IIT Delhi launches MS research in healthcare technology

NEW DELHI: The Centre for Biomedical Engineering (CBME) at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has launched a Master of Science (MS) research programme in healthcare technology. Designed for medical and allied clinical professionals, the programme will start in January 2025. Interested and eligible candidates can apply online by visiting the official website, ecampus.iitd.ac.in. The last date to apply for admissions is October 25, 2024.

The MS research programme emphasizes project-based learning, allowing students to engage directly with real-world applications. Participants will gain hands-on experience through clinical and industrial immersion with top institutes and corporations, offering a thorough understanding of both the medical and technological fields. This immersive experience is designed to equip graduates to pursue entrepreneurial ventures or delve into advanced research and development (R&D) in medical technology.

One of the key features of this programme is its flexibility, allowing medical professionals to continue their clinical practice while pursuing their degrees. This will help practitioners to apply their learning directly to clinical work, enhancing patient care with innovative solutions.

The curriculum includes core subjects and laboratory courses to impart skills required in the healthcare industry along with training to take up scientific research either for higher studies or in industry and clinical laboratories.

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The students enrolled in the MS programme will be provided fellowships and remunerations at par with salaries and stipends available for medical and allied discipline graduates at the entry-level positions. The programme also offers a seamless transition to pursue a PhD at IIT Delhi.

Uses of IIT Delhi’s MS programme

Through this programme, students can expect to engage in research projects in areas ranging from precision medicine, biomaterials, medical implants to medical imaging, rehabilitation, biomimetics models, and translational medicine.

Highlighting the importance of the programme, professor Neetu Singh, head, CBME, IIT Delhi, explained, “The program will provide the much-needed intermediate degree and training for filling the gap between traditional bachelor's and longer duration master’s and doctoral degrees needed to become an independent researcher for the medical and allied professionals. It will bring the medical and allied graduates to scientific research in leading academic institutions. Through this program, IIT Delhi envisions producing globally competitive human resources that can not only uplift the start-up culture and industrial output but will also fuel high-quality scientific research related to biomedical science and engineering.”

Professor Naresh Bhatnagar, Dean, Research and Development, IIT Delhi and a medical device expert said that the programme is in sync with many national missions. It has been designed to align with the objectives and priorities of India in the healthcare sector. Considering the country’s efforts in developing medical products in India rather than simply manufacturing, this programme and the trainees can impact the healthcare industry in a big way. It will provide unique opportunities for medical graduates and bring them to the forefront of technology development and innovation, which again has been dominated by pure science and engineering graduates.