Executive Summary : | Breast cancer is a leading cause of death among women, and researchers worldwide are working to develop more accurate methods for preventing, diagnosing, and treating the disease. X-ray mammography, ultrasonography, and magnetic resonance imaging are commonly used screening modalities, but they have low sensitivity, generate ionizing radiation, and can be expensive. This project aims to build a low-cost portable microwave imaging device for detecting and monitoring cancer cells within the human breast. The project will be executed in collaboration with the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Regional Cancer Centre (ABVRCC) in Agartala, Tripura, to conduct experiments and validate research findings. The project will conduct a pilot study on 500 patients with breast cancer-related symptoms in the ABVRCC and other north-eastern cancer centers. A database will be created to store histology data and forecast the prognosis of individual cancer patients. The first phase will characterize the electrical properties of malignant and benign tissues removed after surgery, fine-tune the CNN model, and measure scattering parameters by placing the breast between two antennas. Data collected will be used to train the CNN model, classify various forms of breast tumors, and decide drug dose and timing, along with traditional therapy modalities, to enhance the quality of care for critical and early patients. A low-power signal less than 15 GHz will be used during testing, and the body-worn flexible antenna will be reliable and comfortable for patients. The initiative will also focus on enhancing the ecology for cancer treatment in the north-eastern region. |
Co-PI: | Dr. Banani Basu, National Institute Of Technology (NIT) Silchar, Assam-788010, Dr. Dhritiman Datta, Bir Bikram Memorial College, Agartala,Tripura-799004, Dr. GAautam Majumdar, Bir Bikram Memorial College, Agartala, Tripura-799004 |