect cervical cancer

Chennai: The Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M) is looking to develop a device to detect cervical can­cer at initial stages and also a standing wheel chair to help patients who cannot stand or walk.

“Cervical cancer is common in women. They do the Pap smear test in the West, which is cumbersome and expensive. So we are trying to see if there could be a way to do it faster, easier and at a more affordable cost,” said Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi, dir­ector, IIT-Madras.

Pointing out that departments like applied mec­hanics, engineering desi­gn, mechanical, electrical and physics had been working on the development of the equipment, Prof. Ramamurthi said that both the bio technology and chemistry departments had started work on the drug part for the device.

“We need new sensors and early markers; besides that, we need to marry that sensor technology with intelligent technologies, co­m­puting algorithm and it also needs to be non-invasive. So we are working on the cost-effective device and also some of our faculty are also working on cancer therapy,” he said.

Elaborating on research with a social orientation that was being done at the institute, the IIT-M director noted that a faculty member had begun developing a standing wheel chair.

“Some people have stiffness in their bodies and physiotherapists advise them to walk. But as they are not able to stand they cannot walk; so our standing wheel chair would help them a great deal. We have faculty working on society-oriented projects,” he added.

Chennai: The Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M) and University of Mel­bourne have joined hands to do research in lifestyle-oriented diseases like diabetes and cardio-vascular problems.

After signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Friday with the University of Melb­ourne as part of the Mel­bourne-India post-graduate programme, IIT- Ma­dras director Prof. Bha­skar Ramamurthi said that both the universities would do research on lifestyle disorders as the University of Melbourne had a reputed medical school.

“India is becoming a hub for lifestyle diseases so we need to work in this area. We will also focus on biomedical engineering and energy. We have done mapping of our in­te­r­ests so we are hoping to come out with good results in research in the next five years,” he said.

Professor Susan Elliott, deputy vice-chancellor of the University of Melb­ourne, reiterated her university's commitment to high quality research with IIT-M and said that they would offer joint PhD programmes in the future.

“Now we have joint supervision of research scholars, which would be expanded to joint PhD pro­g­rammes. We have expertise in life sciences and medicine, so we will work on diabetes and cardiac diseases,” she said.

Stuart Campbell, ch­arge d’ Affairs to South In­­dia and acting consul general at the Aust­ralian Consulate in Che­nnai, said that Australia hosts 4.3 lakh international students at its various higher education institutions.

“Aus­tralia is one of the fav­ourite destinations for Indian students as the country is safe,” he said.