Jyoti and Bhupat Mehta School of Health Sciences and Technology at IIT Guwahati
The Jyoti and Bhupat Mehta School of Health Sciences and Technology was established on the campus of IIT Guwahati in 2021, with a singular focus on cultivating scientific and technological innovation to support health science now and far into the future.
The school aims to train biomedical engineers, helping them become leaders in the health sector. Since inception, the students and faculty have worked to address worldwide health concerns great and small, old and new. They have patents and publications that address issues ranging from COVID-19 to diabetes and from osteoarthritis to rabies.
Though still a relatively new school, the M. Tech. in Biomedical Engineering program already has dozens of enrolled students. The PhD program is growing rapidly, with three times as many students enrolled in 2023 as were enrolled in 2022. These programs will effectively bridge the gap between highly skilled personnel and the ever-growing needs of an expanding population.
In only a few short years, the school has managed to address a wide variety of biomedical engineering research areas. They have dozens of patents that range from silks in 3D bio-printing to developing a protective coating for cloth masks. The myriad of published research papers have addressed medical devices, modeling and simulation, global diseases, as well as other health-related concerns with global implications.
Medical Devices
Diabetes has become a worldwide concern as hundreds of millions of people suffer from the chronic disease. The International Diabetes Federation reports that 10.5% of the adult population (20-79 years) has diabetes, with almost half unaware that they are living with the condition. The school has established a patent for a sensor that can measure the glycemic index of foods quickly and accurately. Such a device is invaluable for diabetes management and would be extremely beneficial in promoting healthier eating habits as individuals can see how different foods they eat impact their bodies.
Modeling & Simulation
As 3D printing becomes more readily available to the general population, the school holds several patents relating to 3D bio-printing using a unique silk-based material. They have found success in applying these therapeutics to help patients suffering from osteoarthritis or burn wounds as well as various applications during heart surgeries. The implications of these breakthroughs could enhance the lives of countless people across the globe.
Global Disease
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, hospital grade masks were difficult to procure. Millions of people worldwide began sewing their own cloth masks, though it was well-known that these cloth masks were less effective against the aerosol-driven infection. Fortunately, the school discovered a coating that can be applied to cloth masks to render them effective.
Global Concerns
While one researcher was conducting his research project, he came across some unexpected findings unrelated to his original focus. He found that the plastics he was using were contaminating his samples. He became curious about plastics and the residue they leave behind. He soon turned his research to the effects of plastics on our food and water consumption. His findings have significant global implications.
As researchers at the school continue to seek solutions for health science concerns, their positive global impact increases exponentially.
Professor Subramani Kanagaraj
Head of the Jyoti and Bhupat School of Health Sciences and Technology
Guwahati, India is the largest city of the Indian state of Assam, and also the largest metropolis in northeastern India. The current population of the city is about 1.2 million people, with rapid population growth expected to continue due to the vast education and employment opportunities available. With the Brahmaputra river flowing to its north, the city is bordered on the south by the foothills of the Shillong plateau, and on its east is the Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary. Additionally, the hilly region boasts the Bharalu River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra, that flows directly through its center.
The city is known by several different names: “the gateway to Northeast India,” “The City of Temples,” “the gateway to spirituality,” and “the central educational hub of Northeast India.” Guwahati is one among 98 Indian cities proposed to become “Smart Cities” under a project initiated by the Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India. It is one of the fastest growing cities in India and still hosts some of the most diverse wildlife in the world including rare animals such as Asian elephants, pythons, tigers, rhinoceros, gaurs, primate species, and endangered birds within its region. The majority of the people in Guwahati speak Assamese.
Though petroleum manufacturing is the most important industry to Guwahati, the city in recent years has established an active cycling community, practically doubling the number of people who have taken up the sport. Besides petroleum manufacturing, tea manufacturing and processing is essential to Guwahati. In fact, the headquarters of the Assam Branch Indian Tea Association is located in Guwahati. Additionally, the city is emerging as a sports capital within India with large stadiums hosting world-famous soccer and cricket matches.
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati is the sixth IIT campus. It was established in 1994 with academic programs commencing in 1995. Currently, the Institute has eleven departments, seven inter-disciplinary academic centers, and five schools covering all the major engineering, science, healthcare, management, and humanities disciples. The Institute offers B.Tech., B. Des., M.A., M.Des., M.Tech., M.Sc., MBA, and Ph.D. programs. IIT Guwahati has built up world-class infrastructure for carrying out advanced research and is equipped with state-of-the-art scientific and engineering instruments.
IIT Guwahati is the only academic institution in India that occupied a place among the top 100 word universities—under 50 years of age—ranked by the London-based Times Higher Education in the year 2014 and continues to maintain its superior position in various international rankings. It ranked 32 globally in “Research Citations per Faculty” in the QS World University Rankings 2024. IIT Guwahati has also retained the 7th position among the best engineering institutions in India declared by the National Institutional Ranking Framework of the Union Ministry of Education.
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