Research

Life Sciences & Biotechnology

Title :

Aberrant circulating epigenomic signatures: Development and validation of minimal-invasive biomarkers for trans-generational monitoring of air pollution associated cancers

Area of research :

Medical Sciences, Life Sciences & Biotechnology

Focus area :

Point of care diagnostic tests and surveillance systems for common non-communicable and Infectious diseases

Principal Investigator :

Prof Koel Chaudhury, Professor, School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur

Contact info :

Details

Executive Summary :

The increasing burden of environmental associated lung cancers has gained wider scientific attention towards designing strategies for their early diagnosis. Epigenetic signatures circulate at higher levels in individuals with lung cancer and are known to reflect the vital ongoing cellular changes. The proposed study aimed to utilize these circulating epigenetic markers and develop a minimal invasive quantum dot based liquid biopsy strategy (nano-sensor) capable of early diagnosis of lung cancers. Initially, circulating epigenomic signatures will be analysed in defined air pollution pockets of 9 different Indian cities (divided into high-risk, mid-risk and low-risk settings) to identify a probable disease marker. Later, the identified optimum signature will be utilized for designing a quantum-FRET based nano-sensor technology for disease diagnosis. This liquid biopsy based approach will certainly help to develop a low cost minimal-invasive point of care test for early screening of lung cancers among people living in air pollution affected areas.

Co-PI:

Pradyumna Kumar Mishra, Scientist-E, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Environmental Health (NIREH), Bhopal, Kailash C Pandey, Scientist-E, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Environmental Health (NIREH), Bhopal, Suresh P. Vyas, Dr. Harisingh Gour Central University, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh

Total Budget (INR):

1,69,29,000

Organizations involved