IISc Bengaluru gets INR 425 crore donation to set up medical college

Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru has received INR 425 crore donations to set up a medical college and 800-bed multi-speciality hospital.

Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru has signed a partnership with philanthropists Susmita and Subroto Bagchi, Radha and NS Parthasarathy and received a donation of INR 425 crore from them to set up a postgraduate medical school along with an 800-bed multi-speciality hospital in its Bengaluru campus. The amount was collectively donated by these philanthropists. The hospital will be named the Bagchi-Parthasarathy Hospital.

The college will provide an integrated dual degree MD-PhD aimed at creating a new breed of physician-scientists who will be trained in both science and engineering. The candidates with a dual degree would be able to pursue careers in clinical research to develop new healthcare solutions and treatments. These candidates will get training in the hospital and also in the engineering laboratories at the IISc.

Comments by the IISc Director and philanthropists on the alliance

Prof Govindan Rangarajan, Director, IISc said, “Their generous contribution will help us realise our vision of seamless coupling between clinical sciences, basic sciences, and engineering technology disciplines, all anchored within a vibrant university campus, enabling cross-disciplinary training and research opportunities for young minds. We hope that this creates a new template for institution building in India, particularly in medical research,” as reported by the Indian Express.

Susmita Bagchi said, “We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with the IISc. In a country like ours, medical research and delivery cannot be left to the government or the corporate sector alone. The time has come for more people like us to engage. With the IISc, we find a shared vision. It is an institution with depth, competence, leadership, and capacity to deliver in scale. We are greatly confident of the lasting, beneficial outcome of our donation.”

Radha Parthasarathy said, “The IISc’s larger vision to integrate science, engineering, and medicine in one campus is very new to India. This is an exciting opportunity for us to collaborate. The IISc’s global reputation and network will attract outstanding talent to create breakthroughs in the research and delivery of medicine. The pandemic we are living through has established the need for urgency in creating universal access and equity in medicine. We are grateful to be a part of a new journey in the history of India’s most respected research institution.”

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