Low-cost camera-and-therapy system for oral cancer screening and guided light therapy in low-resource areas
Official title: A comprehensive platform for low-cost screening and image-guided photodynamic therapy (PDT) of pre-malignant and malignant oral lesions in low resource settings
Funded at University of Massachusetts Boston · NIH-11411500 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A team is developing an affordable, easy-to-use system that screens for oral cancer and guides light-based therapy in people in low-resource settings.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Massachusetts Boston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $637,286 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CA279862-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11411500 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults at risk for oral cancer or with suspicious oral lesions in low-resource communities where access to care is limited.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without oral lesions or those in settings with adequate access to standard care may not benefit from this system.
What this research studies
This project brings together researchers from three US sites and a clinical team in India to create a handheld system that images oral lesions, classifies risk with cloud-based AI, and delivers targeted photodynamic therapy using a simple oral solution. The device combines fluorescence and white-light imaging with an AI classifier to identify high-risk premalignant lesions and early cancers, then guides a low-cost PDT treatment. The work will use optical phantoms and 3D tumor models for validation and will integrate the imaging and treatment capabilities into a single, user-friendly instrument. The goal is to make screening and treatment more accessible where resources are limited, potentially catching cancers earlier and improving outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients in low-resource settings could receive earlier detection and targeted treatment for oral cancer with a simple, affordable system.
How similar studies have gone: Previous efforts have validated components of imaging and PDT; this project combines them into an integrated platform with AI guidance, representing a novel consolidation.
Where this research is happening
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University of Massachusetts Boston
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Celli, Jonathan P — University of Massachusetts Boston
- Study coordinator: Celli, Jonathan P
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.