Collaboration Agreement with IIT Bombay and Roundtable Discussion Shine a Spotlight on Digital Health
Johns Hopkins University has finalized a collaboration agreement with the Indian Institute of Bombay (IIT-B) with the goals of conducting joint research in digital health and provide training opportunities that build capacity in interdisciplinary health science research.
The partnership will provide catalytic funding for up to 3 collaborative research projects involving IIT-B and JHU faculty. The projects will be jointly funded by Koita Centre for Digital Health (KCDH), IIT-B and JHU and administered through Gupta-Klinsky India Institute (GKII)’s Breakthrough Research Seed Grant program. A steering committee with representation from both institutions will select proposals and provide scientific guidance.
Speaking about this collaboration, Prof. Subhasis Chaudhuri, Director, IIT Bombay said, “Improving the quality, accessibility, and affordability of healthcare is a global priority and IIT Bombay’s Koita Centre for Digital Health continues to provide a strong boost to this endeavour. I am delighted that the Centre is joining hands with one of the best academic institutions in the world. I am confident that this partnership with John Hopkins will be highly fruitful and impactful.”
“This collaboration with Johns Hopkins University can help accelerate KCDH’s attempts at addressing the need for engineering and clinical professionals in digital health,” Prof. Ganesh Ramakrishnan, Institute Chair Professor and Professor-in-Charge, KCDH, IIT Bombay said. “In addition to strengthening the digital health research overall (based on learning from US and the Indian contexts), KCDH stands to gain from JHU’s experience on interdisciplinary research that has brought together clinical domain expertise and engineering expertise housed in its schools.”
The collaboration agreement was announced Feb. 9, 2023, during a panel discussion at JHU’s Whiting School of Engineering. Prof. Ramakrishnan, Drs. Ritu Agarwal, William Polk Carey Distinguished Professor, Rama Chellappa, Bloomberg Distinguished Professor, Kunal Parikh, Research Associate, and Sridevi Sarma, Associate Professor, Vice Dean for Graduate Education, discussed the topic “Empowering Health for All – Exploring Digital Innovations for Health Equity.” Dr. Brian Hasselfeld, Senior Medical Director of Digital Health and Innovation acted as Moderator for the panel.
“The Gupta-Klinsky India Institute works to unite the brightest minds of India and JHU to solve complex health challenges,” Executive Director for GKII Melody McCoy said. “This conversation on Digital Health was an excellent example of the wealth of knowledge that can be shared for the betterment of all.”
About the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, set up in 1958 as the second IIT, is recognised worldwide as a leader in the field of engineering education and research. The Institute was granted the status of ‘Institution of Eminence’ by the Ministry of Education (the then Ministry of Human Resources Development) on July 9, 2018. IIT Bombay is reputed for the quality of its faculty and the outstanding calibre of students graduating from its undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. The Institute has 15 academic departments, 39 (Centres/ Programmes/ Academic facilities), three schools, and four Interdisciplinary programmes. Over the last six decades, more than 62,500 engineers and scientists have graduated from the Institute. It is served by more than 680 faculty members considered not only amongst the best within the country but also highly recognised in the world for achievements in the field of education and research.
About Koita Centre for Digital Health
Koita Centre for Digital Health (KCDH) at IIT Bombay is the first of its kind in India, focused on driving academic programs, research, and industry collaborations in Digital Health.
KCDH addresses the need for engineering, clinical professionals and entrepreneurs in Digital health and creates research and employment opportunities in this domain. IIT Bombay partners with leading hospital systems, healthcare research, and academic organizations which have strong capabilities in different branches of medicine and healthcare.