Beyond research, the partnership envisions curriculum reform that integrates nutrition into core medical training.
Published Jun 25, 2025 | 9:40 AM ⚊ Updated Jun 25, 2025 | 9:40 AM
The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru and Tufts University in the United States have joined hands to launch a new era of collaborative research in nutrition science and medicine.
Synopsis: The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru and Tufts University in the United States have joined hands to launch a new era of collaborative research in nutrition science and medicine.
In a move that could revolutionise the way we understand food and health, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru and Tufts University in the United States have joined hands to launch a new era of collaborative research in nutrition science and medicine.
Signed in the presence of Tufts President Sunil Kumar and IISc Director Govindan Rangarajan, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) outlines an ambitious roadmap for a wide-ranging academic and research collaboration.
At its heart: The creation of a first-of-its-kind Interdisciplinary Centre for Nutrition Science and Medicine (ICNSM) at IISc.
“The centre will be anchored in the medical school at IISc and will leverage the deep expertise at IISc in basic sciences and engineering technology,” said Professor Navakanta Bhat, Dean of Interdisciplinary Sciences at IISc, in a media release.
“This offers a unique platform for IISc and Tufts to co-develop nutrition-focused healthcare solutions for India, the US, and the world — tackling everything from malnutrition to obesity,”
The centre, in collaboration with Tufts’ renowned Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, aims to explore cutting-edge research areas such as:
There are also discussions regarding the launch of a tele-nutrition system to bring evidence-based nutrition insights to India’s primary care settings.
Beyond research, the partnership envisions curriculum reform that integrates nutrition into core medical training.
“We envision a multifaceted and flexible approach to training that equips all emerging physician-scientists and health researchers with a strong foundation in nutrition science,” said Professor Christina Economos, Dean of the Friedman School at Tufts.
“Nutritional science is not just about food. It’s about understanding immunity, longevity, and equity in healthcare access,” she added. “We must also examine systemic issues like food availability and affordability that influence how people eat.”
As part of the plan, a joint PhD supervision programme is also on the cards — bridging engineering, medicine, and policy across continents.
With India facing a paradox of both undernutrition and a rising tide of lifestyle diseases, this centre could not come at a better time.
The collaborative focus on large-scale intervention studies on anaemia, hypertension, metabolic disorders, and child malnutrition aims to create scalable, data-backed solutions tailored to India’s diverse population.
For IISc and Tufts, this isn’t just a partnership — it’s a declaration that nutrition is not auxiliary, but essential to healthcare.
“This centre is not just about studying food — it’s about changing the future of medicine,” said a senior IISc official.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
