Research Projects

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.