IIT Roorkee has launched the Ashok Soota Molecular Medicine Facility at its Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, a major leap in India’s biomedical research capabilities. The facility aims to align cutting-edge science with national healthcare priorities and global research standards.

 

The inauguration was led by Ashok Soota, distinguished alumnus of IIT Roorkee, alongside Prof KK Pant, Director of IIT Roorkee, and attended by faculty, researchers, and industry representatives.

 

Designed as a state-of-the-art, integrated research platform, the facility supports drug discovery, biomolecular research, and the development of next-generation diagnostics. 

 

Researchers can now move seamlessly from decoding disease mechanisms to validating lead molecules and developing advanced assays. Its interdisciplinary focus spans protein science, molecular and cell biology, structural biology, biophysics, analytical profiling, and advanced imaging—targeting cancer, neurological disorders, metabolic diseases, and infectious diseases.

 

The facility boasts high-end instruments including Automated Protein Purification Systems, HPLC and UPLC systems, GC-MS, Iso-Thermal Calorimeter (ITC), Flow Cytometer, Upright Confocal Microscope, Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS), Protein Crystallization Robot, CD Spectrometer, and a High Pressure Homogenizer/Cell Disruptor, among other precision platforms. 

 

This infrastructure positions IIT Roorkee at the forefront of molecular diagnostics, biomolecular interaction studies, and translational research.

 

Speaking at the event, Prof Pant said, “The Ashok Soota Molecular Medicine Facility significantly augments IIT Roorkee’s research ecosystem in biosciences and bioengineering. The integration of advanced infrastructure with interdisciplinary expertise will accelerate translational research and contribute meaningfully to national priorities in healthcare innovation, precision medicine, and scientific self-reliance.”

 

Soota added, “The establishment of this facility underscores the importance of building strong research ecosystems that translate scientific discovery into societal impact. India possesses immense scientific talent, and it is equally critical to provide world-class infrastructure and collaborative platforms to enable innovation at scale. 

 

"I am proud to see IIT Roorkee strengthening its capabilities in molecular diagnostics, precision medicine, and drug discovery, contributing to healthcare solutions of both national and global relevance.”

 

Prof. Pravindra Kumar, Head of the Institute Instrumentation Center and Ashok Soota Institute Chair Professor, emphasized, “This facility will serve as a collaborative research platform for faculty, scholars, and industry partners. It enhances our shared research infrastructure and strengthens IIT Roorkee’s capacity to undertake globally competitive, interdisciplinary research in molecular medicine and translational biosciences.”

 

With this new facility, IIT Roorkee continues to cement its role in pioneering interdisciplinary research, fostering industry collaboration, and advancing innovation-driven solutions critical to national and global healthcare systems.