Historical Background

The genesis of research and development in bioengineering and electromedical technology related to Defence can be traced to two units. In 1958, a very small group called Aeromedical Section was formed as part of DTD&P (AIR), Ministry of Defence, New Delhi. It functioned from the premises of the then Institute of Aviation Medicine (IAM), Bangalore. In 1974, it was renamed as Aero Bioengineering Unit (ABEU). In 1980, it was brought under the Directorate of Food and Applied Sciences, DRDO. It shifted to accommodation in the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) Complex, Bangalore, in September 1980.

When the Electronics Research and Development Establishment (LRDE) was formed in 1958, it had a special equipment division called EMID which was also in charge of the R&D activities related to Electro-medical Equipment. In 1982, Dr Raja Ramanna, SA to RM, visualized that a complex R&D activity of this nature, involving multidisciplinary fields, can make rapid progress to meet the challenging requirements of Service Combatants, only when the concerned groups operate under one roof with special impetus. Hence, in January 1982, EMID was transferred with its staff to ABEU. Defence Bioengineering and Electromedical Laboratory (DEBEL) was born in April 1982, by the merger of ABEU and EMID. The Laboratory started functioning from its premises located at the ADE campus with effect from 17 June 1994.