ICMR conducts feasibility study on drone transport of corneal tissues

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), in collaboration with AIIMS New Delhi and Dr Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital, with support from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, has conducted a feasibility study on the use of drones for transporting human corneas and amniotic membrane grafts. The study was carried out in Sonipat and Jhajjar, Haryana, to assess the potential of drone technology in transporting ophthalmic biomaterials from peripheral collection centres to tertiary hospitals for transplantation procedures.

As part of the study, a drone transported corneal tissue from Dr Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital (Sonipat centre) to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), AIIMS Jhajjar, and subsequently to AIIMS New Delhi. The journey, which takes around 2-2.5 hours by road, was completed in approximately 40 minutes using drones. The drone maintained optimal conditions for the integrity of the specimen, and upon arrival, the cornea was evaluated and successfully transplanted.

Drones are being explored as a potential solution for healthcare logistics, particularly for the timely delivery of critical medical supplies to remote and underserved regions. The transport of corneal tissues is time-sensitive, as delays can compromise tissue viability and reduce the chances of successful transplantation. Drone-based transport provides a stable and efficient alternative to traditional road networks, which are often unreliable in semi-urban and rural areas. This initiative aims to bridge the gap between donor sites and recipients, ensuring viable tissues are utilised and patients receive timely treatment.

ICMR has previously demonstrated the application of drone technology in healthcare logistics through its i-DRONE initiative. Drones have been used for medical supply deliveries in regions such as North East India (Covid-19 and Universal Immunisation Programme vaccines, medications, and surgical supplies), Himachal Pradesh (medications and samples in high-altitude and sub-zero temperatures), Karnataka (intraoperative oncosurgical samples), Telangana (TB sputum samples), and the NCR (blood bags and components). These efforts highlight the increasing role of drones in addressing healthcare accessibility challenges.

Commenting on the study, Dr Rajiv Bahl, Secretary of the Department of Health Research (DHR) and Director General of ICMR, stated,  “The i-DRONE platform was originally conceived during the COVID-19 pandemic to deliver vaccines to remote regions. Since then, we’ve scaled our efforts to include low-temperature delivery of blood products and essential medicines to high-altitude and sub-zero locations. This cornea transport study marks another step forward—enhancing patient access, ensuring timely transplants, and reducing pressure on overburdened tertiary hospitals. This initiative aligns perfectly with the Honourable Prime Minister’s vision of a self-reliant India powered by innovation. Drone-based healthcare logistics are the future, and India is taking the lead by applying this to areas where it matters most—saving lives and restoring sight.”

Piyush Srivastava, Additional Secretary and Senior Economic Advisor, Ministry of Civil Aviation, added, “This collaboration between health and aviation sectors is an inspiring example of tech-enabled social impact. The use of drones for cornea delivery showcases India’s growing capability to solve real-world healthcare challenges using homegrown solutions. Drones offer a scalable solution for timely medical delivery in geographically challenging areas. As India strengthens its drone ecosystem, such studies are critical to building resilient and responsive healthcare infrastructure.”

Prof. (Dr) M Srinivas, Director, AIIMS New Delhi, remarked, “Corneal blindness affects millions in India, and timely availability of donor tissue is often a limiting factor. This drone-based transport model could be a transformative step toward ensuring equitable access to vision-restoring surgeries, especially in underserved areas. The success of this pilot project opens the door to deploying precision drone logistics for a wide range of critical medical applications.”

The study aims to document operational workflows, identify technical challenges, and generate evidence to support the integration of drone logistics in routine medical practice, particularly for time-sensitive and temperature-sensitive biological materials such as human corneas. The findings will contribute to shaping future protocols, policies, and best practices for aerial transport in healthcare.

The event was attended by dignitaries, including Dr Anil Kumar, Director of the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.