The Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) is all set to venture into new areas of research and development in biomedical devices, with the Department of Science and Technology (DST) giving the green signal for its Perspective Plan-Vision 2030 proposal.
Addressing the media on Saturday, Director of SCTIMST Asha Kishore said the ₹350-crore project for developing biomedical devices, with focus on regenerative medicine (artificial organ development) and bio inks, orthotics, and invitro diagnostic devices is set to take off in 2021.
Different requirements
“Till now, our focus in device development has been confined largely to implants in cardiology and neurology. But going by the health forecasts for 2030 and the growing population of the aged, the nation’s requirements ten years hence will be vastly different. So we are treading into newer areas of device development. By 2030, we should be able to develop and transfer 40 innovative medical technologies to the industry, and take another 20 to advanced stages of development,” Dr. Kishore said.
“The governing body of the institute has approved the Perspective Plan which details the goals, the infrastructure, human resources requirements and other capabilities that need to be developed for us to work towards the target. The DST has approved a grant of ₹55 crore for infrastructure development, the first instalment of which has now been received,” she added.
The DST grant will go towards the construction of a seven-storey block of 11,500 sq m area, which will be the Combination Devices Block of the institute’s BioMedical Technology wing. A new animal house is also being planned. The buildings, entrusted to the Central PWD, are expected to come up in two years.
Recruitment
As the institute will be exploring newer areas of R&D, which require entirely new skill sets and knowledge, the DST has also approved a proposal for enhancing human resources. “We will be hiring at least 42 new scientists and engineers with expertise in diverse domains such as virtual and augmented reality, biomechanics, industrial designs, microelectrical mechanical systems and metallurgy, in addition to 40 technical staff. About 70% of our requirement has already been hired and are ready to go into training,” Dr. Kishore said.
The mandate received by SCTIMST, to manufacture medical devices for the nation, is something no other scientific institution in the country has been given.
The approval and financial assistance from the DST was also a result of the R&D work done by the institute in the last 18 months, when, utilising a grant of ₹100 crore, it initiated 27 new biomedical device projects, about six of which has already reached the industry, she pointed out.
