The Tata IISc Medical School, set to be established on the campus of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru, will introduce dual-degree programs, including MD-PhD and MD-MTech. These initiatives aim to integrate medical education with fundamental science, engineering, and data-driven research, according to IISc Director Professor Govindan Rangarajan.
During the opening session of the Treat-DM 2025 summit, a three-day conference focused on diabetes and metabolic disorders, Professor Rangarajan highlighted the school”s primary focus areas: radiology, cardiology, bioengineering, artificial intelligence (AI), and public health. The core objective is to develop affordable healthcare solutions for India and other developing nations, supported by the Tata Foundation and the Bakshi-Parthasarathy families.
Professor Rangarajan, along with other speakers at the conference, underscored the importance of translational research, emphasizing the need to bridge the divide between laboratory discoveries and their clinical applications. They referenced the Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) framework to illustrate the progression from early-stage concepts (TRL 1-4) to market-ready products (TRL 9-10), noting the critical “Valley of Death” phase (TRL 5-8) that necessitates targeted interdisciplinary collaboration.
Notable cardiologist and Bengal Rural MP Dr CN Manjunath addressed the pressing healthcare challenges in India, pointing out that, while coronary heart disease cases are decreasing in the United States and Europe, they are on the rise in India. Alarmingly, 30% of these cases now occur in individuals under 40 years of age. He also brought attention to the exorbitant costs of immunotherapy drugs in India, which can range from Rs 25-60 lakh per patient. Dr Manjunath advocated for the elimination of Customs duties, the promotion of local manufacturing, and the integration of clinicians, researchers, and biomedical engineers to enhance the accessibility of advanced treatments.
The summit serves as a platform for discussing emerging therapies in diabetes management, featuring plenary lectures, interactive workshops, and sessions on cutting-edge treatments. These include advancements in nano-sensors, sophisticated glucose monitoring systems, AI-driven analytics, and cellular therapies.
