In a significant step toward improving early cancer diagnosis, Gandhi Medical College (GMC), Bhopal, has developed an artificial intelligence (AI)-based oral cancer screening technology designed to identify signs of oral cancer at an early stage. The innovation includes an AI-powered screening device and a mobile application called Mukh Aarogya, both of which are intended to strengthen community-level cancer detection.

The Government of India has granted a design patent for the screening device, marking an important milestone for the institution's research and innovation efforts. Medical experts believe the technology could play a crucial role in reducing delays in diagnosis and improving treatment outcomes for patients.

AI-Based Screening for Early Detection

Developed by the Department of Dental Surgery at GMC Bhopal, the Mukh Aarogya App uses artificial intelligence to analyze photographs of the inside of a patient's mouth. The application is designed to identify suspicious lesions or abnormalities that could indicate the presence of oral cancer.

After analyzing the images, the AI system provides an initial assessment of whether the patient may require further medical evaluation. If signs of possible cancer are detected, the app can facilitate prompt referral to specialist healthcare centers for detailed examination and treatment.

According to the college, the technology is the first initiative of its kind in Madhya Pradesh aimed at supporting AI-assisted oral cancer screening on a wider scale.

Designed for Rural Healthcare

One of the key objectives of the project is to improve access to cancer screening in rural and remote regions, where specialist healthcare services may not always be readily available.

The Mukh Aarogya App has been developed for use by Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), Community Health Officers (CHOs), and healthcare workers at Primary Health Centres (PHCs). Using a smartphone, frontline health workers can capture oral images during routine health visits and upload them for AI-based analysis.

Patients identified as potentially high-risk can then be referred to specialist hospitals without unnecessary delays, helping speed up diagnosis and treatment.

Oral Cancer Remains a Major Health Challenge

Oral cancer continues to be a significant public health concern in India. According to the information shared by the institution, the country records approximately 150,000 new oral cancer cases every year.

In Madhya Pradesh, the incidence among men is estimated to be around 25 cases per one lakh population, while Bhopal is considered one of the cities with a relatively higher burden of the disease.

Medical experts note that many patients seek treatment only after the disease has reached an advanced stage, reducing the chances of successful treatment. Early diagnosis is widely regarded as one of the most effective ways to improve survival rates and reduce treatment complexity.

AI Analysis Can Support Faster Diagnosis

Professor and Head of the Department of Dental Surgery, Dr. Anuj Bhargava, said the application is capable of detecting suspicious lesions within the oral cavity using AI-assisted image analysis.

He explained that once the photographs are analyzed, the system identifies whether there is a potential risk that warrants further clinical evaluation. An integrated referral mechanism has also been built into the platform to ensure patients receive timely specialist care when required.

According to Dr. Bhargava, detecting oral cancer in its early stages can make treatment more effective, less complicated, and comparatively affordable while significantly improving recovery prospects.

Building a Smarter AI Model

Dr. Bhargava said the long-term goal is not only to develop innovative technology but also to place AI tools in the hands of frontline healthcare workers across the state.

He expressed hope that the application would eventually be adopted across all districts of Madhya Pradesh. As screening data grows, the AI model is expected to become increasingly accurate, enabling better detection of suspicious cases and expanding access to preventive healthcare.

Research Backed by Institutional Support

The research was carried out under the guidance of Dean Dr. Kavita Ain Singh, whose support for innovation and medical research helped the project progress.

The development team also included Dr. Richa Sharma, Medical Officer in the Department of Dental Surgery, and Dr. Animesh Barodiya, Assistant Professor in the department. Both researchers played a key role in the conceptualization, development, implementation, and testing of the AI-powered screening device and the Mukh Aarogya App.

Medical experts believe such AI-assisted innovations could strengthen India's preventive healthcare ecosystem by enabling faster identification of oral cancer, particularly in underserved communities.

The recruitment covers positions ranging from Assistant Professor to Professor and includes appointments for both AIIMS New Delhi and the AIIMS-CAPFIMS Centre in Maidan Garhi. The vacancies were spread across more than 50 departments, reflecting one of the institute’s largest faculty hiring exercises in recent years.

According to AIIMS, more than 3,200 candidates applied for the available positions. The recruitment process covered 265 faculty posts at AIIMS New Delhi and 199 posts at AIIMS-CAPFIMS. The selection exercise took nearly six months to complete due to the scale and complexity of the process.

In a first for the institution, AIIMS used blockchain-based digital technology during the recruitment process to enhance transparency, security, and confidentiality. Candidate scores were protected through a one-time password (OTP)-based system, ensuring that evaluation data remained secure throughout the selection process.

The institute said the final merit list was generated through software based on pre-defined criteria and rules, eliminating the need for human intervention in most cases. Manual intervention was limited only to situations where candidates secured identical scores and tie-breaking measures were required.

Officials believe the large-scale recruitment will strengthen patient care services, medical education, and research activities across departments. With more faculty members joining the institution, AIIMS is expected to improve specialist availability, reduce workload pressures, and enhance academic and training programs for medical students.

The issue of faculty shortages has been raised repeatedly in recent years, with concerns over vacant positions affecting healthcare delivery and academic operations. The latest recruitment drive is being viewed as a significant step toward addressing those challenges.

Medical education experts say that strengthening faculty strength at leading institutions such as AIIMS is crucial as India continues to expand its healthcare infrastructure and medical training capacity. Increased faculty availability is expected to contribute to better clinical outcomes, stronger research initiatives, and improved mentoring opportunities for future healthcare professionals.

AIIMS has indicated that the appointment and onboarding process for selected candidates will be carried out in phases, enabling departments to fill long-standing vacancies and further strengthen institutional capacity.

A major breakthrough in human gene-editing research has brought the possibility of preventing inherited diseases a step closer to reality. Scientists at Columbia University have successfully edited the DNA of early-stage human embryos with an accuracy level not previously achieved. While researchers say the technology could one day help eliminate certain genetic disorders, the development has also reignited global ethical concerns about the future creation of so-called “designer babies.”

The study was led by geneticist Dieter Egli and focused on a newer gene-editing technique known as base editing. Unlike traditional CRISPR technology, which cuts DNA strands, base editing makes highly targeted changes to individual genetic letters. Researchers say this approach significantly reduces the risk of unintended genetic damage, a major challenge that has limited embryo-editing research in the past.

According to the research team, the technology is still experimental and not ready for clinical use. However, the findings mark an important step toward understanding whether inherited diseases could one day be corrected before birth.

More Precise Than Earlier Methods

The researchers targeted two genes during the experiment. One of them, PCSK9, is associated with cholesterol levels and the risk of heart disease, while the HBG gene plays a role in the production of fetal haemoglobin.

Using donated fertilised eggs and two-cell embryos, scientists introduced base-editing molecules and successfully modified both genes. In several cases, they were able to edit both targets simultaneously without causing the large-scale DNA damage that had been observed in earlier CRISPR-based experiments.

The achievement is particularly significant because previous attempts at editing human embryos often resulted in serious genetic disruptions, including chromosome loss and unintended mutations. Researchers say the latest results suggest base editing may offer a safer alternative.

Ethical Questions Return

The breakthrough has once again raised questions about how far gene-editing technology should be allowed to go. While scientists involved in the project emphasise that the goal is to prevent serious inherited diseases, critics warn that the same technology could eventually be used to select or enhance traits such as intelligence, height, appearance, or athletic ability.

The debate over human embryo editing intensified in 2018 when Chinese scientist He Jiankui claimed to have created genetically modified babies resistant to HIV. The experiment was widely condemned by the international scientific community, and He was later sentenced to prison by Chinese authorities.

Since then, many experts have argued that embryo editing remains too risky for clinical use due to concerns about safety, unintended mutations, and long-term health effects.

Potential Benefits for IVF Patients

Researchers believe the technology could eventually benefit couples undergoing IVF treatment. In some cases, embryos carrying disease-causing mutations are discarded because they are unsuitable for implantation. Gene editing may one day allow doctors to repair those mutations, increasing the number of viable embryos available to prospective parents.

Scientists involved in the study say future research will focus on reducing a problem known as mosaicism, where some cells within an embryo are edited while others remain unchanged. This remains one of the biggest barriers to clinical application.

Experts have also stressed that extensive testing, regulatory review, and public debate will be required before any human embryo gene-editing technology could be used in fertility clinics.