Department of Biotechnology Biodesign Centers

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has identified “Biomedical Engineering” as one of its thrust areas. This is a multi-disciplinary field of research which involves application of engineering techniques for basic understandings and development of innovative technologies for improved quality of life. The overall aim is to foster and support innovative ideas in fields of biomaterials for various therapeutic/biomedical applications; bio-medical devices, implants & bio-instrumentation; bio-medical sensors; bio-imaging for improved diagnostics/existing medical equipment; tissue engineering and other allied areas for development of affordable healthcare products.

Biodesign

Innovation is the key to address the unmet clinical needs. The demand for medical devices and implants is growing rapidly globally as well as in India. Innovation in medical technologies for developing solutions for local problems is the need of the hour. In the country like India, we need solutions that are affordable, simple, robust, reliable and flexible enough to work in small towns, clinics and government health centres. Realising the need to foster and promote development of indigenous affordable medical technologies, DBT has taken initiatives to implement med-tech innovation Biodesign programmes and building capacity for innovative research, prototyping, validation and testing of medical technologies.

Objectives of Biodesign

The overall focus is on invention and early-stage development of affordable implants and devices for the country. The objectives of Biodesign include:

• To twin medical colleges and engineering institutes for promoting innovation through multi-disciplinary approach with international partnership
• To provide hands-on-training to med-tech innovators in Biodesign process for need identification through clinical immersion for developing affordable novel medical technologies focused on implants, devices and diagnostics
• To create readily accessible processes and facilities to support the entire innovation process i.e. need design, provisional product profile, technical market scrutiny, prototype validation, product development, product evaluation and enterprise creation in a service model
• Form an effective network of biologists, engineers, clinicians, and medical technology person for “design process” focusing on technology development
• Enhance industry participation for scale-up of technology transfer and commercialisation
• Establish linkages with other national and international partners

DBT Biodesign Centers

DBT has established four Biodesign centers to promote medical technology innovation in the country.

School of International Biodesign (SiB)

The Stanford India Biodesign programme was started in the year 2007 till 2014. School of International Biodesign (SIB) is built on the success of Stanford India Biodesign Programme. The School of International Biodesign (SiB) is an innovation program implemented by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi and Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD) in collaboration with QUT Australia and Hiroshima University, Japan. Since the inception of the program, DBT has engaged Biotechnology Consortium of India Limited (BCIL) to manage the techno-legal activities of this Programme.

Healthcare Technology Innovation Center (HTIC) at IIT Madras Research Park

The Healthcare Technology Innovation Centre (HTIC) is a multi-disciplinary R&D centre, a joint initiative of Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) and Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India that brings together technologists, engineers, doctors and healthcare professionals, industry and government to develop healthcare technologies for the country. The vision of HTIC is to develop technologies that create impact and drive innovation in healthcare and be a leader known for technical excellence and collaborative spirit.

HTIC was initiated to design devices and deploy products into public-health and patient care systems by engineers at IIT Madras for the clinical needs identified by clinicians.

Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering (BSSE)

The Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering (BSSE) at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) was founded on June 4th, 2015, based on the critical mass that became evident due to the Interdisciplinary PhD programme in Bioengineering that started in August 2012 and a large grant from DBT entitled 'Bioengineering and Biodesign Initiative'. BSSE brings together biologists, engineering, and those who are trained as bioengineers. It is also extending its reach to medical doctors, agricultural scientists, and biomedical industries.

Translational Health Science and Technological Institute (THSTI), Faridabad

The Center for Biodesign, THSTI Faridabad was established as a niche center with the mission to undertake innovation and translational research in medical technologies with bio-design process.

Source: Department of Biotechnology (DBT)