IIT Mandi & TIH Inaugurate Center for Human-Computer Interaction

The primary objective of this initiative is to bridge the gap between academia and industry, focusing on skill development and fostering collaboration to address real-life healthcare challenges.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi, in collaboration with the Technology Innovation Hub (TIH), has inaugurated the Center for Human-Computer Interaction (CHCi). 

CHCi aims to create an ecosystem conducive to research, industry collaboration, and talent development in healthcare technology. 

With a focus on assistive, experience, and device-led technologies, the center seeks breakthroughs addressing pressing healthcare needs.

Spanning over 2200 sq ft, the CHCi has advanced facilities to foster innovation in healthcare technology. These facilities seek to support R&D in areas such as brain-computer interaction, creative design, and the development of assistive devices for healthcare applications.

The primary objective of this initiative is to bridge the gap between academia and industry, focusing on skill development and fostering collaboration to address real-life healthcare challenges.

During the recent talk on "Witnessing the Power of HCi in Diagnostics, Rehabilitation, and Affective Computing,”  Prof Uttama Lahiri, Professor of electrical engineering at IIT Gandhinagar, highlighted how HCi, coupled with wearables, can transform diagnostics and rehabilitation for post-stroke patients and individuals with Parkinson's disease. 

Additionally, she discussed the potential of computer-based cognitive test batteries in aiding the diagnosis of cognitive impairment and intervention strategies for children with autism.

IIT Mandi's Healthcare Innovations

Recently, researchers from IIT Madras and IIT Mandi partnered to make the plant cells of Nothapodytes nimmoniana to increase the production of Camptothecin, a vital component in anti-cancer drugs.

The Plant Cell Technology Lab at IIT Madras spearheaded the development of a genome-scale metabolic model for N nimmoniana plant cells using computational tools. 

The research project received funding from the Science and Engineering Board (SERB) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, with the findings published in the peer-reviewed Journal Frontiers of Plant Science.

Also, researchers at IIT Mandi unveiled an innovative device capable of detecting diabetes without the conventional need for blood samples. Termed as a non-invasive glucometer, this device analyzes breath samples captured in a balloon, offering a painless and efficient alternative to traditional diagnostic methods.

Equipped with multi-sensors, the device could also monitor vital signs such as blood pressure, heartbeat, and oxygen levels.

In another notable development, a team of scientists at IIT Mandi developed natural polymer-based smart nanoparticles tailored for treating colorectal cancer. These nanoparticles demonstrated the ability to release drugs specifically at the cancer site in response to stimuli unique to the affected area.

The findings of this study were published in the Carbohydrate Polymers Journal, highlighting the promising advancements in cancer treatment facilitated by innovative nanotechnology approaches pioneered by researchers at IIT Mandi.