In a quiet corner of Mumbai’s Sir J.J. Hospital- one of India’s oldest and busiest public healthcare institutions- a silent revolution is shaping the future of medicine. Not through high-tech machines or sprawling research grants, but through the minds and hearts of medical students who dare to think differently. At the center of this transformation is M.I.C.E Labs- the Medical Innovation, Creativity & Entrepreneurship Lab (www.micelabs.in)- a space where medicine meets creativity, and where doctors are taught not only to treat illness, but to solve the very problems that plague the healthcare system.
From Ideas to Impact: How M.I.C.E Lab Is Nurturing the Next Generation Doctors to Heal, Innovate, and Lead
This pioneering initiative would not have been possible without the unwavering support of Dr. Ajay Bhandarwar, Dean- Grant Government Medical College and Sir J.J. Hospital, who envisioned a future where students aren’t confined to classrooms and clinics but are empowered to build solutions. With that vision, M.I.C.E Labs was born- a first-of-its-kind lab embedded within a government-run institution.
Fueling this vision were the philanthropic efforts of Dr. Aniruddha Malpani and Dr. Anjali Malpani, both renowned IVF specialists and angel investors, who believed that innovation should not be a luxury reserved for elite institutions. With their funding and mentorship, they helped create a fertile ground for students to explore problems and create change- without worrying about access, privilege, or limitations. Their belief: that frugal, meaningful innovation born inside public hospitals could transform lives across India.
Guiding the day-to-day operations and driving the lab’s mission forward is done by Dr. B.G Chikhalkar- Coordinator M.I.C.E Labs and Dr. Zeenal Punamiya, the Program Manager at M.I.C.E Labs, whose background in clinical care, research, and healthcare entrepreneurship brings a rare blend of insight and empathy. “This is more than just a lab. It’s a mindset. We are here to build smart doctors- those who can think critically, act wisely, and innovate fearlessly” she says.
The results speak for themselves. Student teams, under M.I.C.E mentorship, have developed a range of impactful solutions: SharpSafe, a sharps disposal system to prevent needle-stick injuries; SurgoArm, a robotic simulation for surgical suturing simulation training for students; EmbraceIV, a pediatric IV stabilizing kit, stoma care device, and a bedpan redesign that prioritizes patient dignity and comfort. These aren’t theoretical projects-they’re born from real problems students observe in their wards and solve through design thinking, prototyping, and feedback. M.I.C.E Labs provides access to mentors, engineers, designers, 3D printers, validation pathways, and even support for IP filing- tools that most students never dream of accessing in a government setup.
But the lab’s influence doesn’t stop at product design. It empowers students to take healthcare innovation to the grassroots. The ECHO initiative- Emergency Care Healthcare Optimizers, empowering Communities and Hearts through Outreach- is a student-led movement supported by M.I.C.E Labs that trains laypersons in hands-only CPR. Using smart mannequins designed and prototyped within the lab, students conduct awareness programs in schools, slums, and rural communities. Their motto, “Empower the present, protect the future,” beautifully reflects their mission: to build a healthier, more informed society from the ground up. With mentorship from M.I.C.E Labs and support from the Indian Society of Anaesthesiologists- Thane, the ECHO team has trained hundreds, saving lives not with medicine, but with knowledge and community engagement.
What makes M.I.C.E Labs special is its culture. Every student spins the lab’s symbolic Innovation Wheel—a tool that encourages them to reflect: Is this idea solving a real problem? Can it be simpler, more inclusive, more impactful? They learn that failure isn’t final- it’s part of the process. Here, doctors-in-training evolve into thinkers, doers, and leaders. They are taught to pitch ideas, collaborate across disciplines, and build with empathy. In an environment where healthcare professionals are often overburdened, under-resourced, and trained to follow rather than question, M.I.C.E Labs is a breath of fresh air. In just a few years, M.I.C.E Labs has proven that transformative healthcare doesn’t always need complex infrastructure or foreign funding. Sometimes, all it takes is the courage to ask “why not?”, the right mentorship, and a space where young people are told, “Go ahead- build it.”
About The Author
