The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has selected seven research centres at leading Indian institutions to develop priority medical devices and diagnostic technologies. The initiative aims to strengthen healthcare innovation and encourage the development of affordable technologies for medical screening, diagnosis and treatment.
The selected projects cover areas including primary healthcare, biomaterials, eye and vascular diseases, artificial intelligence and advanced medical technology.
Seven Institutions Selected for Medical Research
The selected centres are based at the following institutions:
- Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur
- Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru
- IIT Delhi
- Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore
- IIT Bombay
- IIT Kanpur
- IIT Madras
Each centre will focus on a specific area of medical technology and healthcare research.
Focus on Affordable Diagnostics and Screening
IIT Bombay will work on portable screening, monitoring and point-of-care medical technologies for primary healthcare. Such technologies could help healthcare providers conduct certain tests and assessments closer to patients, rather than relying entirely on specialised facilities.
IIT Kharagpur’s research programme will cover affordable diagnostic methods, regenerative and personalised healthcare, AI, digital health and advanced therapeutics. IIT Delhi’s centre will focus on priority applied technologies for healthcare.
Research Into Eye and Vascular Diseases
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham will focus on developing and validating affordable healthcare technologies for ophthalmic and vascular diseases. The work is intended to support innovation in the diagnosis and management of conditions affecting the eyes and blood vessels.
Meanwhile, IISc Bengaluru’s centre will concentrate on biomaterials and translational medical devices, an area that connects laboratory research with potential medical applications.
Developing the Next Generation of Medical Devices
IIT Kanpur will pursue the development of 10 priority healthcare products through a multidisciplinary team. IIT Madras will establish a translational research hub focused on medical technology, devices and diagnostics.
These projects reflect a broader effort to turn scientific research into practical healthcare technologies. Their eventual impact will depend on development, testing, validation and progress towards clinical use.
What This Means for Indian Healthcare
Affordable diagnostic tools and locally developed medical devices could help address healthcare needs across different settings, including primary care. Research into advanced technologies may also expand India’s domestic medical technology capabilities.
However, selecting research centres is an early step. The technologies will need to demonstrate safety, effectiveness, affordability and suitability for real-world healthcare before their benefits can be assessed.
ICMR’s initiative brings together research institutions with expertise across engineering, medicine and biomedical science, with the aim of advancing priority medical devices and diagnostic solutions in India.