Backed by the Government of India, IIT Indore Builds AI-Powered Human Digital Twin That Breathes and Blinks to Detect Diseases

The Indore campus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) has developed AI-driven human replicas capable of mimicking biological functions. 

These replicas can be used:

• to aid the prevention and diagnosis of different biological diseases 

• conduct biological research. 

The invention was showcased at the Madhya Pradesh Regional AI Impact Conference 2026 on January 15 in Bhopal.

Designed to be the digital twin of the human body, the system developed using artificial intelligence technology is able to replicate simple bodily functions, including breathing and blinking. This system makes it possible to model health situations in a simulated manner and investigate disease behavior in the process without having to physically interact with health participants.

Also Read: Meet Harish Ashok, the 17-YO Chennai entrepreneur, whose voice-based assistant makes Hardware development as easy as Software

Digital Twin Technology for Preventive Healthcare

The system has been developed by Drishti CPS, a technology innovation hub located in IIT Indore, in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology (DST), an entity of the Government of India, under the aegis of the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS).

The project is a part of the Charak DT (Digital Twin) Platform that seeks to fill the gap between the application of advancements in different fields of technology and the delivery of health care using the power of artificial intelligence.

Speaking to ANI, Vaibhav Jain from Drishti CPS, IIT Indore, said,

"At Drishti CPS, we are providing various supports like technology development programs for faculty and students. We are extending different kinds of startup support as well. We have funded around 89 startups so far across various domains. Recently, we have been upgraded into technology translation into the healthcare sector through a new initiative called the Charak DT (Digital Twin) Platform. We are making a digital twin of Human which aims to provide preventive diagnosis of diseases to the human body."

Also Read: “We made the Saiyaara kurti & it was sold out,” Best Friends From Jaipur Started A Kurti Brand With Rs 17k – Clocked Rs 15 lakh In 6 months

Simulating Disease Progression and Treatment Outcomes

Vaibhav Jain further explained: "Whatever preventive measures that have to be taken, we used to take it on a digital twin model of this human patient (replica). This patient (replica) looks like a real human which can breathe and blink eyes like a human. We can make various kinds of medical experiments, such as giving medicines and treatment activities. So that a preventive diagnosis can be provided."

The AI-powered replica leverages data-driven models trained on various human parameters to detect disease thresholds and identify organ-level patterns.

Functioning

Vaibhav Jain explained the functioning of the model: "It is a Digital Twin model of human, which implements an AI model and it is trained on various human parameters that lead to some kind of diseases. So whenever these parameters get into some kind of threshold, we used to provide diagnosis with the help of different technologies."

Currently, a digital twin of the lungs has been developed, with plans to expand to the cardiovascular system and other organs.

 Also Read: 25-YO Jaipur Woman Quit Her Job At Amazon, Invested Rs 10k From Savings To Start An Exotic Salad Startup – Clocked Rs 3 Lakh In 3 Months

Clinical Validation with AIIMS Institutions

To ensure clinical relevance and reliability, the project is being validated in collaboration with AIIMS Bhopal, AIIMS Delhi, and AIIMS Raipur. These partnerships aim to assess the platform’s applicability across diverse healthcare settings and strengthen its role as a complementary tool for diagnostics and clinical decision-making.

Also Read: “We make exclusive high-street fashion you won’t find anywhere else,” say young startup founders of Farda, a brand clocking Rs 10L/month