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The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Tufts University (Massachusetts, US)’s global nutrition research centre will propel research on malnutrition and obesity. Here IISc’s engineering and tech strengths, combined with Tufts' nutrition science, will fuel innovation in sensor development, tele-nutrition tools, and AI-driven analytics.
The global nutrition centre referred to as the Interdisciplinary Centre for Nutrition Science and Medicine (ICNSM) is housed within the Tata IISc Medical School. The centre will drive interdisciplinary innovation in nutrition science. Prof Govindan Rangarajan, director, IISc and Sunil Kumar, president, Tufts University inked a pact noting that in an era where both undernutrition and overnutrition coexist in many parts of the world, this initiative sets a precedent for how academic institutions can lead the charge in designing sustainable, equitable, and tech-enabled nutrition interventions for all.
The need of the hour is to addresses the double burden of malnutrition and obesity with an integrated approach. The global hub for precision nutrition research will pave the way for training a cadre of global nutrition leaders equipped for research, clinical practice, and policy, they noted.
"The centre will maximise the expertise in basic sciences and engineering technology. It will provide a unique platform for researchers from IISc and Tufts to co-develop nutrition-focused healthcare solutions for India, the US, and beyond addressing the full spectrum of diseases stemming from both malnutrition and obesity," said Navakanta Bhat, Dean of the Division of Interdisciplinary Sciences and Professor at the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering, IISc.
The initiative is being launched in collaboration with Tufts University's Gerald J and Dorothy R Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, he added.
The ICNSM aims to foster advanced research blending basic science, clinical trials, and translational studies. Focus areas include nutritional immunity, aging, obesity, and cancer. There is considerable attention given to cardiovascular, metabolic, kidney, and infectious diseases. In addition, the new age focus areas of gut microbiome, ultra-processed foods, and plant-based nutrition will be brought to the fore.
Precision nutrition, food as medicine, biosensors, and AI in nutrition will be another prime area of interest. This will lead to conduct large-scale interventions to tackle anaemia, malnutrition, hypertension, and metabolic disorders. Efforts will be on to develop tele-nutrition systems to support primary care and extend healthcare reach. The researchers will also delve into nutrition-specific competencies and co-designed curricula for physician-scientists and health researchers. Joint PhD supervision, scholar exchanges, and coordinated governance through a joint steering committee will be facilitated.
Our work on nutrition is just the beginning of what we envision as a range of collaborative initiatives between our two institutions. The partnership underscores both institutions' commitment to collaborative research and global problem-solving, said Sunil Kumar.
Christina Economos, Gerald J and Dorothy R Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, said, "We envision a flexible, multidisciplinary training approach that equips emerging physician-scientists and health researchers with a strong foundation in nutrition science."
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