The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has selected seven research centres across leading Indian institutions to develop priority medical devices and diagnostic technologies. The initiative aims to accelerate the development of affordable, accessible and indigenous healthcare solutions, focusing on primary healthcare, biomaterials, eye diseases and vascular conditions. The selected institutions include the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) at Kharagpur, Delhi, Bombay, Kanpur and Madras, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, and Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore. Through this initiative, ICMR aims to bridge critical gaps in healthcare technology by supporting research, product development, clinical validation and eventual commercialisation.
IIT Bombay to Focus on Portable Medical Technologies
IIT Bombay’s research centre, led by Dr Abhijit Majumder, will develop portable screening, monitoring and point-of-care medical technologies for primary healthcare. These technologies aim to support early detection and routine health monitoring, particularly in settings where access to advanced medical infrastructure remains limited. Meanwhile, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham’s centre, led by Prof Gopal S Pillai, will focus on developing, validating and translating healthcare technologies for ophthalmic and vascular diseases. IISc Bengaluru will concentrate on biomaterials and translational medical devices, helping advance research towards practical healthcare applications.
IIT Kharagpur and IIT Delhi to Develop Priority Healthcare Solutions
IIT Kharagpur’s PRAGATICAR initiative, led by Prof Suman Chakraborty, will focus on frugal diagnostics, regenerative and personalised healthcare, artificial intelligence, digital health and advanced therapeutics. The initiative aims to combine scientific research with cost-effective technologies to address important healthcare needs. Similarly, IIT Delhi’s CAR-PATH centre, led by Prof Vivekanandan Perumal, will develop priority applied technologies for healthcare, with an emphasis on translating research into practical solutions.
IIT Kanpur and IIT Madras to Advance Medical Technology Development
At IIT Kanpur, Prof Amitabha Bandyopadhyay will lead a multidisciplinary proposal to develop 10 priority healthcare products. IIT Madras will host TARaNGaM, a translational hub for next-generation medical technologies, devices and diagnostics. Prof Mohanasankar Sivaprasad will lead the initiative, which aims to accelerate the development of indigenous technologies that address unmet clinical needs. Together, these centres will strengthen India’s research and development capabilities in medical devices and diagnostic technologies.
ICMR Identifies Around 100 Priority Medical Technologies
To identify critical gaps in healthcare, ICMR consulted clinicians working across different healthcare settings, including tier-1, tier-2 and tier-3 cities. Based on this exercise, the council developed a curated list of approximately 100 priority medical device and diagnostic technologies. Under the original call for proposals, participating institutions had to propose the development of at least eight to 10 technologies from this list, covering a combination of low-risk and high-risk products. The programme provides funding of up to ₹15 crore per centre over five years. It also emphasises regulatory-compliant product development and eventual commercialisation to help translate research outcomes into usable healthcare solutions.
Focus on Commercialisation and Long-Term Sustainability
ICMR prioritised institutions with established capabilities in research, prototyping, technology transfer and commercialisation. The selected centres must also leverage existing infrastructure, develop a skilled medical technology research workforce and establish plans to continue their activities beyond the funding period. Furthermore, the host institutions are expected to sustain these centres as permanent research activities after the funding period ends.
Translating Research into Affordable Healthcare Products
The initiative represents a significant step towards strengthening India’s domestic medical technology ecosystem. By supporting research centres across leading institutions, ICMR aims to encourage innovation and improve the availability of affordable healthcare technologies. However, the success of the programme will depend on the centres’ ability to translate research into validated products that meet clinical needs and reach patients. The announced selection does not specify most individual devices, their development timelines or when the technologies may become available for clinical use. As reported by thetimesofindia.indiatimes.com, as the programme progresses, regulatory approvals, clinical validation and commercialisation will be essential to turning these research initiatives into practical healthcare solutions.