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Jodhpur, 26th November 2025: Why do individuals sharing the same DNA, even within a family, respond so differently to diseases and treatments? This question—starkly visible during the COVID-19 pandemic—lies at the heart of groundbreaking research led by Prof. Mitali Mukerji, Professor, Department of Bioscience & Bioengineering; Affiliate Faculty, School of Artificial Intelligence & Data Science; and Centre for Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Development at IIT Jodhpur. Prof. Mukerji, an eminent scientist working at the intersection of genomics, precision medicine, evolutionary biology, and Ayurgenomics, is spearheading a transformative effort to understand the molecular, environmental, and cultural signatures that shape human health diversity. Her research aims to deliver contextual, personalized, and sustainable healthcare solutions, particularly for populations in arid and extreme environments. Decoding Human Health in Extreme Environments: The Thar DESIGNS Initiative At IIT Jodhpur, Prof. Mukerji leads pioneering work under Thar DESIGNS (Desert EcoSystem Innovations Guided by Nature and Selection)—a flagship initiative that explores how life adapts to the harsh, high-temperature, high-UV, low-water conditions of the Thar Desert. Her group studies how extreme environmental pressures influence metabolism, cardiovascular health, respiratory diseases, and long-term disease transitions. Drawing from genetics, anthropological surveys, and evolutionary history, her team analyses native Thar Desert populations—shaped by centuries of migration and cultural evolution—to understand: How genetic variations facilitate adaptation to arid environments How traditional practices align with biological resilience How ecosystems and human health are intertwined This effort is strengthened by a multidisciplinary team across engineering, ecology, and medical sciences. A unique element of the project is the use of birds as ecological indicators, supported by citizen science, where local communities and birdwatchers contribute real-time data to map biodiversity, climate signals, and environmental change. Through Thar DESIGNS, IIT Jodhpur is building a global framework for studying health in extreme environments—an area increasingly relevant as climate change reshapes disease patterns worldwide. AyurTech: Integrating Ayurveda and Advanced Technology for Precision Healthcare Another central pillar of Prof. Mukerji’s work is AyurTech—a convergence of Ayurveda, genomics, AI, machine learning, NLP, and systems biology to deliver next-generation personalized healthcare. The foundation of this work lies in Ayurgenomics, an emerging discipline that Prof. Mukerji helped conceptualize and establish over two decades. Ayurgenomics aims to scientifically decode Ayurveda’s individualized health principles, particularly Prakriti (body constitution), using modern genetic and molecular tools. At IIT Jodhpur, AyurTech is translating this knowledge into clinical, integrative, and technological solutions, including: AI-enabled computer vision tools for phenotype and Prakriti assessment Machine learning models that integrate genomic, epigenetic, lifestyle, and Ayurvedic datasets Evidence-based protocols for precision diagnostics and therapeutics Digital platforms for preventive and personalized wellness AyurTech brings together experts from Ayurveda, modern medicine, biotechnology, computer science, and engineering, making IIT Jodhpur one of the few institutions globally to pursue such a deep, scientifically anchored integration of traditional knowledge and state-of-the-art technology. “Human health is shaped by a constellation of factors—our genes, environment, cultural practices, and evolutionary history. At IIT Jodhpur, we are weaving these layers together through genomics, Ayurgenomics, AI, and ecosystem science to create healthcare solutions that are personalized, evidence-based, and context-aware. Our work in the Thar Desert and through AyurTech aims to demonstrate how traditional knowledge and modern science can jointly illuminate pathways for resilience and sustainable well-being.” — Prof. Mitali Mukerji, IIT Jodhpur Towards a New Era of Contextual, Inclusive, and Precision Health Through her leadership, IIT Jodhpur is emerging as a unique hub where science, technology, culture, and ecology converge. From decoding health variability to exploring desert-adapted resilience and building AI-augmented Ayurvedic tools, Prof. Mukerji’s work holds transformative potential for: Personalized medicine Climate-resilient healthcare strategies Sustainable disease management in extreme environments Integrative medicine backed by scientific validation Her research reaffirms IIT Jodhpur’s commitment to driving innovation that is globally relevant, locally rooted, and scientifically rigorous.

CHENNAI, 26th November 2025: Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) Researchers have developed and deployed India’s First Indigenous Vessel Traffic Management System for Ports. The system has been developed completely by National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts (NTCPWC), based on the requirements outlined by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoSPW), Government of India. This system will provide a major boost to indigenisation of technology and expertise in the Indian Maritime sector and reduce dependency on imports. The system can easily be scaled up and enhanced to meet the ever-evolving requirements of the concerned stakeholders and incorporate global best practices This system has already been implemented in Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited (VISL), Kerala, which was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 2nd May 2025. Two other ports in the Western Coast are also in discussions with IIT Madras to deploy this system. A Key advantage of the Indigenous Vessel Traffic Management is that the MoSPW and the Government of India have full and strategic control over source code, databases and aspects of the solution. With the technical know-how readily available with the Government, the country can create a pool of competent manpower equipped with state-of-the-art theoretical and practical knowledge. Elaborating on the system, Prof. K Murali, Head, NTCPWC, IIT Madras, said, “An Indigenous system eliminates the risk of a leak of strategically important data of movement of vessels. Further, it also enables fast tracking of innovations to provide the most appropriate solutions to various challenges and reduces other operational and financial risks associated with dealing with private vendors.” The Key Technological advantages of the Vessel Traffic Management System, in comparison with imported systems, include Customised and OEM independent interfacing of radar and voice data Open source design Secure data and defence applications The indigenous Vessel Traffic Management also removes the risk of lock-in with private vendors and reduces foreign exchange expenditure and dependency on private vendors/foreign solutions providers. This system is scalable to accommodate deployment in more ports with enhanced capabilities. It is also completely secure, with minimal deployment and maintenance costs.