The Centre for Artificial Learning and Intelligence for Biological Research and Education (CALIBRE) was established jointly by ICTS and NCBS to advance interdisciplinary research at the interface of Artificial Intelligence and Biology. The centre is supported through a generous contribution from Mr. Vishal Gupta, founder of Reed India Consulting LLP, and Major Deepshikha Gupta.
CALIBRE aims to build a national hub for AI-driven biological research and education by leveraging the complementary expertise of ICTS and NCBS in theoretical sciences, computational methods, and biological systems.
The centre focuses on both “AI for Biology” and “Biology for AI.” This includes the development of AI tools for biological research, the use of machine learning in areas such as ecology, neuroscience, and public health, and the exploration of biologically inspired approaches to next-generation AI systems.
SUMMER COURSE
Dynamical systems in neuroscience
Speaker: Sarthak Chandra (ICTS-TIFR, Bengaluru)
Date & Time: 18 May 2026 at 11:30 AM to 11 Jun 2026 at 1:00 PM
Venue: Emmy Noether Seminar Room, ICTS-TIFR, Bengaluru
Webpage: https://www.icts.res.in/lectures/sc-2026
CALIBRE SEMINAR SERIES
Biocomplexity and AI
Speaker: Madhav Marathe (University of Virginia, USA)
Date & Time: 14 May 2026 at 05:00 PM to 14 May 2026 at 06:30 PM
Venue: Online
Webpage: https://www.icts.res.in/seminar/2026-05-14/madhav-marathe
Resources: Talk slides
Neural circuits and systems for planning and navigation
Speaker: Vijay Balasubramanian (University of Pennsylvania, USA)
Date & Time: 09 June 2026 at 11:30 AM to 09 Jun 2026 at 01:00 PM
Venue: Madhava Lecture Hall
Webpage: https://www.icts.res.in/seminar/2026-06-09/vijay-balasubramanian
Evaluating LLMs and Agents for AI-Driven Scientific Research
Speaker: Subhashini Venugopalan (Google Research)
Date & Time: 09 July 2026 at 11:30 AM
Venue: Emmy Noether Seminar Room
Webpage: https://www.icts.res.in/seminar/2026-07-09/subhashini-venugopalan
Leveraging Twin Information for Inference of Gene Regulatory Networks
Speaker: Keerthana M Arun (University of Pennsylvania)
Date & Time: 20 August 2026 at 02:00 PM to 20 August 2026 at 03:30 PM
Venue: Madhava Lecture Hall
Webpage: https://www.icts.res.in/seminar/2026-08-20/keerthana-m-arun
Resources: Talk Slides
From pixels to phase space and beyond by maximizing predictability
Speaker: Tosif Ahamed (Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru)
Date & Time: 08 September 2026 at 11:30 AM to 08 September 2026 at 12:30 PM
Venue: Emmy Noether Seminar Room
Webpage: https://www.icts.res.in/seminar/2026-09-08/tosif-ahamed
ICTS SEMINAR ON PUBLIC HEALTH
After the Fever Breaks: Chronic Conditions with an Infectious Disease Etiology
Speaker: Brian Patrick Wahl (Yale School of Public Health, USA)
Date & Time: 25 August 2026 at 11:00 AM to 25 Aug 2026 at 12:00 PM
Venue: Madhava Lecture Hall
Webpage: https://www.icts.res.in/seminar/2026-08-25/brian-patrick-wahl
Challenges and Opportunities for Infectious Disease Surveillance in India
Speaker: Rizwan S A (ICMR - National Institute of Epidemology)
Date & Time: 25 August 2026 at 12:00 PM to 25 Aug 2026 at 01:00 PM
Venue: Madhava Lecture Hall
Webpage: https://www.icts.res.in/seminar/2026-08-25/dr-rizwan-s
Resources: Talk Slides
Institutions, Leadership & Donors
Host Institutions
International Centre for Theoretical Sciences
ICTS-TIFR, Bengaluru
National Centre for Biological Sciences
NCBS-TIFR, Bengaluru
Centre Leadership
Prof. Rajesh Gopakumar
Director, ICTS
Prof. L. S. Shashidhara
Director, NCBS
Donors
Mr. Vishal Gupta
Founder, Reed India Consulting
Major Deepshikha Gupta