The London Institute for Healthcare Engineering (LIHE) recently welcomed members of the Hinduja family, whose longstanding philanthropic support has helped shape the institute's world leading MedTech environment.
Their contributions are visible throughout LIHE - from the Hinduja Lecture Theatre to the opportunities they have enabled for scholars, many of whom the family met during their visit.
In 2024, King's College London, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, the Hinduja Foundation UK and PD Hinduja Hospital & Medical Research Centre (owned and managed by the National Health & Education Society) announced a new strategic partnership to advance training, education and research capacity building focused on healthcare outcomes.
The Hinduja family's global philanthropic legacy has had particular impact in medical education, healthcare innovation and clinical leadership. Their partnership with King's champions a shared mission: expanding healthcare access and nurturing the next generation of medical and scientific leaders, both here in the UK and India.
Through this collaboration, Indian students and clinicians have benefitted from fully funded opportunities in fields such as MedTech innovation, surgical data science, neurosurgical AI and advanced imaging for cancer and cardiac care. Hinduja supported scholarships enable exceptional MSc and PhD scholars to study at King's without financial barriers, empowering them to pursue research with meaningful global and national impact.
During the visit, the family spent time speaking with the current cohort of Hinduja Scholars who shared the personal and intellectual impact of the programme.
Representing The Hinduja Foundation, Ritu Hinduja-Chhabria, daughter of the late GP Hinduja, reflected on the afternoon, remarking:
It was inspiring to hear from the first cohort of Hinduja Scholars and witness their passion for academic excellence and scientific discovery. Their work was deeply inspiring and a proud moment for our family. This programme reflects my father's enduring vision to support education, healthcare and global collaboration, and we remain committed to nurturing this legacy for generations to come.
Students also spoke about the lasting impression the scholarship has had on their academic journeys. Renesa Dasgupta, PhD student, shared:
It was a wonderful and inspiring afternoon to spend with scientists, clinicians, Hinduja family members and students. I'm proud to know that our collaborative efforts to improve healthcare will have a lasting impact on society.
Professor Prokar Dasgupta, Professor of Surgery and Chair in Robotic Surgery and Urological Innovation, King's College London and Consultant Urologist, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, spoke about the significance of the partnership for translational research and patient benefit:
GP Hinduja's vision and generosity continue to inspire us every day. What truly matters is translating great science into real patient care, and thanks to the Hinduja family's support, this collaboration with King's College London is already making a difference for patients and will leave a lasting legacy.
The event was also an opportunity to thank Professor Dasgupta for his work as Chair of the Hinduja-Kings Academy and welcome Professor Ajay Shah as incoming Chair. As Executive Dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine at King's, Director of the King's British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence and Honorary Consultant Cardiologist at King's College Hospital, Professor Shah brings a wealth of experience and leadership.
Alongside academic support, the partnership strengthens clinical training for doctors and nurses from the UK and India, including staff from PD Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai. Participants engage in specialist programmes in intensive care, trauma, nursing education and healthcare leadership. Visiting placements, including at Guy's & St Thomas' Hospital, have given clinicians hands-on exposure to areas such as advanced radiotherapy and multidisciplinary cancer care.
The Hinduja family's visit to LIHE highlights their commitment to supporting cutting edge research, cross disciplinary collaboration and the translation of new medical technologies into real world clinical solutions to improve health outcomes in India and around the world.
