The Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee successfully hosted the AHEAD2025 International Conference on Healthcare and Development, bringing together leading scholars, policymakers, economists, and practitioners from India and abroad to address critical challenges in health systems and development. The event, organised by the AHEAD Lab at IIT Roorkee, was accompanied by a five‑day capacity‑building workshop on large‑scale data analytics in health and well‑being, underscoring the institute’s role as a knowledge partner in evidence‑based policymaking.
The Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee recently hosted the AHEAD2025 International Conference on Healthcare and Development, reaffirming its commitment to evidence‑based research that informs public policy, strengthens national health systems, and drives societal impact. Organised by the AHEAD (Agile, Health, Equity, and Development) Lab at IIT Roorkee, the conference convened scholars, policymakers, economists, and practitioners from India and several countries to deliberate on the evolving landscape of healthcare and human development. The AHEAD Lab, founded and led by Dr. Pratap C. Mohanty, has positioned itself as a growing hub for research aligned with Government of India missions in health, human development, and inclusive growth.
Held under the theme “Global Disruptions in Healthcare and Development: Challenges, Innovations, and Pathways for the 21st Century,” AHEAD2025 focused on policy‑relevant research across a broad spectrum of issues. The conference examined topics such as health‑systems resilience, climate and environmental health, healthcare financing and risk, demographic transitions, technological transformation, and regional inequalities. Discussions were closely linked to India’s public‑health priorities, Sustainable Development Goals, and the national development agenda, creating a strong interface between academic research and governance.
The conference featured ten thematic tracks, including healthcare financing, occupational and environmental health, climate change and health, health behaviour and cognition, gender and health inequities, ageing and wellness, healthcare performance, nutrition and human capital, digital health systems, and structural inequalities in development. Each track provided a structured platform for presenting empirical studies, policy analyses, and action‑oriented interventions designed to address complex, real‑world problems.
The inaugural session was addressed by Professor V. C. Srivastava, Dean (International Relations), IIT Roorkee; Professor (Dr.) Bhanu Duggal, Head of the Department of Cardiology, AIIMS Rishikesh; and Professor Smita Jha, Head of the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Roorkee. They emphasised the importance of academia in supporting evidence‑based policymaking and socially responsive governance, particularly in times of global disruptions such as pandemics, climate events, and digital transformations.
Keynote and invited lectures were delivered by leading international experts, including Professor Sabu Padmadas (University of Southampton, UK), Dr. Margaret Triyana (Senior Economist, World Bank), Dr. Suman Seth (University of Leeds, UK), Professor Prakash C. Kandpal (ICCR Chair, University of Southampton), and Professor Dibyendu Maiti (Delhi School of Economics). Their sessions touched on global health financing, demographic shifts, environmental determinants of health, and the role of data and technology in shaping equitable development pathways. The event drew strong participation from institutions such as the World Bank, University of Notre Dame (USA), IIT Kanpur, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Banaras Hindu University, and several other research and policy organisations.
All research papers submitted to the conference underwent a rigorous double‑blind peer‑review process. The Best Paper Awards were conferred on Dr. Basant K. Panda of the Population Council, India, and Tanisha from Lancaster University, UK, recognising high‑quality, policy‑relevant contributions to the health and development discourse.
In the valedictory session on December 17, 2025, the organising committee announced that the next edition of AHEAD will be held at IIT Roorkee from December 14 to 16, 2026, ensuring continuity of this global academic forum.
Complementing the conference, IIT Roorkee organised a five‑day capacity‑building workshop on “Large‑scale Data Analytics in Health and Well‑being,” convened by Dr. Manish K. Asthana with Dr. Pratap C. Mohanty as Co‑Convenor. The workshop, hosted at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, aimed to strengthen data‑driven analytical skills among young researchers and professionals, aligning with the Government of India’s emphasis on data‑informed health and social policy.
Through AHEAD2025 and the associated workshop, IIT Roorkee has reinforced its role as a national knowledge partner to government, civil society, and international institutions, advancing interdisciplinary research that bridges academia, policy, and societal impact in healthcare and development.