Health & Wellness
Health and well-being requires a multidisciplinary approach to studying entire systems, from biological cells to individuals to social groups. Activities envisaged under this broad thematic area cut across academic boundaries and involve an integrated approach to prevent disease and illness, encourage healthy lifestyles in individuals and communities, and reduce the cost and impact of illnesses. Three sub-areas are identified under this theme:
Digital Health
Participating Institutes:
University of Trans Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology (TDU)
St. John’s Research Institute (SJRI)
Indian Institute of Science (IISc)
Karnataka Institute of Endocrinology Research
Mimyk
Yostra Labs
Foot Secure
Metastrings Foundation
Biocon Foundation
Objectives:
Developing a digital health platform in two specific areas:
Mass-personalised nutrition for Indian urban and rural population
Digital footcare for diabetics
Short-term impact:
Investigation of varied responses of people with regard to post-prandial glycemia, lipidemia, and inflammation to dietary inputs using dynamic digestion model and gut-on-a-chip technologies
A virtual dietician app for the masses
Setting up a proof-of-concept digital kiosk for diabetic footcare
Long-term impact/goals:
Aahaar card for personalised nutrition
Nutrient levels in raw foods and cooked foods and investigation of dietary advice to under-nourished and over-nourished individuals and populations
Remote diagnostics and treatment for diabetic foot complications with scaled up digital foot clinics and digital twin for foot care
One Health
Participating Institutes/Potential Collaborators:
Bangalore Chamber of Industry & Commerce (BCIC)
National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS-TIFR)
Indian Institute of Science (IISc)
Molecular Solutions Care Health LLP
Tata Institute for Genetics and Society (TIGS)
ATREE
Biodiversity Collaborative
Indian Institute of Public Health
Ashoka University
Biome Environmental Solutions
Bengaluru Sustainability Forum, Echo network
Initiative for Climate action
Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP)
Objectives:
Build a network of practitioners and scientists who will engage with and inform policy makers, city planners, health authorities, NGOs, municipal bodies and citizens to minimise infectious and zoonotic disease risks to people and mitigate the challenges that novel outbreaks may bring.
Short Term Impact:
Data to design effective vector control strategies
Predictive and pre-emptive models for zoonotic and vector borne diseases
Environmental surveillance of lakes in Bengaluru city
Awareness and internalisation of synergies and tradeoffs between biodiversity, climate change and disease to citizens
Involving citizen scientists in data collection and monitoring
Wide Impact/Beneficiaries:
A OneHealth framework for Bengaluru city
Ambitious and interdisciplinary science research to solve local problems
Multisectoral interactions and action for improved health and well-being
Collaboration and synergy between scientists, policy makers and citizens
Outbreak awareness and preparedness
Precision Agriculture
Participating Institutes/Potential Collaborators:
Bangalore Chamber of Industry & Commerce (BCIC)
ICAR – National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources
ICAR – Indian Institute of Horticultural Research
I & B Seeds Private Limited
ORBIFOLD Solutions
JNCASR
University of Agricultural Sciences
Ankur seeds Private
Indian Institute of Science
Objectives:
Develop new designs for polyhouses & roof top units for growing standard and high value crops and for breeding/propagation purposes
Develop modern sensing, imaging and delivery systems in precision agriculture
Develop new sampling tools and sensors for pest detection, non-chemical and mechanical methods like semiochemicals (pheromones and repellents) and targeted pesticide spray systems for pest management
Short Term Impact:
Adoption of precision agriculture techniques for sustainable agriculture in protected environment
Efficient use of water, nutrients and chemicals Efficient pest management
Trained manpower in precision agriculture
Wide Impact/Beneficiaries:
Extend the concepts and technologies to open agriculture and space agriculture
Awareness to encourage urban roof top polyhouses thereby promoting farming within and around cities