In line with the vision of the Revered Founder Chancellor, all research at SSSIHL ultimately leads to societal benefit. Thus, the topics for doctoral research across all departments are chosen with great diligence. This extends to the research projects chosen by researchers in each department, so that all the research done leads to translational research or directed basic research.
RESEARCH GROWTH
In the past few years, the research output has grown manifold. SSSIHL has over 100 Doctoral Research Scholars and faculty members pursuing a Ph.D. Our students and faculty continue to have access to the best possible infrastructure and facilities, thanks to the continued support of the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust. In the past five academic years, its investment of over ₹50 crores has resulted in excellent academic infrastructure, buildings, laboratories and world-class research facilities in the Central Research Instruments Facility (CRIF) and the Central Research Laboratory (CRL). Many of our application-oriented research projects have been of such high quality and value that we have filed for patents in order to protect our intellectual property, on the one hand, and, on the other, chased the ‘Affordable Innovation’ concept that may lead to the creation of an ‘Innovation platform’ within SSSIHL. It is envisioned that this platform will create an ecosystem for startups that will take the benefits of research at SSSIHL to the society.
The results of these are visible. Research funding from agencies like DST, DBT, CSR, ICMR, and the Tata Foundation Trust has led to the successful clinical validation of the first prototype of a portable, cost-effective and high-resolution Gamma Camera system – SAI-GC – for small organ imaging, including that of non-invasive cancer. Other areas of research such as Disease Biology, Environmental Studies, Functional Materials and Composites, Nanomaterials, Point-of-Care Devices, Edible or Medicinally Active Natural Products, etc., are showing similar promising results. Most importantly, almost all our research applications are intended to directly benefit those who belong to the lowest strata of society in diverse ways.