Odisha is set to witness a major breakthrough in oncology care as personalized cancer treatment services prepare to launch in the state. The initiative, spearheaded by internationally renowned scientists Dr. Shyam S. Mohapatra and Dr. Subhra Mohapatra, aims to bring advanced nanomedicine and cancer stem cell-targeted therapies closer to patients in India.
Dr. Shyam S. Mohapatra, President of the Global Academy of Nanobiotechnology and a 2014 inductee of the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame, is globally recognized for his contributions to nanomedicine, immunotherapy and translational cancer research. Dr. Subhra Mohapatra, Professor of Molecular Medicine at the University of South Florida and a 2025 inductee of the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame, is widely acknowledged for her pioneering innovations in tumoroid culture systems and neuro-oncology. Together, they co-founded TransGenex Nanobiotech and Agile Diagnostics, focusing on translating laboratory discoveries into personalized, patient-specific therapies.
Through TransGenex Nanobiotech, four lead drug candidates have been identified using proprietary FiSS technology for cancer stem cell-targeted anti-cancer therapy. In addition, repurposed drug screening and cocrystal engineering have resulted in 20 new anti-cancer stem cell molecular complexes that are currently undergoing pre-clinical characterization. Their research addresses a critical challenge in oncology: the more than 90 percent attrition rate in cancer drug trials, often caused by neglecting cancer stem cells that drive recurrence, resistance and metastasis.
Despite advances in chemotherapy, radiation and targeted therapies, many patients with advanced or metastatic cancers eventually relapse. Conventional treatments eliminate the bulk of tumor cells but often fail to eradicate cancer stem cells, a small but highly aggressive subpopulation responsible for drug resistance and tumor recurrence. Toxicity-driven mortality remains a concern, with some patients succumbing to treatment side effects rather than the disease itself. While several large biologics such as monoclonal antibodies and immunotherapies are in development to target cancer stem cells, no small-molecule anti-CSC drug has yet received approval globally.
A major highlight of the Odisha initiative is a personalized cancer treatment platform designed to test drug responses on patient-specific tumoroids. This technology is currently being evaluated in significant clinical trials in the United States. A breast cancer trial at the USF Breast Health Institute aims to enroll 250 patients, with interim analysis showing a strong correlation between tumoroid assay results and oncologist-assessed outcomes in 30 of 34 patients. A colorectal cancer trial with a planned enrollment of 400 patients across U.S. centers is currently undergoing IRB approval.
Commercialization plans include the rollout of PCTx testing services and distribution of specialized devices to hospitals and diagnostic centers. Dr. Shyam Mohapatra will also highlight patents related to advanced drug delivery systems, nanotechnology applications and rapid COVID-19 diagnostics. Dr. Subhra Mohapatra will present advancements in nose-to-brain nanodrug delivery for brain tumors and neurodegenerative diseases, along with her research exploring COVID-19’s impact on Alzheimer’s gene expression.
A special announcement will also spotlight a collaboration with HopeNano Solutions & Research Pvt Ltd, Bhubaneswar, under the leadership of Director Gautam Parija. The partnership is expected to facilitate the introduction of advanced nanomedicine research and personalized cancer treatment technologies in Odisha and across India, ensuring that global innovations translate into accessible, precision-driven therapies for local communities.
With this initiative, Odisha is poised to emerge as a center for precision oncology, offering renewed hope to cancer patients through targeted, biologically informed and potentially less toxic treatment strategies.
