Bengaluru: KIMS Hospitals has partnered with German healthtech company Brainlab to establish South Asia’s first functional neurosurgery reference centre and Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, marking a significant step towards expanding precision-guided neurosurgical care and clinical training in the region.
The collaboration, formalised through a memorandum of understanding (MoU), will integrate robotic-assisted intraoperative imaging, advanced surgical navigation, and mixed reality visualisation technologies into a unified ecosystem designed to improve clinical precision, optimise surgical workflows, and support surgeon education in functional neurosurgery.
According to KIMS Hospitals, the first-of-its-kind training and innovation hub will enhance access to advanced treatment for Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, and other complex neurological disorders while strengthening neurosurgical capabilities across India and South Asia.
The initiative comes at a time when neurological diseases are emerging as a major public health challenge. According to the World Health Organization, neurological disorders affect more than 40 per cent of the global population. Parkinson’s disease is among the fastest-growing neurological conditions worldwide, while epilepsy affects an estimated 50 million people, with India accounting for a substantial share of the global burden.
Vinicius Dessoy Maciel, President, Brainlab, said, “The reference centre and training Hub marks an important milestone in expanding access to advanced neurosurgical technologies and education. By bringing together innovative imaging, digital surgical workflows, and structured clinical training within a single reference centre, this collaboration will help accelerate the adoption of precision-guided functional neurosurgery and support the development of future-ready surgical expertise across the region.”
Dr R. Chinnadurai, Regional Medical Director and Chief of Adult Medical Intensive Care & Emergency Services, KIMS Hospitals, Bengaluru, informed the initiative is part of the hospital’s S.H.I.F.T. (Smart Healthcare Innovation for Functional Treatment) programme, which aims to redefine functional neurosurgery in South Asia.
“Functional neurosurgery demands extraordinary precision and consistency, and that cannot be achieved through isolated tools or fragmented systems. This centre will enable surgeons to train and operate within a connected, technology-enabled environment, ultimately helping deliver safer, more predictable outcomes for patients across South Asia,” he added.
The centre will serve as a regional platform for technology adoption, clinician training, and collaborative innovation, supporting the wider use of precision-guided neurosurgical techniques for patients with complex neurological conditions.
