AFMS &IISc Partner to Accelerate AI-led Advances in Combat Medicine

Under the MoU, the two institutions will jointly develop next-generation medical technologies, with a strong emphasis on artificial intelligence, wearable sensors, robotics, and advanced wound-care solutions.

The Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) and the Indian Institute of Science(IISc) have formalised a collaboration to develop battlefield-ready medical technologies, combining clinical expertise with advanced research in artificial intelligence, wearables, and bioengineering.

The collaboration has been formalised through a memorandum of understanding that brings together AFMS’s clinical experience in military healthcare and IISc’s long-standing expertise in science, engineering, and interdisciplinary research.

The initiative is aimed at ensuring timely diagnosis, effective emergency care, and improved recovery outcomes for personnel injured during combat or deployed in extreme conditions.

Combat medicine has become an increasingly critical area of focus for armed forces worldwide, driven by the need to manage trauma, injuries, and medical emergencies in remote and high-risk locations. Modern battlefields demand rapid decision-making, real-time monitoring, and technologies that can function reliably under stress.

In India, AFMS plays a central role in delivering healthcare across the Army, Navy, and Air Force, while IISc has been at the forefront of national research efforts in areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics, materials science, and biomedical engineering.

Under the MoU, the two institutions will jointly develop next-generation medical technologies, with a strong emphasis on artificial intelligence, wearable sensors, robotics, and advanced wound-care solutions.

Research efforts will focus on faster diagnosis, emergency interventions on the battlefield, surgical support, and rehabilitation strategies tailored to combat-related injuries. Academic collaboration will also be expanded through PhD programmes, joint courses, workshops, and conferences aligned with defence medical needs.

Prof. Dr Navakant Bhat, Dean of the Interdisciplinary Sciences Department at IISc, said, “The goal is to translate laboratory research into real-world medical solutions,” adding that AFMS contributes deep clinical knowledge while IISc brings scientific and technological capabilities, creating a platform for meaningful innovation.

He also noted that the agreement formalises an ongoing relationship rather than initiating it. Collaborative work had begun before the signing of the MoU, with an AFMS researcher already pursuing a PhD at IISc’s bioengineering department and multiple research themes identified for development.

A key objective of the partnership is to strengthen combat medicine as a specialised discipline, drawing parallels with the evolution of space medicine. IISc’s prior involvement in India’s Gaganyaan mission, where selected astronauts completed an MTech by Research programme studying the effects of spaceflight on the human body, is expected to inform this effort. Similar scientific approaches will now be applied to address the physical and medical challenges faced by soldiers in combat situations.

Another dimension of the collaboration is the development of physician-scientists. AFMS clinicians will engage in research activities at IISc, contributing to the design and testing of medical devices and technologies based on frontline medical challenges.

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