ISRO & SCTIMST Join Forces to Advance Space Medicine for Gaganyaan Mission

The collaboration is expected to open new avenues for experiments and studies in space medicine, help inspire interest in STEM careers, and foster innovation in medical technologies.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology (SCTIMST) have formalized a new partnership to advance space medicine research in support of India’s ambitious human spaceflight program, Gaganyaan.

The two institutions signed a framework memorandum of understanding (MoU), establishing structured cooperation between the Department of Space (DoS) and the Department of Science & Technology (DST). 

The agreement covers a broad spectrum of research areas crucial for human missions in space, including physiological studies, behavioral health, biomedical support systems, and radiation biology. 

It also talks about countermeasures to ensure astronaut health and performance in the challenging environment of space.

Focus on Health & Innovation for Space Exploration

Speaking at the signing ceremony, ISRO Chairman V Narayanan highlighted that maintaining human health in outer space is critical for the success of long-duration missions. 

He noted that Gaganyaan will enhance India’s capabilities in conducting human research under space conditions. The future Indian Space Station will further drive scientific and technological advancements in this area.

The collaboration is expected to open new avenues for experiments and studies in space medicine, help inspire interest in STEM careers, and foster innovation in medical technologies.

Developing Space Medicine Infrastructure & Applications

Dr. Sanjay Behari, Director of SCTIMST, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, particularly the co-development of biomedical devices that could benefit both space travelers and healthcare on Earth. 

SCTIMST plans to establish cleanroom facilities and zero-gravity laboratories dedicated to space medicine research.

Sunil Kumar, Additional Secretary and Head of the AI division at DST, emphasized that research in space medicine will not only improve understanding of human adaptation to space but also lead to breakthroughs in diagnostic procedures and medical device innovation.

The MoU was officially signed by Dr Behari and M Ganesh Pillai, Scientific Secretary at ISRO.

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