In 2006, the Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta Family Foundation (MFF) established the Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM). Located in southern India near Guindy National Park, much of the IITM campus is protected forest area where deer, macaque, and other wildlife reside.

The School of Biosciences, housed in a dedicated facility on IITM’s main campus, brings cutting-edge biotechnology research and scholarship to India. Research activities taking place at IITM currently focus on medical biotechnology, chemical biology, computational biology, and bioprocesses, and the interdisciplinary nature of the curriculum, designed in collaboration with MFF CARE, provides students with an in-depth learning experience and training in research methodologies used to discover new innovations and scientific developments.

The original building for the School of Biosciences contains several core facilities, specialized research labs, and classrooms. Graduates from the first years of the school have had a marked impact in the biosciences and biotechnology. As demand for graduates in these fields increased, MFF responded by partnering with IITM to construct a second building, which houses the National Cancer Tissue Biobank (NCTB) and its related research labs. NCTB, the first research center of its kind in India, collects cancer tissue samples and patient data to develop strategies for improving diagnosis and treatment.

In addition to seeking cures for cancer and other life-threatening diseases, faculty and students of the school are actively engaged in finding solutions to such challenges as meeting the food and water demands of an ever-growing population and addressing environmental threats to the planet.

Students who would like to learn more about the Mehta Family School of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence and the enrollment/placement requirements may contact IITM. International faculty interested in partnering with IITR may contact MFF.