Anna University, Chennai, may become the National Hub for Healthcare Instrumentation with Rs.15 crore funding from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). A formal letter is expected within a couple of weeks, vice-chancellor P. Mannar Jawahar said.
Dr. Jawahar said a team from DRDO had visited the campus last week to assess the facilities and hold talks with university authorities and professors. The team had been positive in its appraisal of the University facilities and formal approval from DRDO was expected soon, he said.
“Our students recently won an award from Texas Instruments Analog Design Contest for developing a low cost video bronchoscope. We have all the facilities required to undertake cutting-edge research,” Dr. Jawahar said.
With a thriving healthcare industry in the State, the hub, when it becomes functional, will also provide a platform for industry-academia collaboration, he said.
The healthcare industry sector can undertake specific research projects using the expertise of the professors and the students. “We can get into tie-ups with healthcare providers and instrumentation developers,” he added.
As part of the project, the vice-chancellor has constituted a committee of professors from various departments including Electronics, Instrumentation and Biotechnology.
“We are also planning to start a new Department of Applied Sciences and Technology. We are waiting for DRDO's approval and other formalities. Once these are completed, the committee will co-ordinate the process,” Dr. Jawahar said.
