Kamala Nehru Memorial Hospital in Prayagraj, in collaboration with a start-up incubated by the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT-K), has developed a portable, artificial intelligence-enabled device designed for early detection of lung cancer, a step aimed at improving access to cancer diagnostics in parts of India where advanced medical infrastructure is scarce.
The AI-powered screening device was developed jointly with Lenek Technologies Private Limited, a healthcare technology start-up supported by IIT-K’s Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre, and has already undergone trial use by clinicians at Kamala Nehru Hospital, which is a member of the National Cancer Grid.
The portable system was recently showcased at the International AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, where it received a certificate of achievement under the India AI-NCG CATCH Grant Challenge, an initiative spotlighting innovations with potential to transform health outcomes in resource-limited settings. The recognition at the summit highlighted the technology’s promise in strengthening early cancer detection outside traditional tertiary care environments.
The device has been developed with the intention of broadening cancer screening reach, especially in rural and underserved regions where access to high-end imaging and specialist interpretation is limited. Early detection of lung cancer significantly improves prognosis, yet many patients in India present at advanced stages due to barriers in access and diagnostic capacity — a gap that AI-assisted tools seek to bridge.
Key contributors to the project include hospital leadership and innovators from IIT-K’s innovation ecosystem, along with the development team from Lenek Technologies.
This collaboration reflects a growing trend in Indian healthcare innovation toward academia-industry partnerships that leverage machine learning and portable technologies to decentralise specialised diagnostics and expand preventive health services.
The development of this device aligns with broader efforts within the Indian technology and health sectors to use AI for early disease detection, complementing other initiatives where AI platforms are being tested for respiratory disease screening and cancer diagnostics to address critical public health challenges.
