In Startup50 2017: Axilor and Pi Ventures-backed Niramai Health Analytix detects breast cancer in a non-invasive and sensitive manner through the fusion of thermography and artificial intelligence. The company made it to the list for its innovative technology that enables non-contact screening for breast cancer.

Founders: Geetha Manjunath and Nidhi Mathur

Incorporated in 2016, Niramai Health Analytix addresses the most important problem  of a cost-effective, non-contact, radiation-free approach to breast cancer screening. The most popular way of detecting breast cancer is through mammography, ultrasound and of course, a physical examination by oneself or a clinician to see if they can detect any lump. However, in order to be able to detect the lump, it has to be at least one and half cms or above which is already late in the stage of cancer growth. There are other methods such as mammogram which can detect it slightly earlier, but women don’t opt for it unless they suspect a tumour.

Hence, the company has developed a solution that helps in detecting this type of cancer at a very early stage. A Non-Invasive Risk Assessment with Machine Learning (NIRAMAI), the company’s cancer screening software uses machine intelligence over thermography images, requiring minimal human intervention. In fact, the solution can detect tumors five times smaller than what a clinical examination can detect. This apart, it is non-contact, radiation-free and economical. 

Technology

The company uses fusing thermal imaging technology combined with machine learning and data analytics for predictive analysis and risk assessment. The thermal imaging technology ensures a radiation-free approach, while machine learning for analyze data gathered ensures the ability to detect the cancer in the early stage.

In the early days, to gain traction, Niramai aims to offer this as an alternate screening model by conducting clinical trials with well-known hospitals to convince them about the solution’s utility. In the last one year, the company has made the tool easily usable to any clinician to capture the data and has also standardised the report format such that any radiologist can make the observation using this report. It has also fine-tuned its algorithm for higher sensitivity so that they can detect all positive cases. The company has filed for 10 patents and has been granted 2 so far.

In the coming years, NIRAMAI aims to take its solution to as many hospitals and diagnostic centres as possible and provide this as a regular screening methodology or complementary to other options.  

Quick facts 

• Cost-effective, non-contact, radiation-free approach to screen for breast cancer
• Software that uses machine intelligence over thermography images, requiring minimal human intervention
• Solution can detect tumors five times smaller than what a clinical examination can detect
• Raised funds from Pi Ventures, Axilor Ventures, impact investor Ankur Capital, Silicon Valley-based startup accelerator 500 Startups and Flipkart co-founder Binny Bansal