Bengaluru & Vellore, India, 27 October 2025: In a significant stride towards leveraging homegrown technology for public health, 5C Network, India’s leading and most deployed AI-driven radiology platform, and Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), an Institute of Eminence, today announced a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop and validate cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence (AI) models for the early detection and quantification of pulmonary nodules in lung cancer screening.
This collaboration is poised to create one of India’s first multi-modal AI solutions specifically designed for High-Resolution CT (HRCT) Thorax studies, addressing a critical need in a country where lung cancer is a major health concern. The project, titled “AI-Based Detection and Quantification of Pulmonary Nodules in HRCT Thorax Studies”, will harness VIT’s deep research expertise in AI and engineering with 5C Network’s proven experience in building clinical-grade AI for medical imaging.
The primary objective is to build robust deep learning models that can automatically detect, segment, and characterise lung nodules—key indicators of early-stage lung cancer. The AI will assess nodule size, shape, and type (solid, part-solid, ground-glass) and track their growth over time to assist radiologists in malignancy risk assessment. This has the potential to reduce diagnostic delays, improve reporting consistency across the country, and ultimately support better patient outcomes.
“This partnership with 5C Network is a testament to VIT’s commitment to driving innovation that has a tangible social impact,” said Dr. Jayabarathi T, Registrar of VIT Vellore. “By combining our academic rigor with 5C’s industry expertise, we are not just advancing AI research; we are creating a powerful tool that can save lives. It aligns perfectly with our mission to develop solutions for pressing national and global challenges.”
A key feature of the project is the development of a secure, web-based data management platform to handle HRCT datasets. This platform will facilitate seamless collaboration between radiologists and data scientists, integrating AI-generated insights into structured clinical reports to aid decision-making.
“For India to win its fight against non-communicable diseases like cancer, we need indigenous, scalable, and affordable technological solutions,” said Kalyan Sivasailam, Co-founder & CEO of 5C Network. “Our collaboration with VIT is a decisive step in that direction. By building and validating this AI within India, for Indian patients, we ensure it is tailored to our demographic and clinical realities. This isn’t just an R&D project; it’s about building the future of diagnostic care in India.”
The three-year collaborative project will also provide valuable internship opportunities for VIT students, offering them real-world exposure to the rapidly evolving fields of AI and healthcare technology, thereby helping to nurture the next generation of Indian HealthTech innovators.