The Centre is spearheading biomedical engineering innovations
The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) inaugurated the Mehta Family Centre for Engineering in Medicine (MFCEM) with the objective of facilitating breakthroughs in biomedical engineering innovations. The centre had been set up with the support of Rahul Mehta of the Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta Family Foundation (MFF), and was formally inaugurated on November 6, 2023 with a two-day inaugural symposium. It brings together researchers and scientists to collaborate for research at the convergence of engineering and medicine.
Dr Abhay Karandikar, Secretary of the Department of Science & Technology presided over the inaugural ceremony as the chief guest. Mehta shared his vision for the centre, which is dedicated to propelling the next generation of healthcare innovation, and fostering collaboration between various engineering and medical disciplines.
Dr Shankar Subramaniam, a distinguished figure in the field of bioengineering at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) and an Advisor to the centre was also present at the event. The event commenced with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting and the unveiling of a memorial plaque, symbolising the Mehta family’s substantial contribution to the establishment of this unique centre of excellence.
Prof. S Ganesh, Officiating Director, IIT Kanpur said, “IIT Kanpur recognises that the future of innovation in medtech and healthcare sectors hinges on the convergence of multiple disciplines, with a particular emphasis on the dynamic intersection of engineering and medicine. We express our deep appreciation to Mr Rahul Mehta and the Mehta Family Foundation for their generous contribution towards fostering cutting-edge research in the interdisciplinary domain of biomedical engineering by establishing the MFCEM on campus.”
Mehta said, “Under the Mehta Family Foundation, our priority, since inception, has been to support quality-of-life initiatives. We have funded over 100 organisations with the vision of advancing healthcare and education to nurture intellectual talent through global academic collaboration. The MFCEM at the IIT Kanpur aligns with the same goal, and through this, we are striving towards furthering research at the intersection of medicine and engineering.”
Dr Subramaniam said, “The challenges at the interface of engineering and medicine of our time mandate a multidisciplinary approach. With the MFCEM, IIT Kanpur is able to dive into collaborative research in critical domains like Bioengineering, Bioinformatics, systems biology, computer science and engineering, cellular and molecular medicine, Nano Engineering and more.”
Prof. Nitin Gupta, Co-ordinator of MFCEM, said, “The establishment of MFCEM solidifies IIT Kanpur’s position as a leading institute dedicated to research and development aimed at improving the quality of life for millions in India and around the world.”