December 5, 2025
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.