The Vellore Institute of Technology University (VITU) and Gleneagles Hospital Chennai have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly drive research and innovation at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and neurosciences. The collaboration aims to develop affordable, AI-enabled healthcare technologies that improve diagnostics, treatment strategies, and patient outcomes while reducing the overall cost of care.
Key areas of focus include neuroinformatics, brain imaging, machine learning applications in healthcare, wearable and IoT-based medical technologies, gait-assistive devices, and AR/VR-based diagnostic platforms. These technologies are expected to benefit fields such as epilepsy management, neuro-oncology, neurorehabilitation, and cognitive health monitoring, supporting early intervention and long-term care.
The MoU was signed by Dr. Nageshwar Rao, CEO of Gleneagles Hospital, and Dr. T. Thyagarajan, Pro Vice-Chancellor of VITU. Other key representatives from both institutions also attended the event. Dr. Rao emphasized the urgency of integrating technology with the Indian healthcare system. “This partnership aims to build a sustainable framework where clinicians and engineers co-create solutions to tackle complex neurological and chronic health challenges,” he said.
Under the collaboration, Gleneagles Hospital will provide clinical expertise, infrastructure, and mentorship from neurologists and rehabilitation specialists. The hospital will also facilitate prototype validation and clinical trials.
VIT will lead system design, data architecture, and algorithm development, capitalizing on its strengths in engineering and applied sciences. The university will also oversee research, intellectual property generation, and efforts to scale and commercialize innovations for widespread access.
Additionally, the partnership will foster interdisciplinary training programs to equip future clinicians, engineers, and data scientists with the skills needed to address emerging challenges in AI-enabled healthcare.