Why IIT Madras wants to bring engineering into medical education

Can engineering help doctors diagnose diseases better, develop medical devices and make healthcare technologies more affordable? IIT Madras is planning a School of Medical Sciences and an on-campus hospital, with a focus on combining medicine and engineering. In an interview with ThePrint’s Sneha Richhariya, IIT Madras director Professor V. Kamakoti discusses the institute’s healthcare ambitions, including digital twins, medical devices, wearables and mathematical models of the human body. He also outlines plans for an AI-enabled clinical decision-support system to help doctors, particularly in areas with limited access to specialist expertise. The conversation also covers IIT Madras’ cancer genomics research, including work on an experimental breast cancer vaccine using data from Indian patients, and plans for a dedicated bio-incubator to support life sciences startups working on areas such as vaccines, agricultural technologies and the scientific validation of traditional medicine. Kamakoti explains how the institute’s Centre for Innovation and startup incubators help students turn ideas into products and businesses, with more than 500 startups incubated so far. He discusses IIT Madras’ indigenous Shakti microprocessor, student-led technology projects such as solar cars and 3D-printed construction, and the need to make research affordable and scalable for India. He also speaks about plans to expand IIT Madras’ international collaborations through five overseas offices, and why he believes Indian institutions must develop technologies suited to the country’s needs. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Exclusive content, special privileges & more – Subscribe to ThePrint for Special benefits: https://tinyurl.com/4ymm9wh5 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Connect with ThePrint » Subscribe to ThePrint: https://tinyurl.com/4ymm9wh5 » Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3nCMpht » Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theprintindia » Tweet us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theprintindia » Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theprintindia » Find us on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/theprint » Subscribe to ThePrint on Telegram: https://t.me/ThePrintIndia » Find us on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2NMVlnB » Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3pEOta8