SETU (Science, Engineering & Translational Healthcare Unit)

IISc and AFMS Launch SETU to Advance Translational Healthcare Research

The Department of Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), is proud to announce the launch of SETU (Science, Engineering & Translational Healthcare Unit), a joint initiative between the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) and IISc.

Inauguration Date: 27 August 2026
Inaugurated by: Surg VAdm Arti Sarin, then Director General, AFMS

The unit was virtually inaugurated by Surg VAdm Arti Sarin, then Director General, AFMS, marking an important milestone in strengthening translational healthcare research and innovation for India’s Armed Forces.

Housed within the Department of Bioengineering at IISc, SETU brings together the clinical expertise of AFMS with the scientific and engineering strengths across IISc. The initiative aims to accelerate the development of next-generation healthcare technologies and innovative solutions to complex medical challenges faced by Armed Forces personnel.

SETU will provide a multidisciplinary platform supported by state-of-the-art capabilities to foster collaborative research across areas including artificial intelligence, robotics, wound care, prosthetics, medical imaging, diagnostics, and other emerging healthcare technologies.

The launch also brought senior AFMS officers to IISc for discussions on future collaborations and opportunities for joint research. Through this partnership, IISc and AFMS aim to advance cutting-edge healthcare technologies that address the evolving medical needs of India’s Armed Forces while translating scientific and engineering innovations into meaningful clinical applications.

The Department of Bioengineering looks forward to building on this partnership and driving impactful translational research through SETU.

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