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New Delhi, July 13, 2025 — The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) has inaugurated a state-of-the-art Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) research facility, marking a significant stride in the nation’s neuroimaging and biomedical research landscape. Housed within the Centre for Biomedical Engineering (CBME), this facility is the first in India among leading engineering and technology institutions to be dedicated exclusively to research and teaching, rather than clinical diagnostics.
The new centre features a cutting-edge MRI scanner—reports cite both a 3T and a 1.5 Tesla clinical-grade machine, underscoring the facility’s advanced capabilities. Unlike conventional MRI units typically integrated within hospital settings, this research-focused setup is designed to encourage unrestricted innovation in medical imaging, particularly in MRI technology.
Driving Research and Collaboration
Funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research–Department of Health Research (ICMR-DHR) and the Department of Science and Technology under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical Systems (NM-ICPS), the facility will enable non-invasive studies of brain structure and function. This is expected to significantly enhance research in neuroscience, biomedical imaging, and artificial intelligence-driven healthcare technologies.
Initially, the facility will support research using phantoms—specialized models that simulate human tissue. With the necessary regulatory approvals, clinical studies involving volunteer participants are planned for the near future. The centre will also serve as a hands-on training ground for students in IIT Delhi’s medical imaging courses, providing them with practical exposure to advanced imaging technologies.
A Hub for National Collaboration
The MRI unit will bolster IIT Delhi’s Centre of Excellence in Neurotechnology under NM-ICPS and support the upcoming Centre for Digital Health. It is also set to facilitate collaborative research with faculty and students from premier institutions such as AIIMS and the National Brain Research Centre (NBRC), as well as other medical institutes across the National Capital Region (NCR) and India.
“This advanced imaging facility will help several researchers from different disciplines at IIT Delhi. This will also open up several opportunities for research collaborations with medical institutes in NCR and across India,” said Prof. Vivek Buwa, Dean of Planning at IIT Delhi.
A Vision Realized
According to CBME professors Anup Singh and Amit Mehndiratta, the vision for this facility was conceived five years ago. The centre is expected to transform teaching and research in medical imaging, supporting the development of new contrast agents, imaging sequences, MR-compatible devices, and the integration of AI in image processing.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on information available from public news sources as of July 13, 2025. Details about the MRI facility, its specifications, and operational plans are subject to change as per institutional and regulatory developments. For the most current and comprehensive information, please refer to official IIT Delhi communications or authorized government releases.
