The Ministry of Science and Technology has announced substantial government backing for nanomedicine research in India. At the inaugural World Congress on Nanomedicine 2026 held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh outlined the government’s commitment to developing precision medicine and personalised healthcare through nanotechnology applications.
Nanomedicine applies nanotechnology to medical practice, working with structures at the scale of one-billionth of a metre. This field is expected to transform how doctors treat patients by enabling interventions at the cellular level and tailoring treatments based on individual genetic profiles, lifestyle and environmental factors.
Key facts
- Department of Biotechnology (DBT) supports 210 nanomedicine R&D projects
- Total financial support: ₹174 crore
- World Congress on Nanomedicine 2026 hosted by Institute of Nano Medical Sciences, University of Delhi
- Over 2,000 participants including scientists and researchers attending the congress
- Nobel Laureate Prof. Roger D. Kornberg (Stanford University) is Congress Chairperson
- Research areas include targeted drug delivery, cancer nanomedicine, infectious disease treatments, vaccine delivery, nano-diagnostics and regenerative medicine
How nanomedicine differs from conventional medicine
Traditional medical practice relies on diagnosing diseases and applying standardised treatments. Nanomedicine represents a shift towards precision healthcare where the same disease in different patients may require different treatment approaches depending on their unique characteristics. By working at the molecular and cellular level, nanotechnology enables doctors to deliver medications more precisely to affected areas while minimising harm to healthy tissue.
Dr Singh emphasised that this does not mean replacing clinical judgment with technology. Rather, advanced tools like artificial intelligence and nanotechnology should complement a doctor’s clinical expertise and observational skills, not replace them. Medical education will need to evolve to train doctors who can effectively use these technologies while maintaining the foundational diagnostic skills developed through careful observation and physical examination.
Current research focus areas
The 210 projects funded by DBT span multiple nanomedicine applications. Key promising areas mentioned include oral insulin nanoparticles for diabetes treatment and nanobots designed to target breast cancer cells. Previous attempts at oral insulin faced challenges because digestive enzymes and the stomach environment degraded the insulin before absorption. Nanotechnology offers potential solutions by protecting insulin molecules and improving their delivery to the bloodstream.
Other research priorities include nano-diagnostics for earlier disease detection, imaging techniques that use nanoparticles to visualise disease at cellular levels, nucleic acid delivery for gene therapies, and wound healing through regenerative medicine applications. The research also encompasses nanotoxicology and regulatory science, ensuring that nano-based treatments are safe for human use.
Government support beyond research funding
The government’s backing extends beyond direct R&D grants. The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) provides support programmes for startups seeking to commercialise nanomedicine research. These include the Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) for early-stage enterprises, the Promoting Academic Research Conversion to Enterprise (PACE) programme, the Small Business Innovation Research Initiative (SBIRI), and the Biotechnology Industry Partnership Programme (BIPP). These mechanisms help translate laboratory discoveries into viable commercial products and healthcare solutions.
Regulatory framework in place
India has established guidelines for nanopharmaceuticals jointly developed by the Department of Biotechnology, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). This regulatory framework provides a pathway for evaluating the safety, quality and efficacy of nano-based pharmaceutical products before they reach patients, ensuring that India can develop indigenous nanomedicine solutions with appropriate oversight.
What this means for you
For patients, advances in nanomedicine could eventually lead to more effective treatments with fewer side effects, particularly for cancers and chronic diseases. Treatments could become increasingly tailored to individual needs rather than one-size-fits-all approaches. For researchers and biotechnology startups, government funding and support programmes create opportunities to develop and commercialise nanomedicine innovations. Medical students should prepare for a profession where technological competency in precision medicine will become essential alongside traditional clinical skills.