IIT-M Launches India’s First Single Cell Omics Translational Lab
The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) has inaugurated the country’s first Single Cell Omics Translational (SCOT) research laboratory, developed in collaboration with the Indian Railways Finance Corporation (IRFC). The advanced facility, set up with a CSR grant of ₹10.83 crore, is located at the Department of Medical Sciences and Technology.
The SCOT lab is equipped with next-generation systems capable of studying diseases at single-cell resolution, enabling major progress in early diagnostics, biomarker discovery, drug screening and personalised therapeutics. It is expected to accelerate research on cancer, cardiovascular illnesses, infectious and inflammatory diseases, and metabolic disorders.
IIT-M called the launch a major milestone in India’s precision-medicine ecosystem, highlighting the importance of integrating engineering with medical sciences. IRFC officials said the partnership reflects the commitment of public sector institutions to support high-impact medical innovation.
Apart from research, the SCOT lab will serve as a national training hub, providing advanced skill development for clinicians, engineers and scientists in single-cell biology, functional genomics and computational medicine. The facility aims to drive the next wave of early-detection tools and therapeutic innovations tailored to Indian healthcare needs.
