KGMU and IHAT Forge Data Science Centre to Revolutionize Healthcare Analytics

Lucknow: In a landmark collaboration to propel data-driven healthcare in Uttar Pradesh, King George’s Medical University (KGMU) and the India Health Action Trust (IHAT) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a cutting-edge Data Science Centre at KGMU’s Vice Chancellor’s Office Board Room.

The ceremony took place from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM on 6 June 2025, chaired by Prof. (Dr.) Soniya Nityanand, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of KGMU, who formally inked the agreement on behalf of the university. Representing IHAT, Mr. John Anthony, Senior Project Director of IHAT-UPTSU, finalized the partnership. Technical guidance will be provided by the University of Manitoba, Canada, with Dr. James Blanchard and Dr. Marissa Becker attending the signing as key collaborators.

This strategic alliance underscores KGMU’s commitment to harnessing advanced analytics for evidence-based decision-making in public health. The Data Science Centre will launch with two pivotal pilot projects:

Pregnancy Referral Analysis: Leveraging large-scale maternal health data to identify gaps in referral networks, optimize resource allocation, and improve outcomes for expectant mothers.

Measles and SSPE Surveillance: Utilizing real-time data aggregation and machine-learning algorithms to detect measles outbreaks early and track the incidence of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a rare but fatal complication.

By focusing initially on maternal health services and vaccine-preventable disease monitoring, the Centre aims to demonstrate the transformative impact of data analytics on frontline healthcare delivery.

Looking ahead, the Centre plans to broaden its scope to tackle additional priority areas such as urban health, cancer surveillance, and geriatric care, thereby contributing to a more responsive, efficient, and patient-centric health system across Uttar Pradesh.

During her address, Prof. Soniya Nityanand highlighted the pivotal role of innovation in public health:

“Our goal is to leverage the vast potential of health data to anticipate challenges and mount proactive responses. This Data Science Centre exemplifies KGMU’s vision of integrating research, technology, and service to benefit millions.”

Mr. John Anthony emphasized IHAT’s mission-aligned partnership:

“By combining IHAT’s public health expertise with KGMU’s academic excellence and Manitoba’s technical prowess, we’re setting a new benchmark for collaborative healthcare innovation in India.”

The collaboration will also feature capacity-building workshops, joint research publications, and graduate training programs, ensuring that both institutions cultivate a new generation of health data scientists.

As the Data Science Centre takes shape, stakeholders anticipate that its insights will inform policy formulation, strengthen disease surveillance networks, and streamline maternal and child health interventions—ultimately driving measurable improvements in population health across the region.