Professor Suman Chakraborty’s body of work boasts a plethora of affordable, simple-to-execute, and innovative diagnostic solutions covering various medical challenges, such as anaemia, cancer, COVID-19, and tuberculosis.

Suman Chakraborty, institute chair professor in the Mechanical Engineering department of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (IIT-KGP), has been awarded the 2026 TWAS Award in Engineering and Computer Sciences by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

According to The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) website, this biennial award is given to “individual scientists from developing countries in recognition of an outstanding contribution to scientific knowledge in nine fields of sciences and/or to the application of science and technology to sustainable development.”

Professor Chakraborty is an alumnus of Jadavpur University in Kolkata and the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru and has been a visiting professor at Stanford University in the United States with an Indo-US Fellowship. He has also been an Alexander von Humboldt Fellow in Germany, as well as a Fellow of the American Physical Society, American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Professor Chakraborty is currently a J.C. Bose National Fellow.

His body of work boasts a plethora of affordable, simple-to-execute, and innovative diagnostic solutions covering various medical challenges such as anaemia, cancer, COVID-19, tuberculosis etc.

His notable innovations include Oroscreen, a torch-like imaging device for the early detection of oral cancer, and Covirap, a rapid COVID-19 detection test kit. The latter has been granted a U.S. patent for its rapid nucleic acid testing technology using DNA RNA samples. 

He has also developed PrepapQR, a home test for women to accurately test vaginal Ph with the help of a strip, and HemoQR, a simplified anaemia screening technology. Both these tests are currently available commercially.

“We are also currently developing a flagship technology for rapid detection of tuberculosis. I have always focussed on developing diagnostic technology and interventions that will be affordable and accessible for the Indian masses without the requirement for expensive laboratory resources,” Professor Chakraborty told The Hindu.

“I am elated to win this award from India because it’s a recognition of humanitarian work through science and technology. This achievement also recognises government-funded science innovation in India given most diagnostic solutions in my body of work were developed in IIT-KGP. This award, I am sure, is a matter of pride for the Government of India as well,” he added.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)