India’s space agency and one of the country’s premier medical research institutions have joined hands to create a dedicated academic pathway for the emerging discipline of space medicine. The Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) signed an Implementing Agreement (IA) with the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) in Thiruvananthapuram, formalising a collaboration in Bioastronautics research and training. Under this partnership, the two institutions have launched India’s first indigenous Postdoctoral Fellowship programme in Bioastronautics, a two-year programme designed to build expertise in understanding how the human body responds to the challenges of space travel.
The Agreement: What Was Signed
The Implementing Agreement was signed at the ISRO headquarters in Bengaluru on 25 June 2026. The signatories were Dr. Sanjay Behari, Director of SCTIMST, and Dr. Dinesh Kumar Singh, Director of HSFC. The ceremony took place in the presence of Dr. V. Narayanan, Chairman of ISRO, and Dr. Kris Gopalakrishnan, President of SCTIMST.
This agreement builds on a broader Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between SCTIMST and HSFC on 24 April 2025 for cooperation in space medicine research related to ISRO’s human space missions. As part of that MoU, a Centre for Space Medicine Research was established at SCTIMST in November 2025 to facilitate joint academic and research activities between the two organisations.
Understanding Bioastronautics and Space Medicine
Bioastronautics is the interdisciplinary field that studies the biological and medical aspects of space travel. It covers everything from how microgravity affects the human heart and bones to how cosmic radiation impacts cellular DNA. Space medicine, a closely related discipline, focuses specifically on preventing and treating medical conditions that arise during spaceflight.
The human body evolved under Earth’s gravity. When astronauts enter space, they face several physiological challenges:
| Physiological Challenge | Effect on the Body |
|---|---|
| Microgravity | Causes bone density loss, muscle atrophy, and fluid redistribution |
| Cosmic radiation | Increases cancer risk and can damage the central nervous system |
| Isolation and confinement | Leads to psychological stress, sleep disorders, and altered circadian rhythms |
| Spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome | Affects vision due to fluid pressure changes in the head |
These challenges become more severe with longer missions. For India, which is planning the Gaganyaan crewed mission and, beyond that, a permanent Bharatiya Antariksh Station (Indian Space Station), building indigenous capacity in space medicine is not optional. It is a strategic necessity.
The Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme
The two-year Postdoctoral Fellowship is the centrepiece of the collaboration. It is designed to provide fellows with a comprehensive understanding of changes that occur in human cells, tissues, and organs during space travel. Fellows will also conduct research addressing critical scientific questions related to human space missions.
Eligibility and Selection
The fellowship is open to candidates with postgraduate medical degrees, super-speciality medical qualifications, or PhD degrees in relevant disciplines.
Two fellows will be selected every year, beginning with the July 2026 academic session. The detailed curriculum and application process are available on the SCTIMST website.
Training Structure
Selected fellows will undergo specialised training and carry out research at both institutions. They will split their time between SCTIMST, Thiruvananthapuram for the medical and biomedical research components, and HSFC, Bengaluru for space-specific training and mission-oriented research.
Why This Collaboration Matters
India’s human spaceflight ambitions are accelerating. The Gaganyaan mission aims to send a crew of three astronauts to an orbit of 400 km for a three-day mission. With the first uncrewed test flights now cleared by the National Review Committee and expected within months, the crewed mission is moving closer to reality.
Once Gaganyaan is accomplished, the roadmap includes longer duration missions and the establishment of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station. Each of these steps will require a deeper understanding of how the human body adapts to, and recovers from, prolonged space exposure.
India’s Existing Space Medicine Ecosystem
India already has an Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM) of the Indian Air Force in Bengaluru, which has collaborated with ISRO for astronaut training and medical evaluation. However, the SCTIMST-HSFC partnership brings a new dimension. SCTIMST is a world-class medical research institute with proven expertise in biomedical technology development, including the successful creation of India’s first indigenous mechanical heart valve prosthesis and disposable blood bag systems. This track record makes it well-suited for developing the specialised biomedical technologies required for astronaut health monitoring and emergency medical support in space.
SCTIMST and HSFC: Two Institutions, One Goal
SCTIMST
The Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) was established in 1976 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. It is an Institution of National Importance under an Act of Parliament and operates under the administrative control of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India. The institute functions through three wings: a tertiary care hospital specialising in cardiology and neurology, a Biomedical Technology Wing, and the Achutha Menon Centre for Health Science Studies. It holds international patents for several medical devices and has the highest number of patents from any institution in Kerala.
HSFC
The Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) was established on 30 January 2019 and is headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka. It is a dedicated unit within ISRO responsible for implementing the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme, with the Gaganyaan project as its flagship mission. HSFC handles end-to-end mission planning, development of engineering systems for crew survival, crew selection and training, and the establishment of astronaut training facilities. The current director is Dr. Dinesh Kumar Singh, a Distinguished Scientist at ISRO.
The Way Forward
This fellowship is a long-term investment in India’s human spaceflight infrastructure. By creating a pipeline of trained specialists in Bioastronautics, ISRO and SCTIMST are ensuring that the country does not have to depend entirely on foreign expertise for the medical aspects of its space programme. The knowledge generated through this programme will directly feed into astronaut health protocols for Gaganyaan and future missions, including long-duration stays on the Bharatiya Antariksh Station.
Key Takeaways
- ISRO’s Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) and SCTIMST signed an Implementing Agreement on 25 June 2026 for collaboration in Bioastronautics and space medicine.
- India’s first indigenous Postdoctoral Fellowship in Bioastronautics is a two-year programme with two fellows selected every year starting July 2026.
- HSFC was established on 30 January 2019 and is headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka, as a dedicated unit of ISRO for the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme.
- SCTIMST, established in 1976 in Thiruvananthapuram, is an Institution of National Importance under the Department of Science and Technology.
- The Gaganyaan mission aims to send a three-member crew to an orbit of 400 km for a three-day mission.
- A Centre for Space Medicine Research was established at SCTIMST in November 2025 following an MoU signed in April 2025.
