Balasore: Nusrat Mobassara Sanghamitra was busy in her office when she got to know that she had been selected for the National Award for Technical Start-up of the Year - 2108.

The 39-year-old researcher is on the verge of developing a technology that can be a boon for cancer patients. The resident of Soro in Balasore runs CyCa Onco Solutions, a medical-based start-up at the KIIT-TBI (Technology Business Incubator) in Bhubaneswar.

Sanghamitra received the award that included a citation and a cheque of Rs 15 lakh from President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday during an event at Vigyan Bhavan in Delhi. She has developed a molecular drilling machine or drug deliver system - CyPlatin and CyGIo - that will be able to carry anti-cancer drugs injected directly and precisely to the cell without causing any harm to neighbouring healthy cells. These two molecules will deliver the anti-cancer drug Cisplatin, widely used to treat malignant cancers.

Sanghamitra, who describe herself as a scientist, entrepreneur and motivator, says she is committed to making a difference in people's life by her scientific and personal endeavours.

She started her journey with a mission "to find a better anti-cancer drug with fewer side effects". The chemist with a fascination for biology pursued research at institutes of international repute and set up the start-up to translate her ideas and research (at the interface of chemistry, biomaterials, cell biology and its applications in anti-cancer drug development) from bench to bedside, to make an impact in oncology and make significant contributions to the global fight against cancer.

She said the efficiency of CyPlatin is tested and proved in the laboratory on a cell model.

The experiment has proved successful and, once implemented, would enhance the life span of patients, she said.

"The technology will help in fighting cancer, besides improving the quality of life of cancer patients," she said.

Her long-term vision and dream is to establish a centre as a one-spot solution for cancer in her native Odisha and make high-quality cancer therapy and care affordable by following a patient-centric health care model.

"Every human being deserves to be loved and cared for," the alumni of Fakir Mohan College said.

After completing her BSc with chemistry honours, she completed her postgraduation from Utkal University before getting her doctorate degree from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.

Kovind tweeted following the ceremony: "We need more of our daughters and more of our country's young women to enter the technology and innovation space. Those who are already working here are doing a remarkable job, but their numbers need to improve. And improve urgently #PresidentKovind."