Tata Group to give Rs 500 crore to set up medical school on IISc campus

Bengaluru: The Tata Group on Tuesday announced a partnership with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) to establish the Tata IISc Medical School on the IISc Bengaluru campus. The group will contribute Rs 500 crore for this initiative.

"The Tata IISc Medical School will be a centre of excellence that seeks to catalyse a unique model of clinical research and medical education in India by bringing basic science and engineering to bear on clinical science and practice. It will focus on a variety of specialities, including oncology, cardiology, neurology, nephrology, diabetes and metabolic disorders, infectious diseases, integrative medicine, and public health," a statement read.

The school will offer integrated MD-PhD and other dual degree programmes to create a new cadre of physician-scientists and medical technologists, IISc said. These students will be trained simultaneously in the medical school as well as in science and engineering labs at IISc, combining cutting-edge clinical practice with scientific research.

N Chandrasekaran, chairman, Tata Sons, pointed out that healthcare is one of India's biggest challenges and also one of its greatest opportunities, given the scale at which technology will be able to transform everything from diagnosis to care and community health. "In time, the institute's emphasis on cutting-edge research and global collaboration will create a highly qualified cadre of physician-scientists trained in the latest approaches to modern medicine," he said.

IISc director Prof G Rangarajan said after a century of contributions to science and engineering, IISc now has a unique opportunity to create new frontiers in medicine.

"The institute owes its existence to the far-sighted vision of Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata. We are committed to carrying forward this legacy and breaking new ground in creating affordable healthcare solutions for India and the rest of the world," he added.