In a significant move towards inclusive education and diversification beyond engineering, the Indian Institute of Technology – Madras (IIT-Madras) unveiled its 17th academic department on Thursday—the department of medical sciences and technology. This groundbreaking initiative aims to combine the latest advancements in engineering and medicine. The department will offer a comprehensive range of programs, including a four-year bachelor’s program in medical sciences and engineering, a PhD program for doctors, an MS by research for doctors, an MS in medical sciences and engineering, and a PhD program for science and engineering graduates. Notably, the department will also provide an entrepreneurial doctorate program, empowering doctors to develop and receive support for innovative medical products through IIT-M.V Kamakoti, the director of IIT Madras, expressed the uniqueness of this interdisciplinary discipline, envisioning it to reach the prominence that computer science engineering holds today within a decade.
With an emphasis on creating a pipeline of “physician-scientists” in India, the department has already garnered top medical doctors as ‘professors of practice’ and established collaborations with leading hospitals and medical institutions for research purposes. The curriculum will equip students with skills in designing and developing life-saving medical devices, conducting drug discovery research, leveraging artificial intelligence in medicine, and fostering fundamental medical research.
Lakshmi Narayanan, co-founder of Cognizant, hailed the program’s launch, stating that India’s research capabilities and potential in areas like space, nuclear, digital, and biotechnology can be further extended to medicine.
The admission process for the department will be through the IISER Aptitude Test (IAT), and candidates must have completed their Class XII (or equivalent) examination with a science stream from a recognized board in India in either 2022 or 2023.With its pioneering approach and focus on blending technology and healthcare, IIT-Madras’ department of medical sciences and technology is poised to revolutionize the understanding of the human body while nurturing future leaders in medicine and engineering.