BENGALURU: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology (SCTIMST), an institute of national importance, established a new partnership focused on space medicine to support India’s human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan.
The two organisations signed a framework memorandum of understanding on cooperation in space medicine, creating a formal structure for collaboration between the Department of Space (DoS) and the Department of Science & Technology (DST). The agreement outlines cooperation across multiple research areas essential for human spaceflight: physiological studies, behavioural health research, biomedical support systems, radiation biology, and countermeasures for maintaining astronaut health in the space environment.
V Narayanan, Chairman, ISRO, said during the signing ceremony that Gaganyaan aims to enhance the nation’s capacity in human research under space conditions. He pointed out that the planned Indian Space Station will enable utilisation of the space environment for human research and technology development. “Maintaining human health and performance in the extreme environment of outer space is very important for successful long-duration human space missions,” Narayanan said.
The collaboration is expected to create opportunities for studies and experiments in space medicine, potentially inspiring careers in STEM fields and driving innovation. Dr Sanjay Behari, Director, SCTIMST, expressed enthusiasm about co-developing biomedical devices and translating equipment developed for space exploration for human health applications on Earth. The institute plans to develop cleanroom and zero gravity labs focused on space medicine research.
Sunil Kumar, additional secretary and head of the AI division at DST, noted that research in space medicine will deepen understanding of human physiology, adaptation, and could lead to new medical devices and diagnostic procedures with applications beyond space travel. The memorandum was signed by Behari and M Ganesh Pillai, scientific secretary at ISRO. SCTIMST operates under DST and specialises in cardiac and neurosciences, developing innovative medical technologies, and providing advanced healthcare services.
As a young democracy grows out of adolescence, its rolling out re...
Read MoreAs a young democracy grows out of adolescence, its rolling out reels and reels of tales. If the first post office or a telephone connection paints one colour, the Stamp of a stock market scam or the ‘Jewel Thieves’ scandal paint yet another colour. If failure of a sounding rocket was a stepping stone, sending 104 satellites in one go was a podium. If farmer suicides are a bad climax, growing number of Unicorns are a grand entry. Chethan Kumar, Senior Assistant Editor, The Times of India, who alternates between the mundane goings-on of the hoi polloi and the wonder-filled worlds of scientists and scamsters, politicians and Jawans, feels: There’s always a story, one just has to find it.
Read Less
Start a Conversation
Post comment