Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
Punjabi University researcher develops advanced method for early skin cancer detection
Babushahi Bureau
Patiala (Punjab), October 12, 2025: Punjabi University has made notable progress in developing a safe and early detection method for various types of skin cancer. Researcher Dr. Shelly, under the guidance of Dr. Bal Krishan in the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, has focused on non-invasive diagnostic techniques using advanced dermoscopic imaging to minimize unnecessary biopsies.
Her work, titled “Detection of Skin Cancer in Dermoscopic Digital Images”, has gained recognition, with four papers published in SCI-indexed journals and four papers presented at national and international conferences.
Dr. Shelly explained that her research leverages dermoscopic imaging and machine learning to enhance diagnostic accuracy, enabling early detection of both benign (non-cancerous) and malignant (cancerous) skin lesions.
Early intervention, she noted, is critical, as skin cancer often progresses unnoticed and contributes to rising mortality rates of approximately 1% annually.
The study employs deep learning-based techniques, particularly an enhanced Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), validated using the ISIC and PH2 datasets, achieving accuracies of 99.62% and 99.98%, respectively.
A major innovation is a hybrid feature extraction method combining shape, color, and texture features, optimized using the Cuckoo Search algorithm, which reduces computational complexity while improving classification precision.
Dr. Bal Krishan added that the research integrates advanced image processing steps such as pre-processing, segmentation, feature extraction, and classification, offering a potential automated tool to assist medical professionals in early and accurate diagnosis.
Vice-Chancellor Dr. Jagdeep Singh lauded the achievement, praising both Dr. Shelly and her supervisor. He emphasized that such life-saving research not only strengthens the reputation of academic institutions but also contributes significantly to humanity.