The mission of the department is to create an excellent research institute for medical science and technology.
The mission of the department is to create a research institute for medical science and technology to educate physician-scientists and engineering physiologists.
The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has started the Department of Medical Science and Technology, which aims to provide students with the necessary skills to pursue medical research. The four-year Bachelor of Science program in Medical Sciences and Engineering offers an interdisciplinary approach aimed at preparing students for fundamental medical research, designing life-saving medical devices, drug discovery and artificial intelligence in medicine. The department will train physicians to apply technology in their clinical practice and bring physician-scientist training to India.
The launch took place in the presence of Professor V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, Lakshmi Narayanan, Co-Founder, Cognizant, medical practitioners from the department’s steering committee and several other stakeholders. The department has already established tie-ups with leading hospitals and medical institutes in India and has the support of top medical doctors in India and abroad who were jointly involved in the development of the curriculum. These doctors will be ‘Professor of Practice’ in this department.
The mission of the department is to create an outstanding research institution for medical science and technology to educate and instruct physician-scientists and engineering physiologists to become future leaders in their disciplines. It will run both basic and applied research programs that will bring together many areas of medicine.
Professor Bobby George, who heads the Department of Medical Science and Technology at IIT Madras, said the program links the fields of engineering and medicine in a unique way that opens up innumerable opportunities.
The Department of Medical Science and Technology at IIT Madras will offer several courses, including PhD programs for doctors, MS by research for doctors and MS in medical science and engineering. The department recognizes the importance of collaboration between doctors and engineers and offers a dual PhD program that emphasizes building tools and data analytics.
“With this interdisciplinary approach to improving health care outcomes by leveraging engineering and medical knowledge, new technologies can be developed that monitor vital parameters of various organs, detect signs of disease, and help provide targeted prevention and treatment options,” George said.
For eligibility to enroll in the programme, candidates need to have passed their class 12 (or equivalent) examination in 2022 or 2023 with Science stream from any board recognized by the Council of Department Education Board in India. Admission will be through IISER Aptitude Test (IAT). The program includes an internship in a hospital to integrate theoretical and practical learning. Courses in the program will be taught by a combination of medical and engineering faculty, providing students with a strong research foundation.