Apollo University, Apollo Hospitals, and the University of Leicester, United Kingdom, have formed a partnership to establish the Centre for Digital Health and Precision Medicine (CDHPM) at The Apollo University campus in Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh. The centre will serve as a global hub for digital health and precision medicine, combining the resources and expertise of both institutions. Another hub will be located at the University of Leicester, based at the BHF Cardiovascular Research Centre at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester.
The Co-Directors of the Centre will be Professor Sir Nilesh J Samani, Professor of Cardiology at the University of Leicester, and Dr Sujoy Kar, Adjunct Faculty, The Apollo University, and Chief Medical Information Officer at Apollo Hospitals.
The CDHPM was officially inaugurated today by Dr. Prathap C. Reddy, Chancellor of The Apollo University and Founding Chairman of Apollo Hospitals. The event was attended by the Vice Chancellors of both the University of Leicester and The Apollo University. The Centre, now fully functional, will focus on advancing patient care through the development of digital and personalised healthcare solutions, using advanced analytical methods to collect healthcare data.
Dr. Prathap C. Reddy said, “At The Apollo University, we have always been pro-health, and the Centre for Digital Health and Precision Medicine (CDHPM) sits at the core of that belief. With the CDHPM, we aspire to transform healthcare delivery by bettering disease prediction, prevention, diagnosis, and management for acute and chronic conditions and are committed to profoundly impacting global healthcare. I am certain that such advancements will benefit patients globally and shape the future of personalised and data-driven medicine. I am happy to have launched the research centre in my birthplace in partnership with Leicester University.”
Dr. Vinod Bhat, Vice Chancellor of The Apollo University, expressed his views on the partnership, stating, “The launch of the Centre for Digital Health and Precision Medicine marks a monumental step forward in The Apollo University’s commitment to revolutionising healthcare through innovation and collaboration. By integrating cutting-edge medical research with advanced technology, the Centre aims to redefine patient care and create a global benchmark for precision medicine. This partnership with the University of Leicester strengthens our academic and research capabilities and paves the way for transformative healthcare solutions to create new academic benchmarks.”
Professor Nishan Canagarajah, President and Vice Chancellor of the University of Leicester, remarked on the significance of the partnership, “The establishment of the centre will allow Leicester and Apollo to build the healthcare of the future, which has the potential to transform lives not only in India and the UK but around the globe. Combining the world-leading expertise of both institutions means we can find new and novel ways to solve the biggest challenges in health. We have also taken the first steps to provide cutting-edge degree programmes designed to address the current and future shortages of expertise in healthcare services, both in the UK and India.”
The Centre will focus on the challenges faced by global healthcare systems. Initial research efforts will address areas such as cardiovascular diseases, acute and emergency medicine, and multi-morbidity, particularly in relation to the ageing population and the growing prevalence of multiple conditions.
The CDHPM will operate as a research hub within The Apollo University’s ecosystem, advancing collaborative projects in Precision Medicine and Digital Health. The centre aims to make significant contributions to healthcare innovation and patient care. Clinical Medicine research at the University of Leicester was ranked joint 2nd in the Times Higher Education (THE)’s analysis of the UK’s Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021.
In addition to the CDHPM, starting in September 2025, The Apollo University will offer three collaborative undergraduate programmes in Artificial Intelligence, Electronics, Electrical and Information Engineering, and Business Administration. These programmes will allow students to complete the first two years of study at The Apollo University, India, before progressing to the University of Leicester, UK, for the final year.
Additionally, four healthcare-focused Masters programmes will be offered at the University of Leicester. These programmes will address the growing need for specialised healthcare professionals. Specialty medicine programmes developed in collaboration with Apollo Hospitals, the University of Leicester, NHS England, and the BAPIO Training Academy (BTA) will offer diverse pathways for students to train, specialise, and practise in the UK.
An MoU signed in June 2023 formalised the partnership between The Apollo University and the University of Leicester, aiming to strengthen cooperation between India and the UK, promote international collaboration, and explore joint education and research initiatives, particularly in healthcare and data science.