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CANCER CARE
Precision oncologywill soon become standard oncologypractice
Mohan Uttarwar, CEO and Co-founder,OneCell Diagnostics,shares insights into his journey as a health-tech entrepreneur,the inspiration behind founding OneCell,and how the company is leveraging advanced technologies like AI and single-cell analysis to transform precision oncology.He also discusses challenges around affordability,data security, regulatory compliance,and his vision for making cutting-edge cancer care accessible across the globe,in a conversation with Kalyani Sharma
Can you share your journey leading up to the founding of OneCell Diagnostics? What inspired you to focus on precision oncology?
I’m an engineer by education, and I come from a tiny village about 160 kilometers from Nagpur. It was a place with almost no technology, quite the contrast to where I’ve spent the last four decades—Silicon Valley. I would say I’m an accidental entrepreneur in the health tech space. I began my career at Intel, moved to HP, and was involved in a couple of technology startups.
But everything changed when a close friend of mine went through cancer. Watching the agony and suffering up close was heartbreaking. Around the same time, I met some pathologists at Stanford who were still using mechanical counters to examine slides under microscopes. In a techdriven place like Silicon Valley, it just didn’t make sense to me. That realisation shifted my focus entirely.
I started BioImagene, a pioneering company in digital pathology, which was eventually acquired by Roche. That brought me deeper into the oncology space. Cancer is not a one-size-fits-all disease—it needs to be hyper-personalised. The first wave of precision oncology was driven by genomics, primarily using tissue biopsies. But tissue has its limitations.
Then came the second wave—liquid biopsies, which analyse genomic markers from blood. However, most of them focus on ctDNA, which only tells part of the story. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs), on the other hand, provide a more complete picture of what’s happening in the body. Capturing and
analysing these one-in-a-billion cells is very challenging. That’s where the idea for OneCell came from—groundbreaking science and technology to make the invisible visible.
OneCell has been lauded for its innovative and accessible approach to precision oncology. How are you addressing the affordability and scalability of these technologies, especially in countries like India? Our mission is to democratise precision oncology. Today, it’s neither easily accessible nor affordable and we want to change that. We’re not talking about incremental innovation here, we’re talking about disruptive change. For instance, a test that costs $4,000 in the U.S. can be done at a fraction of that cost— almost two orders of magnitude lower—through our approach. How? By leveraging AI on digitised histopathology slides, which are already the standard of care in most Indian hospitals. We apply AI to predict genomic biomarkers directly from those slides, eliminating the need for expensive tests.
We also built AI-driven tools like Dr. G, our "genomic copilot," to support oncologists who may not have had formal training in molecular oncology. It helps interpret gene mutations and protein combinations and recommends treatment options based on that data. For patients, we have O Sakhi—a friendly AIpowered companion that answers everyday questions in their own language. It’s named after the Sanskrit word for "friend."
You’re clearly dealing with a massive amount of data. With the rise in healthcare cyber
threats, how are you addressing data security and management?
Healthcare data is extremely sensitive. To address this, we developed iCore, our proprietary data management platform. We’ve spent over 125 man-years developing it in collaboration with the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy and six academic institutions, including Stanford, UCLA, UCSF, SloanKettering, and MD Anderson.
iCore is highly secure and compliant with 21 CFR Part 11, HIPAA, GDPR, and GXP standards. It allows us to manage and harmonise diverse datasets—genomic, proteomic, imaging—all of which come from the same patient but are otherwise apples and oranges.
And yes, being an engineer helps. Cancer is as much a data problem as it is a medical one. Our strength lies at the intersection of deep science, deep data, and deep technology.
Has the adoption of technology among oncologists improved since the pandemic? How receptive are they to AI-based tools today? COVID certainly accelerated the adoption of technology in healthcare. While some aspects of care still require face-to-face interactions—there’s no replacement for a doctor’s
intuition—many others can now be efficiently managed with AI and remote monitoring. For instance, we’ve developed a remote monitoring kit that integrates with AI to manage patients post-surgery. It collects vital data like blood pressure, temperature, and glucose levels automatically via wearables or connected devices. This data is then triaged using AI and alerts are sent to a cancer care concierge if needed. It’s a powerful way to ensure proactive, continuous care and prevent complications before they become serious.
Where do you see the future of precision oncology heading? Our belief is that precision oncology will soon become standard oncology practice. There's no reason to treat a patient with a drug that will only give them side effects and no therapeutic benefit. We envision a future within five to seven years where every oncologist, in every hospital, in every corner of the world is using our precision oncology platform. But that future also hinges on making these tools affordable and accessible, which is where our focus lies. We want no patient left behind.
Are there regulatory hurdles you’ve faced while scaling, especially across global markets?
Regulatory challenges are real, but we are proactive about them. In India, although ISO 13485 certification is not mandatory, we’ve achieved it. We also follow U.S. FDA standards and have implemented regulatory frameworks for our software and clinical studies.
Our approach is to be ahead of the curve—building solutions
that meet global quality benchmarks even when not required by local regulations. That sets us apart and ensures we deliver world-class, trusted solutions.
You recently closed a funding round. Can you share how you plan to utilise the capital?
We were fortunate to close a significantly oversubscribed Series A round with investors who deeply align with our vision. The funding will be used in three key areas:
1. Scaling operations in India: We’re currently present in a few dozen hospitals and have helped about 12,000 cancer patients. We aim to reach 100 hospitals, 1,000 oncologists, and touch a million lives.
2. Accelerating R&D : Tools like OncoPredict, our AI engine, require vast amounts of highquality data. India has the scale but not always clean data, so we’ll invest in data cleaning and training AI models.
3. Expanding to the U.S.: We’re supporting biopharma companies in accelerating translational research and clinical trials. There’s immense potential there for partnership and growth.
Are there any emerging technologies in precision oncology that particularly excite you?
Yes—true single cell multiomics with AI analytics is the future. Mark my words. Within five years, the companies that master this space will lead the next generation of precision oncology. That’s our bet, and we’re investing heavily to be at the forefront of this transformation.
In a moving reflection that traverses the emotional,ethical,and philosophical dimensions of cancer care, Dr Vishwanath Sathyanarayanan, Professor and Head of the Department of Medical Oncology and Medical Oncology trainee Dr Narendhar Gokulanathan, Dr Muthulingesh Kumar, and Dr Jahnavi Pedireddy at Apollo Hospitals,Bangalore delve into the lesser-spoken truths of being an oncologist
Time, tide and tumours wait for no one. Cancer, a singular minded entity bent on self-preservation over all else, strikes despair into the hearts of the beholder as no other horror can. It can capsize any vessel - regardless of colour, creed or opulence. There are a lot of prevailing notions about what a medical oncologist does. We don’t treat cancers. We treat patients with cancers.
Why is the demarcation so important?Affiliating the ‘C’ word to a person’s identity reduces them to mere statistics and has a catastrophic outcome on their psyche. In our time and age where identities are becoming increasingly important, it becomes necessary, especially in the medical field, to recognise that a person is more than their diagnoses. It is a concept that some might frown upon, but we very much believe that any physician worth their salt would concur with us.
We need to confront the deadly disease on a physical, mental, and sometimes spiritual plane of existence - a balancing act that would put any acrobat to shame. Despite the vast advances made in cancer treatment, people tend to associate death more frequently with oncology than with any other specialty. Even the rest of our medical fraternity is complicit in this. The history and evolution of oncology has been relatively short and is perhaps therefore shrouded in mystery and attached stigma. The stigma surrounding oncology leaves much to be desired.
We strive for perfection as oncologists, but the closest we reach is” an asymptote towards which we ceaselessly strive” - to quote Dr Paul
Kalanithi. (An American Neurosurgeon, who passed away due to stage IV lung cancer –and the author of the book “When Breath Becomes Air”)
Oncologists deal with the entire spectrum of human emotion, within themselves and in the patients they treat. The cross of the dreaded diagnosis is a daunting prospect for anyone or their family to bear.
A child at the threshold of its first word, a youth at the cusp of their first love, a weathered wanderer at the end of their worldly sojournare all equal in the crab’s beady eyes. Seems like humanity could use a lesson or two from it.
We cannot fathom the immense duress - emotional and otherwise, that a family undergoes during the treatment process. In such times, a lot of things that would otherwise appear inconsequential- a mother’s love, a father’s hug, a partner’s kiss, a sibling’s support, a friend’s comfort - form the threads of this moving tapestry.
As a physician, the onus is on us to partake in the joys of a remission, to halve the sorrows during a relapse, to confront mortality and
ephemerality - to help the family heal. To help restore their former lives, to help them weave together the fabric rent asunder by the illness, to help them find meaning, and to help them confront life.
Such frequent run-ins with death, confronting the weight of our decisions and encountering numerous emotions do take a toll on an oncologist. “Cura te ipsum - Physician, Heal Thyself”, should not just be relegated to being a vapid rhetoric. When the oncologist’s soul is gently dying against the light and burning out - what empathy and warmth can the waning ember offer?
In addition to the physical and mental burnout, there exists a negative-feedback loop of cynicism. In this digital age, the bond between a physician and a patient has been steadily declining. While the subjective nature of experiences can obscure the truth, some despicable acts by outliers rendered us occasionally distrustful of each other.
For every incidence of violence perpetrated upon a physician, a charlatan imperils a patient's well-being and financial security. In this day and age, virtues get silenced,
while the echoes of bad faith reverberate through the corridors of social media. The recent pandemic has only amplified the weariness and the wariness.
The power of words transcends our clinics, (mis)shaping the public perceptions of healers with the stroke of a key. Reviewing a physician wields both potential and peril, offering patients a platform to share their experiences with physicians - and conversely putting the career of the physician in the clutch of a few bad eggs. While constructive feedback fosters improvement and transparency, ill-intentioned remarks can leave reputations tarnished. Thus, the responsibility lies not only in the reviewer's words, but in the reader's discernment, to recognise the delicate balance between critique and character assassination.
While we recognise the imperative for physicians to uphold lofty standards, we regrettably stand as the lone exception to the adage "To Err is Human". Perhaps the mantle of divinity bestowed upon the physicians of yore –“Vaidyo Narayano Hari” - has led to such unachievable expectations.
We aspire fervently to attain the lofty standards that are sought of us - in the same vein, we also implore that we not be beset by jibes like:
“2 stars. The doctor likes
A R Rahman, I prefer R D Burman.”
“1 star. The doctor saved my life, but ordered pineapple pizza on my last day at the hospital.”
It does not do well to commodify the healthcare sector with increasing emphasis on reviews, profits, margins and
footfalls. It is a slippery slope towards the demise of patientdoctor relationships.
An oncologist and death are oftentimes adversaries. We are, however, the first to concede that the idea of deaththough profoundly devastating- is at the end of every person's journey. In a resourcestrained setting like India, where the oncologist guides a patient and their family through every part of the journey – they assume the role of a friend, a counsellor, a palliative care provider in addition to being a physician.
In our field, some embark on brief expeditions and some conclude their trips unexpectedly. Some fear the destination and some fear the passage. It would be unjust to blame anyone for their apprehension. After all, life is an extraordinary voyage, brimming with quests, rewards, and repercussions. Who among us would wish for any such cherished experience to reach its conclusion?
Mortality is a facet of life that we fear to confront, not understanding that the beauty of life lies in its transience. Each one of us has lost a dear one to the timeless abyss and yet we shudder at the impermanence of life.
As Shelley eloquently says, “All that we wish to stay tempts and then flies. What then, is this world's delight?”.
As we wade through the chaotic and turbulent waters of illness, we take a moment to reflect. We find and seek solace in the beautiful resilience that hides behind a delicate veil of fragility in our patients. May this article of ours venture to be a memoir to the impermanence of humanity, and a reminder to cherish each fleeting moment with grace and gratitude.
Dr Vishwanath Sathyanarayanan
Dr Narendhar Gokulanathan
CANCER CARE
Precision oncologyin India: Creating a new era in cancer care
As genomic sequencing becomes more accessible and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven decision tools mature,Indian hospitals and diagnostic labs are increasingly integrating precision medicine into oncology care.However,affordability,access,and awareness continue to remain key concerns
By Kalyani Sharma
Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide, with treatment often challenged by the heterogeneity of tumors and varying patient responses. According to The Lancet (2025), there is striking 62 per cent mortalityto-incidence ratio.
India's huge population and rising burden of cancer presents both opportunities and challenges in adopting precision oncology at scale. As genomic sequencing becomes more accessible and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven decision tools mature, Indian hospitals and diagnostic labs are increasingly integrating precision medicine into oncology care. However, affordability, access, and awareness continue to remain key concerns.
India is now on the cusp of a transformation with the rise of precision oncology which is a data-driven and patient-specific approach to cancer diagnosis and treatment powered by genomics, proteomics, and AI.
As Dr Amit Rauthan, HOD & Consultant-Medical Oncology, Haematology and Haemato Oncology, Manipal Hospital, explains, “We are entering an era of precision oncology, where cancer treatment is tailored to the unique genomic profile of each patient’s tumor. This personalised approach leads to improved survival outcomes, fewer side effects, and a better quality of life.”
Dr Sunny Garg, Clinical Director-Medical Oncology, Marengo Asia Hospitals notes, “As the research in cancer treatment is progressing, the role of precision oncology is increasing rapidly. Same cancer in two different individuals behaves differently due to the dif-
We are entering an era of precision oncology,where cancer treatment is tailored to the unique genomic profile of each patient’s tumor. This personalised approach leads to improved survival outcomes,fewer side effects,and a better quality of life
Dr Amit Rauthan
HOD and Consultant-Medical Oncology,Haematology & Haemato Oncology,Manipal Hospital
ference in the genetic makeup and mutations. And these mutations can now be identified and targeted to get better responses in addition to conventional chemotherapy. Precision medicine includes genetic sequencing of tumor tissue to identify targetable mutations that can be targeted through medicines. This had led to the evolution of multiple targeted therapies and immunothera-
The future of cancer care can be decoded by harnessing the power of AI,data science. By embedding intelligent,multi-omics decision tools into the clinical workflow,we can enable faster,more precise,and more equitable oncology outcomes across India and beyond
Chandra Ambadipudi Founder and CEO, ClairLabs
pies that have changed the landscape of cancer treatment.”
Howit differs from traditional cancer treatment?
Cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation, traditional one-size-all approaches might not be sufficient in the face of rising complexity and variability in types of cancer.
Integration of genomics, proteomics with AI/MLhas the potential to transform the care of cancer diagnosis, treatment and prognostication. However,we must exercise caution in blindly following a technology because it is new
Dr Manju Sengar
Professor and Head, Department of Medical Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital
Precision oncology which is an approach that tailors cancer treatment based on the genetic profile of an individual’s tumor can be the game changer in how clinicians diagnose, treat, and manage cancer.
Dr Manju Sengar, Professor and Head, Department of Medical Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital emphasises, “Precision oncology has revolutionised the treatment of certain cancers
Precision medicine is about tailoring treatment as per the unique genetic profile of each patient.In order to arrive at a specific type of treatment for a patient,Oncologists need an indepth understanding of each patient’s genomic profile
Kshitij Rishi
Co-founder and COO, 4baseCare
which are driven by specific genetic abnormalities – for example chronic myeloid leukemia, EGFR mutated lung cancers, alk positive lung cancers and Her-2 positive breast cancers. As opposed to traditional systemic anticancer therapy which is used based on the pathological subtype of cancers, the precision oncology deploys detection of specific genetic abnormality for diagnosis and
CANCER CARE
selecting a specific targeted therapy for cancer treatment. This approach has helped improving the survival of cancers which are driven by unique abnormalities and have a targeted anticancer drug is available.”
She also mentions, “It is important to understand that precision oncology is not applicable for all cancers. For cancers like testicular cancers, Hodgkin lymphomas , almost all the childhood cancers the outcomes with traditional anticancer treatments leads to cure rates over 80 per cent. It is important to understand that precision oncology should be used only for cancers which are driven one genetic abnormalities, have validated testing methods to pick up these abnormalities, and have drugs which target these abnormalities, and importantly these drugs should have proven benefit in adequately powered and well-conducted clinical trials. If any one of these requirements are not met then use of such approach can potentially cause harm to patients and patients can be deprived of effective traditional anticancer treatment.”
Role of genomics, proteomics,and AI in decision-making
The ability to decode the molecular blueprint of each tumor is the backbone of precision oncology. Genomic and proteomic profiling techniques like Nextgeneration sequencing (NGS), PCR and liquid biopsy allow clinicians to detect mutations even from minimal or non-invasive samples.
Kshitij Rishi, Co-founder and COO, 4baseCare explains, “Precision medicine is about tailoring treatment as per the unique genetic profile of each patient. In order to arrive at a specific type of treatment for a patient, Oncologists need an indepth understanding of each patient’s genomic profile. These insights are gathered through genomic testing. AI connects the dots from this data and provides the required information for Oncologists to arrive at a certain treatment decision for each patient. It helps in arriving at a decision that is precise and patient-specific.”
Chandra Ambadipudi,
Founder and CEO, ClairLabs believes that, “The future of cancer care can be decoded by harnessing the power of AI, data science. By embedding intelligent, multi-omics decision tools into the clinical workflow, we can enable faster, more precise, and more equitable oncology outcomes across India and beyond."
Liquid biopsies, as highlighted by Dr Rahila Sardar, CEO, Vgenomics, is another innovation. “Liquid biopsy, a noninvasive method to detect cancer-related genetic mutations in blood samples, allows for earlier detection and ongoing monitoring of cancer without the need for invasive biopsies. Immunotherapy is another breakthrough, where treatments like CAR-T therapy train the patient’s immune system to recognise and destroy cancer cells.”
However, the complexity and volume of data generated require sophisticated analytics.
As highlighted by Dr Rauthan, “As genomic testing becomes more integral to cancer care, clinicians need to understand the types of tests available, how to interpret results, and the strengths and limitations of each testing approach in cancer detection.”
Experts also believes that though technology is an enabler but it should be used with caution.
Dr Sengar warns of the risk of overreliance on emerging tech without evidence-based validation. “Integration of genomics, proteomics with AI/ML has the potential to transform the care of cancer diagnosis, treatment and prognostication. However, we must exercise caution in blindly following a technology because it is new. Often the claims of identification of cancers by running cancer gene panel based tests in asymptomatic population or finding out which anticancer drug will work in cancers where such data is not available from clinical trials can only lead to harm including anxiety, poor cancer control or marked financial toxicities. This is often seen when the cancer progresses/recurs after first treatment, many patients and their families get misguided by possibility of finding
As the research in cancer treatment is progressing,the role of precision oncology is increasing rapidly
Dr Sunny Garg
Clinical Director-Medical Oncology, Marengo Asia Hospitals
Liquid biopsy,a non-invasive method to detect cancerrelated genetic mutations in blood samples,allows for earlier detection and ongoing monitoring of cancer without the need for invasive biopsies
Dr Rahila Sardar CEO,Vgenomics
best fit cancer drug by using these “gene- tests”.
Bridging the gap: Affordabilityand accessibility
Despite so many advantages, precision oncology remains inaccessible. A single comprehensive genomic test can cost upto Rs 1,00,000, making it out of reach for most patients in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Insurance coverage is very limited and public awareness is low as well, further increasing the gap.
Dr Sengar says, “Over the years the cost of testing for the genetic molecular subtypes has come down and thus they have become more accessible. However, it is important to know that these test results are dependent on several factors and requires experts to conduct and interpret. The tests should be conducted in accredited labs with stringent quality control and quality assurance otherwise there is a risk of false positive or negative test which can affect the treatment adversely. On one
hand the quality of test is one concern, bigger challenge is affordability of anticancer drugs for many of these targets. Though some of the effective targeted therapy like imatinib for CML, gefitinib for EGFR positive lung cancer have become affordable for most precision oncology based targeted therapy cost remains a huge concern. In addition, most of these drugs are continued lifelong or several years which makes it difficult for patients to adhere to these treatments without significant out of pocket expenditures.”
Moreover, precision oncology demands a skilled workforce ranging from molecular biologists and bioinformaticians to oncologists and genetic counselors. India currently faces a shortage of trained personnel and infrastructure, especially outside metros.
Upskilling programs, international collaborations, and investments in regional cancer centers are urgently needed to build a robust foundation for
precision medicine.
Rishi points out, “Precision Oncology in India has definitely seen a significant shift over the last decade but we still have a long way to go when compared to the west. In countries like the US, precision medicine is already fully integrated into routine cancer care and this is primarily due to broader access to genomic testing, insurance support and better infrastructure. In India, lack of population-specific genomic data is a key challenge. Most of our precision oncology strategies are based on genomic data from western populations which does not always result in effective outcomes for India patients due to the genomic diversity here. “
Ambadipudi stresses that, “Addressing these hurdles requires robust public-private partnerships: government initiatives can subsidise sequencing in regional centers. Simultaneously, we need biotech startups and academic hubs that can deliver scalable analytics platforms and workforce development programs.”
“So, what does it take for the world’s youngest population and a preferred global medical tourism destination to emerge as a leading cancer remediation hub? India’s burgeoning genomics startup ecosystem— from Bengaluru’s AI-driven diagnostics firms to Hyderabad’s precision-engineering labs—is already laying the groundwork for an equitable scale-up. With coordinated policy support, strategic funding, and collaborative networks, we can accelerate these efforts, turning our collective vision of precision oncology into a reality for millions of Indian patients.”
Wayforward
India stands at a pivotal moment in its oncology journey. With a flourishing startup ecosystem, increasing global collaborations, and supportive policy momentum, the groundwork is being laid for a revolution in personalised cancer care. But to truly increase its impact, there should be evidence, guided by ethics, and driven by equitable access.
From hospitals to community settings,nurse leaders can drive measurable improvements in healthcare by combining frontline expertise with systems-level thinking
By Lakshmipriya Nair
can be generated through prudent investments in nursing.”
The report emphasises that nurses are not just essential to healthcare delivery but also key drivers of economic growth, poverty reduction, gender equality, and improved health systems.
Growth opportunities galore…..but challenges also exist
Luckily, India is witnessing a renewed focus on nursing leadership and skilling initiatives to strengthen the healthcare workforce, especially in managing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and advancing nursing education.
Let’s look at a few of these endeavours from different parts of the country:
◆ AstraZeneca and AIIMS Jodhpur’s ‘Skill for Scale’ elearning programme: AstraZeneca, in partnership with the India-Sweden Healthcare Innovation Centre and AIIMS Jodhpur, launched ‘Skill For Scale’, in 2023. It is an e-skilling initiative to enhance the capabilities of nurses in managing NCDs, with a special focus on diabetes in its first phase. Reportedly, the initiative aims to upskill 5,000 nurses in 2025 and will later expand to include hypertension, cardiovascular care,
and oncology. It is certified by AIIMS Jodhpur and endorsed by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and the Indian Nursing Council. Upon completion, participants receive a certificate and Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits via INC.
◆ Independent Faculty of Nursing at MUHS: The Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) has established Nursing as an independent faculty. Dr Sreelekha Rajesh has been appointed the first Dean of the Nursing Faculty. Dr Rajesh, who also serves as Vice Principal at the GMF Tehmi Grant Institute of Nursing Education (Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune), was recognised as the Best Nurse Educationist of 2023 by the Trained Nurses Association of India, Pune.
◆ Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award: Aster DM Healthcare’s Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award is a platform that recognises and celebrates contributions of nurses across the world. In 2024, it received 78,000 applications from 202 countries. The award recognises nurses for their exceptional service in combat zones, disaster relief, and underserved communities.
Another interesting development in India's nursing
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landscape is the geographic diversification of career opportunities. "India's nursing talent is becoming a driving force in healthcare, not just in big cities but across smaller towns as well. We're seeing a steady rise in nursing job opportunities in tier2 locations - this signals a shift where talent is being nurtured and hired beyond metros. These cities are quietly becoming the new hubs of quality care, bringing skilled healthcare closer to where people live," observes Sashi Kumar, Head of Sales at Indeed India.
This decentralisation of nursing careers has dual benefits: it addresses the urbanrural healthcare divide while creating employment opportunities in smaller cities and towns. "Indian nurses are respected globally for their clinical skills, cultural awareness, and ability to work across different healthcare systems," adds Kumar.
Progressive policies are an imperative
Nevertheless, despite promising developments, several challenges persist in realising the full potential of nurse-led care models in India. These include limited awareness about expanded nursing roles, absence of clear career path-
● The articles should cover technology and policy trends and business related discussions.
ways, potential resistance from other healthcare professionals, and the need for supportive policies and regulations.
So, to nurture nursing leadership, governments and institutions must invest more in leadership development programmes, including online platforms and digital innovations such as Learning Management Systems and app-based modular learning.
"Lots of hand holding is required at this stage from institutions as well as the Government of India," notes Sharma. This includes creating clearer pathways to leadership positions and recognising leadership potential beyond traditional roles. She opines that nursing leaders should not be identified based on only age, experience and education, but also by their competence and capability.
She also advises other nursing leaders to be more "assertive and advocate for evidence-based policies, represent frontline nursing education reforms, healthcare perspectives in legislative processes, and help design reforms that prioritise studentcentered education and patientcentered care and workforce sustainability," in policy spheres.
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Thus, investing in specialised training, fostering interprofessional collaboration, ensuring adequate resources, and creating supportive regulatory frameworks are crucial steps toward empowering nursing leaders to transform healthcare delivery in India, recommend industry experts.
The wayahead
The economic and health benefits of empowering nurses are clear and signficant. As India navigates its complex healthcare challenges, how it nurtures its nursing leadership will define and determine the future of healthcare in this country. By recognising nurses not just as care providers but as care leaders and economic contributors, India can build a more resilient, responsive, and patient-centered healthcare ecosystem.
tograph,preferably in colour,high resolution with a good contrast.
Email your contribution to: viveka.r@expressindia.com viveka.roy3@gmail.com Editor, Express Healthcare
DIAGNOSTICS
Startups could lead the revolution in preventative healthcare
Sushant Kumar, Founder,Genefitletics,discusses how ORAONCO uses next-gen sequencing and machine learning to detect oral cancer years before symptoms appear,and how it aims to redefine clinical pathways in a country that accounts for nearly a third of global oral cancer cases by shifting focus from legacy diagnostics to molecular data and longitudinal feedback loops,in a conversation with Neha Aathavale
ORAONCO integrates nextgen sequencing with machine learning to detect oral cancer at a cellular level. Could you walk us through how the vector matrix algorithm was developed and how it learns from the Indian phenotype metadata?
Over the last five years, the scientific team at Genefitletics has been working tirelessly to elucidate the deep rooted connection between systemic inflammation & mitochondria dysfunction, the root cause of all forms of cancer including oral & throat cancer. Departing from the existing dogma of cancer being a genetic disease caused by random genetic mutations, we focussed on the molecules secreted by oral microbiome and their interactions with mitochondria as a focal point to breakdown the cellular mechanism that damages mitochondria and triggers oral and throat cancer.
The data related to oral microbiome and their biochemical transactions with mitochondria was so huge that there was a need to build an algorithm that works at the intersection of biology, chemistry and mathematics to decipher and make sense of the data in order to understand pathogenic process in the onset of oral cancer and deconvolute those processes into early molecular targets.
Based on the existing scientific literature, we built an initial cancer biology model that helped us build predictive biomarkers for oral & throat cancer. We then carried out internal validation studies on five billion molecular data points from our existing Indian
molecular database related to downstream functions of the oral microbiome to test the hypothesis that enabled us to identify early molecular signatures of oral cancer. Our algorithm underwent 100 plus iterations before it arrived at a final model that combines & quantifies 27 biochemical pathways using proprietary single value decomposition & vector matrix methods (machine learning models) to detect oral cancer at an earliest stage.
Molecular data coming from every new sample by sequencing the saliva sample is churned & mined by the model to further fine tune the algorithm to improve the efficacy. The model also mines the phenotype metadata coming from every new subject to analyse the impact of the interventions which acts as a
feedback loop to further improve the effectiveness of interventions.
You’ve mentioned five billion molecular data points underpinning the test. From a systems biology perspective, how do you ensure the relevance and clinical accuracy of such a vast dataset when applied to real-world Indian patients?
Five billion molecular data points from our existing Indian population specific repository of molecular data was classified into model development (healthy controls) & validation based on specific symptomatic conditions used to identify the subjects carrying oral and throat cancer.
The oral cancer detection mathematical algorithm was developed using a 2X2 vector matrix model on data of 3 billion molecular data related to
healthy controls. The model so developed was applied to all the subjects classified into model development cohort (healthy controls) to detect the specificity. Based on the analysis, the specificity on healthy control was 95 per cent which established a clinical accuracy with statistical significance of P value (Adj) < five per cent.
As a final step, the model so developed was applied on 2 billion molecular data points related to the validation cohort (those carrying symptoms related to oral cancer) to detect the presence of oral cancer. This final analysis was able to establish a sensitivity of 70 per cent with P value (adj) <0.05.
This clinical accuracy and efficacy is going to increase further & finetune the algorithm as we feed the model with more molecular & phenotype data with every new customer sign up.
In a real world setting, ORAONCO, our oral cancer early detect test, utilises next generation sequencing to sequence 10 million molecules from an individual’s saliva sample and overlay the proprietary algorithm, built on five billion molecular data sets, to translate 10 million molecular data into 27 biochemical pathways that detect oral cancer before the physical examination or biopsy show up any signs
How does ORAONCO differentiate itself from conventional oral cancer screening methods in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value?
The current clinical practice for
diagnosing oral cancer depends upon genetic mutations, physical examination and expertise of healthcare practitioners which generally look at downstream epiphenomenon, post cancer specific organ (mouth) symptoms, observable lesions in mouth & visible tumor size in PET scans. These evaluation methods fail to identify cancer in early stages and cannot go deep into change in biochemistry that triggers cancer onset, growth & tumor proliferation. Systemic inflammation & oxidative stress causing mitochondria dysfunction that leads to oral cancer development are asymptomatic and initiates years sometimes decades before the post cancer symptoms show up. These changes are generally missed by current investigations, leading to late diagnosis. Most of the oral cancer cases (>70 per cent) are detected in stage III or IV when the tumor has progressed/grown or even lead to a situation of metastasis. At these stages, the five year survival rate is less than 50 per cent.
ORONOCO is leading the early detection from the front by identifying and measuring these Inflammatory changes decades ago by looking at cellular pathways causing mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to 4X better predictability, 70 per cent sensitivity and 95 per cent specificity. This translates to an> 85 per cent five year survival rate.
India contributes to nearly a third of global oral cancer
HEALTHCARE IT
what next” after the doctor leaves. It is this holistic approach that helps overcome the limitations of at-home care.
What role does technology play in enabling on-demand and personalised healthcare services at home?
Technology is not just an enabler but a true catalyst in transforming how personalised and on-demand healthcare services are delivered at home. It has made it possible to extend hospital-like care into the comfort and safety of one’s living space. With the help of home telemonitoring devices, vital signs, symptoms, and even weight can be tracked in real time and reported directly to remote healthcare
providers or home health agencies. This real-time data flow ensures that any irregularities are caught early, enabling timely medical intervention.
Technologies like fall detection systems add another layer of safety, especially for seniors or those with mobility issues, by automatically alerting caregivers or emergency responders when a fall is detected. Wearable devices are easily available and monitor key health metrics such as heart rate, blood pressure, and glucose levels, offering constant visibility into a person’s health status without the need for frequent clinic visits.
Moreover, the data collected through techenabled healthcare can be
used to build comprehensive digital health profiles of patients. These profiles can record past consultations, treatments, and outcomes. This promotes continuity in care, transparency, and more informed decision-making by both patients and healthcare professionals.
How do you see the future of healthcare-at-home services in India shaping up in the future? What’s next for Kyno Health in terms of innovation, expansion, or new services?
The future of healthcare-athome in India is both promising and transformative. With rapid urbanisation, evolving lifestyles, and rising patient expectations, there is a growing demand for
convenient, accessible, and personalised medical care. At-home healthcare fits seamlessly into this shift, offering patients the comfort of receiving trusted care without stepping out.
At Kyno, our vision is to become a household name for primary healthcare at home—one that Indians across cities can rely on for consistent, high-quality medical support. Looking ahead, we are expanding both in scope and scale. While doctor consultations remain our core offering, we are actively deepening our healthcare ecosystem by integrating a broader range of allied services, such as diagnostics, physiotherapy, nursing care, and chronic disease management. This will allow us to offer more
comprehensive, end-to-end care directly at the patient’s doorstep.
From an innovation standpoint, we are exploring investments in AI and datadriven technologies. Whether it's using predictive analytics for faster doctor dispatch or harnessing patient data to recommend more effective treatment pathways, we believe technology will be a powerful enabler in improving clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction.
References: 1. https://nathealthindia.org/ wp-content/uploads/2022/12/ Home_healthcare_whitepaper. pdf
Sunil Khurana is promoted to Executive Chairman,while Dr Shravan Subramanyam assumes the role of MD,and Guruswamy K takes over as the CEO
BPL Medical Technologies Pvt. Ltd., one of India’s leading medical devices companies, announces key leadership changes as a part of its strategic growth initiatives. Mr. Sunil Khurana has been promoted to Executive Chairman from his former role as the company’s CEO & MD. Dr Shravan Subramanyam assumes the role of MD of BPL MedTech & Group CEO of Claypond Capital invested MedTech platform. Guruswamy K, COO of BPL MedTech, will take over as the CEO of BPL Medical Technologies – effective April 01, 2025.
Sunil Khurana, the founding CEO & MD of BPL Medical Technologies, has played a crucial role in building the company into one of India's most trusted medical device brands since its launch in 2013. Driven by the vision to make BPL MedTech a significant global exporter of medical devices, he led the company in establishing its second state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Bengaluru – largely focusing on expanding the manufacturing capacity of X-ray range of equipment and other essential medical devices.
Khurana now transitions to the position of the Executive Chairman, with focus on guiding the strategic direction of the company, overseeing key decisions at the board level, helping the organisation achieve financial goals, and mentoring the senior leadership to ensure the company’s alignment with the long-term vision.
“I am incredibly proud of our journey so far. With such a strong leadership team, I am more confident than ever that BPL Medical Technologies will continue its growth path. I look forward to working closely
with the team, aligning our synergies, and continuing to shape the future of healthcare in India and Global market”, said Khurana
Dr Subramanyam joins as the Managing Director of BPL MedTech & Group CEO of Claypond Capital invested MedTech companies. A thirdgeneration physician from Madras Medical College, Dr. Subramanyam has over 20 years of experience in the healthcare sector, including leadership roles at Wipro-GE Healthcare, Roche, and Novartis. He has also led strategic initiatives at Premji Invest and Claypond Capital. Dr Subramanyam will take
the reins from Khurana and lead BPL MedTech into its next phase of growth – BPL 2.0. Expressing enthusiasm for his new role, Dr Subramanyam said, “I’m looking forward to working closely with Sunil Khurana, Executive Chairman and Guruswamy K MBE, CEO, in their new roles, along with the senior leadership team at BPL Medical Technologies. Together, we will continue to drive BPL’s mission of improving lives through cutting-edge medical technologies and solutions.”
Krishnamoorthy brings with him over 32 years of experience in the medical device industry. In 2017, he joined BPL
MedTech where he initially led the international and strategic business initiatives. He was sent on a special assignment to Penlon as Director- Sales & was promoted to the CEO of Penlon Ltd., a former BPL MedTech-invested company based in the UK. Notably, during his role as Penlon's CEO, he received the title of “Honorary Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)” from Queen Elizabeth II for successfully addressing the challenges posed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the launch of an innovative emergency ventilator for the UK market.
As the new CEO, Gu-
ruswamy K will manage all operations and continue to implement the strategic vision established by the former CEO. "I am honoured to assume the role of CEO of BPL Medical Technologies. I share the same passion for the potential and opportunities for this great organisation, and I am excited to work with our incredible team in this journey ahead to take BPL Medical Technologies to newer heights”, he said BPL Medical Technologies remains committed to its mission of delivering cutting-edge MedTech solutions to empower healthcare professionals in India as well as globally.
HEALTHCARE TRACKER
Small footprint in urine automation: The game changer
Shobhit Jain, Sr.Manager,Product-Clinical Chemistry & Urinalysis,Sysmex talks about about UF-1500,the fully automated urine particle analyzer which is a downsized model of UF-4000 and UF-5000
As we have ventured into the year 2025, Sysmex reflects upon the journey of innovation and technologies. With immense pride we are together with healthcare professionals in their healthcare journey to help with faster diagnosis and better patient care. In the last decade, Indian IVD industry witnessed paradigm shift in laboratory operations in which automation, technologies and AI tools are very well accepted for an early and accurate diagnosis.
However, Urinalysis is still one of the IVD segments, which is still not in the mainstream and most of the laboratories are still preferring conventional/ manual techniques for the urine examination over urine automation. A lot of vital information can be obtained through urine examinations, still its clinical utility is affected mostly by limitation of its conventional manual methods including biochemical and microscopy. Biochemical analysis is improved with reagent strips, but challenge remained in microscopic part. Other challenges like non standardisation of process, person to person variation, centrifugation and slide preparation needed a whole automated system in place with minimum human involvement and maximising automation.
Sysmex believes that Urinalysis is an informative and noninvasive diagnostics tool for clinicians to diagnose multiple ailments like UTI and CKD. Sysmex is continuously doing innovation in urinalysis testing and in the last 10 years we have started our journey from Fully automatic Urine particle analyzer (Fluorescence Flow Cytometer), then integration of fully automated urine particle and Urine chemistry analyzer and now
The UF-1500 is expected to enhance automation of urine sediment analysis in the small sized laboratory,GP’s and urological offices.The UF-1500 can also serve as a backup instrument for the UF-4000 and UF-5000
proved to be an important marker as far as early diagnosis of CKD, Urothelial malignancies and other routine diagnosis. In addition to that, this system can also be used for body fluid investigation without license activation or added reagents.
Technological advancement in biochemical analysis and microscopic examination in urinalysis has helped to set and standardise process. Automation has changed the way of testing, reporting and documentation of laboratories with improved quality and lowered TAT. Some of the key features of automation in Urinalysis are standardisation, quality control, added clinical values, data management, accuracy, and reproducibility. However, such solutions are limited to laboratories with medium to higher workload, which triggered the need of high-quality urine automation with small footprints.
To offer the small footprints of Sysmex fully automation, we are pleased to announce the launch of Sysmex Fully Automatic Urine particle analyzer “UF-1500”. This instrument can be offered as a standalone system or can be integrated with Urine chemistry for a complete solution. UF-1500
sults from UF-4000, UF-5000 with a smaller footprint. The reagents and differentiation algorithms are consistent with those used with the UF4000 and UF-5000 analyzers. Therefore, the UF-1500 is expected to enhance automation of urine sediment analysis in the small sized laboratory, GP’s and urological offices. The UF-1500 can also serve as a backup instrument for the UF4000 and UF-5000. The UF1500 is ideal for a small sized laboratory or a site that has limited resources and/ or budget since it offers the same quality results and clinical value as the flagship model. Unlike the larger analyzers, body fluids analysis is not available on the UF-1500. Scattergrams and histograms are displayed in the main unit of the UF-1500 without the u-WAM (Urinalysis work area information management system).
Keybenefits of UF-1500 are-
◆ Compact size
◆ Fast and reliable particle analysis with fluorescence flow cytometry
◆ Advanced parameters to support clinical decision making
◆ Automate and standardise manual workflow procedures
we are offering composite solution of Urine particle analyzer (Fluorescence Flow Cytometer), Urine chemistry and Urine digital imaging by 2.5-million-pixel camera. This technology brings changes in urine examination with the in-
clusion of unique parameters like Bacteria gram’s classification, Epithelial cells classification (RTEC, EC, Non-Sec and transitional), RBC Morphology, UTI and AtypC flagging, osmolality and conductivity. These parameters have
UF-1500, the fully automated urine particle analyzer is a downsized model of UF4000 and UF-5000. As well as those existing instruments, the UF-1500 can analyze the birefringence of particles and the nucleic acid content and size information of the cell, coupled with internal structural components, using a blue semiconductor laser (488nm). Detailed analysis of signal waveform originating from each particle generated detailed differentiation of casts, epithelial cells, etc. which are equivalent to the re-
◆ Flexible configuration options to find your perfect match
Urine examination is an important diagnostic tool for UTI, CKD, urothelial malignancies and considering increasing awareness, automation will be gamechanger for small size diagnostics labs. The future of urine examination lies in automation and with such small footprints, these technologies will be affordable for the small workload sites and tier 2 and 3 cities and enable them to enhance the effectiveness of urine examinations.
