ISRO and SCTIMST Sign Framework MoU to Advance Space Medicine for Gaganyaan Mission

Chennai, April 25 – The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), in collaboration with the Department of Space (DoS) and Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), has signed a Framework Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote Space Medicine for India’s first human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan.

This strategic partnership marks a major step in advancing space medicine and enhancing India's capabilities in human spaceflight. The MoU, signed in New Delhi, sets the foundation for joint efforts in areas such as human physiological research, behavioral health, biomedical support systems, radiation medicine, space countermeasures, telemedicine, and the development of crew medical kits.

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Enhancing Human Spaceflight Readiness

The Gaganyaan mission, a flagship human space program by ISRO, aims to expand the country’s expertise in operating human missions in outer space. ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan emphasized the importance of ensuring astronaut health and performance in extreme space environments, especially for long-duration missions. He noted that platforms like the proposed Bharatiya Antariksh Station will serve as a national hub for cutting-edge research and technology development based on India’s space priorities.

Key Contributions and Future Goals

Dr. Kris Gopalakrishnan, President of SCTIMST, expressed optimism about this collaboration paving the way for strong academia-industry ties in medical device development. Dr. Sunil Kumar, Additional Secretary & Head of the AI Division at DST, highlighted the dual benefit of space medicine — enhancing astronaut health while also enabling breakthroughs that can translate into better healthcare on Earth.

SCTIMST Director Dr. Sanjay Behari shared the institute's commitment to developing clean room and zero-gravity laboratory environments for research. He underlined the potential of co-developing biomedical devices and translating space-oriented innovations for terrestrial medical use.

MoU Signing Ceremony

The MoU was formally signed by Dr. Sanjay Behari (Director, SCTIMST) and Shri M. Ganesh Pillai (Scientific Secretary, ISRO), in the presence of several dignitaries including Dr. V Narayanan (ISRO Chairman), Shri Krish Gopalakrishnan, Shri Sunil Kumar, and other senior officials from ISRO and SCTIMST.

Notable attendees included:

• Dr. Unnikrishnan Nair, Director, VSSC

• Shri M. Mohan, Director, LPSC

• Shri Dinesh Kumar Singh, Director, HSFC

• Prof. Dipankar Banerjee, Director, IIST

• Shri Hanamantary Baluragi, Director, Human Space Program, ISRO HQ

This collaboration is expected to inspire innovation in medical sciences and STEM education while advancing India’s vision for human space exploration.

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