Focus on translational research, VIT pro-vice-chancellor T. Thyagarajan urges students
T. Thyagarajan, pro-vice-chancellor of VIT Chennai, has urged students to prioritize translational research to convert academic findings into socially beneficial products. He highlighted the university's ecosystem, which supports students through multidisciplinary programs, industry-sponsored centers, and startup funding.
Why it matters
Encouraging translational research bridges the gap between theoretical academic study and practical industrial application, fostering innovation in sectors like healthcare and biotechnology.
Exhorting students to focus on translational research, T. Thyagarajan, pro-vice-chancellor, VIT Chennai, said that it was crucial to convert research outcomes into socially conscious prototypes or products.
Dr. Thyagarajan was speaking at the Biotech Conclave 2026 , presented by VIT Chennai in association with The Hindu .
While both academic research and sponsored research had value, students at VIT were being given multiple opportunities to do translational research, he said, pointing to multidisciplinary programmes that fostered collaboration, the 133 student clubs, the access to e-resources, and the ecosystem that encouraged and nurtured this form of research. He pointed to industry-sponsored centres of excellence, where students could execute research projects and develop products; industry-institute interactions; opportunities for hands-on research; and seed money for startups and the protection of intellectual property.
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