IIT Roorkee Hosts ‘AHEAD 2025’ Global Health Conference
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee recently hosted the “AHEAD 2025” International Conference on Health and Development. This significant event brought together global experts to discuss and address critical challenges in the health sector. The conference was designed to align with India’s development agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Overview of the Conference
The AHEAD Laboratory, founded and led by Dr. Pratap C. Mohanty, organized the conference, marking its seventh major academic event in 2025. This reflects the laboratory’s growing role in research that aligns with the Government of India’s missions related to health, human development, and inclusive growth.
Key Themes and Focus Areas
The theme of the conference was “Global Disruptions in Health and Development: Challenges, Innovations, and Pathways for the Twenty-First Century.” The discussions focused on policy-relevant research that covers various critical areas, including:
- Health systems resilience
- Climate and environmental health
- Financing and risk management
- Demographic changes
- Technological transformation
- Regional disparities
These topics are central to India’s public health programs and its national development agenda.
Conference Structure and Sessions
The conference featured ten thematic tracks that included:
- Health financing
- Occupational and environmental health
- Climate change and health
- Health behavior and cognition
- Gender and health inequalities
- Ageing and well-being
- Health performance
- Nutrition and human capital
- Digital health systems
- Structural inequalities in development
These tracks allowed participants to delve deeply into specific areas of interest and concern, fostering a comprehensive dialogue on health and development.
Inaugural Session and Keynote Speakers
The inaugural session featured distinguished speakers, including:
- Professor V.C. Srivastava, Dean of International Relations at IIT Roorkee
- Professor (Dr.) Bhanu Duggal, Head of the Department of Cardiology at AIIMS Rishikesh
- Professor Smita Jha, Head of the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at IIT Roorkee
These speakers emphasized the importance of academic institutions in supporting evidence-based policymaking and promoting socially responsible governance.
In addition to the inaugural addresses, the conference featured keynote lectures from several prominent figures in the field:
- Professor Sabu Padmadas (University of Southampton, UK)
- Dr. Margaret Triana (Senior Economist, World Bank)
- Dr. Suman Seth (University of Leeds, UK)
- Professor Prakash C. Kandpal (ICCR Chair, University of Southampton)
- Professor Dibyendu Maiti (Delhi School of Economics)
The diverse backgrounds of the speakers contributed to a rich exchange of ideas and perspectives on global health challenges.
Participation and Collaborations
The conference saw strong participation from various institutions, including:
- The World Bank
- University of Notre Dame (USA)
- IIT Kanpur
- Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Banaras Hindu University
This collaboration among leading organizations further strengthened the interface between policy and academia, fostering partnerships that could lead to impactful health initiatives.
Conclusion
The “AHEAD 2025” conference at IIT Roorkee served as a pivotal platform for discussing the intersection of health and development in the context of global challenges. By bringing together experts from various fields, the event aimed to generate actionable insights that could inform public policy and enhance health systems resilience in India and beyond.
Note: The information presented in this article is based on the latest updates as of January 2026.
