IIT Kharagpur, Tata Medical Center agree to unite for education, research, outreach programmes

Kolkata: IIT Kharagpur and Tata Medical Center have agreed for institutional collaboration in education, research and outreach programmes in the field of interdisciplinary medical research.

The primary objective is to promote interaction and collaboration between faculty, medical professionals and students of the two institutions to carry out joint academic and research programmes, joint supervision of undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students on a reciprocal basis, as well as collaborative research projects.

The integrated and planned MSc-PhD programme will focus in its first phase on medical physics, nuclear medicine and molecular medical microbiology. The programme that would be jointly developed by both institutions, shall involve students spending at least one semester in each institute with joint supervision by faculties and scientists of both institutions. The degree will be awarded by IIT Kharagpur.

Additionally, an outreach programme is being planned for working professionals with customised training modules as per requirements of the organisation to cater to specific needs. This coordinated certification programme will include direct contact and lab modules, live video streaming, visiting faculty contact and distance modules. Microspecialisation and Microcredit programmes, currently being conducted by IIT Kharagpur, may be offered under this programme.

"Plans are underway for joint research programmes with external funding. Exchange programmes will be promoted through creation of visiting faculty, scientist positions with access to laboratory facilities for joint research and exchange of data," said Prof Suman Chakraborty, Mechanical Engineering faculty and programme coordinator from IIT Kharagpur.

He is also heading the School of Medical Science & Technology and associate dean of Sponsored Research and Industrial Consultancy at IIT Kharagpur.

With the Superspecialty Hospital at IIT Kharagpur scheduled to start in mid-year 2018, this is a critical step to strengthen the medical research programme of the institute.