Indians in the USA are not just running Google, Microsoft, Adobe, IBM; they are also vigorously working to heal the world. From 14-year-old Indian American Siddharth Nandyala who developed an AI app to detect heart attacks, to Dr. Teresa Puthussery researching to restore vision to the visually impaired, Indian-origin innovators are making a global impact. The latest on the list is Deblina Sarkar, an MIT scientist, whose invention is reimagining effective treatment of complex brain diseases without a single surgical cut.
Who is Deblina Sarkar, the Indian Scientist at MIT
Deblina Sarkar is an Indian electrical engineer, inventor, and researcher, born in Kolkata, West Bengal. Currently, she is an assistant professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). A graduate of IIT Dhanbad, she completed her master’s and PhD in nanoelectronics from the University of California. Deblina is best known for developing Circulatronics, a pioneering medical technology that uses microscopic, injectable electronic chips to diagnose and treat brain diseases without invasive surgery.
What is Circulatronics?
Circulatronics is the technology that could be the best invention of 2025 or one of the biggest breakthroughs in the current decade. It will revolutionize the way cerebral diseases are diagnosed and treated currently. Instead of inserting electrodes or implants through invasive procedures, MIT researcher Deblina’s Circulatronics uses microscopic, wireless electronic chips (SWEDSs) that are fused with living cells and injected into the bloodstream.
Once in the body, SWEDSs – which are one billionth the size of a rice grain – drift through the bloodstream, access deceased areas in the brain, and implant themselves non-surgically. Activated and powered by an infrared laser outside the skull, the electronic chips deliver highly focused electrical stimulation to treat the impaired neurons deep in the brain. This offers a potentially safer and more accessible way to treat neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s, chronic pain, and brain tumors.
From Kolkata to MIT: Deblina Sarkar’s Journey
Behind every breakthrough is a story of persistence, and for Deblina Sarkar, it began in Kolkata, the City of Joy. Growing up in India, her father instilled in her a philosophy that became her guiding light: “Live like a Saint, Work like a Giant.” Deblina later added her own touch: “…and Laugh like a Child.” These words carried her through the toughest early days of her career. In her own words, she faced over 35 grant rejections in just the first two years while proposing a surgery-free brain implant.
Reviewers initially thought it was impossible, but her belief, discipline, and curiosity never waned. Eventually, her research proved it feasible, leading to the creation of the first autonomous, surgery-free brain implants and earning the NIH Director’s New Innovator Award with one of the highest impact scores ever. She dedicated this success to her team at MIT and her parents in India, noting that “if anyone wants to achieve big, having supporting parents like mine is very important.”
Deblina Sarkar’s Awards and Recognition
Beyond the NIH Director’s New Innovator Award, Deblina Sarkar’s invention has earned widespread global recognition. She has received the IEEE Nanotechnology Early Career Award, becoming the only awardee in the world, and was named an Innovative Early Career Engineer by the US National Academy of Engineering. She has also been featured among Science News’ “10 Scientists to Watch” and MIT Technology Review’s Innovators Under 35 from India.
Her research excellence has been acknowledged through prestigious honors, such as the MIND Prize for neuroscience innovation, the iCANX Young Scientist Award, and the Falling Walls Lab Young Innovator Award. She was also conferred the Distinguished Alumnus Award as a Young Achiever. Her PhD dissertation was acclaimed as one of the top three in the USA and Canada, and she was invited to present at the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, a rare recognition for young scientists.
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