ICMR pilots drone transport of corneas from Sonipat to AIIMS under i-DRONE
The Indian Council of Medical Research announced on 25 March 2025 a successful pilot that flew donated corneal tissue by drone from Sonipat to AIIMS Jhajjar and AIIMS New Delhi in Haryana and Delhi.
Summary
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) announced on 25 March 2025 a feasibility study on drone transport of human corneas and amniotic membrane grafts, run with AIIMS New Delhi and Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital, with support from the Civil Aviation Ministry. A drone carried corneal tissue from Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital in Sonipat to the National Cancer Institute, AIIMS Jhajjar, and then to AIIMS New Delhi, covering the distance in about 40 minutes against 2â2.5 hours by road; the cornea was used in a successful transplant. The study is part of ICMR's i-DRONE initiative, first conceived during COVID-19 to deliver vaccines to remote areas.
Key facts
- Announced
- 25 March 2025, ICMR
- Route
- Sonipat → NCI AIIMS Jhajjar → AIIMS New Delhi
- Time
- About 40 minutes (road: 2â2.5 hours)
- Partners
- AIIMS New Delhi, Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital, MoCA
- Initiative
- ICMR i-DRONE
- Outcome
- Successful cornea transplant
Practice MCQs 2 questions
Under which ICMR initiative was the drone transport of corneas, announced on 25 March 2025, carried out?
Show answer
Correct answer: B â i-DRONE
The cornea transport study is part of ICMR's i-DRONE initiative, first conceived during COVID-19 to deliver vaccines to remote areas.
In ICMR's drone pilot announced on 25 March 2025, corneal tissue was flown from which town to AIIMS Jhajjar and then AIIMS New Delhi?
Show answer
Correct answer: C â Sonipat
The drone carried corneal tissue from Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital in Sonipat, covering the distance in about 40 minutes against 2â2.5 hours by road.