https://biospectrumindia.com/rssfeed/news/academics academics https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28655/ncism-launches-ccras-spark-5-0-and-ccras-ayurshodh-2026-to-strengthen-ayurveda-research-and-innovation.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28655/ncism-launches-ccras-spark-5-0-and-ccras-ayurshodh-2026-to-strengthen-ayurveda-research-and-innovation.html Thu, 15 Oct 2026 13:43:32 +0530 Prof. Manisha Kothekar, Chairperson, National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM), has launched the Central Council of Ayurveda Research (CCRAS) CCRAS Spark 5.0 and CCRAS Ayurshodh 2026 (2nd Circular). These initiatives aim to strengthen the research ecosystem in Ayurveda by promoting research among undergraduate students and recognising scholarly excellence, research communication and innovation. The Studentship Programme for Ayurveda Research Cane (SPARK) 5.0 for the year 2026-27 is the fifth edition of this programme. It aims to introduce the undergraduate students of Ayurveda to research methodologies and techniques through short-term independent research projects, and to promote research aptitude, analytical thinking, and early interest in research as a career among BAMS students. A total of 300 scholarships are being given, in which each student will get financial assistance of Rs 50,000. On the other hand,  CCRAS provides a platform to recognise and encourage research contributions in the field of Ayurveda in three categories: · CCRAS-Prabodh 3 min: Communicating/presenting research through three-minute thesis presentations. · CCRAS-Prakash: Recognition of scholarly achievements through publications based on original research. · CCRAS-Innovation: Recognition of innovative prototypes, new solutions, procedural innovations and transformative research methodologies. The details of the awards have been given in the second circular, including the prize money sponsored by Shree Dhootpapeshwar Limited. The final of CCRAS Ayurveda is scheduled to be held on 11th December 2026. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28651/niper-raebareli-and-astrazeneca-india-partner-to-strengthen-clinical-research-capabilities.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28651/niper-raebareli-and-astrazeneca-india-partner-to-strengthen-clinical-research-capabilities.html Wed, 14 Oct 2026 16:11:51 +0530 To strengthen India’s clinical research capabilities and expand the country’s participation in global clinical trials, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Raebareli, and AstraZeneca India have partnered to extend clinical trial capabilities beyond the metros, building a trained workforce and inspection-ready sites in 25 emerging research geographies across India. The MoU was signed in the presence of  Manoj Joshi, Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers in New Delhi. This collaboration furthers the vision of Biopharma SHAKTI, the Government of India’s flagship initiative to build a stronger biopharma ecosystem, including setting up 1,000 clinical trial sites across the country. The collaboration will begin with adopting 25 clinical trial sites, assessing their capabilities, providing targeted training and mentoring, and strengthening documentation and support processes related to ethics, safety and trial feasibility. The Department of Pharmaceuticals, will provide direction and endorsement, aligning the initiative with national clinical research priorities. Building on this government-led framework, AstraZeneca India will contribute clinical development expertise to design and deliver the programme, engage India and global faculty, and support the participating sites through training, workshops, governance and site-readiness. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28604/sun-pharma-establishes-endowed-professorship-at-mount-sinai-with-2-5-m-support-to-advance-derma-care.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28604/sun-pharma-establishes-endowed-professorship-at-mount-sinai-with-2-5-m-support-to-advance-derma-care.html Tue, 06 Oct 2026 20:52:45 +0530 Sun Pharmaceutical Industries has announced the establishment of the Sun Professorship in Dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, US. Mark G. Lebwohl, M.D., will be installed as the inaugural professor at Hatch Auditorium at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. Supported by a $2.5 million endowment from Sun Pharma, the Sun Professorship will fund academic leadership in dermatology in perpetuity, beginning with Dr Lebwohl as its inaugural incumbent. Based within the Kimberly and Eric J. Waldman Department of Dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, the professorship will advance research and training, helping translate emerging knowledge into better care and prepare future leaders in the field. Dr Lebwohl is Chairman Emeritus of the Medical Board of the National Psoriasis Foundation and served as President of the American Academy of Dermatology from 2015 to 2016. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28611/edify-world-school-partners-with-st-georges-university-to-establish-new-medical-education-pathway-for-indian-students.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28611/edify-world-school-partners-with-st-georges-university-to-establish-new-medical-education-pathway-for-indian-students.html Tue, 06 Oct 2026 22:09:15 +0530 Edify World School, Attapur, Hyderabad, and St. George’s University (SGU) School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies, have signed a renewable three-year Academic Affiliation Agreement, creating a pathway for eligible Edify students interested in pursuing an international medical education.Under the agreement, eligible students applying to SGU’s five-year Doctor of Medicine (MD5) track will receive priority application consideration and a guaranteed admissions interview. Students admitted to the track will also be considered for partial merit-based scholarships, subject to the applicable eligibility criteria and terms and conditions.Students enrolled in SGU’s MD tracks will have access to clinical training opportunities through a network of more than 75+ affiliated hospitals and health centres across the United States and United Kingdom. These experiences provide exposure to diverse healthcare environments and hands-on patient care while helping students develop the clinical knowledge, professionalism, and practical skills required for careers in medicine.The collaboration comes as more Indian students explore medical education opportunities beyond the country, including in the UK and other international destinations. For Edify students interested in medicine, the affiliation provides an additional pathway to pursue their aspirations abroad, with opportunities to study in a global medical environment and gain clinical experience across healthcare settings in the United States and United Kingdom. Students who complete their secondary education and meet SGU’s admissions requirements can apply to SGU’s MD5 track. Those admitted can begin their medical education in Grenada or the United Kingdom, allowing them to start their medical journey in an international academic environment from the outset. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28589/iit-delhi-and-acsir-join-hands-to-expand-opportunities-for-collaborative-research-and-student-exchange.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28589/iit-delhi-and-acsir-join-hands-to-expand-opportunities-for-collaborative-research-and-student-exchange.html Sat, 03 Oct 2026 13:58:53 +0530 The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) and the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen academic and research collaboration between the two institutions. The MoU establishes a framework for joint research, co-supervision of postgraduate research students, and the exchange of students, research scholars, and faculty between IIT Delhi and AcSIR-associated research institutes. The collaboration seeks to bring together the complementary academic and research strengths of IIT Delhi, and the extensive network of research institutes associated with AcSIR, creating opportunities for students and faculty to work across institutional boundaries and engage with diverse research facilities and expertise. A key feature of the MoU is the provision for joint supervision of PhD, M.Tech. and MS(R) students. Students enrolled under the collaborative framework will have at least one supervisor from IIT Delhi and one from an AcSIR-associated research institute. The MoU will also facilitate academic and research visits, enabling postgraduate students, research scholars, and faculty to spend time at the partner institution. In particular, students of IIT Delhi and AcSIR will be able to undertake coursework and research work at either institution without requiring separate admission or payment of tuition fees at the host institution. Faculty members from IIT Delhi and AcSIR associated Research Institutes (CSIR, ICMR research institutes, among others) will also be able to collaborate on research in areas of mutual interest and pursue joint research projects.   Image caption- Prof. Rangan Banerjee, Director, IIT Delhi (R) and Prof. Manoj K. Dhar, Director, AcSIR ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28569/oppi-collaborates-with-niper-hajipur-to-advance-research-excellence.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28569/oppi-collaborates-with-niper-hajipur-to-advance-research-excellence.html Tue, 29 Sep 2026 15:00:41 +0530 The Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI) has announced a strategic collaboration with the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hajipur, Bihar to support and promote outcome-oriented pharmaceutical research in India. As part of this initiative, OPPI will award gold and silver scholarships to two meritorious research scholars currently in their third or fourth year at NIPER Hajipur. The scholarships will be extended as research grants to support ongoing projects that demonstrate strong potential to address real-world healthcare challenges and contribute to meaningful advances in patient care. OPPI will also actively support the development of a ‘Professor of Practice’ framework, enabling experienced industry professionals from OPPI member companies to engage directly with students and researchers at NIPER Hajipur. The collaboration also builds on NIPER Hajipur’s focus on strengthening evidence-led healthcare research through its dedicated Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Health Technology Assessment (HTA). The Centre provides an important platform for advancing research and capacity building in HTA and supporting a deeper understanding of how health technologies can be evaluated to inform healthcare decision-making. As part of its engagement with NIPER Hajipur, OPPI is also conducting guest lectures covering Health Technology Assessment (HTA), Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR), and evidence-based healthcare decision-making. Through this initiative, subject-matter experts from OPPI member companies will deliver curated knowledge sessions, workshops and mentorship engagements for students. These interactions will provide valuable real-world insights, bridge the gap between academic research and evolving industry needs, and equip students with the practical understanding required to translate scientific discoveries into impactful healthcare solutions.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28539/sig-clinical-communication-lays-focus-on-progressive-implementation-throughout-undergraduate-medical-education.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28539/sig-clinical-communication-lays-focus-on-progressive-implementation-throughout-undergraduate-medical-education.html Fri, 25 Sep 2026 17:05:36 +0530 A national consultation on clinical communication education has received 152 responses representing 147 unique medical institutions across 31 States and Union Territories, highlighting a significant gap between the delivery of communication training and the longitudinal tracking of learner competency. The consultation was undertaken by the Special Interest Group (SIG) on Clinical Communication, in association with ICAIM and DoctorsAI, with SigmaMozak as Knowledge & Implementation Partner. While 76% of respondents reported structured communication training across most or all MBBS phases, only 4% reported using an integrated longitudinal record to guide individual learner feedback and progression. The findings were discussed at the National Advisory Session on Clinical Communication, held in New Delhi on 20 September 2026, where the SIG released From Intent to Implementation: A Blueprint for Elevating Clinical Communication Competency in Undergraduate Medical Education in India. The findings suggest that communication training is no longer absent from undergraduate medical education. In many institutions, it is already being delivered across multiple phases of the MBBS programme. However, the data point to a different implementation challenge: ensuring that communication competency develops longitudinally rather than through disconnected teaching and assessment activities. Prof Avinash Supe, Professor Emeritus in Surgical Gastroenterology and Medical Education at Seth G.S. Medical College, Chairperson, SIG Clinical Communication, said: “The question is no longer simply whether communication is present in the curriculum. The more important question is whether students are able to practise it repeatedly, receive meaningful feedback and demonstrate progression over time. The consultation shows that this longitudinal link remains an important area for improvement.” Other commonly reported barriers included insufficient protected curriculum time, difficulties coordinating across clinical departments, limited numbers of trained faculty, insufficient faculty time and challenges in maintaining longitudinal learner records. The findings indicate that the next phase of communication education may require less emphasis on creating additional curricular intent and greater emphasis on practical tools that allow institutions to implement, assess and sustain competency development at scale. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28527/pratap-university-to-establish-maharana-pratap-medicity-with-600-bedded-multi-specialty-hospital-in-jaipur.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28527/pratap-university-to-establish-maharana-pratap-medicity-with-600-bedded-multi-specialty-hospital-in-jaipur.html Wed, 23 Sep 2026 16:53:49 +0530 Pratap University, Jaipur is all set to inaugurate a well equipped Maharana Pratap Medicity across 40 acres of its campus in Chandwaji, Jaipur. This ambitious project will mark a significant milestone in the expansion of its academic and healthcare infrastructure. The integrated healthcare and medical education facility will bring together a 600-bedded multi-specialty hospital, a 100-bedded Ayurveda Hospital and teaching facilities for a range of healthcare-related programmes. Maharana Pratap MediCity is being planned as an integrated ecosystem for medical education, clinical training and healthcare services. The facility will offer academic programmes in MBBS, Ayurveda through BAMS, BSc Nursing, GNM and several paramedical disciplines, including physiotherapy, medical laboratory technology and technician programmes. It will also offer the Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry (B.V.Sc. & A.H.) programme. This will be an important programme for students pursuing careers in veterinary medicine. The MediCity is designed to combine classroom learning with practical exposure. It will give students access to clinical and healthcare environments as part of their education. The initiative will also focus on developing trained manpower for hospitals and healthcare institutions across Rajasthan, particularly in areas where skilled nursing and paramedical professionals are in demand. The 600-bedded multi-specialty hospital will be developed in two phases. The first phase is expected to start operations by the end of 2026. However, the second phase is planned for July-August 2027. The academic programmes in medical, nursing, paramedical, Ayurveda and veterinary disciplines are expected to commence from the 2027-28 academic session.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28516/masters-union-university-launches-kalam-school-of-bioscience-in-gurugram.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28516/masters-union-university-launches-kalam-school-of-bioscience-in-gurugram.html Mon, 21 Sep 2026 19:27:07 +0530 Masters’ Union University has launched the Kalam School of Bioscience, a new school focused on bringing together biology, technology, engineering, healthcare and entrepreneurship as advances in genomics, gene editing, longevity, computational biology and precision medicine reshape the life sciences. The school was launched at The Next Gene Bioscience Summit in Gurugram, which brought together leading scientists, healthcare leaders, biotechnology founders, investors, researchers and academicians. The Kalam School of Bioscience will focus on areas including genetics, cell biology, computational biology, biotechnology and emerging applications of engineering and artificial intelligence in the life sciences. The model is being built around greater exposure to research laboratories, healthcare institutions and bioscience companies, with an emphasis on helping students understand how scientific research can move from the laboratory into diagnostics, therapies, technologies and ventures. Pratham Mittal, Founder, Masters’ Union University, said, “India already has exceptional scientists, doctors and engineers. The larger opportunity is to get these worlds to work together much more closely. We want a student studying genetics to be able to work with a clinician, a computer scientist and an entrepreneur on the same problem. The ambition for the Kalam School is not only to teach bioscience, but to create an environment where research can turn into diagnostics, therapies, technologies and companies built in India.” ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28482/max-healthcare-foundation-expands-medical-scholarship-to-fund-education-of-250-mbbs-students-in-4th-year.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28482/max-healthcare-foundation-expands-medical-scholarship-to-fund-education-of-250-mbbs-students-in-4th-year.html Tue, 15 Sep 2026 13:19:18 +0530 Max Healthcare Foundation has announced the launch of the fourth edition of its flagship Max Medical Scholarship Programme, expanding its annual intake to up to 250 new students this year, compared with 100 students in previous years. The expansion will significantly widen the programme’s reach and enable more meritorious students from economically weaker sections to pursue medical education. The scholarship will fully fund the medical education of up to 250 new students this year who have qualified for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET examination) and secured admission to the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) program in government medical colleges across Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Nagpur, Lucknow, Mohali, Dehradun, Bathinda and Bhubaneswar for the academic year 2026-27. In addition to creating new opportunities for fresh applicants, the Max Medical Scholarship programme will continue to fund education of students awarded in previous years, now in the second, third and fourth year of medical education, ensuring continuous support throughout their academic journey. The Max Medical Scholarship Programme is part of Max Healthcare Foundation’s corporate social responsibility efforts to nurture and uplift the next generation of medical professionals.The registrations for this scholarship will open from September 16, 2026 (www.maxhealthcarefoundation.org). The Max Medical Scholarships marks one of the largest-ever annual scholarship grants for medical education in India. The selected students will be granted comprehensive financial assistance for the duration of their 5-year MBBS course. The scholarship will provide full support in tuition fees, a laptop, text books and tools like the bone set, dissection kit, stethoscope and an allowance for monthly expenses as well as mentorship opportunities. The applications will be accepted till October 4, 2026. The selection process will involve multiple stages, including application review, shortlisting, interviews and verification of mandatory documents. The selection process for these up to 250 scholars is based on rigorous evaluation criteria that will be assessed by a jury from the Max Healthcare Foundation. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28453/nephroplus-unveils-international-dialysis-academy-to-build-global-pipeline-of-dialysis-trained-nurses.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28453/nephroplus-unveils-international-dialysis-academy-to-build-global-pipeline-of-dialysis-trained-nurses.html Thu, 10 Sep 2026 15:53:09 +0530 NephroPlus has announced the launch of the NephroPlus International Dialysis Academy (NIDA), a dedicated initiative designed to prepare nursing graduates in India and the Philippines for specialised careers in dialysis care and international deployment. The first NIDA nodal centre was inaugurated, at NephroPlus’s standalone dialysis centre in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, in the presence of Rohit Singh, Group CEO, NephroPlus. The Academy’s second nodal centre is scheduled to launch in Quezon City, Philippines, in November 2026. NIDA has been established as a structured pathway for building a specialised, internationally deployable renal-nursing workforce. The programme combines classroom learning, simulation-based training, supervised clinical experience, mentorship, certification support and preparation for international workplace and licensing requirements. On successful completion of the programme, eligible candidates can be considered for deployment within NephroPlus’s international network, subject to the applicable requirements and the service commitment defined at enrolment. In India, the Fresher Track is a 24-month programme, comprising three months of classroom and simulation-based training followed by 21 months of supervised clinical training across the NephroPlus network. In the Philippines, the programme follows a similar overall timeframe, beginning with two weeks of clinical classroom training followed by supervised on-the-job training across NephroPlus Philippines centres. The curriculum covers renal and dialysis science, clinical management, patient care and global workplace readiness, equipping nurses with the specialised skills required for dialysis care and international careers. The Academy will initially operate through its nodal centres in Hyderabad and Quezon City, with plans to expand its footprint in a phased, demand-led manner as NephroPlus’s international operations grow. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28442/roche-pharma-india-awards-rs-15-l-to-winners-of-3rd-edition-of-leap-scholarship-programme.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28442/roche-pharma-india-awards-rs-15-l-to-winners-of-3rd-edition-of-leap-scholarship-programme.html Mon, 07 Sep 2026 19:05:02 +0530 Roche Pharma India has announced the winners of the third edition of Leading Engagements to Advance Patient Care (LEAP) programme. The felicitation ceremony celebrated five outstanding oncology students, whose solutions addressed challenges in the field of cancer care.  The third edition of LEAP invited all streams of final-year oncology students enrolled in super-specialty courses such as DM/DNB/MCh to provide solutions across clinical care, patient care, and other areas such as innovation and access. This edition attracted participation from 60+ leading medical colleges and hospitals nationwide, with 355 innovative solutions being submitted. The five winners from this year include: Himaprathyusha Parupalli from MNJIORCC Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad, whose solution focused on using a rapid Default Risk Score to identify patients at risk of treatment interruption and enable targeted navigation to improve chemotherapy adherence and patient outcomes, earning jury recognition for its patient-centric approach to improving compliance Rajdeep Bose from Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute, Guwahati, proposed integrating risk-based cancer screening with community-based support interventions and streamlined referrals to improve uptake and enable earlier, equitable cancer detection, and was lauded for his structured, evidence-driven approach for cancer care Reshma Abraham from Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru, whose multilingual, AI-enabled cancer navigation platform aimed to bridge rural-urban care gaps, earning recognition for bringing compassion and ethics to cancer management Shah Abhinav Sanjiv from Regional Cancer Centre, Trivandrum, who proposed integrating clinical milestones, MDT decision-making and AI-assisted documentation into hospital systems, to enable equity and accessibility in cancer treatment Krishna Khushiram Ratanchandani from Aster CMI Hospital, Bengaluru, awhose automated CARG risk assessment approach aimed at enabling safer and personalised cancer care for older adults, stood out for its potential to transform cancer care with AI Each winner was awarded a scholarship of Rs 3 lakh, a certificate, and medal for their contributions to advancing academic excellence in oncology. LEAP is a unique programme empowering final-year DM/DNB/MCh oncology students in India with a platform for learning, collaboration, and innovation in oncology care. The program is designed to foster innovative thinking and creativity in students, as they prepare to step into clinical practice. Through this programme, Roche Pharma India aims to inspire students to drive positive changes in the world of cancer care.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28435/vice-president-inaugurates-advanced-instrumentation-facility-at-panjab-university.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28435/vice-president-inaugurates-advanced-instrumentation-facility-at-panjab-university.html Sat, 05 Sep 2026 13:37:57 +0530 The Vice President of India and ex-officio Chancellor of Panjab University, C.P. Radhakrishnan, recently visited Panjab University, Chandigarh. During his visit, the Vice President inaugurated the Advanced Instrumentation Facility at the Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facility/Central Instrumentation Laboratories (SAIF/CIL). He also inaugurated the Panjab University Tech Innovation Forum (PU-TIF). SAIF/CIL and PU-TIF are important components of the University's academic, applied, and translational research ecosystem, providing advanced analytical, incubation, and entrepreneurial support to researchers, innovators, and industry. C.P. Radhakrishnan said that the installation of five advanced scientific instruments – Atomic Force Microscope, Raman Spectrometer, DNA Sequencer, Flow Cytometer and FTIR Spectrometer – will significantly strengthen the research capabilities of the University in various fields including nanotechnology, materials science, environmental science and genomics. Highlighting the importance of innovation, the Vice President said that Bio-Nest's transformation from a Section 8 non-profit company into the Panjab University Tech Innovation Forum represents a new institutional framework to advance research , entrepreneurship , and technology development. He emphasised that innovation flourishes when academia, industry, incubators, and investors work together. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28372/h-p-ghosh-memorial-foundation-lays-cornerstone-for-medical-college-in-tripura.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28372/h-p-ghosh-memorial-foundation-lays-cornerstone-for-medical-college-in-tripura.html Tue, 25 Aug 2026 16:18:37 +0530 The H.P. Ghosh Memorial Foundation has marked the foundation stone laying of H.P. Ghosh Medical College, Lalchari, Ambassa, Dhalai, Tripura, as a step towards strengthening the nation-building process, where the healthcare and education sector played a vital role. The landmark project is one of the biggest social development projects by the Foundation and is expected to change the landscape of access to quality healthcare and medical education not just in Tripura but also in the Northeast. The foundation stone was laid by Prof (Dr) Manik Saha, Chief Minister of Tripura who was the Chief Guest of the occasion, along with the project proponent Chandra Shekhar Ghosh, Founder & Chairman of Bandhan Group, senior government officers, medical professionals, academicians and the community. The college will begin with an intake of 100 MBBS students from the next academic year and will eventually be expanded to include post graduate medical programmes, College of Nursing and Paramedical Sciences. The institution, once established, will be a major boost to the healthcare system in Tripura and offer an opportunity to young healthcare aspirants from all over the Northeast. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28365/iit-kanpurs-gangwal-school-of-medical-sciences-and-technology-gets-rs-300-cr-funding-boost.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28365/iit-kanpurs-gangwal-school-of-medical-sciences-and-technology-gets-rs-300-cr-funding-boost.html Mon, 24 Aug 2026 19:21:24 +0530 Marking another significant milestone in his association with his alma mater, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur’s Distinguished Alumnus and Co-Founder of IndiGo, Rakesh Gangwal, commits an additional Rs 300 crore towards the continued development of the Gangwal School of Medical Sciences and Technology at IIT Kanpur. This builds on his landmark contribution of Rs 100 crore in 2022, which supported the Institute’s plans to establish a medical school on campus, taking his cumulative contribution towards the Gangwal School to Rs 400 crore. With this commitment, Gangwal will provide matching grants against contributions from other supporters, of up to Rs 300 crore, towards the development of the School. The initiative aims to encourage broader support from alumni, philanthropists, and other well-wishers for IIT Kanpur’s vision of advancing medical education, research, clinical innovation, and MedTech ambitions. The School’s development plans also include a 500-bed super-speciality hospital on the IIT Kanpur campus, along with a proposed 200-bed cancer care research centre. The facilities are envisioned to support medical education, clinical research and healthcare delivery, while creating opportunities for doctors, researchers, engineers and technology experts to work together on emerging healthcare challenges.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28356/fredna-dental-systems-to-build-multi-city-academic-network-across-india.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28356/fredna-dental-systems-to-build-multi-city-academic-network-across-india.html Sat, 22 Aug 2026 12:46:35 +0530 Fredna Dental Systems (FDS), one of India’s leading digital dentistry firms, is building a multi-city academic network across India through its expanding educational initiative as part of FDS’s broader academic growth strategy. This year, until June 2026, FDS successfully completed 50 academic programmes and engaged approximately 1,200- 1,500+ dental professionals across multiple specialties. The initiative began a decade ago with current focus on tier I & tier II cities, and with a long-term vision of creating a Pan-India digital dentistry education platform by expanding gradually in tier III & tier IV cities in the country. At the core of the initiative is a clinically driven education model supported by a growing pan-India, multi-speciality faculty network. As part of its next phase of expansion, FDS is scaling up its academic activities to 20 events per month from July 2026, with plans for further expansion in the coming months. With increased offline presence and a growing pan-India footprint, the initiative is projected to reach more than 2,000 dentists across India.  With a strong focus on digital dentistry, the academic ecosystem integrates advanced learning in areas such as CBCT, surgical guides, aligners, implantology, and digital clinical workflows. Through its consistent monthly academic calendar, FDS aims to create opportunities for continuous professional development while supporting meaningful clinical skill enhancement among dental professionals. The expansion marks another significant step in FDS’s vision to strengthen digital dentistry education in India and build a connected academic ecosystem that brings together clinicians, educators, technology, and dental professionals across cities and specialties. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28334/concord-biotech-supports-ahmedabad-university-to-open-biology-teaching-lab.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28334/concord-biotech-supports-ahmedabad-university-to-open-biology-teaching-lab.html Tue, 18 Aug 2026 16:05:20 +0530 Concord Biotech has extended support to Ahmedabad University with a state-of-the-art Biology Teaching Lab, inaugurated by Sudhir Vaid, Chairman & Managing Director, Concord Biotech Limited, recently. The new facility will provide students with hands-on exposure to industry-relevant skills and foster the next generation of scientists, researchers and biotech leaders. Sudhir Vaid shared, “We believe that the future of life sciences in India will be shaped by the quality of education and research talent we nurture today.” Through initiatives like these, Concord Biotech remains committed to strengthening the bridge between academia and industry, while laying the foundation for the next generation of life sciences and biopharmaceutical innovation. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28338/msf-launches-allied-healthcare-diploma-programme-in-association-with-mangalayatan-university.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28338/msf-launches-allied-healthcare-diploma-programme-in-association-with-mangalayatan-university.html Tue, 18 Aug 2026 23:21:22 +0530 Monica Sarin Foundation (MSF) has entered a strategic collaboration with Mangalayatan University, Aligarh, to offer an Advance Diploma-level Allied Healthcare programme, bridging the gap between quality healthcare education and industry workforce requirements. This collaboration further strengthens MSF’s commitment to expanding access to quality vocational education, with a long-term goal of skilling 50,000 students by 2030 and creating a strong pipeline of industry-ready professionals. Speaking on the partnership, Aashman Sarin, Director and Founding Member, Monica Sarin Foundation, said “Our focus is to create opportunities for the Indian youth through structured education and industry aligned skill development. With this association with Mangalayatan University, we are strengthening access to quality vocational training in Allied Healthcare for an Advance Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology. Our efforts will enable students to become future ready and benefit from industry-relevant skills, recognised qualifications, and pathways for long-term employment.” First session commencing from July 2026, MSF in affiliation with Mangalayatan University, will offer an Advance Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology (ADMLT) programme. The programme has been introduced at a time when the healthcare sector is experiencing a growing demand for trained AHPs and the government is focusing on the expansion and strengthening of AHPs’ education system. As the Vocational Training Partner (VTP), MSF works toward empowering students through ADMLT program classes conducted at their premises with curriculum, academic single point of contact, and assessment overseen by the university. MSF is offering 10 seats free of cost to select candidates, enabling students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue quality Allied Healthcare education and build sustainable careers. The ADMLT programme will combine classroom-based learning with laboratory training and industry-oriented internships at hospitals and laboratories, equipping students with recognized qualifications, practical skills, and hands-on clinical exposure. MSF will further facilitate placement drives to connect students with employment opportunities across hospitals and diagnostic centres.     ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28309/cloudnine-and-bapio-training-academy-join-hands-to-support-doctors-pursuing-mrcog-and-mrcpch.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28309/cloudnine-and-bapio-training-academy-join-hands-to-support-doctors-pursuing-mrcog-and-mrcpch.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 17:53:03 +0530 Cloudnine Group of Hospitals in collaboration with BAPIO (British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin), is inviting applications for the upcoming batches of its UK MRCOG (Membership of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists) and  Member of Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (MRCPCH) Sponsorship Programme.  Designed for MBBS, MD/MS, and DNB-qualified doctors, the programme aims to support aspiring specialists in Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Paediatrics through structured academic training, clinical exposure, and mentorship from experienced clinicians. The initiative is focused on helping doctors pursue globally recognised qualifications while enhancing their clinical expertise and career prospects. This three-year programme offers participants a unique opportunity to learn from experts, gain hands-on experience, and align their practice with international standards of women's and child healthcare. Speaking at the sidelines of the initiative, Dr Naga Nischal, Head of Clinical Services said, “The programme is particularly relevant for doctors seeking to enhance their academic credentials, broaden their clinical perspectives, and pursue internationally recognised pathways in reproductive, maternal, neonatal, and child healthcare." ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28253/telangana-life-sciences-bits-pilani-rmit-university-launch-industry-integrated-phd-programme.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28253/telangana-life-sciences-bits-pilani-rmit-university-launch-industry-integrated-phd-programme.html Tue, 04 Aug 2026 19:20:30 +0530 Telangana Life Sciences, BITS Pilani and RMIT University, Australia, have jointly launched an Industry-Integrated PhD & Research Programme to bridge industry and academia and strengthen research-led innovation in the life sciences sector. D. Sridhar Babu, Minister for Information Technology, Electronics & Communications, Industries & Commerce, and Legislative Affairs, Government of Telangana, attended the launch as the Chief Guest. By bringing together academic expertise and industry insight, the partnership aims to accelerate the application of research, strengthen workforce capability, and contribute to economic and societal outcomes in both India and Australia. The programme will enable professionals from leading life sciences Global Capability Centres (GCCs) to undertake globally supervised doctoral research aligned with real-world industry challenges, while continuing in their professional roles. By bringing together industry, academia and government, the initiative aims to create a stronger pipeline of research talent, accelerate industry-led innovation and foster solutions to pressing scientific and technological challenges in the life sciences sector. Unlike conventional doctoral programmes, where research is largely academic, the industry-integrated PhD & Research Programme is built around real-world industry problems. Participating companies will sponsor employees and research scholars to undertake doctoral research aligned with their business priorities, while BITS Pilani and RMIT University will provide academic supervision, global expertise and research mentorship on top of sponsoring some research scholars from their end as well. This approach is expected to generate commercially relevant research, encourage technology transfer and strengthen collaboration between researchers and industry. The programme comes at a time when Hyderabad's rapidly expanding life sciences GCC ecosystem is driving demand for highly skilled research talent. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28239/amgen-launches-first-scholars-programme-at-iiit-hyderabad.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28239/amgen-launches-first-scholars-programme-at-iiit-hyderabad.html Thu, 30 Jul 2026 21:05:18 +0530 Amgen has announced the launch of the first Amgen Scholars Programme in India at the International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad (IIIT Hyderabad), bringing the globally respected undergraduate summer research programme to India for the first time. Supported through a two-year commitment from Amgen through summer 2027, the programme reflects the company's long-standing commitment to advancing science education and inspiring future innovators. The inaugural cohort comprises 10 undergraduate scholars, including students from India, Vietnam, Qatar, and Dubai, creating opportunities for scientific collaboration and exchange across Asia. The students represent universities across Asia and are pursuing undergraduate programmes in science, engineering, and related disciplines, reflecting the program's regional diversity and academic excellence. As part of the intensive two-month residential research experience, students will explore artificial intelligence and machine learning applications in fundamental sciences, drug design and discovery, healthcare, cheminformatics, genomics and related areas alongside faculty mentors at IIIT Hyderabad. They will also have an opportunity to participate in seminars, networking events and a regional Amgen Scholars Symposium to be held in Tokyo in August 2026. At the conclusion of the programme, each scholar presents their research through a scientific poster presentation. The scholars were selected through a rigorous evaluation by an expert committee at IIIT Hyderabad based on academic excellence, research aptitude, motivation for doctoral studies, and demonstrated interest in applying AI and machine learning to drug discovery. Designed to inspire the scientists of tomorrow, the Amgen Scholars Programme is a long-standing, signature initiative of the Amgen Foundation, providing undergraduates the opportunity to engage in a compelling summer, scientific research experience at some of the world’s leading institutions. The Amgen Scholars Programme seeks to expand research, learning and networking opportunities for students committed to pursuing advanced degrees in STEM.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28168/galgotias-university-partners-with-felix-hospital-to-advance-clinical-education-and-healthcare-training.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28168/galgotias-university-partners-with-felix-hospital-to-advance-clinical-education-and-healthcare-training.html Tue, 21 Jul 2026 13:36:54 +0530 Galgotias University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Felix Hospital, Greater Noida, to strengthen clinical education and skill development for students of the School of Allied Health Sciences (SAHS) and the School of Nursing. Felix Hospital runs two NABH-accredited multispecialty hospitals in Greater Noida, with a combined capacity of 400 beds. Under the partnership, students will receive structured clinical exposure, compulsory internships, competency-based education, and hands-on training with advanced medical technologies, along with practical experience in NABH quality standards, patient-safety protocols, and professional healthcare practice. The collaboration spans the full breadth of the University's healthcare programmes. At SAHS, students of Physiotherapy, Cardiovascular Therapy, Laboratory Sciences, Optometry, and Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology will gain clinical exposure in their respective specialties at a working multispecialty hospital, complementing the school's on-campus facilities such as electrotherapy labs and its outpatient department. For the School of Nursing, the partnership strengthens the clinical rotations that are central to its B.Sc. Nursing programme, a four-year degree recognised by the Indian Nursing Council and the Uttar Pradesh State Medical Faculty. Actual clinical experience at Felix will build directly on the University's cutting-edge nursing simulation lab, where students first master clinical procedures and emergency response on advanced mannequins in a safe, controlled setting before applying those skills at the bedside with real patients. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28148/govt-introduces-diploma-qualifying-course-in-medical-laboratory-technology.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28148/govt-introduces-diploma-qualifying-course-in-medical-laboratory-technology.html Sat, 18 Jul 2026 12:54:36 +0530 The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Services (NCAHP), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has introduced the competency-based curriculum for Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology (DMLT) by notification issued on July 1, 2026, taking significant steps to strengthen the quality, uniformity, and global competitiveness of allied and healthcare education in the country. All institutions currently conducting or continuing to run DMLTs have been advised to implement the newly announced syllabus from the academic year 2026-27, while from the academic year 2027-28 onwards, it will have to be mandatorily implemented. The two-year Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology programme is designed for students who have passed Class XII in Science Cadre with Physics, Chemistry and Biology subjects from a recognized Board. This curriculum marks a paradigm shift from traditional knowledge-based teaching to competency-based education. The emphasis is on developing the knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes required to provide advanced clinical laboratory service. The NCAHP has notified 16 competency-based courses in various allied and healthcare disciplines, which will be mandatorily implemented from the academic year 2026-27. These courses are as follows: Applied Psychology and Behavioral Health physiotherapy Optameter Nutrition and Dietetics Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology Radiotherapy Dialysis Therapy Technology and Dialysis Therapy Health Information Management Anesthesia and Operation Theatre Technology Physician Associate Occupational therapy Emergency Medical Technologist (Paramedic), Burn Care Technologist and Advanced Care Paramedic Respiratory Technology Medical and Psychiatric Social Work Medical Physics Nuclear Medical Technology ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28151/nmims-sppsptm-and-merck-india-launch-catalyst-programme-to-build-future-pharma-talent.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28151/nmims-sppsptm-and-merck-india-launch-catalyst-programme-to-build-future-pharma-talent.html Sat, 18 Jul 2026 14:06:26 +0530 Reinforcing their shared commitment to advancing industry-integrated education, Mumbai-based Shri Vile Parle Kelavani Mandal (SVKM)'s Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) School of Pharmacy & Technology Management (SPPSPTM) and Merck India have announced the launch of the NMIMS SPPSPTM – Merck CATALYST Programme, a first-of-its-kind initiative at NMIMS designed to prepare students for the evolving demands of the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry. The 12-week certification programme will equip students with industry-relevant knowledge through intensive modules in different scientific domains. Envisioned as a long-term collaboration, NMIMS and Merck India plan to conduct multiple editions of the CATALYST Programme annually, with participants receiving a certification upon successful completion of the program. Designed to complement classroom learning with real-world industry exposure, the CATALYST Programme will familiarise students with global pharmaceutical practices and the competencies expected in today's workplace. Drawing on Merck's expertise in Global Capability Centres (GCCs), which support key global pharmaceutical functions, the programme will expose students to internationally aligned processes and help them develop the technical, regulatory, and professional capabilities required for global roles. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28140/dr-jitendra-singh-announces-indias-first-engineering-biology-bachelor-course.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28140/dr-jitendra-singh-announces-indias-first-engineering-biology-bachelor-course.html Thu, 16 Jul 2026 21:27:25 +0530 Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh has announced the launch of India's first Engineering Biology Bachelor of Science course. He described it as an important step towards creating an independent and sovereign biotechnology ecosystem capable of meeting the long-term scientific, healthcare and economic aspirations of the country. Speaking at the launch of the roadmap for "Making India a Leading Bioeconomy Power by 2035", the Minister said that Engineering Biology will be a foundational subject for the next phase of India's bioeconomy and it will be just like computer science drove the digital revolution. "The IITs have already started sending proposals for interdisciplinary programmes (courses designed across multiple disciplines) in collaboration with medical institutions, which shows the growing synergy of engineering, biology and healthcare", the Minister said. Announcing the new curriculum, Dr Jitendra Singh said, "We have to create our own independent, sovereign ecosystem. This initiative will be the first of its kind in the country and will create a new generation of professionals who will be able to work at the confluence of engineering, life sciences, medicine and emerging technologies." ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28142/mahe-manipal-foundation-and-kites-senior-care-partner-to-build-indias-future-geriatric-care-workforce.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28142/mahe-manipal-foundation-and-kites-senior-care-partner-to-build-indias-future-geriatric-care-workforce.html Thu, 16 Jul 2026 21:44:08 +0530 In a significant step towards strengthening India's healthcare workforce for an ageing population, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), the Manipal Foundation and KITES Senior Care, the geriatric care specialist brand of Lifebridge Group, have launched a pioneering industry-academia partnership through the inauguration of the Certificate Course in Geriatric and Palliative Care for Caregivers under MAHE's Multi Skilled Worker (MSW) Programme. The programme was inaugurated at Manipal College of Nursing, MAHE, in the presence of senior academic and healthcare leaders.  Marking an important milestone, the first cohort of 20 caregiver trainees formally commenced the programme. These students represent the beginning of a new generation of professionally trained caregivers who will combine compassionate care with structured clinical skills to meet the growing needs of India's ageing population. Designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world clinical practice, the programme combines five weeks of classroom education at MAHE with seven weeks of structured internship at KITES Senior Care centres. Students will receive supervised practical training in geriatric and palliative care before being assessed and certified by MAHE, creating a strong pathway to employment in one of healthcare's fastest-growing sectors. The initiative addresses India's growing need for skilled caregivers by creating a professional, employment-oriented pathway that integrates academic excellence with experiential learning. Looking ahead, the partners envision scaling this programme across multiple cities in India through similar industry-academia collaborations. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28122/ashoka-university-establishes-dr-ajit-varma-centre-for-planetary-health.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28122/ashoka-university-establishes-dr-ajit-varma-centre-for-planetary-health.html Tue, 14 Jul 2026 19:22:46 +0530 Ashoka University, India's leading interdisciplinary and research university, has inaugurated Dr. Ajit Varma Centre for Planetary Health, a first-of-its-kind transdisciplinary Centre for Planetary Health in India, on the campus in the presence of University's leadership and members of the Varma family. Established with the support of Dr Amit Varma, the Centre is named in the memory of his father, Dr Ajit Varma. The Centre will advance work across five strategic pillars, including Research and Discovery; Academics and Capacity Building; Innovation Hub and Venture Studio; Industry and Ecosystem Partnerships; and Policy Engagement. Its work will focus on addressing complex and interconnected challenges that extend beyond the direct effects of environmental change, spanning climate and health systems, pollution and exposure science and agroecology, marine ecosystems, and emerging infectious risks.Beyond supporting the establishment of the Centre, Dr Varma's association with Ashoka as Trustee and Advisor to Trivedi School of BioSciences reflects a shared commitment to advancing interdisciplinary research, innovation and institution-building. In his role, he will work closely with the University's leadership to strengthen its research ecosystem, foster collaboration across academia, industry and the innovation ecosystem, and support Ashoka's long-term vision of building globally relevant research institutions. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28082/novo-nordisk-gbs-and-mahe-to-advance-pharmacometrics-research-and-talent-development-in-india.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28082/novo-nordisk-gbs-and-mahe-to-advance-pharmacometrics-research-and-talent-development-in-india.html Wed, 08 Jul 2026 19:46:20 +0530 Bengaluru-based Novo Nordisk Global Business Services (GBS) and the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) have expanded their long-standing collaboration to strengthen India's capabilities in pharmacometrics, a specialised scientific discipline that uses data, modelling and simulation to support drug development and clinical decision-making. As part of this collaboration, Novo Nordisk GBS is set to provide financial support of Rs 1.75 crore over five years to support the growing need for specialised talent, research capacity and advanced infrastructure in quantitative drug development. As medicines become increasingly complex and data-driven, pharmacometrics is playing a critical role in improving clinical trial design, understanding treatment responses across patient populations and supporting more informed drug development decisions. A key focus of the collaboration will be the establishment of an advanced pharmacometrics computing facility at MAHE, aimed at supporting research, training and scientific collaboration in the field. The initiative will also support one full-time PhD scholar and one post-doctoral fellow annually, helping create a specialised talent pipeline for quantitative drug development and clinical pharmacology. In addition, four to six specialised learning modules will be introduced under the theme Innovation for Quantitative Drug Development. These modules will cover areas such as Model-Informed Drug Development (MIDD), systems modelling approaches and translational frameworks for emerging therapeutic modalities, including cell and gene therapies and multi-specific therapies. The collaboration seeks to create greater opportunities for researchers and students to engage with real-world drug development challenges while strengthening India's participation in a field that is becoming increasingly important to global pharmaceutical innovation.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28048/virohan-partners-with-upes-rungta-international-vivekananda-global-university-to-scale-healthcare-education-across-india.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28048/virohan-partners-with-upes-rungta-international-vivekananda-global-university-to-scale-healthcare-education-across-india.html Tue, 30 Jun 2026 15:51:42 +0530 Virohan has announced new collaborations with three universities: UPES (Dehradun), Rungta International Skills University (Bhilai), and Vivekananda Global University (Jaipur).   The additions strengthen Virohan’s growing network of 20+ university and institutional collaborations across India, including leading NAAC-accredited institutions.   The focus is on UG degree programmes in Allied & Healthcare disciplines, including Physiotherapy, Optometry, Medical Laboratory Science, Medical Radiology & Imaging Technology, and Anaesthesia & Operation Theatre Technology; UG Degree programmes in other healthcare domains like Cosmetic Science, and Healthcare Management & Artificial Intelligence; MBA programme, in Healthcare Management; and short-term certificate programs in Geriatric Care, Phlebotomy, Dispensing Optics, Patient Relations, and more for the 2026–27 academic year.   These programmes combine industry-aligned skill training, VR-led practical learning with internship opportunities through Virohan’s network of leading healthcare partners across India – including Lenskart, Eye-Q Hospitals, and Orange Health Labs to equip students with the hands-on skills and experience needed to succeed in healthcare careers.   The expansion comes at a time of acute demand for healthcare talent. India needs more than 64 lakh for allied and healthcare professionals. Recognising this national priority, the Union Budget 2026 allocated Rs 1,000 crore towards the education and training of allied and healthcare professionals.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28030/iit-delhi-and-sorbonne-university-deepen-strategic-partnership-for-research-and-innovation.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28030/iit-delhi-and-sorbonne-university-deepen-strategic-partnership-for-research-and-innovation.html Sat, 27 Jun 2026 16:03:11 +0530 The Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT-D) and Sorbonne University, France, are further strengthening their strategic partnership with an expanded vision that spans advanced research, academic programmes, mobility, and innovation across emerging areas of global importance. The collaboration reflects the growing momentum of the India–France strategic partnership and the shared commitment of both nations to advancing knowledge, technology, and societal impact. Building upon the strong foundation of the jointly established Franco-Indian Integrated Health Campus, IIT Delhi and Sorbonne University are launching a joint Master’s programme in Biological Science and a joint PhD programme in 2026, creating new pathways for students and researchers to benefit from the strengths of both institutions. The Franco-Indian Integrated Health Campus, which is at the heart of the partnership between both institutes, was established as a pioneering platform for interdisciplinary research and education in healthcare. The campus brings together expertise from engineering, medicine, life sciences, social sciences, and digital technologies to address contemporary healthcare challenges through collaborative innovation. The Integrated Health Campus has already enabled a range of academic activities, including joint research projects, student internships, faculty and student mobility programmes, workshops, and scientific exchanges. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28003/admi-and-iim-bodh-gaya-forge-strategic-alliance-to-elevate-indias-ivd-sector-through-academic-excellence-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/28003/admi-and-iim-bodh-gaya-forge-strategic-alliance-to-elevate-indias-ivd-sector-through-academic-excellence-.html Mon, 22 Jun 2026 19:39:08 +0530 The Association of Diagnostics Manufacturers of India (ADMI), the representative voice of the In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) industry, has entered into a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Management Bodh Gaya (IIMBG) Signed by Jatin Mahajan (President, ADMI) and Dr Vinita S. Sahay (Director, IIMBG), this strategic partnership aims to bridge the gap between premier healthcare management education and the rapidly evolving diagnostics manufacturing landscape in India. This collaboration introduces structural advantages designed to cultivate future-ready leadership and elevate India's diagnostics manufacturing framework: • Curriculum Enrichment & Upskilling: Industry veterans from ADMI will contribute to designing and delivering specialised course modules for IIMBG’s MBA (Hospital & Healthcare Management) programme. Furthermore, joint Management Development Programmes and short-term certificate courses will upskill existing industry professionals. • Synergistic Research & Policy Insights: The alliance will drive collaborative research, generating white papers on industry trends, business case studies and consulting projects to solve strategic operational challenges within the diagnostics sector. • Robust Talent Pipelines: ADMI member companies will secure direct access to top-tier managerial talent through live projects, summer internships and final placements. • Knowledge Dissemination: Both entities will jointly host national and international seminars and industry conclaves to address policy, technology, and management challenges in healthcare. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/views/68/27989/is-higher-education-evolving-quickly-to-prepare-students-for-ai-driven-biotechnology.html https://biospectrumindia.com/views/68/27989/is-higher-education-evolving-quickly-to-prepare-students-for-ai-driven-biotechnology.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 22:38:09 +0530 The question is no longer whether biotechnology is changing. It already has. The question is whether our universities are keeping pace. The biotechnology sector is in the throes of a fundamental transformation. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are no longer adjacent technologies—they are central to how modern biotech works. Drug discovery platforms use AI to screen molecular compounds in weeks instead of years. Diagnostic companies deploy deep learning models that rival human specialists. Gene therapies rely on computational tools for analysis. Precision medicine frameworks use genomic data at scale. These are not fringe innovations; they are the operating standard of the industry. DeepMind’s AlphaFold has fundamentally altered structural biology—a tool that compressed decades of crystallography work into months.  Companies like Recursion Pharmaceuticals and Insilico Medicine are running fully AI-orchestrated drug discovery pipelines. Closer home, firms such as Strand Life Sciences and MedGenome are building India’s genomic data infrastructure with computational biology at their core. CRISPR-based therapeutics, once purely a molecular intervention, now depend on high-throughput computational screening to identify guide RNA sequences, predict off-target effects, and model therapeutic windows. What this means for higher education is profound: the textbook a student reads today may be obsolete before they graduate. Yet when we look at biotechnology curricula across Indian universities, we find a persistent architecture built around classical disciplines. Students study biochemistry, microbiology, and molecular biology in careful isolation. They may take bioinformatics as an elective, but often as an afterthought. The implicit message is clear: biotechnology is fundamentally a laboratory science, and computation is optional. This assumption was reasonable fifteen years ago. It is obsolete today. The biotech professional of 2030 needs to be genuinely bilingual: fluent in both the language of molecules and the language of algorithms. What Interdisciplinary Education Actually Means True interdisciplinarity means that from day one, students see biology and computation as inseparable. A student studying enzyme kinetics also writes code to model it. A student learning gene expression works with RNA-seq datasets. Computational biology, bioinformatics, and data science are not electives—they are the fabric of the curriculum. This matters because the industry is already selecting for it. When biotech companies hire, they seek professionals who can move fluidly between sequencing datasets and protocols, between statistical results and biological interpretation. The global academic community has begun to respond. MIT’s Department of Biological Engineering now embeds computational modelling into every core course. IISc Bengaluru has restructured its integrated biology programmes to make data science mandatory rather than elective. These are not isolated experiments—they reflect a growing consensus that the old disciplinary walls between biology and computing must come down, and the sooner the better. Emerging Domains: Precision Medicine, Gene Therapy, and Antimicrobial Resistance Precision medicine, gene therapies, synthetic biology, and antimicrobial resistance research represent the cutting edge of industry practice. Precision medicine integrates genomics, clinical data, and machine learning to tailor treatments to individual patients. This is a business model companies execute on today. Gene therapy, as it moves from research to commercialisation, demands professionals who understand both molecular biology and computational analysis of therapeutic outcomes. Antimicrobial resistance—flagged by the WHO as a top global health threat—requires researchers who can sequence genomes at scale, analyse mutation patterns computationally, and design new strategies. These are inherently interdisciplinary challenges that traditional biotechnology programmes are not systematically preparing students to tackle. Bridging the Gap: Academia and Industry Partnership The responsibility for closing this gap cannot fall to universities alone. The biotech industry has a vested interest in graduates who are immediately productive. This is enlightened self-interest: a company that spends six months training a new hire on skills that should have been learned in university pays a hidden cost. Deep collaboration is essential—companies working with faculty to co-design curricula, offering access to real datasets for student projects, hosting extended internships on genuine business challenges, and potentially teaching courses on emerging topics. Universities must remain nimble, updating programmes every few years rather than running the same curriculum for a decade. Universities must move beyond seeing industry engagement as secondary to their core work. Designing programmes that produce industry-ready graduates is a legitimate form of academic excellence. It requires recruiting faculty with active industry engagement, who are comfortable teaching emerging domains, and who can bridge theory and practical application. It requires investment in computational infrastructure and the humility to recognise that some of what students need to learn comes from the sector, not from peer-reviewed journals. The Competencies That Matter Most If I were advising a student or university designing a biotechnology programme today, here is what the industry actually needs: First, foundational technical depth in core life sciences—molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, and cell biology remain non-negotiable. Second, fluency in programming and computational thinking. Python, R, and SQL are now as essential to biotechnology as pipettes. Third, exposure to real-world data and data science practices: sequence analysis, statistical inference, machine learning basics, and data visualisation. Fourth, understanding of how biology scales: fermentation, bioprocess engineering, manufacturing and regulatory considerations. Finally, the ability to communicate, collaborate, and navigate ambiguity. Modern biotech operates through cross-functional teams. A graduate who has never presented findings to non-specialist audiences or worked on team projects is missing a critical piece of professional readiness. Bengaluru has emerged as one of Asia’s most significant biotechnology hubs. India’s National Biotechnology Development Strategy and the BioE3 policy framework signal the government’s ambition to grow the nation’s bioeconomy to $300 billion by 2030—a target that is only achievable if the talent pipeline keeps pace with the science. Yet this growth is constrained by a consistent bottleneck: the availability of professionals who combine deep biological knowledge with computational capability. This problem cannot be solved by industry alone, nor by universities alone. It requires deliberate, ongoing partnership. The students who will build the next generation of biotech innovation are in classrooms right now.  Whether the students are prepared when they graduate depends on the choices we make today—choices to redesign curricula around the competencies that matter, to invest in infrastructure, and to recognise that creating industry-ready graduates is not a zero-sum game but an investment in the ecosystem's future.   Dr Sumitra Datta, Director, Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Bengaluru ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27944/university-of-leeds-and-public-health-foundation-of-india-sign-mou-to-strengthen-academic-collaboration.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27944/university-of-leeds-and-public-health-foundation-of-india-sign-mou-to-strengthen-academic-collaboration.html Thu, 11 Jun 2026 17:03:17 +0530 The University of Leeds, in the UK, and the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a strategic partnership aimed at advancing public health research, education, and academic collaboration. The agreement creates a framework for long-term engagement between the two institutions, enabling collaborative research, academic exchange, and joint educational initiatives. Through this partnership, the University of Leeds and PHFI will work together to address emerging public health challenges in the areas of antimicrobial resistance, health equity, trauma prevention and one health while fostering innovation and strengthening global knowledge networks. Key areas of collaboration include the development of joint research projects; the organisation of academic activities such as joint courses and programmes, conferences, symposia, and lectures; the exchange of research and teaching personnel; student placements and exchange opportunities; and the sharing of publications and other scholarly resources of mutual interest. The partnership is expected to enhance interdisciplinary research and strengthen academic ties between India and the United Kingdom (UK), supporting evidence-based approaches to global health challenges.   Image caption- Prof Piruthivi Sukumar (R), Pro-Dean International at the University of Leeds along with Prof. Sanjay Zodpey, President of PHFI ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27948/cloudnine-group-of-hospitals-introduces-fellowship-in-reproductive-medicine.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27948/cloudnine-group-of-hospitals-introduces-fellowship-in-reproductive-medicine.html Thu, 11 Jun 2026 19:35:25 +0530 Cloudnine Group of  Hospitals, India's premium birthing centre in India, is offering a one-year Fellowship in Reproductive Medicine for obstetricians and gynaecologists who want to build expertise in fertility and reproductive healthcare. Open to doctors with an MBBS and MD/MS in Obstetrics & Gynaecology, the programme provides training in fertility assessment, assisted reproductive technologies (ART), reproductive endocrinology, fertility preservation, and advanced fertility treatments. With a structured curriculum, guidance from experienced specialists, and hands-on clinical training, the fellowship helps doctors develop the skills needed to manage infertility and deliver comprehensive fertility care. Speaking on the sidelines of the fellowship programme says Dr Naga Nischal, Head – Clinical Services, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, said, "As fertility care continues to evolve, there is an increasing need for clinicians with advanced skills and specialized knowledge in reproductive medicine. This fellowship is designed to develop future-ready specialists through evidence-based learning, expert mentorship, and practical clinical experience, ultimately contributing to better fertility outcomes and women's healthcare in India." The programme provides participants access to Cloudnine's extensive fertility network, offering real-world clinical exposure under the guidance of experienced specialists. Upon successful completion, candidates will receive an industry-recognised Cloudnine Certification, with potential career opportunities within the Cloudnine network. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27925/iit-delhi-joins-hands-with-18-nits-to-advance-academic-excellence-research-and-innovation.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27925/iit-delhi-joins-hands-with-18-nits-to-advance-academic-excellence-research-and-innovation.html Tue, 09 Jun 2026 16:51:54 +0530 The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has announced the launch of a landmark national academic and research collaboration network through the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with 18 National Institutes of Technology (NITs) across the country. The initiative aims to create a robust ecosystem for academic excellence, innovation, research collaboration, and talent development in alignment with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The 18 partner institutions include NIT Sikkim, NIT Meghalaya, NIT Silchar, NIT Jamshedpur, NIT Rourkela, NIT Raipur, VNIT Nagpur, SVNIT Surat, MNIT Jaipur, MANIT Bhopal, MNNIT Allahabad, NIT Kurukshetra, NIT Srinagar, NIT Tiruchirappalli, NIT Calicut, NIT Surathkal, NIT Warangal, and NIT Jalandhar. The initiative represents one of the largest structured academic partnership frameworks among India’s leading technical institutions and seeks to establish a nationwide network that leverages the collective strengths of IIT Delhi and the NIT system to advance education, research, innovation, and national development. A key feature of the collaboration is the introduction of structured pathways for meritorious NIT students to pursue advanced studies at IIT Delhi. Eligible undergraduate students will be able to spend their final year at IIT Delhi as Special Exchange Students, undertaking advanced coursework, research projects, and academic activities under the guidance of IIT Delhi faculty members. Similarly, postgraduate students from partner NITs will have opportunities for research immersion and academic engagement at IIT Delhi. The framework also introduces an Early Admission Scheme that enables high-performing students from the participating NITs to be considered for admission to M.Tech., MS (Research), and Ph.D. programmes at IIT Delhi without the requirement of qualifying through GATE or other national-level examinations, subject to prescribed academic and research performance criteria.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27927/merck-and-csir-iict-partner-to-strengthen-research-collaboration.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27927/merck-and-csir-iict-partner-to-strengthen-research-collaboration.html Tue, 09 Jun 2026 19:32:54 +0530 Merck Life Science India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CSIR–Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), Hyderabad, to strengthen collaboration in scientific research, innovation, and academia-industry engagement. This partnership is aimed at fostering knowledge exchange, enhancing skill development, and driving collaborative initiatives that contribute to India’s research and innovation ecosystem. The MoU aims to strengthen industry-research collaboration by developing analytical methods and application notes for new products, molecules, and customer challenges, while fostering joint research initiatives, scientific knowledge exchange, and innovation.  The agreement was signed in the presence of Dhananjay Singh, Managing Director, Merck Life Science & Head, Discovery Solutions, India; Sakshi Yadav, Director and Head of Pharma Business (Large and Strategic Accounts), Discovery Solutions, along with Dr D. Srinivasa Reddy, Director, CSIR-IICT; Pravin Likhar, Chief Scientist and Chair, BDRM, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology; and Dr S. Rama Mohan, Chair, Knowledge and Information Management, CSIR-IICT, Hyderabad. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27934/p-d-hinduja-hospital-signs-mou-with-dr-homi-bhabha-state-university-to-jointly-conduct-pg-allied-health-courses.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27934/p-d-hinduja-hospital-signs-mou-with-dr-homi-bhabha-state-university-to-jointly-conduct-pg-allied-health-courses.html Tue, 09 Jun 2026 22:55:27 +0530 Mumbai-based P.D. Hinduja Hospital & Medical Research Centre has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dr. Homi Bhabha State University (HBSU) to jointly conduct postgraduate (PG) allied (paramedical) health courses. The hospital has been offering allied health sciences skill-based education in strategic partnership with the Lifesupporters Institute of Health Sciences (LIHS) for over a decade. The MoU aims to address the growing demand of skilled healthcare professionals and strengthen the quality of paramedical education in India. The programme expected to commence in August 2026 will be offered across multiple specialised areas with an intake of 20-30 students per course. Leveraging the academic expertise of Dr. Homi Bhabha State University, the clinical strengths of P. D. Hinduja Hospital, and the training expertise of LIHS, this collaboration seeks to bridge this critical gap and aligns with recent government priorities focused on strengthening allied healthcare education and workforce development. As part of this initiative, skill based postgraduate certificate programs will be offered in areas such as Pathology Technician, Dialysis Technician, Operation Theatre Technician (OT), Intensive Care Unit Technician (ICU), Radiology Technician, Medical Records & Health Information Technician, Neurology Technician, Central Sterile Supply Department Technician (CSSD), and Endoscopy Technician. The courses are designed to make students industry-ready within one year through a structured and intense training plan. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27919/virohan-unveils-rs-2-cr-scholarship-to-promote-healthcare-education-among-women.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27919/virohan-unveils-rs-2-cr-scholarship-to-promote-healthcare-education-among-women.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 15:45:48 +0530 Virohan, a Gurugram-based healthcare education company, has announced the launch of the Virohan Women in Healthcare Initiative, a Rs 2 crore scholarship pool designed to bring more women into India's growing healthcare sector.Every eligible female applicant whether enrolling in a 4-5 year bachelor’s degree or a 1-year university certificate programme through Virohan will receive a Rs 50,000 scholarship.Students with 75% or above in Class 12 would qualify for Rs 1,00,000 and those with 90% or above for Rs 2,00,000 scholarship, applied upfront against the programme fee.The launch comes amid a growing shift in how students and parents are approaching healthcare careers. While medical degrees continue to attract significant interest, industry stakeholders are witnessing increased curiosity around allied and healthcare programs that offer structured career pathways across patient care, diagnostics, medical technology, rehabilitation, and healthcare operations.Indian allied and healthcare graduates are also finding themselves increasingly sought after beyond domestic borders. Countries such as Australia, Germany, and Japan are grappling with ageing populations and acute healthcare workforce shortages and trained professionals from India are emerging as a natural fit for these markets, adding an international dimension to what has traditionally been seen as a domestic career path.With Virohan, students can apply for programmes at UPES (Dehradun), MIT University (Shillong), CMR University (Bengaluru), KIET Deemed to be University (Ghaziabad), HRIT University (Ghaziabad), Lingaya's Vidyapeeth Deemed-to-be-University (Faridabad), Silver Oak University (Ahmedabad), and Vikrant University (Gwalior), among many others.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27839/hinduja-foundation-kings-college-london-launch-2026-healthcare-scholarship.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27839/hinduja-foundation-kings-college-london-launch-2026-healthcare-scholarship.html Mon, 25 May 2026 18:53:26 +0530 Hinduja Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Mumbai-based Hinduja Group, has announced scholarships 2026 for Indian origin students to pursue the MSc in MedTech Innovation & Entrepreneurship at King’s College London. In 2024, the Hinduja Foundation UK made a significant philanthropic donation to King’s College London to establish the Hinduja King’s Health Partners’ Academy. This partnership includes support for  full four-year PhD studentships in healthcare technologies at the School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences and one year MSc. MedTech Innovation and Entrepreneurship will benefit healthcare communities in both the UK and India. Furthermore, the partnership has brought nurses’ training, observer ships and online leadership training courses provided by Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to the P.D. Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai. Three PhD and two MSc Hinduja scholars started their studies at Kings College London in October 2025 and one PhD scholar joined in February 2026. Applications are still welcome for four PhDs and five MSc scholarships for the coming 2026- 2027 academic year starting in October. Applications are open until 30 May 2026. Meanwhile five MSc MedTech Innovation and Entrepreneurship scholarships are available – one at 80 pe cent and four at 50 per cent for Indian citizens.  The scholarships will empower Indian students with access to global expertise, real-world healthcare environments, and innovation-led learning, enabling them to address critical clinical needs and contribute to the future of healthcare in India and globally at King’s College London, recognised for its excellence in education and research. It is committed to driving positive and sustainable change through impactful research, outstanding education, and service to society, both in the UK and globally. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27845/amity-university-inks-moa-with-quaraxia-pharmaceuticals-to-strengthen-biotech-and-biopharma-research.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27845/amity-university-inks-moa-with-quaraxia-pharmaceuticals-to-strengthen-biotech-and-biopharma-research.html Mon, 25 May 2026 13:58:21 +0530 Amity University, Uttar Pradesh has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Muzaffarnagar-based Quaraxia Pharmaceuticals to promote industry-academia collaboration in the fields of biotechnology and biopharma research.  The partnership aims to foster cutting-edge research and innovation in the development of Ayurveda-inspired cosmeceutical formulations. Under this collaboration, Quaraxia Pharmaceuticals will sponsor two research projects titled “Studies on Cosmeceutical Formulation Development against Aging with Superoxide Dismutase and Protease enzymes obtained from Ayurvedic Plant Sources” and “Development and Evaluation Studies on Enzyme-Based Cosmeceutical Formulation for Eczema Management: Role of Ayurvedic Plant-Derived Superoxide dismutase and Protease enzymes.”  The projects will be jointly led by Dr Nidhee Chaudhary and Dr Maryam Sarwat, Professors from Amity Institute of Biotechnology. Addressing the gathering, Prabhat Kumar, CEO Quaraxia Pharmaceuticals, noted, “Quaraxia Pharmaceuticals is delighted to collaborate with Amity University on these innovative projects focused on the development of Ayurveda-inspired enzymatic cosmeceutical formulations using Superoxide Dismutase and Protease enzymes derived from plant sources. The projects aim to create stable and bioactive formulations with potent antioxidant, anti-aging, and anti-inflammatory properties, thereby contributing towards sustainable biocosmetic innovation for skincare and eczema management.” Speaking on the occasion, Prof. (Dr) Balvinder Shukla, Vice Chancellor Amity University Uttar Pradesh, stated, “Amity University is a research and innovation-driven institution committed to aligning research with national priorities and fostering scientific excellence. Collaborations with industry leaders such as Quaraxia Pharmaceuticals help strengthen our research ecosystem and provide students and faculty with opportunities to develop innovative and impactful solutions for society.”   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27797/borderplus-launches-indias-first-national-standardised-exam-for-nurses-seeking-international-careers.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27797/borderplus-launches-indias-first-national-standardised-exam-for-nurses-seeking-international-careers.html Tue, 12 May 2026 14:32:51 +0530 BorderPlus, a Mumbai-based global talent mobility platform, has announced the launch of B.R.I.D.G.E (BorderPlus International Deployment and Global Mobility Exam), the country's first standardised national examination designed to assess and prepare Indian nurses for international placement, with a primary focus on career opportunities abroad. B.R.I.D.G.E introduces a merit-based scholarship model with a total pool worth Rs 1 crore+, designed to directly reduce the cost of training the nurses are required to undergo to upskill themselves for an international career. The exam is structured across three sections: Basic Clinical Skills, which tests foundational nursing knowledge including patient safety, vitals, and medication management; International Career Readiness, which assesses cross-cultural communication, language proficiency, and global healthcare awareness; and a Psychometric Assessment that evaluates resilience, adaptability, and decision-making. The 80-minute examination will be held on 19 July 2026 at BorderPlus Finishing School centres in Pune, Kochi, and Noida, with registrations closing on 30 June 2026. The results will be announced on 10 August 2026. The exam is open to B.Sc. Nursing and GNM diploma holders, fresh graduates and experienced nurses alike preferably below 35 years of age. The 2026 cohort is limited to 300 seats, with candidates ranked beyond that placed on a waitlist. "Germany has an urgent, growing need for skilled nurses and India has the talent to meet it. What's been missing is a structured, trustworthy bridge between the two. B.R.I.D.G.E gives nurses a fair, standardised way to demonstrate their readiness, and gives us the ability to identify and invest in the right candidates at scale. We want this opportunity to reach every eligible nurse in the country” said Ashish Labroo, Business Head, BorderPlus. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27771/academy-of-digital-health-sciences-launches-two-new-courses-in-ai.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27771/academy-of-digital-health-sciences-launches-two-new-courses-in-ai.html Thu, 07 May 2026 16:26:37 +0530 Mumbai-based Academy of Digital Health Sciences (ADHS) has announced the launch of its landmark ‘AI for All’ Mission, a bold, mission-driven programme designed to democratise artificial intelligence (AI) across global healthcare systems. As part of the ‘AI for All’ rollout, ADHS has announced two landmark educational offerings that extend its already unmatched portfolio of digital health programmes: Certified Digital Health Officer (CDHO) A rigorous, recognised certification designed for senior healthcare professionals, administrators, and policy leaders who are responsible for driving digital transformation within healthcare organizations. The CDHO programme equips leaders to architect, govern, and sustain digital health ecosystems at institutional, regional, and national scale. This is being offered jointly by Indian Institute of Management, Raipur and Academy of Digital Health Sciences. This will entitle participants to have IIM Executive Alumni status. Post-Graduate Course in Digital Health and Public Health-World-First Tripple Certification: ADHS – IIM Raipur – PHFI University A comprehensive post-graduate programme bridging the disciplines of digital health and public health- two domains whose convergence is defining the future of population health management. This programme addresses epidemiology, health informatics, AI-driven surveillance, digital therapeutics, and systems-level public health strategy in an integrated, practice-oriented curriculum. This global programme will be available immediately and is a result of the partnership between Academy of Digital Health Sciences with IIM Raipur and PHFI institute of Public Health Sciences, deemed to be University. It will be offered in a blended learning format with an in-campus immersion at IIM Campus, PHFI and Academy of Digital Health Sciences hosted Global Digital Health Summit.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27763/iit-guwahati-launches-one-of-its-kind-m-tech-degree-programme-in-robotics-and-ai.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27763/iit-guwahati-launches-one-of-its-kind-m-tech-degree-programme-in-robotics-and-ai.html Wed, 06 May 2026 14:01:13 +0530 Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati has launched a unique M. Tech. degree programme in Robotics and Artificial intelligence (AI), designed for both fresh graduates and working professionals aiming to enhance their skills on AI-driven robotics systems. Offered by the School of Interdisciplinary Studies and Sustainability, this degree programme will be conducted in hybrid mode (online classes, with on-campus labs and final exams on IIT Guwahati campus). The programme is designed to bridge multiple engineering disciplines for development in sectors such as agriculture, defense, manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, and smart infrastructure, among others. The minimum duration of the programme will be 2 years, with the flexibility to extend it to a maximum of 5 years allowing the students to balance their studies and professional commitments. Throughout the programme, the students will be able to visit the IIT Guwahati campus to connect with experts, gain hands-on training in various relevant fields, and receive support from faculty members for their project work. The programme will also give students a chance to work on real-world problems with industry experts after completing the core courses. Students will be required to use their knowledge in practical situations, get hands-on experience, and build problem-solving skills relevant to actual industry challenges. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27752/elite-expertise-expands-to-india-with-hyderabad-office-to-support-career-opportunities-for-pharmacists.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27752/elite-expertise-expands-to-india-with-hyderabad-office-to-support-career-opportunities-for-pharmacists.html Mon, 04 May 2026 00:00:00 +0530 Global EdTech platform Elite Expertise, known for its specialised training programmes for internationally trained pharmacists, has announced its expansion into India with the launch of its new office in Hyderabad aimed at supporting the growing number of Indian pharmacists aspiring to build careers abroad. The move marks a strategic step toward supporting Indian pharmacy graduates and professionals aiming to build careers abroad, particularly in countries like Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and the Middle East. The Hyderabad office is expected to be the first of several initiatives aimed at strengthening Elite Expertise’s footprint in India, with plans for workshops, partnerships, and hybrid learning models in the near future. Elite Expertise offers Expert-led preparation for global licensing exams; Step-by-step guidance for registration pathways; Career mentoring and interview preparation; Real-world insights into global pharmacy systems; Courses Aligned with Global Licensing Standards Through its programmes, the platform provides training for major international key licensing exams, including OPRA (Australia & New Zealand); PEBC (Canada); PSI Equivalence (Ireland); Australian Intern Written & Oral Exams; DHA Exam (Dubai) These programmes are designed to help candidates navigate complex regulatory systems and improve success rates in competitive global exams. Hyderabad has emerged as a major hub for pharmaceutical education and talent in India, making it an ideal location for Elite Expertise’s expansion. The new office will serve and act as a regional support center, enabling: Direct student engagement Local mentorship and counselling Workshops and offline interactions Community-building initiatives Access to expert-led training programs aligned with global standards With its India presence, the company aims to: Expand access to high-quality training Build stronger India-to-global career pipelines Create a support ecosystem for aspiring pharmacists Following the success of Pharma Connect Melbourne 2026, which brought together over 200 pharmacists, interns, and international graduates, Elite Expertise has plans to host the next edition of Pharma Connect in India. The upcoming India edition of Pharma Connect is expected to further strengthen collaboration between education, industry, and global healthcare opportunities. The India edition is expected to replicate the community-first, practical learning format that made the Melbourne event highly impactful.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27740/emversity-and-motherhood-hospitals-to-launch-certification-programme-in-maternal-and-newborn-care.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27740/emversity-and-motherhood-hospitals-to-launch-certification-programme-in-maternal-and-newborn-care.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0530 Emversity, India's leading industry-skilling and technology partner to universities, has announced a strategic partnership with Motherhood Hospitals (Rhea Healthcare Pvt. Ltd.), one of India's largest specialty hospital chains for women and childcare, to co-create and deliver a certification programme in Maternal and Newborn Care for students enrolled in Higher Education Institutions across India. The programme is designed to bridge academic learning with real-world clinical practices, aligning healthcare education with the competencies demanded by India's rapidly expanding maternal and neonatal care sector. Students at partner universities will receive joint certification co-issued by Emversity and Motherhood Hospitals upon completion. Under this collaboration, Emversity will develop the curriculum in close consultation with Motherhood's clinical teams, aligning it to national skilling standards and practical relevance. Emversity will also manage delivery logistics — including trainer onboarding, student enrolment, assessments, and certification issuance — across its network of 40+ university partners in 24 states. Motherhood Hospitals will provide domain expertise, clinical validation, and industry endorsement to the programme structure.   The first batch of the programme is expected to commence in the academic year 2025-26, with an initial rollout across select Emversity partner universities. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27720/boehringer-ingelheim-india-and-niper-hajipur-sign-mou-to-advance-pharmaceutical-research.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27720/boehringer-ingelheim-india-and-niper-hajipur-sign-mou-to-advance-pharmaceutical-research.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0530 Boehringer Ingelheim India and the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hajipur have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance pharmaceutical research, education and innovation. The five-year collaboration will create new pathways for researchers and students in Bihar and the wider region to engage with global-standard open science platforms, joint research initiatives and capability-building programmes thus strengthening the talent pipeline for India’s next phase of pharmaceutical innovation. The MoU was signed at the Department of Pharmaceuticals in the presence of Manoj Joshi (IAS), Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers. Also present at the MoU signing ceremony was Dr Kinny Singh (IAS), Deputy Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals and Prof. K. Ruckmani, Director, NIPER Hajipur. The MoU establishes a framework to strengthen academic and research collaboration in areas such as pharmaceutical technologies, novel drug delivery systems, joint research initiatives, academic exchange, and capability-building programmes. As part of the MoU, Boehringer Ingelheim will enable NIPER Hajipur researchers and faculty to access opnMe®, its global open science portal. Through opnMe®, scientists can access well-characterised pre-clinical tool compounds free of charge for their research. Boehringer Ingelheim has already shared more than 150 molecules with Indian institutions through opnMe®, and the collaboration with NIPER Hajipur extends this access to eastern India for the first time at this scale. By strengthening the bridge between academic research and industry expertise, this partnership aims to contribute to the development of future-ready scientific talent and research pathways that can support more effective, accessible, and contribute, over time, to therapies that address the health needs of Indian patients and communities.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27714/page-and-8chili-partner-to-launch-indias-first-ai-and-vr-powered-pharma-training-platform.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27714/page-and-8chili-partner-to-launch-indias-first-ai-and-vr-powered-pharma-training-platform.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0530 The Pharmaceutical Academy for Global Excellence (PAGE), an initiative of the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA), has announced a strategic partnership with 8chili Inc. to launch India’s first artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) powered training platform for pharmaceutical manufacturing. The collaboration aims to address the industry’s shortage of job-ready talent in quality, production, and regulatory roles as India targets $130 billion in pharmaceutical growth by 2030. The initiative also reflects a broader shift in the industry toward technology-enabled workforce development, as global regulators place increasing emphasis on demonstrable shop-floor competence, training rigor, and data integrity. By introducing immersive and AI-driven training at scale, PAGE and 8chili aim to establish a new benchmark for industry-led pharma education in India. By integrating 8chili’s HintVR immersive learning library with the SkillsForge AI platform, PAGE will move from classroom-based instruction to a continuous, industry-grade capability model. Learners will be able to interact with intelligent digital twins of real machines, SOPs, and manufacturing processes, enabling hands-on experience before entering a live plant. The platform will support PAGE’s flagship programmes for both fresh graduates and practising professionals. Deployment begins immediately, and the technologies will form a core component of PAGE’s upcoming state-of-the-art training facility in Ahmedabad, scheduled to open in 2027. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27667/niper-mohali-signs-agreement-with-novartis-healthcare-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27667/niper-mohali-signs-agreement-with-novartis-healthcare-.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0530 In a significant step towards promoting academic-industry collaboration and strengthening research and innovation in the pharmaceutical science sector, Mohali-based National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) has signed an agreement with Novartis Healthcare Private Limited (NHPL). The MoU was signed in the presence of Manoj Joshi, Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers in New Delhi. Under the collaboration, a faculty member from NIPER Mohali has been selected for the prestigious initiative supported by NHPL, the Development Pioneer Grant for NIPER. The grant aims to foster cutting-edge research and foster innovation-based partnerships between academia and industry. Manoj Joshi said that such efforts will significantly increase the workability and effectiveness of the researcher as per the requirement of the industries. He stressed on the need to ensure beyond the pilot phases that the research is tailored to the needs of the industries thereby enhancing the usefulness of industry-academia collaboration. The Development Pioneer Grant provides a competitive platform to the faculty members of all the seven NIPER institutes to submit their R&D proposals. The response to the invitation for applications for this grant was good, with a total of 42 proposals submitted by eminent faculty members. After rigorous and systematic evaluation by an independent jury, a faculty member from NIPER Mohali was selected as the grant recipient. The Development Pioneer Grant for NIPER has been established in line with the vision of the Department of Pharmaceuticals to strengthen industry-academia linkages. It aims to enhance academic research capacity, support innovation, and foster pioneering advancements in the healthcare sector in India. This collaboration is expected to further integrate NIPER into the broader pharmaceutical innovation ecosystem and reinforce the shared commitment to scientific excellence. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27652/merck-india-and-mahe-launch-catalyst-programme-to-encourage-talent-in-rd.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27652/merck-india-and-mahe-launch-catalyst-programme-to-encourage-talent-in-rd.html Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0530 Merck, a leading science and technology company, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), an Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University, to strengthen collaboration between academia and industry and help develop future-ready talent for the healthcare sector. On the occasion, Merck Healthcare R&D India also launched its flagship programme- Catalyst at MAHE. This is a structured three-month training initiative designed to equip students with the practical skills and industry knowledge required for real-world roles in critical research and development areas with structured sessions by subject matter experts from Merck. The programme will be delivered through MAHE’s academic ecosystem, leveraging its interdisciplinary strengths and student talent across health sciences, life sciences, and allied domains. “Merck’s partnership with MAHE reflects the company’s commitment to strengthening the link between academic excellence and industry relevance, and to help students be better prepared for their professional journey. Merck has seen encouraging outcomes from similar collaborations with institutions like JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research and Dayananda Sagar University, and the company looks forward to building on that momentum with MAHE,” said Suneela Thatte, VP and Head, Merck Healthcare R&D India, who attended the signing ceremony.  The event was also attended by Dr Sharath Rao, Pro Vice Chancellor (Health Sciences) of MAHE, and Dr Giridhar Kini, Registrar of MAHE.  “Collaborations such as this with Merck are integral to MAHE’s vision of building a future-ready talent ecosystem. By bringing industry closer to the classroom, we are enabling our students to engage with real-world challenges, emerging technologies, and global research practices in healthcare. The Catalyst Program is a significant step in strengthening this interface and preparing our students for impactful careers in R&D,” said Dr Sharath Rao, Pro Vice Chancellor (Health Sciences), MAHE. As part of its broader commitment to advancing innovation in healthcare research and development, Merck is strengthening external collaborations to build a sustainable future talent pipeline. The company has established partnerships with eight academic institutions across India, including MAHE, serving as a key academic partner for healthcare R&D talent development, reinforcing its role in supporting innovation within the country’s healthcare and academic ecosystem. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27637/oppi-collaborates-with-niper-rae-bareli-to-advance-research-excellence.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27637/oppi-collaborates-with-niper-rae-bareli-to-advance-research-excellence.html Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0530 The Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI) has announced a strategic collaboration with the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Raebareli (NIPER-R), to support and promote outcome-oriented pharmaceutical research in India. As part of this initiative, OPPI will award gold and silver scholarships to two meritorious research scholars currently in their third or fourth year at NIPER-R. These scholarships will be extended as research grants to support ongoing projects that demonstrate strong potential to address real-world healthcare challenges. The selection of scholars will be undertaken by an expert panel, which will evaluate applications based on the quality, relevance, and translational impact of the research work. The collaboration aims to incentivize scientific excellence while encouraging research that can meaningfully contribute to advancing patient care and healthcare innovation in India. This partnership underscores the growing importance of industry-academia collaboration in building a robust and future-ready pharmaceutical ecosystem. As part of this engagement, OPPI will actively support the development of a ‘Professor of Practice’ framework, enabling experienced industry professionals from its member companies to engage directly with students and researchers at NIPER-R. Through this initiative, subject-matter experts from OPPI member companies will deliver curated knowledge sessions, workshops, and mentorship engagements for students. These interactions will provide valuable real-world insights, bridge the gap between academic research and industry expectations, and equip students with the practical understanding needed to translate scientific discoveries into impactful healthcare solutions.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27616/aiims-partners-with-medisim-vr-to-drive-adoption-of-vr-skill-training-in-medical-education.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27616/aiims-partners-with-medisim-vr-to-drive-adoption-of-vr-skill-training-in-medical-education.html Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0530 Chennai-based MediSim VR has announced its partnership with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, to integrate its AI-enabled Virtual Reality (VR) solutions into medical and nursing education.  This collaboration represents a strategic milestone in advancing research on the integration of VR-based skill training within India’s medical education curriculum. As India’s leading academic and research home for medicine, AIIMS has consistently set the standards for excellence in healthcare education and training. Through this partnership, AIIMS and MediSim VR will jointly research and evaluate how VR can be embedded into the medical and nursing curriculum, studying its impact on skill development, standardisation, and long-term adoption. This collaborative effort reinforces AIIMS’ role as the benchmark institution for advancing new methods of medical learning in India. Dr M Srinivas, Director, AIIMS, New Delhi, said, speaking at the launch event stated, “If the country as a whole is to be in the best league, that has to extend to all spheres, including medical innovations, medical teaching, training and learning as well. VR-based simulation training allows for a learning environment where you are immersed and exposed to all things you will experience in a clinical setting. This collaboration enables us to further study how immersive technologies can contribute to skill development, assessment and training standardisation.” Dr Adith Chinnaswami, COO and co-founder of MediSim VR, added, “When AIIMS adopts a teaching tool, it sends a strong signal across the medical education ecosystem. This collaboration is centred around creating a framework where VR becomes part of standard training, and eventually, part of regulations." ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27518/roche-pharma-india-signs-mou-with-niper-in-raebareli.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27518/roche-pharma-india-signs-mou-with-niper-in-raebareli.html Thu, 19 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0530 Roche Pharma India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Raebareli to foster academic–industry collaboration and strengthen pharmaceutical education and research in India.   The MoU was signed at the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) in the presence of Manoj Joshi, IAS, Secretary, DoP.    Roche and NIPER Raebareli will work together to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world industry practices, equipping students and faculty with insights into evolving pharmaceutical and regulatory landscapes.   As part of the MoU, engagements like: A certificate programme in regulatory affairs for students and industry professionals, Guest lecture series by industry experts on emerging trends in AI for pharmaceutical research, drug development and healthcare innovation, scholarship-cum-industry exposure opportunities to students at NIPER Rae Bareli through Roche’s LEAP programme, and faculty immersion programs are planned.        Officials present at the event emphasised the importance of such collaborations strengthening India’s position as a global hub for biopharmaceutical innovation. Such initiatives will help build a skilled workforce, encourage research in advanced pharmaceutical technologies for a strong and resilient healthcare system.    In February 2026, Roche Pharma had signed an MoU with NIPER Mohali to partner in the areas of curriculum design and development, student mentorship, setting up professors of practice, scholarship-cum-industry exposure opportunities to students at NIPER Mohali through Roche’s LEAP programme, and delivery of industry-relevant short-term courses aimed at making the students of NIPER-Mohali as industry-ready professionals.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27504/msd-india-and-smile-foundation-award-50-scholarships-to-aspiring-pharmacy-students.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27504/msd-india-and-smile-foundation-award-50-scholarships-to-aspiring-pharmacy-students.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0530 MSD (known as Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA in the United States and Canada) in India has announced the awarding of scholarships to 50 students under its corporate social responsibility initiative ‘Scholarship for Daughters’ programme, a merit-based initiative aimed at supporting young women from underserved communities to pursue a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree at select accredited pharmacy colleges across India. Following a competitive selection process, which included aptitude assessments and personal interviews, a cohort of 50 eligible young scholars have been selected for the programme this year. Building on its inaugural year, MSD India, in partnership with Smile Foundation launched the second year of the program to empower young girls to pursue pharmacy education. Designed as a holistic initiative, the program provides comprehensive financial assistance, including course fee support for the entire four-year undergraduate course. Scholars also receive essential academic resources such as laptops, along with soft-skills training, mentorship, career counselling and interview preparation to help ensure they are better prepared to transition from academia to the professional world. Commenting on the initiative, Brecht Vanneste, Managing Director, MSD India said, “The ‘Scholarship for Daughters’ programme brings this commitment to life by expanding access to education, and opportunity. As we enter the second year of the initiative and welcome an even larger cohort of talented young scholars, we are inspired by their ambition and resilience. By investing in the next generation of women leaders, we aim to support a positive impact not only for these scholars, but also for the communities and the future they will help shape.”   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27490/zeiss-india-and-ashoka-university-introduce-professional-course-in-advanced-microscopy.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27490/zeiss-india-and-ashoka-university-introduce-professional-course-in-advanced-microscopy.html Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0530 Zeiss, a pioneer of science in optics, has announced a collaboration with Ashoka University, New Delhi, to launch a Professional Course in Advanced Microscopy (PCAM) 2026. This 12-week programme is designed to equip students and researchers with practical skills in advanced research microscopy. Zeiss India has been working with universities and research institutions across the country to strengthen microscopy education and research capabilities. The programme is jointly designed and delivered by Ashoka University and Zeiss Academy Microscopy, Germany, and aims to strengthen India’s scientific talent pipeline by providing structured training in modern imaging technologies. The programme will introduce participants to key microscopy techniques used in modern research. It will also cover areas such as image analysis and research workflows, helping participants develop practical skills in advanced imaging. Participants will also work on group projects that address real-world research challenges, allowing them to apply their learning in practical research settings. The course will follow a hybrid learning format, combining live online sessions with on-campus modules and hands-on laboratory training. Participants will gain exposure to advanced microscopes at the Ashoka–Zeiss Core Imaging Facility and partner laboratories including IIT Delhi. Sessions will also feature insights from leading researchers and industry experts. The programme is open to fresh graduates, master’s students, early-career researchers, and professionals. It is designed for individuals looking to build expertise in advanced imaging technologies used across fields such as life sciences, materials science, nanotechnology, and biomedical research. Applications are open from March 1 to April 15, 2026. The programme will begin with online sessions from June 15 to July 28, 2026, followed by on-campus training and project work from July 30 to August 31, 2026.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27457/merck-partners-with-jss-aher-mysuru-for-skilling-future-talent-in-healthcare.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27457/merck-partners-with-jss-aher-mysuru-for-skilling-future-talent-in-healthcare.html Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0530 Merck’s Healthcare R&D, India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research (JSS AHER), Mysuru, launching the CATALYST programme - a structured initiative to prepare pharmaceutical science students with industry-relevant skills in Healthcare R&D. The collaboration will deliver specialised training in key areas including pharmacovigilance, medical writing, regulatory affairs, and scientific writing, alongside essential professional skills, enabling students to build the practical capabilities needed for research and regulatory functions within the healthcare sector. Signed in the presence of Suneela Thatte, VP & Head – Merck Healthcare R&D India, and Dr B. Suresh, Pro Chancellor of JSS AHER and former President of the Pharmacy Council of India, the MoU reflects the growing importance of industry–academia collaboration in shaping the next generation of healthcare professionals. The initiative seeks to open new career pathways for graduates while strengthening the development of reliable, science-led healthcare solutions for patients. Aligned with Merck’s strategy to foster innovation through external collaborations, the CATALYST programme aims to strengthen the talent pipeline for research and development. By equipping students with practical knowledge and specialised skills early in their careers, the initiative helps bridge capability gaps and support future healthcare innovations for patients. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27430/biocon-academy-launches-certificate-programme-for-ai-in-life-sciences.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27430/biocon-academy-launches-certificate-programme-for-ai-in-life-sciences.html Fri, 06 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0530 Bengaluru-based Biocon Academy, a Centre of Excellence for Advanced Learning in Applied Biosciences and a CSR initiative of Biocon Group, an innovation-led global biopharmaceuticals company, has announced the launch of its 8th programme, and the first in the area of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The Syngene IBAB Certificate Programme in Artificial Intelligence in Life Sciences (SAILS) has been developed in partnership with Syngene, a Biocon Group Company and the Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology (IBAB). This first-of-its-kind Certificate Programme reflects Biocon Academy’s commitment to advancing high-quality, industry-relevant education in India’s biotechnology sector. SAILS is designed as a future-oriented, industry-aligned certification that integrates core disciplines such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Science, and Life Sciences, to develop talent equipped for cutting-edge research, innovation, and discovery. Admissions are open for the programme, and the first batch of classes will commence in Q1 FY2027. The 16-week Certificate Programme is designed to equip graduates and postgraduates in Computer Science, Information Technology, Pharmacy, and Life Sciences disciplines (Biotechnology, Microbiology, and Biochemistry), with cutting-edge knowledge. The programme provides a strong foundation in applying AI to solve complex problems in the Life Sciences industry, with an emphasis on real-life problem-solving skills.  The SAILS programme aims to address this industry gap by equipping learners with practical, interdisciplinary skills and hands-on exposure to emerging technologies. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27429/xlri-sorbonne-business-school-unveil-new-academic-programme-for-healthcare-professionals.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27429/xlri-sorbonne-business-school-unveil-new-academic-programme-for-healthcare-professionals.html Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0530 XLRI Leadership Education and Development, under the aegis of Xavier Labour Relations Institute (XLRI), in collaboration with Sorbonne Business School, Paris, France, has launched the inaugural batch of the Executive Development Programme in Global Strategy & Leadership for Healthcare Professionals. Designed for senior leaders across hospitals, healthcare enterprises and allied services, the programme builds cross-functional capability to lead transformation across technology, innovation, clinical–business interfaces and organisational processes. The 10-month blended programme equips participants through the five pillars of contemporary healthcare leadership — Strategy, Finance, Governance, Technology and Ethics, delivered through applied learning formats such as case discussions, simulations and a capstone project. Through a global curriculum, participants will develop the ability to formulate and execute strategic direction, manage value drivers and financial performance, integrate technology and new business models for competitive advantage and strengthen governance and ESG discipline for leading large-scale organisations. Sorbonne Business School will add a global C-suite edge by sharpening technology strategy and helping participants align digital transformation initiatives with organisational goals. The demand for leadership depth in healthcare continues to rise as systems worldwide confront structural talent gaps and increasing complexity. McKinsey estimates that the global healthcare workforce could face a shortfall of at least ten million professionals by 2030 and that narrowing this gap could yield significant gains for population health and productivity. Industry estimates indicate that the global healthcare staffing market was valued at $41.7 billion in 2023 and could reach $74.2 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 6.7% from 2024 to 2032. These trends, alongside India’s growing requirement for trained healthcare management professionals, highlight the need for executives who can lead growth, resilience and ethical change at scale.    ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27427/91-doctors-would-discourage-children-from-choosing-medicine-as-career-survey.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27427/91-doctors-would-discourage-children-from-choosing-medicine-as-career-survey.html Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0530 A nationwide study conducted by the Debabrata Mitalee Auro Foundation (DAF) between January and June 2025 has revealed a stark, statistically significant and concerning trend within India’s medical community: 91.4% of doctors surveyed said they would not encourage their children to pursue medicine as a career. Importantly, this sentiment reflects concern about present working conditions and systemic pressures rather than a loss of faith in medicine as a vocation.  With India facing significant challenges in maintaining the doctor-to-patient ratio across several regions, the study raises concerns that the doctor-patient gap may widen if fewer high-performing students choose medicine or if an increasing number of doctors consider early exit due to sustained systemic pressures. The survival of the healthcare ecosystem depends not just on infrastructure but also on motivated professionals who feel secure and valued while continuing their service to society and the nation. The study surveyed 1,208 doctors across Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities in India, spanning both private and government practice. Of the respondents, 63% were male and 37% female; 78% were from the private sector and 22% from government hospitals. The doctors represented a broad spectrum of specialities, including general medicine, surgery, paediatrics, gynaecology, dermatology, orthopaedics, ENT and others.   The findings indicate sustained professional strain and rising disillusionment:  78% of respondents reported high levels of burnout in the past year  56% acknowledged experiencing symptoms consistent with anxiety or depression, underscoring the psychological toll of prolonged professional strain 84% said they feel more likely than the general population to face physical or verbal assault by patients or their families  67% reported having been named in some form of medico-legal complaint  Nearly half, 47%, said they had actively considered leaving the profession  In addition, 61% believe public perception of doctors has worsened over the past five years   The Foundation states that the report is intended to initiate dialogue on systemic reform, including structured mental health support for doctors, stronger legal and institutional protections against violence and harassment, public sensitisation efforts to rebuild trust, and healthcare workplace policies that enable recovery and respite.     ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27416/jubilant-bhartia-foundation-mcgill-university-to-launch-coe-in-ai-education-and-research-in-india.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27416/jubilant-bhartia-foundation-mcgill-university-to-launch-coe-in-ai-education-and-research-in-india.html Sat, 28 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0530 The Jubilant Bhartia Foundation in collaboration with McGill University (Canada), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in artificial intelligence (AI) Education and Research. The MoU was signed on the margins of an event with Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anita Anand, and Jayant Chaudhary, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and also Minister of State for Education, Government of India. The MoU was signed by Shyam S Bhartia, Founder & Chairman, Jubilant Bhartia Group and Hari S Bhartia, Founder & Co-Chairman, Jubilant Bhartia Group and Professor Deep Saini, President and Vice-Chancellor, McGill University. This Centre of Excellence in AI Education and Research is designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and industry-relevant applications, with the goal of producing job-ready Al engineers and future research leaders.  It will first offer a Master’s programme that combines strong academic foundations with applied learning and industry engagement. Students will work on projects connected to real technological challenges and emerging needs in the AI sector in India.   This partnership will leverage McGill University’s research led AI ecosystem to create an innovative program that integrates strong theoretical foundations with practical implementation. The Centre will also serve as a research hub to foster AI solutions tailored to India’s digital transformation journey. The Centre will offer a Master’s programme for India's graduates each year. The programme will emphasise rigorous academic quality, curriculum agility that adapts to evolving needs to remain relevant; applied learning through live projects and industry case studies; global best practices in AI research and innovation; and continuous assessment and mentorship from international faculty and leading industry experts.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27364/mahe-teams-up-with-openai-to-integrate-artificial-intelligence-to-enhance-outcomes.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27364/mahe-teams-up-with-openai-to-integrate-artificial-intelligence-to-enhance-outcomes.html Sat, 21 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0530 Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), an Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University in Karnataka, has partnered with OpenAI to integrate advanced artificial intelligence (AI) tools across teaching, research, and academic administration.  This collaboration aims to enhance learning outcomes, accelerate research productivity, and equip students and faculty with critical AI skills for a rapidly evolving global workforce. MAHE will implement AI-powered tools and resources across its academic programs to support personalised learning, boost critical thinking, and encourage ethical AI use. Faculty will also gain access to advanced AI tools for curriculum planning, research, and innovation. The collaboration will focus on building AI literacy across disciplines, ensuring that students from Health Sciences, Technology & Science, Management, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences, and allied fields gain practical exposure to AI applications relevant to their domains. MAHE will also promote interdisciplinary research and innovation using AI to address complex real-world challenges. MAHE will also establish structured AI governance guidelines to ensure responsible, ethical, and transparent governance use of artificial intelligence across academic functions. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27365/national-institute-of-pharmaceutical-education-and-research-in-rae-bareli-inks-mou-with-boehringer-ingelheim-india.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27365/national-institute-of-pharmaceutical-education-and-research-in-rae-bareli-inks-mou-with-boehringer-ingelheim-india.html Sat, 21 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0530 In a bid to promote pharmaceutical education and research in India, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Rae Bareli-based National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) and Boehringer Ingelheim India. The MoU was signed in the presence of Manoj Joshi, Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers in New Delhi. On this occasion, the second batch of AMRUTV (Alliance for Pharmaceutical Research, Innovation, Translational Research and Value Acceleration) was also launched to strengthen India's innovation ecosystem and enable conversion of research outcomes into viable pharmaceutical products and entrepreneurial ventures. AMRUTV is being implemented by the Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC), IIT Kanpur in collaboration with NIPER. The initiative is supported by Boehringer Ingelheim India Private Limited under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). In his address, Manoj Joshi emphasised the role of collaborative partnerships between academia and industry in strengthening the process from research to market. He said that such initiatives are crucial for fostering domestic innovation capabilities, encouraging entrepreneurship, and ensuring wider access to affordable healthcare solutions. Under the second group, five innovators have been selected for grant support to facilitate commercialization of their research. Three projects run by faculty members have been provided financial assistance of Rs 8 lakh each while two projects run by research scholars have been supported with a grant of Rs 6 lakh each. The MoU signed between Boehringer Ingelheim India and NIPER Rae Bareli also includes the Centre of Excellence for New Drug Delivery Systems (CoE-NDDS). It establishes a framework for strengthening academic and research collaborations in areas such as pharmaceutical technologies, innovative drug delivery systems, academic exchanges, and capacity-building programs. As part of this collaboration, Boehringer Ingelheim will provide researchers and institutions with access to its opnMe® Open Science platform, enabling scientific exchange and accelerating innovation in healthcare. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27265/three-new-all-india-institutes-of-ayurveda-to-be-set-up-in-india.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27265/three-new-all-india-institutes-of-ayurveda-to-be-set-up-in-india.html Sun, 01 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0530 Emphasising on the ayurveda sector, three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda will be set up. An announcement during the Union Budget 2026-27 has also been made to upgrade AYUSH pharmacy and drug testing laboratories to the highest standards of certification environment and to provide more skilled personnel, and to promote evidence-based research, training and awareness for traditional medicines. The WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat, has been approved for the development of the Pharmacy of Ayush Pharmacy and Drug Testing Laboratories.   "The creation of new All India Institutes of Ayurveda and the upgradation of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre reflect a progressive approach to integrating modern and traditional systems of medicine. Equally encouraging are the reduction of tax-collected at source (TCS) from 5% to 2% for education and medical purposes." Varun Khanna, Group MD, Quality Care India   “The commitment to upgrading drug testing facilities for Ayurveda, with a focus on quality and skilled manpower to support exports, further reinforces the government’s intent to build robust quality infrastructure across healthcare segments. This approach aligns well with the India EU free trade agreement, which opens access to regulated global markets where compliance and quality are critical.” Dr Saurabh Arora, Managing Director, Auriga Research   "The announcement of five regional hubs for medical tourism, new Ayurveda institutes, expansion of allied health disciplines, and upgradation of AYUSH pharmacies and testing laboratories are particularly encouraging steps that will help improve standardisation, quality assurance, and workforce readiness across traditional and integrative care. Strengthening the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine further reinforces India’s leadership in evidence-based traditional medicine." Dhruv Gupta, Co-founder, Orange Health Labs ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27216/health-ministry-launches-online-training-programme-for-artificial-intelligence-in-medical-education.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27216/health-ministry-launches-online-training-programme-for-artificial-intelligence-in-medical-education.html Thu, 22 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0530 Anupriya Patel, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, recently launched the online training programme on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Medical Education developed by National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), an autonomous body of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The objective of the programme is to expose nearly 50,000 doctors to Artificial Intelligence and provide a basic understanding of its practical applications in medicine, investigation, clinical decision making, research and medical education. The initiative aims to enhance the digital competencies of physicians and enable them to make effective use of AI-based tools in healthcare delivery and academic practice. Anupriya emphasised that the use of Artificial Intelligence in the healthcare sector is not an option but a necessity. She said that the purpose of AI is not to replace doctors, but to increase the capacity of doctors, to fill the gaps caused by the shortage of medical professionals and to reduce the burden of patients. Punya Salila Srivastava, Union Health Secretary said that the launch of the online training initiative on Artificial Intelligence in healthcare is a significant step towards strengthening medical education and enhancing the competencies of doctors across the country.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27181/medhavi-skills-university-inks-mou-with-nephroplus-to-strengthen-work-integrated-healthcare-education.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27181/medhavi-skills-university-inks-mou-with-nephroplus-to-strengthen-work-integrated-healthcare-education.html Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0530 Medhavi Skills University (Sikkim), a pioneer in industry-led skill-based higher education, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NephroPlus, India’s largest dialysis network operating more than 500 dialysis centres across the country and internationally in Nepal, the Philippines, Uzbekistan and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This collaboration marks a significant step in bridging the gap between healthcare education and real-world industry requirements. The MoU signing ceremony was attended by Kamal Shah, Co-Founder, NephroPlus, along with Vishal Asam and Balkrishna from the NephroPlus team. Representing MSU were Devender Kumar Saini, Group Chief Strategy Officer, who formalised the partnership on behalf of the varsity and Shradha Pranay Trivedi, Sr. General Manager - Corporate Solutions. The collaboration aims to jointly deliver Work Integrated Skill-Based Higher Education (WISE) programmes aligned with the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF), National Higher Education Qualification Framework (NHEQF), and NEP 2020. Through this partnership, MSU and NephroPlus are offering UG Diploma in Dialysis Technology and B.Voc in Dialysis Technology programmes.   As part of the partnership, both institutions will jointly develop an industry-integrated curriculum that blends MSU’s academic framework with NephroPlus’s domain expertise, ensuring that students receive strong academic grounding along with practical competencies. Students will undertake extensive on-the-job training at NephroPlus centres across India under their recognised learning brand “Enpedia powered by NephroPlus,” enabling immersive, real-world learning experiences. To further support learners, NephroPlus will provide stipends and provide assured career progression and opportunities for the meritorious student-trainees. The organisation will also hold priority for recruitment of trained students, strengthening the employability outcomes of the programmes. Additionally, students will benefit from MSU’s digital learning infrastructure, including access to the University’s LMS, digital resources, and continuous academic monitoring. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27183/dy-patil-school-of-law-and-institute-of-medicine-law-to-strengthen-medico-legal-education.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27183/dy-patil-school-of-law-and-institute-of-medicine-law-to-strengthen-medico-legal-education.html Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0530 D Y Patil University School of Law (DYPSOL), Navi Mumbai, has entered into a strategic academic partnership with the Institute of Medicine & Law (IML) to advance medico-legal education, research, and patient-centred healthcare governance. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Prof. (Dr) Karuna Akshay Malviya, Director, DYPSOL, and Ravindra Mangal, Executive Director, IML. The collaboration will focus on joint research, policy advocacy, executive education, and flagship medico-legal programmes. The partnership aims to address growing challenges relating to medical negligence litigation, patient rights, ethical medical practice, and regulatory compliance. It seeks to promote informed consent, transparency, and accountability in healthcare delivery while strengthening patient advocacy and public trust. The 18th Annual MedLegal Review 2026 will be the first programme jointly organised under this collaboration, continuing its long-standing role in educating doctors, hospitals, and medico-legal professionals on evolving legal standards and best practices. The partnership will also launch an executive training programme in April 2026, aimed at hospital leadership and senior decision-makers to strengthen the medico-legal governance and compliance. Prof. (Dr) Karuna Akshay Malviya stated that the partnership would help build interdisciplinary capacity to respond to complex medical negligence and patient safety issues. Ravindra Mangal noted that the collaboration would contribute to reducing disputes through better legal awareness among medical professionals. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27127/akums-signs-mou-with-sharda-university-to-strengthen-industryacademia-collaboration.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27127/akums-signs-mou-with-sharda-university-to-strengthen-industryacademia-collaboration.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0530 Delhi-based Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals, a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sharda University, Agra, to foster long-term collaboration in pharmaceutical research, technology transfer, and skill development. This strategic partnership aims to bridge the gap between academic research and industrial application, while preparing future talent for the evolving needs of the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry. The MoU establishes a comprehensive framework for collaboration across research, innovation, training, and industry exposure. By combining Sharda University’s academic strengths with Akums’ robust manufacturing capabilities and R&D ecosystem, the partnership seeks to accelerate the development of future-ready pharmaceutical solutions and enhance employability among students. A key focus of the collaboration will be joint research in trending and next-generation molecules and advanced drug delivery technologies. The partnership will also facilitate technology transfer, enabling promising academic research to be translated into commercially viable pharmaceutical products. Under the MoU, students from Sharda University will gain access to structured internship programs at Akums’ manufacturing facilities. These internships will provide hands-on exposure to real-world pharmaceutical manufacturing, quality systems, regulatory practices, and R&D processes. Additionally, industrial visits will be organized to help students understand large-scale pharmaceutical operations and industry best practices. The collaboration will also include jointly organised seminars, and technical training programmes. These initiatives are designed to enhance students’ practical knowledge, industry readiness, and technical competencies, thereby improving their employability and career prospects in the pharmaceutical and allied sectors. Akums and Sharda University will also collaborate on joint project development initiatives, focusing on translating academic innovations into market-ready solutions. These projects will encourage applied research, promote innovation-driven problem-solving, and contribute to addressing unmet needs in healthcare.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27087/bpl-medical-technologies-directs-csr-funds-to-establish-ai-course-at-sri-s-ramasamy-naidu-memorial-college.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27087/bpl-medical-technologies-directs-csr-funds-to-establish-ai-course-at-sri-s-ramasamy-naidu-memorial-college.html Thu, 18 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0530 BPL Medical Technologies, India’s leading medical equipment brand with a 50-year legacy under the BPL Group, has announced that as part of its CSR initiative, it is funding the establishment of a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) department at Sri S. Ramasamy Naidu Memorial College, Sattur, from the next academic year. The announcement was made during the inauguration of the college’s Innovation & Incubation Centre and Health Club, which witnessed participation from over 1,000 students, faculty members and invited guests.  The CSR-supported AI department aims to equip students with exposure to emerging technologies and industry-relevant applications. Through this initiative, BPL Medical Technologies continues to invest in long-term capability building by enabling higher education institutions to expand into next generation academic disciplines. Addressing the students, Dr Shravan Subramanyam, Managing Director of BPL Medical Technologies said, “AI may seem like just another tech component today, but it will soon define how we live and work, much like how the internet was once perceived.As students preparing for that future, it is important to understand this technology deeply while ensuring it remains guided by human judgement and ethics. When applied responsibly, AI has the potential to create meaningful solutions that contribute to the well-being of humankind.” Thiru T R Kannan, Secretary, Sri S. Ramasamy Naidu Memorial College, Sattur said, “The new AI department and the Innovation & Incubation Centre will strengthen industry exposure, encourage student entrepreneurship and create pathways for applied learning aligned with future skill requirements.” The initiative marks a significant step in strengthening collaboration between industry and higher education. With the AI department set to commence from the next academic year and the innovation and  incubation centre now operational, Sri S. Ramasamy Naidu Memorial College is well-positioned to enhance technology-led learning, entrepreneurship and applied research, while aligning student outcomes with evolving industry and societal needs. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27072/suraksha-diagnostics-medikabazaarunited-imaging-launch-uacademy-to-advance-radiology-education.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27072/suraksha-diagnostics-medikabazaarunited-imaging-launch-uacademy-to-advance-radiology-education.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0530 Suraksha Diagnostics, in collaboration with Medikabazaar–United Imaging (UIH), has announced the launch of uAcademy, a comprehensive academic initiative designed to support young consultant radiologists and senior radiology students through structured, case-based, and advanced techno-clinical learning. uAcademy has been envisioned as a hands-on academic platform that integrates clinical expertise with advanced imaging technology, addressing the growing need for practical, outcome-driven learning in radiology. The initiative aims to strengthen diagnostic accuracy, enhance clinical decision-making, and ultimately improve patient care and outcomes. The launch event was graced by distinguished dignitaries including Justice Ashim Kumar Banerjee (Retd.), Chairperson, West Bengal Clinical Establishments Regulatory Commission (WBCERC), as Chief Guest, and Dr Sudipto Roy, President, West Bengal Medical Council, as Guest of Honour, along with leading radiologists, clinicians, and healthcare leaders. Speaking on the launch, Jitesh Mathur, Chief Revenue Officer, Medikabazaar, said, “uAcademy is a meaningful step toward creating a robust academic ecosystem where young radiologists can gain hands-on exposure and clinical confidence that directly impacts patient outcomes.”  Addressing the gathering, Dr Sudipto Roy, President, West Bengal Medical Council, noted, “Initiatives like uAcademy play a vital role in bridging the gap between academic training and clinical practice, ensuring that young radiologists are well-equipped to meet patient care challenges.”   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27004/emversity-partners-with-cambridge-university-to-strengthen-global-employability-of-indias-healthcare-workforce.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/27004/emversity-partners-with-cambridge-university-to-strengthen-global-employability-of-indias-healthcare-workforce.html Thu, 27 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0530 Bengaluru-based startup Emversity, an industry-skilling network, has partnered with Cambridge University Press & Assessment to deliver specialised English language training for nursing learners through the Cambridge English for Healthcare Professionals programme. Effective immediately, the programme will be delivered across Emversity's skill-development centres and through its network of university partnerships. It will complement existing academic curricula, ensuring that learners gain structured, internationally benchmarked communication skills. The collaboration addresses a critical employability barrier in India's healthcare sector, equipping nursing professionals with essential communication skills required for healthcare settings both in India and internationally. India faces a significant nursing shortage, with only 17.2 nurses per 10,000 people, contributing to an estimated 5.8 million-person gap in the healthcare workforce. While capacity is a challenge, employers often highlight communication skills as a major barrier to employability. The Cambridge English for Healthcare Professionals program addresses this gap by strengthening workplace English language competencies specifically required in clinical settings. The training, benchmarked to international CEFR standards (A1–B1, covering beginner to intermediate proficiency), equips learners with the practical communication skills needed for patient interaction, case documentation, teamwork communication, and clarity in emergencies. It also supports learners preparing for pathways like the Occupational English Test (OET). Vivek Sinha, Founder & CEO, Emversity, comments "The world faces a critical shortage of skilled healthcare talent, and India is uniquely positioned to fill this gap. Communication skills are a significant part of this talent deficit. By 2030, we aim to equip over one lakh nursing professionals with essential workplace communication competencies. Our collaboration with Cambridge University Press & Assessment is critical to building the structured pathway India's healthcare workforce needs."   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26958/standard-chartered-and-dr-shroffs-charity-eye-hospital-launch-new-eye-care-academy-in-vrindavan.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26958/standard-chartered-and-dr-shroffs-charity-eye-hospital-launch-new-eye-care-academy-in-vrindavan.html Fri, 21 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0530 In a landmark step towards advancing rural eye health, Standard Chartered and Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital (SCEH), under the Bank’s flagship initiative ‘Seeing is Believing’, have inaugurated the Standard Chartered–Shroff’s Eye Care Education Academy in Vrindavan, Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh. This new academy will expand access to quality eye care and provide education and livelihood opportunities in underserved rural communities.  Since 2014, Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital, with support from Standard Chartered, has provided comprehensive eye care services across Mathura through a state-of-the-art eye care centre in Vrindavan and a network of vision centres and community outreach programmes. Over the last decade, over 65,000 sight-restoring surgeries have been performed, and 17 lakh beneficiaries have been reached. The Vrindavan academy represents the second phase of the partnership, following the successful rollout of the first Standard Chartered–Shroff’s Eye Care Education Academy in Delhi. It will follow a hub-and-spoke model, and will provide localised, skill-based training in eye care for ophthalmologists and paramedics, with the Delhi facility as the hub for curriculum development, mentoring, and technical support. India faces a critical shortage of trained ophthalmic professionals, and common causes of preventable blindness remain prevalent in rural areas, where access to specialised care is limited. The Vrindavan academy directly addresses this through capacity building, employment generation, and community-centric care delivery. Over the next three years, this Vrindavan academy will train over 12,000 youth in diverse eye care fields. Key deliverables include training 70 ophthalmologists, 600 mid-career ophthalmologists, and 500 allied ophthalmic paramedics, with employment opportunities post training for over 70% of the trainees – 50% of which are going to be women. About 11,000 trainees will receive benefit from short-term courses and digital learning platform aiming to enhance their skills and delivery of eye care services to the community. All programmes are accredited by the National Council of Vocational and Research Training (NCVRT), ensuring adherence to national standards in vocational healthcare education.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26955/iisc-and-iit-gandhinagar-join-hands-to-foster-academic-exchange.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26955/iisc-and-iit-gandhinagar-join-hands-to-foster-academic-exchange.html Thu, 20 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0530 The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru and the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IIT-GN) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to foster unique academic and research collaborations. The partnership will enable students and researchers at both institutes to pursue joint research projects in areas of mutual interest, organise joint symposia and workshops, and access infrastructure and lab facilities at both institutions. The collaboration will also foster student exchange from IIT-GN to IISc for academic and research programmes. Crucially, the partnership will enable students who completed their third year BTech at IIT-GN to join IISc directly for their Master’s degree after a competitive selection process. Students successfully completing their course requirements will receive their BTech and MTech degrees from IIT-GN and IISc respectively. Through this unique academic exchange model, the partnership seeks to leverage the academic and research strengths of the two premier institutions and enable students to benefit from diverse learning experiences. IISc hopes to establish similar partnerships with other IITs in the near future. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26938/redversity-and-iit-roorkee-launch-executive-programme-in-digital-healthcare-transformation.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26938/redversity-and-iit-roorkee-launch-executive-programme-in-digital-healthcare-transformation.html Tue, 18 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0530 RedVersity, the academic arm of RED Health, and iHUB DivyaSampark at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee have jointly announced the launch of the Executive Programme in Digital Healthcare Transformation — a 10-week online programme designed for senior healthcare administrators, clinicians, and medical practitioners who want to understand and lead the digital revolution transforming healthcare delivery in India and beyond.   The 10-week programme blends live interactive sessions, case studies, and project-based learning. Participants will explore a wide spectrum of subjects such as: The future of robotic surgery and automation in care delivery Telemedicine and virtual consultation models shaping access to healthcare Digital emergency response systems and connected ambulances The role of data analytics, AI, and machine learning in clinical decision-making Regulatory frameworks, cybersecurity, and patient data privacy in a digital era   The programme’s multidisciplinary faculty will include leading academicians from IITs, senior healthcare executives, and experts from RED Health’s emergency ecosystem — ensuring that participants learn directly from those pioneering change in their respective domains. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26899/vyli-health-inks-partnership-with-risaya-academy-at-bengaluru-skill-summit-2025.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26899/vyli-health-inks-partnership-with-risaya-academy-at-bengaluru-skill-summit-2025.html Mon, 10 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0530 At the Bengaluru Skill Summit 2025, organised by the Department of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship & Livelihood (SDEL), Government of Karnataka, a landmark definitive contract was announced between Risaya Academy and Vyli Health, expected to benefit more than 10,000 students across South India. The collaboration was facilitated by IFIA Bharat, the Indian chapter of the International Federation of Inventors’ Associations (IFIA) — a UN-affiliated, non-governmental organisation functioning under the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. IFIA Bharat promotes innovation-led education, translational research, and inventor entrepreneurship for national development. Through this partnership, Risaya Academy, a next-generation education enterprise, and Vyli Health, a deep-tech healthcare venture operating out of the K-tech MeitY NASSCOM Centre of Excellence for IoT & AI, will implement structured psychosocial-wellbeing and 21st-century skills-transformation programmes across higher-education institutions in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Coimbatore and Cochin. The definitive contract will roll out its first batches in January 2026, embedding resilience, flexibility and agility — key human-capability clusters identified by the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Skills Report. Vyli Health has served around 2,000 learners and professionals across academic, healthcare and corporate sectors, and on 20 June 2025 signed an MoU with the Tamil Nadu Apex Skills Development Centre for Healthcare, which will also serve as a certification partner for programs for nurses and doctors. Risaya Academy currently operates in 14 autonomous colleges and deemed universities across South India and collaborates with over 12 universities abroad, including those in the USA, Australia, Malaysia and Kazakhstan. The collaboration integrates Vyli Health’s evidence-based transformation framework into Risaya’s global learning ecosystem. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26893/rntu-and-redversity-collaborate-to-launch-four-new-healthcare-management-programmes.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26893/rntu-and-redversity-collaborate-to-launch-four-new-healthcare-management-programmes.html Thu, 06 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0530 In a landmark collaboration aimed at addressing the growing demand for trained professionals in the healthcare sector, Bhopal-based Rabindranath Tagore University (RNTU), part of the AISECT Group, has partnered with RedVersity, the academic and training arm of RED Health, to launch four new programmes that will open new career pathways for students in Central India. The programmes being launched include: • BBA in Hospital Administration• PG Diploma in Emergency Health Care• PG Diploma in Disaster Management• PG Diploma in Nutrition & Dietetics These programmes have been designed to prepare students for high-growth careers in healthcare management and allied health services, where both India and the global community face a significant shortage of skilled professionals. Each programme comes with strong placement linkages and job assurance, supported by RED Health’s vast operational network across India in emergency medical services, air and train ambulance operations, and corporate healthcare partnerships. As per WHO estimates, the world is short of nearly 18 million healthcare workers, with a substantial portion of this gap in the allied and emergency care domains. The newly launched programmes aim to bridge this skill gap by combining academic excellence with practical exposure, ensuring that graduates are not only qualified but also industry-ready from Day 1. Under this collaboration, RedVersity will bring its expertise in simulation-based learning, emergency response, and industry-driven curriculum design, while RNTU will leverage its academic infrastructure and AISECT Group’s legacy of skilling and employability. The combination of academic rigor and real-world healthcare experience ensures students receive holistic, hands-on education aligned with global standards. The programmes will be offered at RNTU’s campus in Bhopal with hybrid options available for certain programmes. Admissions are already open for the inaugural batch. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26794/ayush-ministry-announces-spark-4-0-to-nurture-young-ayurveda-researchers-nationwide.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26794/ayush-ministry-announces-spark-4-0-to-nurture-young-ayurveda-researchers-nationwide.html Fri, 10 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0530 The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Ministry of Ayush, has announced SPARK–4.0 (2025–26) — the fourth edition of its flagship Studentship Programme for Ayurveda Research Ken (SPARK). This initiative aims to ignite scientific curiosity and research aptitude among undergraduate Ayurveda students across India. Under this programme, 300 Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) students from colleges recognized by the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) will receive a studentship of Rs 50,000 (Rs 25,000 per month for two months). The registration window opens on October 15, 2025, and the last date for submission of applications is November 15, 2025. Prof. Rabinarayan Acharya, Director General, CCRAS, said that SPARK reflects the Council’s ongoing commitment to advancing Ayurveda through youth engagement and scientific training. He stated that the program has successfully inspired hundreds of students to take their first step into research, bridging classical Ayurvedic knowledge with modern inquiry. Notably, SPARK has gained popularity among the undergraduate students of Ayurveda, with 591 students from 289 Ayurveda educational institutions across 20 states of the country having benefited from it. Designed as a national platform to foster evidence-based inquiry in Ayurveda, SPARK enables undergraduates to undertake short-term, independent research projects guided by faculty mentors. It offers hands-on exposure to research methodology, experimental design, and data analysis — helping participants gain foundational experience in scientific investigation at an early academic stage. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26783/central-council-for-research-in-homoeopathy-and-manipal-academy-of-higher-education-join-hands-to-strengthen-public-health-preparedness.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26783/central-council-for-research-in-homoeopathy-and-manipal-academy-of-higher-education-join-hands-to-strengthen-public-health-preparedness.html Wed, 08 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0530 The Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH), under the Ministry of AYUSH, in collaboration with the Manipal Institute of Virology (MIV), a constituent unit of Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, has commenced a five-day residential workshop titled “Biosafety & Outbreak Simulation Training 2025” from October 6 to 10, 2025, at the MAHE campus, Manipal, Karnataka. This specialised training programme has been meticulously designed for the research scientists of CCRH. This capacity-building programme aims to enhance preparedness, biosafety practices, and outbreak response capabilities, thereby significantly contributing to the strengthening of public health initiatives under the Ministry of Ayush. The training opportunity for CCRH research scientists sparked immense interest, with widespread participation from 33 institutes/units of CCRH across 22 states/UTs of India. Following a rigorous online assessment conducted by the Manipal Institute of Virology, 30 talented research scientists were selected from 14 states/UTs for their participation in this workshop. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was exchanged between CCRH and MAHE to facilitate fruitful collaboration in the core fields of research, education, and training. Dr Subhash Kaushik, Director General, CCRH, and Dr P. Giridhar Kini, Registrar, MAHE, were the signatories of the MoU. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26771/monash-university-malaysia-and-tata-chemicals-forge-healthcare-research-focused-partnership.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26771/monash-university-malaysia-and-tata-chemicals-forge-healthcare-research-focused-partnership.html Mon, 06 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0530 The importance of gastrointestinal health is a key focus for researchers and innovators, as highlighted by the partnership between Monash University Malaysia and Tata Chemicals Limited. Both parties formally established the collaboration through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that set two research projects that connected both academic excellence and industrial innovation. This alliance is dedicated to conducting impactful research in gut microbiome and gut health, aiming to deliver relevant outcomes. The alliance is dedicated to conducting impactful research in gut microbiome and gut health, aiming to deliver relevant outcomes. This initiative, originally announced in Malaysia, marks a key milestone in Tata Chemicals’ commitment to science-led innovation for community well-being and sustainable health advancements. Maintaining optimal gastrointestinal health is crucial for addressing various scientific and health challenges. For instance, one major project seeks to understand the role of postbiotics in alleviating "leaky gut symptoms". A combination of immunological assessment, transcriptomic, and epigenetic profiling will be carried out on the colon epithelial cells to show how postbiotic compounds can influence inflammation at the cellular and genetic levels. This research is significant because it aims to inform future therapeutic applications for gastrointestinal health and chronic diseases, indicating a link between gut health and the prevention or management of long-term health conditions. Furthermore, the research extends to the elderly population, who commonly experience gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating, reflux, and indigestion. Evaluating the effectiveness of Fructooligosaccharide (FOS) supplementation to promote beneficial gut bacteria in older adults underscores the commitment to community health and addressing nutritional deficiencies. By improving gut health in the elderly, the initiative indirectly contributes to their well-being and potentially their longevity.   Image caption- Left to right- Professor Faisal Rafiq Mahamd Adikan Vice President (Research  Development) at Monash University Malaysia and Dr Richard Lobo Head of Innovation, Tata Chemicals ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26760/cabinet-approves-phase-iii-of-biomedical-research-career-programme.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26760/cabinet-approves-phase-iii-of-biomedical-research-career-programme.html Wed, 01 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0530 The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the continuation of the Biomedical Research Career Programme (BRCP), Phase-III.  This Programme is being implemented in partnership between the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the Wellcome Trust (WT), United Kingdom and the SPV, India Alliance for Phase III (2025-26 to 2030-31, with another six years (2031-32 to 2037-38), to service fellowships and grants approved till 2030-31, at a total cost of Rs 1500 crore with DBT and WT, UK contributing Rs 1000 crore and Rs 500 crore respectively. The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), in alignment with Viksit Bharat goals for fostering skills and innovation, has launched the Phase III of Biomedical Research Career Programme (BRCP). The programme will nurture top-tier scientific talent for cutting-edge biomedical research and promote interdisciplinary research for translational innovation. It will also strengthen systems supporting high-quality research, and reduce regional disparities in scientific capacity, to create world-class biomedical research capacity with global impact. In Phase-III, the following programmes are proposed to be implemented: i.) Early Career and Intermediate Research Fellowships in basic, clinical and public health. These are globally recognized and tailored for the formative stages of a scientist's research career. ii.) Collaborative Grants Programme, these include Career Development Grants and Catalytic Collaborative Grants for 2-3 Investigator teams for early and mid-senior career researchers respectively with strong research track record in India, iii) Research Management Programme to strengthen core research endeavours. Phase III will also focus on strengthening mentorship, networking, public engagement, and developing new and innovative national and international partnerships. Expected outcomes include training over 2,000 students and postdoctoral fellows, generating high-impact publications, enabling patentable discoveries, earning peer recognition, enabling 10-15% increase in support to women, 25-30% of collaborative programmes to approach TRL4 and above and an expanded footprint of activities and engagement in Tier-2/3 setting.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26721/major-expansion-of-pg-and-ug-medical-education-capacity-in-india.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26721/major-expansion-of-pg-and-ug-medical-education-capacity-in-india.html Wed, 24 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0530 Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the Phase-Ill of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for strengthening and upgradation of existing State Government/ Central Government Medical Colleges/ Standalone PG Institutes/ Government Hospitals for increasing 5,000 PG seats and extension of the CSS for upgradation of existing government medical colleges for increasing 5,023 MBBS seats with an enhanced cost ceiling of Rs 1.5 crore per seat. This initiative will significantly augment the undergraduate medical capacity; availability of specialist doctors by creating additional postgraduate seats; and enable introduction of new specialties across Government medical institutions. This will strengthen the overall availability of doctors in the country. The total financial implications of these two schemes is Rs 15,034.5 crore for a period from 2025-26 to 2028-29. Out of Rs15034.5 crore, the central share is Rs 10,303.2 crore and the state share is Rs 4731.3 crore.   India's healthcare education and workforce infrastructure has witnessed significant growth in recent years, reflecting a sustained policy focus on expanding access and improving quality. As on date, India has 808 medical colleges, highest amongst the world with total intake capacity of 1,23,700 MBBS seats. In the last one decade, added over 69,352 new MBBS seats registering a growth of 127%. Similarly, during this period 43,041 PG seats were added showing an impressive growth of 143%. To expand the pool of qualified faculty, new Medical Institution (Qualifications of Faculty) Regulations 2025 have been issued by adopting a more inclusive and competency-based approach to faculty eligibility and recruitment. These changes aim to address the growing requirement of teaching personnel, and meeting the academic and professional standards. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26681/erba-global-medtech-university-releases-indias-first-m-tech-mba-curriculum-in-medical-technology-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26681/erba-global-medtech-university-releases-indias-first-m-tech-mba-curriculum-in-medical-technology-.html Mon, 15 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0530 In a landmark moment for India’s medtech ecosystem, Dr. Ajay Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, officially released the M.Tech and MBA curriculum of Erba Global MedTech University, Visakhapatnam. The ceremony was graced by Dr Jitendra Sharma, MD & CEO, Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone (AMTZ); Rajiv Nath, Forum Coordinator, AiMeD; and Suresh Vazirani, Founder Chairman, Erba Transasia Group, along with senior faculty of the University. The Academic Council also reviewed upcoming Master’s and PhD programmes, set to begin from January 2026. The newly launched curriculum is designed to:  Equip students with deep scientific and technical knowledge in medical technology  Bridge the gap between research, industry, and entrepreneurship  Develop leaders who will drive innovation in line with India’s “Make in India” and “Skill India” missions  Contribute towards self-reliance in healthcare manufacturing and reduce dependence on imports  Advanced curriculums focus on AI-driven medical diagnostics, medical robotics, molecular diagnostics, and cutting-edge genomics  Covers international benchmarks (aligned with US/EU/FDA/WHO standards)  Apt for doctors, engineers, medical technologists and students. Aligned with Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, the programmes are designed to reduce dependency on imports, advance “Make in India” and “Skill India” missions, and position India as a global MedTech hub. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26683/apollo-ayurvaid-inks-mou-with-vivekananda-yoga-university-to-advance-global-access-to-higher-education-in-ayurveda.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26683/apollo-ayurvaid-inks-mou-with-vivekananda-yoga-university-to-advance-global-access-to-higher-education-in-ayurveda.html Mon, 15 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0530 Apollo AyurVAID, a pioneering chain of next-generation, precision Ayurveda hospitals, and a member of Apollo Hospitals Group, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Vivekananda Yoga University (VaYU), USA, the first Yoga university outside India dedicated to graduate education and research in Yoga licensed by Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE), State of California, USA. VaYU, USA offers online MS and PhD in Yoga in therapy and philosophy, and is also the first and only Indian Knowledge Systems university that has achieved candidacy accreditation from WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). This partnership shall make globally accessible quality, accredited, continuing-education in Yoga, Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine. Apollo AyurVAID and VaYU shall co-develop academic programmes, training, upskilling and evidence-based research in integrative medicine, with the opportunity to offer best-in-class clinical internships and fostering outreach opportunities in Ayurveda and Yoga to a global audience. Commenting on the development, Rajiv Vasudevan, Founder, MD & CEO, Apollo AyurVAID Hospitals, said, “Together, we will develop and offer precision Ayurveda, Yoga and Integrative Medicine training courses through degree and certificate programs that will be made available to the global community through VaYU. This collaboration shall equip the next generation of healthcare professionals and accelerate the mainstreaming of scientific Yoga and Ayurveda.” Dr Sree N. Sreenath, Founder President, Vivekananda Yoga University, added, “Through this partnership, VaYU students will gain first-hand experience in Ayurveda and Yoga clinical care at Apollo AyurVAID’s centres across India, enriching their learning through immersion, observership, and internship programs. Equally important, we will work together to organise outreach initiatives including seminars, conferences and lectures that bring the Indian knowledge systems of Yoga and Ayurveda to a wider audience. This partnership strengthens VaYU’s mission of combining scientific rigor with ancient wisdom while expanding opportunities for our students and communities worldwide.” The partnership shall also focus on capacity building, with Apollo AyurVAID staff receiving specialised training in yoga therapies through degree and certificate programs. Additionally, Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine training courses will be developed and offered globally by Apollo AyurVAID in collaboration with VaYU or in partnership with third parties through VaYU’s academic platform. To maximise reach and impact, the MoU will further harness the latest technologies and innovative practices, ensuring rapid dissemination and scalable outcomes. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26644/granules-india-and-niper-launch-centre-of-excellence-for-sustainable-pharma-innovation.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26644/granules-india-and-niper-launch-centre-of-excellence-for-sustainable-pharma-innovation.html Thu, 04 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0530 Granules India, in partnership with the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), S.A.S Nagar in Mohali, inaugurated the Dr. Chigurupati Centre of Excellence in Innovative and Sustainable Pharmaceutical Development (CCE-ISPD). This Granules’ CSR initiative aims to empower students and researchers with access to cutting-edge facilities and resources, fostering innovation in eco-friendly solutions for learning pharmaceutical manufacturing. This strategic move is in line with the company’s broader vision of integrating sustainability into its core operations. By embedding innovation into green practices, Granules India aims to not only enhance operational efficiency and business resilience but also contribute positively to society and the environment. This initiative reflects the company’s belief that long-term success is deeply rooted in ethical responsibility and environmental stewardship.   The Centre, under the supervision of Dr Arvind.K Bansal, Professor Department of Pharmaceutics, Lead and Academic Supervisor of the Centre will harness NIPER’s academic and research strengths alongside Granules India’s industrial expertise to develop scalable, eco-friendly solutions for the pharmaceutical sector. The collaboration will focus on interface between API and formulation manufacturing, reducing the carbon footprint in formulation production, creating intellectual property in sustainable technologies, training next-generation scientists, and setting new industry benchmarks in sustainable manufacturing. Together, Granules India and NIPER aim to set a precedent for how industry–academia partnerships can accelerate the transition towards a greener, more responsible future for global healthcare. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26646/kasturba-medical-college-manipal-introduces-department-of-artificial-intelligence-in-healthcare.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26646/kasturba-medical-college-manipal-introduces-department-of-artificial-intelligence-in-healthcare.html Thu, 04 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0530 Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Manipal, a constituent unit of Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), has taken a pioneering leap in medical education with the launch of the Department of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare. This initiative, the first of its kind in a medical college in India, marks a historic moment in the integration of technology and medicine. The Department of AI in Healthcare will advance research, education, and clinical applications by building interdisciplinary expertise by uniting medicine, engineering, and data science; Translate AI research into real-world solutions for diagnosis, treatment, education, and public health; Train the next generation of healthcare-AI leaders in areas such as predictive analytics, medical imaging, personalised medicine, and decision support systems. This strategic initiative by KMC, Manipal, is poised to redefine the landscape of Indian medicine, creating a new benchmark for medical education and preparing healthcare professionals to meet the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. Dr Anil K. Bhat, Dean, KMC Manipal and Senior Advisor for the Department also announced the department's ambitious academic and collaborative plans: "We aim to introduce MSc and Integrated MSc–PhD programs in AI, alongside courses to upskill our faculty and students. We will actively foster collaborative research and innovation projects with external partners and industry. Our ultimate focus will be on initiatives with direct societal impact, driving meaningful reforms in patient care and medical education." ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26636/roche-pharma-india-awards-prizes-worth-rs-15-lakh-for-2nd-edition-of-leap-scholarship-programme.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26636/roche-pharma-india-awards-prizes-worth-rs-15-lakh-for-2nd-edition-of-leap-scholarship-programme.html Wed, 03 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0530 Roche Pharma India has announced the winners of the second edition of Leading Engagements to Advance Patient Care (LEAP) programme. The felicitation ceremony celebrated five outstanding oncology students, whose solutions addressed challenges in the field of cancer care.    The second edition of LEAP invited all streams of final-year oncology students enrolled in super-speciality courses such as DM/DNB/MCh to provide solutions across clinical care, immunotherapy, patient care, and other areas such as innovation and access. This edition attracted participation from 100+ leading medical colleges and hospitals nationwide, with 256 innovative solutions being submitted. The five winners from this year include:  Dr Beulah Elizabeth Koshy from Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bengaluru, whose solution focused on palliative support and ethical decision-making, earning jury recognition for its emphasis on compassionate care and patient dignity  Dr Ruhi Kumar of Stanley Medical College, Chennai, who developed an affordable caregiving support model that enhanced treatment adherence and was lauded for its patient-centric approach  Dr Prabhu Pandian of Madurai Medical College, Madurai, who introduced a standardised MDT platform for personalised cancer care plans, enabling real-time adjustments, earning praise for its structured, evidence-driven methodology  Dr Athira Vincent of Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, whose AI platform for accurate cancer diagnosis, personalized treatment and real-time monitoring stood out for its potential to transform cancer care  Dr Soumya BM of Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru, whose solution focused on access programs, tiered pricing models and partnerships for affordable medications and technologies   Each winner was awarded Rs 3 lakh scholarship, a certificate, and medal for their contributions to advancing academic excellence in oncology.   LEAP is a unique programme empowering final-year DM/DNB/MCh Oncology students in India with a platform for learning, collaboration, and innovation in oncology care. The program is designed to foster innovative thinking and creativity in students, as they prepare to step into clinical practice. LEAP also creates a space for students to network, collaborate, and develop practical solutions to real-world challenges in oncology and cancer care.    ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26575/govt-to-strengthen-research-integrity-and-open-access-publishing-in-tier-2-3-academic-institutions.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26575/govt-to-strengthen-research-integrity-and-open-access-publishing-in-tier-2-3-academic-institutions.html Fri, 22 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0530 The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India and Springer Nature, a global leader in research publishing, have announced a strategic collaboration to increase awareness of the importance of research integrity, open access and other scholarly publishing practices across India's Tier 2 and Tier 3 academic institutions. The partnership will drive the RISE-UTTHAN initiative — a structured academic engagement programme designed to equip academia, researchers, and scholars with globally benchmarked tools and knowledge to foster ethical, accessible, and high-impact research practices. The RISE-UTTHAN initiative will focus on three critical pillars of the academic research lifecycle: Research Integrity in Science and Education - equipping scholars to conduct and communicate research that meets the highest standards of ethics and transparency. Open Access Awareness and the Future of Science - complementing India's One Nation, One Subscription initiative by helping researchers understand the evolving landscape of open science globally. Book Publishing in a Changing World - building researcher capacity to navigate evolving publishing models, from traditional to digital and open formats, ensuring their work reaches wider audiences and contributes to global knowledge-sharing. Through a mix of workshops, lectures, and hands-on training, the initiative will engage 25–30 research-active institutions and reach approximately 5,000 researchers during the India Research Tour 2025, scaling further in subsequent years based on institutional feedback and resource alignment. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26554/india-launches-first-obstetric-physical-therapy-certification-series.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26554/india-launches-first-obstetric-physical-therapy-certification-series.html Wed, 20 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0530 In a landmark collaboration aimed at transforming allied healthcare education in India, Pro Physio has partnered with the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) – Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy to launch the Certificate of Advanced Practice in Physical Therapy in Obstetric Health. This marks the first time the prestigious programme is being offered in India. The initiative is expected to significantly enhance training standards for physiotherapists and allied health professionals in the growing field of pelvic and obstetric care. Developed by global experts, the certification programme is built on evidence-based principles and aims to improve maternal health outcomes across India. With a network of over 30 centres and more than 200,000 lives touched, Pro Physio is leading efforts to bridge the gap between conventional training and global best practices through skill based, accessible education. This Obstetric Physical Therapy Series is the first in a line of international collaborations being introduced by Pro Physio, with upcoming programmes in neurorehabilitation, paediatric therapy, and sports medicine. The company’s mission is to create a robust ecosystem that supports continuous learning, fosters clinical excellence, and uplifts the standard of care across India. As India’s healthcare sector grows, this partnership stands as a pivotal step in advancing allied health education, building local expertise, and ultimately improving patient care outcomes nationwide. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26456/dr-moopens-legacy-scholarship-fellowships-to-aid-25-students-from-across-india.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26456/dr-moopens-legacy-scholarship-fellowships-to-aid-25-students-from-across-india.html Tue, 29 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0530 In a path breaking initiative to make medical education accessible to meritorious students and students from economically challenged backgrounds, Padma Shri Dr. Azad Moopen, Founder & Chairman of Aster DM Healthcare and a globally recognised philanthropist, has announced an annual scholarship programme Dr. Moopen's Legacy Scholarship & Fellowships Programme aimed at supporting meritorious students seeking admissions in Dr. Moopen’s Medical College, Dr Moopen’s Nursing College and Dr Moopen’s College of Pharmacy in Wayanad, Kerala. This initiative marks the first time a private medical college in Kerala is offering a 100% tuition fee waiver for eligible meritorious medical students, promising to transform access to quality healthcare education for talented, deserving individuals.   The scholarships will be offered to 25 eligible students applying to MBBS, BSc Nursing, and BPharm courses. Each year, 5 MBBS, 10 BSc Nursing, and 10 BPharm students will receive these scholarships. For MBBS scholarships, selection will be based solely on merit, recognising and encouraging students with excellent academic track records and top NEET rankings. While these students often receive priority in admissions, this initiative aims to provide further recognition. Meanwhile, BSc Nursing and B.Pharm candidates will be chosen based on academic merit and financial need. The scholarship will cover the entire tuition fees, subject to the students meeting basic academic performance and adherence to program guidelines. Over the next five years, 125 students will benefit, with the total financial commitment expected to exceed Rs 3 crore per annum. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26458/international-medical-programme-for-indian-students-to-practice-in-the-us-and-canada.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26458/international-medical-programme-for-indian-students-to-practice-in-the-us-and-canada.html Tue, 29 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0530 With a growing number of Indian students aspiring to pursue medical education and careers in the United States, Canada, and beyond, Xavier University School of Medicine, Aruba (XUSOM), in collaboration with KLE University, India, has launched a unique international medical pathway to support this ambition. This innovative programme allows students to begin their medical journey in India at KLE University’s Belgaum campus, continue with their preclinical sciences education at XUSOM, and then complete clinical rotations at Xavier’s affiliated and accredited teaching hospitals across the United States. Students will spend the first year completing pre-health coursework at KLE’s campus in Belgaum. They will then advance to Xavier’s state-of-the-art campus in Aruba for basic science training before transitioning to hands-on clinical experiences in the United States. By starting their studies at KLE and transitioning smoothly to Xavier University in Aruba, students benefit from a unique and accessible pathway to a global medical career. Designed specifically for high school graduates and aspiring doctors aiming to practice in North America, this programme offers a seamless, structured path to meet the rigorous standards required for medical licensure in the US and Canada.  "This collaboration brings together a globally aligned medical curriculum taught by experienced and highly qualified faculty, ensuring students gain the knowledge, skills, and international exposure needed to excel in today’s competitive medical field," said Dr Arun Kumar Dubey, Chief Academic Officer of XUSOM.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26418/iit-indore-mehta-family-foundation-to-launch-academic-schools-in-sustainability-and-biomedical-engineering.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26418/iit-indore-mehta-family-foundation-to-launch-academic-schools-in-sustainability-and-biomedical-engineering.html Tue, 22 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0530 The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Indore, with support of the Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta Family Foundation (MFF), has announced a landmark partnership to establish two new academic schools at the IIT Indore campus: Mehta Family School of Sustainability and Mehta Family School of Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering.  These new schools reflect IIT Indore’s commitment to advancing education and research in strategically critical areas such as sustainability, and health sciences & technology. The Mehta Family Foundation, by launching their 7th and 8th schools in the country, spread over an area of around two lakh sq. ft., further strengthens India’s leading higher education institutions to build futuristic academic programmes. Together, IIT Indore and MFF aim to create world-class schools that will equip the next generation of leaders, researchers, and innovators with the interdisciplinary knowledge, practical skills, and research mindset to further enhance India’s technological prowess. Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, said, “The Mehta Family Foundation’s ability to identify thematic areas that closely mirror the government’s science and technology priorities is commendable. Such efforts strengthen India’s innovation ecosystem and contribute meaningfully to our long-term national goals in research and education.” Dr Rajesh S. Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, said, “It’s inspiring to see the convergence of engineering and biology being harnessed to address future’s grand challenges. IITs are nurturing a vibrant biotech ecosystem, and the Mehta Family Foundation’s initiatives are adding significant momentum. Their long-term vision and clear scientific agendas align well with emerging national frameworks like the Bio-E3 policy. This kind of support helps industrialise innovation and ensures India continues to lead across key science and technology parameters globally.” The Mehta Family School of Sustainability, a one-of-a-kind institution dedicated to climate-conscious innovation, leadership, and knowledge creation, is set to launch India’s first BTech program in Environmental Economics and Sustainable Engineering, creating a taskforce of more than 400 graduates and 1000+ professionals through Executive Master’s and PhD programs in the next decade. The School will also establish three dedicated Centres of Excellence in Energy Systems and Battery Technology, Environmental Economics and Environmental Law, and Water and Climate Studies to drive technology solutions and policy-shaping research. The Mehta Family School of Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering is a pioneering academic and research hub at the intersection of Biology, Technology, Data, and AI. With a strong emphasis on developing data-driven solutions for endemics such as chikungunya and dengue, and addressing the escalating threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the School is poised to make a significant impact through interdisciplinary, translational research. The programmes span critical domains including AI in Healthcare and Bioinformatics, Drug Discovery, Molecular Biology, Biomanufacturing, and Wearable Health Technologies. The School also envisions establishing a cutting-edge biomanufacturing hub, while preparing over 1,500 students in the next decade to lead innovation across the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical devices sectors. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26397/hosmac-signs-mou-with-gulf-medical-university-to-strengthen-healthcare-education.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26397/hosmac-signs-mou-with-gulf-medical-university-to-strengthen-healthcare-education.html Thu, 17 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0530 HOSMAC, Asia’s leading hospital planning, design, and management consultancy, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Gulf Medical University (GMU), Ajman, UAE, to serve as an industry partner. This strategic academic-industry synergy aims to enrich healthcare education by integrating real-world exposure with academic learning. As part of the MoU, HOSMAC will offer internships and short-term placements to students of the Thumbay College of Management and AI in Healthcare (TCMAIH) at GMU. Senior leaders and domain experts from HOSMAC will also contribute as guest lecturers, guiding students on case studies and thesis work, and sharing on-ground perspectives from the healthcare infrastructure domain. Furthermore, the partnership will facilitate joint research initiatives, development of training modules in AI in healthcare, and faculty exchange programmes, furthering the shared mission of advancing healthcare innovation and leadership. Speaking about the partnership, Dr Vivek Desai, Founder and Managing Director, HOSMAC, said, “This MoU is a step towards creating future-ready healthcare professionals who are trained not just in theory, but also in the real-world complexities of healthcare systems.”  This collaboration further deepens a long-standing relationship—HOSMAC had earlier designed the University Hospital at Gulf Medical University in Ajman, a state-of-the-art facility that integrates education, research, and patient care.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26354/syngene-picks-40-women-for-third-year-of-stem-scholarship-programme.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26354/syngene-picks-40-women-for-third-year-of-stem-scholarship-programme.html Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0530 Bengaluru-based Syngene International, an integrated research, development, and manufacturing services organization, in partnership with the Research and Innovation Circle of Hyderabad (RICH) and Biocon Foundation, has announced the launch of the third cohort of its flagship scholarship, mentoring and industry orientation programme for women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). Designed to empower women from tier two and three institutions, the programme offers structured mentorship, financial assistance and hands-on research exposure, which includes practical experience in real lab environments. Over the past two years, it has grown into a strong career launchpad, benefiting more than 50 women. This year, 40 women students are participating in the programme, following a rigorous evaluation process that considered academic merit, research orientation and socio-economic background, with a focus on supporting those from low-income or financially underserved families. Their learning journey will conclude with project-based internships with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies across India, as well as premier government research institutions such as the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CSIR–CCMB). These internships are embedded within a broader development framework that includes technical seminars and industry exposure visits, designed to build research skills, expand professional networks and inspire long-term careers in STEM. Despite growing awareness about STEM careers, many women from smaller cities in India still face significant challenges that limit their advancement in these fields. Constraints such as inadequate exposure to scientific opportunities, financial limitations, and a shortage of mentors often prevent them from fully participating in the professional science community. The Syngene–RICH programme is addressing these issues by offering scholarships, personalized mentorship, and hands-on research experience, effectively bridging the divide between academic knowledge and real-world career prospects.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26342/nmc-restores-30-faculty-quota-for-msc-phd-holders-in-medical-colleges.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26342/nmc-restores-30-faculty-quota-for-msc-phd-holders-in-medical-colleges.html Mon, 07 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0530 In a major breakthrough for medical education, the National Medical Commission (NMC), under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has reinstated the 30% faculty quota for medical MSc/PhD holders in non-clinical subjects. This significant policy decision, formalised through the Medical Institutions (Qualifications of Faculty) Regulations, 2025 issued on 30th June 2025 and the Amendment Notification dated 2nd July 2025, marks the restoration of eligibility for teaching positions in Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, and Microbiology. The change reverses the restrictive Medical Standard Requirements (MSR) 2020, which had severely impacted the careers and livelihoods of non-medical teachers, exacerbating faculty shortages across India. Dr Arjun Maitra, President of the National M.Sc. Medical Teachers’ Association (NMMTA) emphasised that this reform brings relief to hundreds of highly qualified MSc/PhD faculty members who had been unfairly sidelined under the 2020 MSR guidelines, which severely restricted their eligibility for teaching positions in non-clinical subjects. Dr Ayan Das, Secretary of NMMTA, acknowledged the positive step but pointed out that unresolved issues remain. He stressed the need to clearly define the “transition period” to avoid ambiguity and anxiety among current faculty. He also highlighted the inconsistency in entry-level qualifications, where tutors require only an MBBS degree, while demonstrators must possess both MSc and Ph.D. qualifications—an unfair discrepancy that must be rationalised. Additionally, he called for the correction of misinterpretations related to UGC norms, emphasising that only distance-mode PhD degrees are invalid, not part-time PhDs obtained during in-service academic work. Dr Shridhar Rao, Founder of NMMTA, expressed concern over the continued exclusion of MSc/PhD faculty members from Head of Department (HOD) roles, despite their experience and academic contributions. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26282/iisc-announces-partnership-with-tufts-university-to-establish-centre-for-nutrition-science-and-medicine.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26282/iisc-announces-partnership-with-tufts-university-to-establish-centre-for-nutrition-science-and-medicine.html Tue, 24 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0530 Bengaluru-based Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tufts University in the US, to foster academic and research collaborations, specifically in the area of nutrition science and medicine. The agreement establishes a framework for the development of a range of possible initiatives jointly pursued by the two institutions. Foremost among the collaborations envisioned is the creation of a centre of excellence focused on nutrition science and medicine. To be housed at IISc, the proposed centre, known as the Interdisciplinary Centre for Nutrition Science and Medicine (ICNSM). Among that centre’s earliest priorities will be to initiate research across categories (basic, applied, clinical, and translational) occurring at both the Gerald J and Dorothy R Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University and IISc. This will, in turn, create opportunities for collaboration, visiting scholars at both institutions, and innovative research opportunities. Possible areas of research focus include ageing; nutritional immunity; cancer; cardiovascular, metabolic and kidney disease; nutrition and infectious diseases; precision nutrition; gut microbiome and immunity; obesity; food-as-medicine; plant-based nutrition; health impacts of ultra-processed food; nutrition and technology (including the use of sensors and AI); and preventative nutrition. In addition, Tufts and IISc see opportunities to collaborate through the centre on large-scale nutritional intervention studies focused on, for example, chronic disease, anaemia, hypertension, malnutrition, and metabolic disease. The centre also anticipates the co-development of nutrition-specific competencies for physicians and scholars who are trained at IISc, an important first step in creating curriculum and education standards that will transform healthcare. Nutrition-specific competencies could be woven into multiple areas of provider education and could be obtained through nutrition courses and degrees that currently exist within the Friedman School’s educational offerings and developed specifically in collaboration with IISc. There are also plans to establish a joint PhD supervision programme as well as a tele-nutrition system for knowledge transfer at the level of primary care delivery. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26272/galgotias-university-and-gims-hospital-join-hands-to-boost-medical-research.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26272/galgotias-university-and-gims-hospital-join-hands-to-boost-medical-research.html Thu, 19 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0530 Galgotias University’s School of Medical and Allied Sciences has signed a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) Hospital, Greater Noida. The collaboration, formalised in the presence of senior officials from both institutions, aims to accelerate clinical innovation, research, and hospital-based training in the field of Medical and Allied Sciences. This partnership will enhance hands-on learning, foster academic excellence, and equip students with future-ready healthcare skills. It also aims to utilise animal house facilities for research and to attain advancement in medical and academic collaboration.  Vice Chancellor of Galgotias University, Prof K Mallikarjunna Babu said, "The pact is a transformative milestone that lays the foundation for long-term cooperation and innovation within the vital domains of healthcare and medical research. This agreement represents our shared vision to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of science and healthcare innovation by leveraging each other’s strengths." ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26257/samsung-and-iit-madras-sign-mou-to-drive-ai-based-research-in-healthcare.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26257/samsung-and-iit-madras-sign-mou-to-drive-ai-based-research-in-healthcare.html Tue, 17 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0530 Samsung R&D Institute, Noida (SRI-N) has deepened its industry-academia engagement through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) to drive collaborative research, accelerate technology development and nurture future-ready talent. The partnership will focus on pioneering advancements in AI for Indian languages, HealthTech and emerging areas such as Generative AI, reinforcing Samsung’s commitment to build a stronger innovation ecosystem aligned with the vision of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Digital India’. The five-year MoU that was signed by Kyungyun Roo, Managing Director, SRI-N and Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, aims to provide a wide range of collaborative activities, including sponsored research projects, consultancy projects, technology licensing, trainings, facility development and sponsorship of student fellowships in future. This strategic partnership between Samsung India and IIT Madras adds to SRI-Noida’s growing network of academic collaborations, having already established long-term strategic MoUs with premier institutes including IIT Delhi, IIT Kanpur, IIT Bombay and IIT Ropar. Samsung and these institutes are charting an expansive roadmap toward a smarter, more connected world. By combining industry-scale resources with academic rigor, these partnerships are cultivating a thriving ecosystem for future breakthroughs. SRI-Noida will sponsor research and development (R&D) projects, which may be conducted at IIT Madras, the company’s premises or through a collaborative arrangement at both locations. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26242/biocon-foundation-in-partnership-with-ncbs-and-best-cluster-launches-biowise-programme-to-empower-women-in-stem-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26242/biocon-foundation-in-partnership-with-ncbs-and-best-cluster-launches-biowise-programme-to-empower-women-in-stem-.html Fri, 13 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0530 Biocon Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of BEngaluru-based Biocon Group, in collaboration with The Bengaluru Science and Technology (BeST) Cluster, and National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), has announced the launch of first-of-its-kind programme BioWISE - Women in STEM Empowered, aimed at disadvantaged science students from tier 2 and 3 universities across Karnataka, to build a career in life sciences. BioWISE, a part of Biocon Biologics CSR initiative, is a transformative initiative aimed at enhancing access, participation, and retention of women from underserved communities in STEM, particularly life sciences. By supporting 25 women students from diverse communities through scholarships, extended internships, and mentorship, this programme is a significant step towards building a scientific ecosystem, which is diverse, inclusive, and equitable. As the first state-level cohort, the BioWISE programme will support 25 women students, including 15 postgraduates (PG) and 10 undergraduates (UG) from life sciences backgrounds. The initiative is designed to run for 6 months for PG students and 3 months for UG students, offering them extensive exposure, training, and mentorship. BioWISE provides a multi-dimensional platform to build competencies, foster mentorship, and open up research and industry pathways for women entering the STEM specifically life sciences workforce. Biocon Foundation will enable the initiative through funding and experts from Biocon Biologics, industry partner, will support with mentorship; while NCBS will serve as the host institute and academic mentoring partner. BeST Cluster will contribute to the program’s design, management, and implementation. Regular Mentor-Mentee Sessions: Participants will engage in continuous mentorship sessions with experts from Biocon Biologics, NCBS, and other institutions to gain insights into research and career opportunities. Lab Visits & Scientific Exposure: Structured visits to NCBS, TIGS (Tata Institute for Genetics and Society), IISc (Indian Institute of Science), and JNCASR (Jawaharlal Nehru Centre For Advanced Scientific Research) will provide practical exposure to world-class research labs and facilities. Bio-Incubation Centre Visits: Participants will explore bio-incubators and entrepreneurial ecosystems to understand innovation pathways in life sciences. Hands-on Training & Research Seminars: Focused workshops, wet-lab experiences, and research-oriented seminars/webinars will help participants build core technical and scientific thinking skills. Soft Skills & Communication Training: Emphasis will be placed on workplace readiness, professional communication, and career planning to ensure sustainable reintegration into STEM fields. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26234/lpu-launches-healthcare-courses-for-child-and-elder-care.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26234/lpu-launches-healthcare-courses-for-child-and-elder-care.html Thu, 12 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0530 Lovely Professional University (LPU), in Punjab, has launched India’s most future-forward healthcare programmes- B.Sc. and Diploma courses in Child and Elderly Care; marking a significant milestone in Allied Health Sciences education. As the world faces an unprecedented surge in demand for skilled caregivers, LPU’s pioneering initiative opens up exceptional global career pathways for students. These programmes are more than just academic offerings; they are life-changing opportunities to become part of one of the fastest-growing professions across countries like Canada, Australia, the UK, and the US. With limited seats and soaring interest, missing this wave now could mean missing out on a future-proof career in global healthcare. The newly launched programmes, available as a 2-year Diploma and a 3-year B.Sc. degree, are tailored to address critical workforce shortages in child and elderly care; two of the most rapidly growing healthcare domains worldwide. These programmes equip students with hands-on competencies in caregiving, health and wellness management, psychosocial support, and safety protocols for vulnerable age groups such as infants, children, and the elderly. The curriculum is aligned with international caregiving standards, ensuring that graduates are ready for direct placement in countries where the demand for professional caregivers is surging due to aging populations and evolving family structures. From Geriatric Care Assistants and Home Care Coordinators to careers in Palliative Care, Elderly Wellness Coaching, and even entrepreneurial roles like running day care centres or senior living homes; students are positioned to enter high-impact, high-respect professions. Opportunities also exist in hospitals, rehabilitation centres, NGOs, private care agencies, and global caregiving networks.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26206/faba-completes-first-finishing-school-programme-for-biotech-students.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26206/faba-completes-first-finishing-school-programme-for-biotech-students.html Thu, 05 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0530 The Federation of Asian Biotech Associations (FABA), in collaboration with Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL) and Agri Biotech Foundation (ABF), successfully completed its 1st “Finishing School” programme on June 4, 2025, at the ABF campus in Rajendranagar, Hyderabad. This unique one-month initiative was envisioned to address a persistent challenge in the biotechnology landscape, the critical gap between academic education and industry expectations. Through a meticulously curated 27-day curriculum, the Finishing School trained a select cohort of 20 life sciences graduates, postgraduates and entry level industry employees equipping them with the technical proficiency, laboratory competence, and professional discipline required to excel in real-world biotech and pharmaceutical industries. Participants underwent intensive hands-on training in microbiology, molecular biology, mammalian cell culture, and laboratory instrumentation, using industry-standard tools such as CO₂ incubators, SDS-PAGE, Western blotting units, HPLC and electrophoresis systems. The curriculum also integrated sessions on biosafety, Record keeping, quality control protocols, and regulatory framework - areas essential to contemporary biotech practices. Strategic Saturdays, a highlight of “finishing school” has significant emphasis on soft skills and career readiness. Through dedicated mentoring sessions, intensive training on personal branding, CV structuring and scientific communication. Participants were groomed to present themselves as confident and competent professionals. These sessions were led by seasoned industry leaders, HR professionals, and academic experts who provided insights into work-place expectations, interview dynamics, and strategic career planning. The programme was further enriched by a series of scientific lectures delivered by leading voices from academia and industry, including experts from the University of Hyderabad, Biological E. Ltd., NIAB, Dr. Reddy’s Labs, Indian Immunologicals Limited, IKP Knowledge Park, UMED Pharma and various industries. Participants engaged in meaningful discussions with these thought leaders, gaining clarity on advanced research areas such as Gene editing, plant biotechnology, Bio informatics, virology, and drug discovery and development. Complementing these academic experiences were curated industrial visits and to ASPIRE Incubation Centre and School of Life Science at University of Hyderabad, UR therapeutics, Bycus therapeutics, Umed Pharma, Huwel Life Sciences, and YMC India. These visits offered participants direct exposure to core technologies such as RT-PCR, chromatography, flow cytometry, and advanced bioprocessing platforms. The program featured technology demonstrations by 30M Genomics and Thermo Fisher Scientific, offering hands-on exposure to advanced tools in genomics and laboratory instrumentation. In his opening remarks, Prof Reddanna emphasised that the Finishing School is not a one-time effort but the beginning of a long-term industry-academia collaboration through enhancing skills in life sciences. “My experience at the FABA Finishing School internship was transformative and highly enriching. The programme offered a well-balanced combination of practical exposure, theoretical clarity, and soft skills development, all of which significantly enhanced my academic foundation and professional readiness.From a practical perspective, I had the opportunity to gain hands-on training in microbiology, molecular biology, and animal cell culture techniques. The chance to work directly in laboratory settings allowed me to apply theoretical knowledge to real-time experiments and procedures with precision and confidence.” – Nikitha G “Soft skills are like oil that greases the wheels of our career success. I highly recommend this training to anyone who wants to improve their skills. The trainer was knowledgeable and enthusiastic. I learned a lot about “Communication abilities" and feel more confident in my abilities. This training has given me the knowledge I need to achieve a specific goal. And also I learned Interpersonal skills, Social skills, Laboratory notebook maintenance, career development strategies, Personal branding and CV building using AI tools for scientific research.” – Durga Harika R   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26197/chandigarh-university-up-emerges-as-new-hub-for-pharmacy-education-in-ai-and-research.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26197/chandigarh-university-up-emerges-as-new-hub-for-pharmacy-education-in-ai-and-research.html Tue, 03 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0530 Chandigarh University, Uttar Pradesh (UP), continues to break new ground in AI-augmented multidisciplinary education with a major milestone- its School of Pharmacy has received formal approval from the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) for its Bachelor of Pharmacy (B. Pharma) programme. This development marks a significant step in establishing Uttar Pradesh as a forward-looking destination for pharmacy education. The curriculum is designed to balance theoretical foundations with hands-on training, ensuring that students graduate as competent and industry-ready healthcare professionals. The Pharmacy Council of India has granted formal approval to Chandigarh University, Lucknow Campus to begin offering 60 seats in the Pharmacy course from the academic session 2025. Students at the School of Pharmacy can pursue careers in diverse fields such as Clinical Research, Intellectual Property Management, Regulatory Affairs, Quality Control, and Medical Writing. The university also imparts regulatory training in Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), and Good Clinical Practices (GCP), ensuring graduates are prepared to work in highly regulated environments. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26191/scrmp-announces-annual-international-conference-2025-at-medicaps-university.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26191/scrmp-announces-annual-international-conference-2025-at-medicaps-university.html Sat, 31 May 2025 00:00:00 +0530 The Society of Clinical Research and Medical Professionals (SCRMP) is set to host its prestigious Annual International Conference 2025 on August 23, 2025, at Medicaps University, Indore, Madhya Pradesh. With the theme “The Future of Drug Safety: From Clinical Trials to Real-World Evidence,” the event promises to be a landmark gathering of global leaders in pharmacovigilance, regulatory science, clinical research; Academician’s and students. The conference will feature participation from over 14 international organizations, including IQVIA, Syneos Health, Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), Freyr Solutions, Novartis, and Clinxel, reinforcing SCRMP’s role as a dynamic platform for industry-academia collaboration and policy dialogue in life sciences. Key figures leading the event include Gurpreet Singh, Vice President at IQVIA (UK) and President of SCRMP; DrTarunjot Singh, Director at Syneos Health (UK) and Vice President of SCRMP; and Mohammad Gayoor Khan, Co-Founder & General Secretary of SCRMP. These leaders, alongside Dr. Umama Yezdani, Founder of SCRMP, envision the conference as a platform to bridge academia and real-world industry practice, empowering young professionals and driving regulatory innovation. “This conference will offer students and professionals an immersive experience into real-world pharmacovigilance, post-marketing surveillance, and international regulatory practices,” said Gurpreet Singh. “We are committed to creating global exposure and aligning India’s clinical research capabilities with global standards.” Tarunjot Singh added, “The collaboration between SCRMP, Medicaps University, and global stakeholders is a transformative initiative that will set new benchmarks in academic-industry engagement. Our goal is to equip the next generation with actionable insights and applied knowledge.” Mohammad Gayoor khan added This conference will bring together industry leaders, academicians, and students on a single platform, aligning with the core mission of the Society of Clinical Research and Medical Professionals (SCRMP).We are also offering conference proceedings and hosting a range of engaging activities such as poster presentations , Annual SCRMP Magzine and expert-led sessions. This event aims to broaden perspectives and provide valuable insights into the current landscape of clinical research and the pharmacovigilance (PV) industry. Pannelist Industry experts joining such as Punam Kumari , Dr Shipra Sehgal, Dr Rohni Pandey, Gurpreet Kaur,Dr. Himanshu Bhatnagar, Dr Harsimran Kaur, Nishth Vyas, Priya Vyas , Nikhil C Bhanumati, Dr Siva Kumar Buddha offering global perspectives on drug safety, public health, and regulatory strategy.   Academic Publishing Milestone In a major academic initiative, SCRMP will officially launch the first issue of the “Journal of Patient Safety & Epidemiology”, a peer-reviewed publication focusing on pharmacovigilance, health outcomes, and public health surveillance. Additionally, in collaboration with Medicaps University and SCRMP publishing division EndricScience, SCRMP will unveil a new interdisciplinary journal dedicated to pharmacy, clinical research, and drug development. This journal aim to provide an accessible publishing platform for students, early-career researchers, and healthcare professionals committed to evidence-based practices.   Academic Leadership Medicaps University is playing a central role in hosting the conference, with Dr Sanjay Jain (Principal, College of Pharmacy at Medicaps University as Conference Chairman, Dr Hemant Khambete as Convenor, and Prof. Ritu Sapra as Organising Secretary. Their leadership, combined with support from SCRMP’s Faculty Forum, underlines the institution’s commitment to research-driven education. The Annual SCRMP International Conference 2025 is expected to attract hundreds of delegates from across India and abroad, making it one of the most anticipated events in the clinical research and pharmacovigilance calendar. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26183/p-d-hinduja-hospital-and-kings-college-london-commence-first-training-programme-for-nurses.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26183/p-d-hinduja-hospital-and-kings-college-london-commence-first-training-programme-for-nurses.html Thu, 29 May 2025 00:00:00 +0530 P. D. Hinduja Hospital & Medical Research Centre has entered into a strategic services agreement with King’s College London, Guy’s andSt Thomas’ NHS Foundation to deliver training in clinical and non-clinical courses for doctors and nurses, research capacity building and executive education to health professionals in India and the UK. The inaugural academic initiative of this collaboration was launched on May 16th, 2025, a tailored Clinical Nursing Leadership programme aimed at empowering senior nursing professionals in India. This represents a bold step forward in advancing nursing education and healthcare leadership through global tie-ups. The 12-week course, titled “Clinical Nursing Leadership,” is being conducted by the faculty of the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care at King’s College London. Structured as a hybrid programme, it combines online and in-person instruction and follows a synchronous, activity-based teaching methodology designed to engage and elevate experienced nursing leaders. A cohort of highly qualified nurses currently serving in senior leadership roles at P. D. Hinduja Hospital have enrolled in this inaugural batch. The curriculum is designed not only to enhance clinical acumen but also to cultivate the strategic thinking and leadership competencies required to manage modern healthcare environments. The teaching faculty for this programme includes renowned educators and practitioners from King’s College London with deep expertise in clinical nursing, adult care, mental health, and pedagogy. The collaborative design of the program underscores a shared commitment to international excellence in nursing education. Dr Phalakshi Manjrekar, Director of Nursing, P. D. Hinduja Hospital & Medical Research Centre, said, “Nurses are essential drivers of healthcare quality and safety, and by investing in their leadership development, we are investing in the future resilience of our health systems. Our collaboration with King’s College London brings a unique opportunity to blend international standards with local clinical realities, helping to bridge gaps in knowledge and practice." Dr Julia Philippou, Vice Dean International in the Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care at King’s College London said, “This initiative goes beyond leadership development - it equips senior nursing professionals with the advanced knowledge, skills, and global perspective needed to lead, influence, and elevate nursing practice." Some of the activities planned include research and capacity building, using technological and digital advances to develop effective healthcare solutions, scholarships for students in India in biomedical and imaging sciences, etc. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26174/launched-global-to-empower-indian-nurses-and-healthcare-professionals-with-global-careers.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26174/launched-global-to-empower-indian-nurses-and-healthcare-professionals-with-global-careers.html Wed, 28 May 2025 00:00:00 +0530 Edtech company LaunchEd Global has announced specific plans to assist healthcare professionals in securing direct employment opportunities in European countries, beginning with Germany. With a growing demand for skilled medical professionals like qualified nurses and physiotherapists across Europe, LaunchEd Global is offering a comprehensive plan that includes job matching, language training (B1/B2), visa assistance, and full relocation support—making the dream of working abroad more achievable than ever. Founded in 2024, LaunchEd Global is on track to support 1000+ allied professionals within the next two years. “There is a massive gap in the German healthcare sector while there is, and we plan to bridge that gap while empowering Indian nurses and healthcare professionals with global careers,” said Ritesh Jain, Co-founder of LaunchEd Global. “This is not just about jobs; it’s about providing long-term, high-quality professional growth in one of the most respected healthcare systems in the world,” he said. LaunchEd Global will be able to assist skilled healthcare professionals in securing direct jobs in top German hospitals and elder care institutions. It will also help them with German language coaching (up to B2 level) to meet local requirements and assist professionals with visas, documentation, and interview preparation. LaunchEd Global will also support with accommodation, onboarding in Germany and help them with long-term PR potential, structured career support. Germany faces a healthcare staff shortage, especially in elder care and hospital nursing, creating a massive opportunity for international professionals. LaunchEd Global will ensure that candidates are placed successfully and supported throughout the migration journey. “Our goal is to simplify the complex migration process and ensure our candidates feel confident and cared for every step of the way,” said Kajal Dave, Co-founder of LaunchEd Global. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26167/iit-kgp-inks-mou-with-technische-universitat-darmstadt-germany-to-foster-academic-collaboration.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26167/iit-kgp-inks-mou-with-technische-universitat-darmstadt-germany-to-foster-academic-collaboration.html Mon, 26 May 2025 00:00:00 +0530 The Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT-KGP) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Technische Universitat Darmstadt, Germany, to foster collaboration in academic, research and innovation initiatives. Dr Jana Freihöfer, Dean of International Affairs, Technical University Darmstadt discussed a range of disciplines, including robotics, AI, mechanical, aerospace, computer science & engineering, electrical, electronics engineering disciplines, political science, biological sciences, medical sciences, biotechnology, industrial engineering, and others. The meeting was marked by active engagement and sharing of insights on potential areas for joint academic and research programmes, reinforcing the strategic priorities of both institutions.  The MoU sets a framework for both institutions to explore innovative opportunities for cooperation, including student and faculty exchange programmes, joint research projects, and shared academic ventures. It is envisaged that several collaborative academic and research programmes will emerge from this strategic partnership.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26152/pm-narendra-modi-announces-launch-of-wadhwani-hub-and-wadhwani-innovation-and-translation-centre-at-iit-b.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26152/pm-narendra-modi-announces-launch-of-wadhwani-hub-and-wadhwani-innovation-and-translation-centre-at-iit-b.html Sat, 24 May 2025 00:00:00 +0530 In a landmark move to position India as a global leader in biosciences, bioengineering, health, and medicine, the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, and the Wadhwani Foundation have announced the creation of two transformative new initiatives at the YUGM Innovation Conclave: the Wadhwani Hub for Biosciences, Bioengineering, Health and Medicine and the Wadhwani Innovation and Translation Centre (WITC) at IIT Bombay. This landmark initiative  by the Wadhwani Foundation and IIT Bombay lays the foundation for a world-class ecosystem integrating graduate education, research, innovation, and real-world applications. With a philanthropic commitment of Rs 100 crore by the Wadhwani Foundation and a Rs 200 crore matching contribution from IIT Bombay to be raised by the Institute, the initiative will be anchored by an upcoming 120,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art building. The Hub will focus on strengthening high-quality M.Tech. and PhD programmes, advancing cutting-edge research, and fostering interdisciplinary solutions for pressing challenges in healthcare and medicine. The Wadhwani Hub will house multiple specialised centres, including those focused on biosciences, healthcare systems, and medical technologies, each incorporating artificial intelligence and machine learning into its research framework. Within the Hub, the Wadhwani Innovation and Translation Centre (WITC) will accelerate the journey from lab to market. It will focus on translational research, startup incubation, and commercialization, serving as a national catalyst for converting scientific breakthroughs into impactful solutions. This new initiative builds on the Wadhwani Foundation’s earlier support for translation in biosciences through the Wadhwani Research Centre for Bioengineering (WRCB), reinforcing a decade-long commitment to impactful research and innovation at IIT Bombay.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26123/muhs-to-pioneer-emotion-ai-in-indian-healthcare-sector-with-nihilents-emoscape-platform.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26123/muhs-to-pioneer-emotion-ai-in-indian-healthcare-sector-with-nihilents-emoscape-platform.html Fri, 16 May 2025 00:00:00 +0530 In a landmark step toward advancing holistic healthcare, the academic wing of the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), Nashik the country's premier institution overseeing over 600 medical, dental, Ayurveda, and allied health institutions has officially partnered with Nihilent to explore clinical applications of Emoscape, the company’s innovative AI-based emotion detection platform. This collaboration marks a transformative moment in the Indian healthcare landscape, combining the ancient Indian concept of Navarasa (the nine emotions) with modern artificial intelligence to fundamentally reshape how emotional well-being is integrated into diagnosis, treatment, and patient care. Emoscape leverages cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology to detect nine core emotions love, joy, compassion, anger, courage, fear, disgust, wonder, and calmness by capturing subtle upper-body movements (shoulder and above) in 3D. This breakthrough platform draws inspiration from Navarasa, the ancient emotional theory that has played a pivotal role in Indian performing arts for centuries. The integration of this ancient wisdom with modern AI allows for real-time emotion detection, providing unprecedented insights into a patient’s emotional state and opening new avenues for personalised care and treatment. The partnership will allow MUHS to explore clinical applications of Emoscape across a range of disciplines, including non-communicable diseases, pediatric and adolescent care, maternal mental health, pre-surgical counselling, psychiatric conditions and ensuring patient privacy. Through this initiative, MUHS aims to bring emotional diagnostics into mainstream healthcare, aligning with its commitment to delivering comprehensive, patient-centred care. In addition to its clinical applications, the collaboration will facilitate hands-on student engagement through Nihilent’s Summer Internship Program, providing MUHS students with valuable exposure to the intersection of AI and healthcare. This initiative will empower the next generation of healthcare professionals with the skills and knowledge necessary to embrace technological advancements and innovate in their respective fields.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26120/virohan-and-lenskart-join-hands-to-build-next-generation-of-optometrists.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26120/virohan-and-lenskart-join-hands-to-build-next-generation-of-optometrists.html Thu, 15 May 2025 00:00:00 +0530 Virohan, a leading institution in healthcare and allied education, has partnered with Lenskart, India’s premier eyewear brand, to launch an exclusive program, SureStart, designed to align education with evolving industry demands and standards. This programme equips students with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills essential for the ophthalmic field, preparing them to confidently step into job-ready roles at Lenskart. The SureStart Programme, launched by Virohan, offers students a strong foundation for their careers by bridging the education-to-employment gap. This initiative aims to educate the next generation of optometrists through a blend of classroom learning, hands-on training, and paid internships at over 2,000 Lenskart stores across India. SureStart combines academic curriculum with real-world experience to help students build stable, rewarding careers,making it a strong example of job-focused education.  The programme offers two distinct pathways for aspiring eye care professionals, a 3-year B.Sc. in Ophthalmic Techniques and a 4-year Bachelor of Optometry. The curriculum covers critical areas such as ocular pathology, contact lenses, binocular vision, and optometric procedures, ensuring students are well-equipped for success in the field. Virohan students across India will gain real-world exposure through Lenskart store visits, guest lectures by industry professionals, and exclusive learning modules tailored to the fast-growing eye care sector. Upon successful completion, students will also receive an Award of Excellence, further strengthening their credentials. The SureStart Programme is being rolled out across Virohan campuses in key cities, offering students a comprehensive blend of classroom learning and practical, on-the-ground experience. With paid internships at Lenskart stores, the programme addresses the urgent need for skilled professionals in both healthcare and retail—while creating a direct, stable path to employment. Initially launching in select cities, the programme is set to expand nationwide in the coming months.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26100/borderplus-commits-rs-10-cr-worth-scholarships-over-next-2-years-to-equip-indian-nurses-for-global-careers.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26100/borderplus-commits-rs-10-cr-worth-scholarships-over-next-2-years-to-equip-indian-nurses-for-global-careers.html Mon, 12 May 2025 00:00:00 +0530 BorderPlus, a leading workforce mobility platform, reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the nation's healthcare champions. Recognising the importance of nurses and the world's urgent need for their expertise and skills, BorderPlus has announced a significant investment in their future, committing Rs 10 crore in scholarships over the next 2 years. The initiative will support deserving and aspiring nurses, enabling them to build successful international careers. Marking a key milestone in this mission, BorderPlus also unveiled its first regional Training & Support Center in Kochi, a hub aimed at nurturing nursing talent from the southern region through personalised guidance and resources.  The centre currently supports over 120 candidates, with plans to expand this capacity to more than 500. It offers in-person exam preparation, personalised counseling, and comprehensive documentation support. Through this centre, BorderPlus will also provide digital offerings, directly supporting nurses across Kerala and neighbouring regions. The Kochi centre will be operated by a trusted local franchisee partner and enrollments have already started. Mayank Kumar and Ayush Mathur, Co-founders of BorderPlus said, "The global healthcare sector faces a significant nursing shortage, presenting a unique opportunity for India's vast pool of skilled and dedicated nurses. At BorderPlus, our mission is to empower these professionals by providing structured, ethical, and transparent pathways to international careers." Despite India’s rich nursing talent, candidates exploring global career pathways often face hurdles such as end-mile skilling gap, prohibitive exam costs, complex documentation requirements, and a lack of reliable guidance. The scholarship, open to Indian nurses, aims to address these fundamental barriers by offering crucial financial support and structured guidance enabling Indian nurses to pursue overseas careers with greater confidence and clarity.    ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26099/redversity-and-aihsm-roll-out-healthcare-programmes-for-aspiring-professionals-in-hyderabad.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26099/redversity-and-aihsm-roll-out-healthcare-programmes-for-aspiring-professionals-in-hyderabad.html Fri, 09 May 2025 00:00:00 +0530 In a strategic move to equip students with job-relevant skills and close the critical talent gap, RedVersity, the academic and skilling arm of RED Health, has partnered with the Asian Institute of Health Sciences and Management to launch nine specialised programmes in Hyderabad. These programmes are designed to shape the next generation of healthcare professionals through a blend of academic rigor and real-world application. With a combined annual intake of more than 500 students, the offerings include B.Voc., M.Voc., Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Postgraduate in Management, Executive Postgraduate Program in Management, PG Diploma, and Physician Assistant programmes. Admissions have officially opened, and classes are scheduled to begin in mid-August at the Hyderabad campus. At the core of these programmes lies a curriculum aligned with real-time industry needs. Students can specialise in key disciplines such as Emergency Medicine, Cardiac Care Technology, Cardiovascular Technology, Respiratory Therapy, and several others that are essential to modern healthcare delivery. These high-demand focus areas reflect the commitment of both institutions to address the most pressing clinical skill gaps in India and abroad. The curriculum emphasises practical, hands-on learning with simulation-based training. This approach ensures that students develop the critical thinking and clinical skills required to perform effectively in high-stakes healthcare environments. Every enrolled student will benefit from guaranteed internships and assured placements, reflecting the deep industry alignment embedded in the programme design.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26079/gd-goenka-healthcare-academy-announces-the-intake-to-para-medical-and-allied-healthcare-courses.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26079/gd-goenka-healthcare-academy-announces-the-intake-to-para-medical-and-allied-healthcare-courses.html Mon, 05 May 2025 00:00:00 +0530 The GD Goenka Healthcare Academy has announced the introduction of Paramedical and Allied Healthcare Courses in Patel Nagar, Delhi,. These courses will be delivered through its dedicated Centre of Patel Nagar, DELHI,. Ideal for students who wish to pursue a career in the field of paramedics and Allied healthcare right after their 10th std, 12th std or even after Graduation, the academy offers a range of courses to suite the individual needs, skills and educational preferences. As part of the initial phase offerings, the   Academy offers 2 years of Diploma Courses in the following Disciplines – Medical Laboratory Technician, Cardiac Care Technician, Emergency medical Technician – Paramedic, Radiology Technician, X Ray Technician & Operation Theater Technician & Radiology Technician. B.VOC & M.VOC (Bachelor of Vocation & Master of Vocation Courses) The Certificate Programmes include – Emergency Medical Technician – Basic, Medical Nursing Assistant, Patients Relations Associate, Phlebotomy Technician Course, etc. Depending on the chosen courses, the practical sessions will be held at the academy in its state of art lab along with hands-on practical training. The students will also get a chance of clinical exposure in the form of clinical internship at leading healthcare facilities in local region and other areas as part of these programme(s). All students will be guided and trained by well experienced faculties and SMEs to maintain quality on board in their chosen domain. The Academy through its long-standing association and with a GD Goenka group legacy of 30 years of excellence in quality education has a strong industry connect with leading healthcare providers across the country and through these tie ups, the Academy also supports job placements for interested and serious students on completion of their course. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26033/health-ministry-launches-new-curricula-for-ten-allied-healthcare-professions.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26033/health-ministry-launches-new-curricula-for-ten-allied-healthcare-professions.html Thu, 24 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0530 Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in collaboration with the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP), has launched competency-based curricula for ten allied and healthcare professions. This strategic initiative is aimed at ensuring uniformity and excellence in the education and training of allied and healthcare professionals across the country, thereby strengthening the healthcare delivery system in accordance with the emerging needs of the nation. The newly launched curricula are built upon the following principles: Standardisation: Establishing minimum educational standards to ensure consistent quality of graduating professionals nationwide. Competency-Based Approach: Emphasising the practical application of knowledge and skills in real-world healthcare settings, moving beyond theoretical knowledge. Holistic Development: Fostering not only clinical expertise but also essential skills such as communication, teamwork, ethical practice, and lifelong learning. Support for Universal Health Coverage: Preparing a skilled workforce in physiotherapy and renal care to support the government's vision of Universal Health Coverage. The newly developed curricula aim to cultivate globally competent allied and healthcare professionals, equipped to meet the rising burden of disease and the increasing demand for allied health services. These programs are structured to align with the evolving needs of the healthcare sector, both nationally and internationally. The development process involved extensive consultation with academic experts, representatives from professional associations, and key stakeholders across the healthcare ecosystem. A thorough review of existing educational modules was conducted, incorporating insights and feedback from senior technical advisors to ensure relevance and rigor. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26019/iit-g-launches-4-year-bachelor-of-science-programme-in-biomedical-science-and-engineering.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26019/iit-g-launches-4-year-bachelor-of-science-programme-in-biomedical-science-and-engineering.html Tue, 22 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0530 The Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati (IIT-G) has announced the launch of its new four-year Bachelor of Science (BS) Programme in Biomedical Science and Engineering. The programme will be offered by the Jyoti and Bhupat Mehta School of Health Sciences and Technology (JBMSHST) at IIT Guwahati. A key highlight of the programme will include the collaborative learning experience with All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Guwahati and the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Guwahati. Sharing his thoughts on the programme, Prof. Devendra Jalihal, Director, IIT Guwahati, said, “This interdisciplinary programme brings together engineering, medical sciences, and pharmacology on a single platform, addressing the need for professionals who can work across disciplines to tackle future challenges. As the problems of tomorrow will not fit into traditional silos, this program is designed to bridge those gaps. Supported by the Mehta Family Foundation and reviewed by leading experts from IIT Guwahati, AIIMS Guwahati and NIPER Guwahati, it is set to be a pioneering initiative." The application process for the programme will begin on 25th April 2025 and will remain open until 25th May 2025.  The programme will offer a strong academic foundation with comprehensive coursework spanning pre-clinical, para-clinical, and clinical domains. Students will gain hands-on skill development through specialised engineering modules designed to bridge the gap between technology and healthcare. A key feature of the programme is the clinical immersion experience, where students will have the opportunity to interact with leading surgeons and medical practitioners. Additionally, the curriculum boasts a cross-institutional learning framework in collaboration with AIIMS Guwahati and NIPER Guwahati to ensure exposure to diverse perspectives in biomedical science and engineering. From a career perspective, graduates of the program will find opportunities across a wide range of domains, including bioinstrumentation, biomedical devices, pharmacology and therapeutics, bioinformatics, and artificial intelligence, as well as research and development in health technology. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26017/emeritus-and-xlri-introduce-first-of-its-kind-global-healthcare-leadership-programme.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/26017/emeritus-and-xlri-introduce-first-of-its-kind-global-healthcare-leadership-programme.html Mon, 21 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0530 In its first-ever foray into the Indian education landscape, France-based Sorbonne Business School has partnered with XLRI and Emeritus to introduce the Global Healthcare Leadership for CXOs programme, a first-of-its-kind offering designed to empower healthcare leaders and senior executives in India. This 8-month programme combines XLRI’s leadership expertise with Sorbonne’s global insights, equipping participants to navigate the evolving healthcare landscape and drive impactful change within their organisations. The demand for Indian healthcare professionals is expected to double nationally and globally by 2030, driven by India's shortage of healthcare workers, with just 1.7 nurses per 1,000 people and a doctor-to-patient ratio of 1:1,500 as per the 2024 report by IBEF (India Brand Equity Foundation). These data underscore the critical need for skilled leadership in the healthcare sector to address workforce challenges and improve care delivery. By focusing on the intersection of healthcare policy and leadership, this programme will equip senior leaders to tackle the sector's most pressing challenges and create a more sustainable future for Indian healthcare. Tailored for senior and emerging healthcare professionals, healthcare innovators, policy advisors, and entrepreneurs, the programme combines live online sessions from globally renowned Sorbonne Business School and XLRI faculty, interactive learning, as well as practical application. It includes two 9-day campus immersions at XLRI campus for deep learning and networking, along with two modules from Sorbonne Business School faculty focusing on crisis management, effective communication during crises, and enhancing organizational resilience. Participants will complete a capstone project to apply insights to real-world challenges and gain Executive Alumni Status at XLRI, providing access to ongoing learning and networking. The curriculum covers key areas such as stakeholder management, corporate governance, and emerging healthcare innovations — including telemedicine, data analytics, and medical technology — preparing leaders to drive impactful change. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25903/diginerve-introduces-comprehensive-learning-solution-for-prof-2-mbbs-students.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25903/diginerve-introduces-comprehensive-learning-solution-for-prof-2-mbbs-students.html Fri, 28 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0530 Delhi-based DigiNerve, an EdTech platform by Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers, has launched DigiTwo, an innovative learning combo designed specifically for Prof 2 MBBS students. This comprehensive solution combines cutting-edge digital learning with expert-led instruction to strengthen students' foundation in essential Prof 2 subjects. DigiTwo’s expert faculty panel includes distinguished educators from Microbiology, Pathology, and Pharmacology. DigiTwo addresses the complexities of medical learning through an integrated approach, featuring over 320+ topics supported by detailed video lectures and printed notes. The package also includes a robust Question Bank with 2,000+ practice questions alongside 30+ Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) modules for practical skill development. Students benefit from 450+ High-Yield GEMS for quick revision and regular webinars conducted by leading medical educators. Setting new standards in medical learning technology, DigiTwo introduces the Dr. Wise AI Chatbot for instant query resolution and personalised learning support. The platform's structured test series enables students to track their progress while building confidence through regular assessment and detailed performance analysis. This launch marks a significant milestone in DigiNerve's commitment to transforming medical learning, offering students a dynamic and effective pathway to master the subjects. The platform combines traditional learning methodologies with innovative digital solutions, ensuring students are well-equipped for examinations.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25847/nagaland-university-announces-undergraduate-programme-in-basic-sciences.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25847/nagaland-university-announces-undergraduate-programme-in-basic-sciences.html Tue, 18 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0530 Nagaland University is going to launch a new undergraduate programme in Basic Sciences from the Academic Year 2025-26. The University also plans to launch a Multidisciplinary Research Centre that will offer more programmes in Basic Sciences.  Initially, this new centre will offer 3-year/ 4-year Undergraduate programmes in Botany, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Zoology. The University also plans to offer more programmes in Basic Sciences in the coming years, including- Ø  Integrated Postgraduate programmes in Botany, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, and Zoology Ø  Ph.D. Programmes in all sciences and social sciences with an emphasis on the topics of multidisciplinary research Ø  Integrated PhD (PG + PhD) programmes in all sciences and social sciences with an emphasis on the topics of multidisciplinary research   The Undergraduate/ Integrated Postgraduate programmes will start with an intake capacity of 50 students across all the disciplines (Botany, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, and Zoology) during the academic year 2025-26.   The undergraduate programme seeks to equip students with the capacities in fields across arts, humanities, languages, natural sciences, and social sciences; an ethic of social engagement besides soft skills such as complex problem solving, critical thinking, creative thinking, and communication skills, along with rigorous specialization in a chosen disciplinary or interdisciplinary major and minor(s). Students can opt for a change of major within the broad discipline (Natural and Physical Sciences, Mathematical, Statistics, and Computational Sciences, Library, Information and Media Sciences, Commerce and Management, and Humanities and Social Sciences) at the end of the first year. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25836/h-e-l-group-signs-research-agreement-with-the-institute-of-chemical-technology-in-mumbai.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25836/h-e-l-group-signs-research-agreement-with-the-institute-of-chemical-technology-in-mumbai.html Fri, 14 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0530 H.E.L Group, a global developer and manufacturer of innovative laboratory tools for process optimisation, safety, and scale-up, has announced a research agreement with the Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT) in Mumbai to advance process safety in the chemical synthesis industry. The three year strategic alliance will focus on H.E.L’s Process Safety Hub combined with ICT Mumbai’s academic leadership and research acumen in the field of chemical sciences, engineering and allied fields. As part of the agreement, H.E.L will provide ICT Mumbai with a Simular Process Development Reaction Calorimeter, designed for applications including adiabatic calorimetry, autocatalysis, and batch and semi-batch reactors. By leveraging the derived thermodynamic and kinetic information of a reaction, the system enables optimization of process conditions, determination of safest conditions, and provides accurate and reliable measurements for precise process control. The Simular Reaction Calorimeter will be installed in ICT Mumbai’s research lab, where it will be integrated into chemical synthesis workflows as part of the Institute’s educational, mentoring and research programs enabling the development of safe processes to address real-world challenges. Professor Virendra Rathod, former Head of Chemical Engineering at Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, said: “Process optimisation is a critical part of developing safe chemical synthesis workflows. H.E.L’s Simular Reaction Calorimeter offers a highly flexible approach to process development, making it applicable across many of our focus areas Integration of the system into our research and academic programmes, combined with access to H.E.L’s wider expertise in process safety, will be invaluable as we look to develop cutting edge solutions now and in the future.” Rajeev Kumria, General Manager, H.E.L India commented, “Through this collaboration, we look forward to driving innovation and education in process safety, enabling development of efficient, safe chemical synthesis protocols, supporting both parties in our mission to increase focus on sustainability in the chemical technology industry." ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25816/ccrh-and-adamas-university-sign-mou-to-advance-homoeopathy-research.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25816/ccrh-and-adamas-university-sign-mou-to-advance-homoeopathy-research.html Tue, 11 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0530 The Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH), New Delhi and Adamas University, Kolkata, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to foster academic and research collaboration in the field of Homoeopathy. The agreement was formally signed by Dr Subhash Kaushik, Director General, CCRH, and Prof. Suranjan Das, Vice-Chancellor, Adamas University, in the esteemed presence of Nobel Laureate Sir Gregory Paul Winter and Dr Samit Ray, Chancellor, Adamas University Kolkata. This MoU marks a significant milestone in interdisciplinary research, paving the way for scientific advancements in homoeopathy through knowledge exchange and collaborative initiatives. It reflects the shared commitment of both institutions to furthering innovation and evidence-based research in alternative medicine. This partnership is expected to strengthen academic ties, facilitate joint research projects, and contribute to the broader acceptance and integration of Homoeopathy in mainstream healthcare. The Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy is an apex research organisation under the aegis of the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, conducting core research in the field of Homoeopathy. The Council collaborates with national and international institutes of excellence to conduct various research activities. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25818/red-health-opens-global-centre-of-excellence-in-allied-healthcare-education.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25818/red-health-opens-global-centre-of-excellence-in-allied-healthcare-education.html Tue, 11 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0530 Marking a bold step toward reshaping allied healthcare education, Hyderabad-based startup RED Health, Asia’s only JCI-accredited and India’s largest emergency medical care company, has introduced its dedicated education and training arm, RedVersity. This initiative is set to redefine emergency medicine and pre-hospital care training by equipping professionals with advanced skills and industry-leading expertise, addressing critical gaps in the healthcare sector. As the demand for skilled healthcare professionals continues to rise, RedVersity aims to empower aspiring medical professionals, working clinicians, and corporate partners through a diverse range of globally accredited programmes. These programmes, delivered through the recently acquired RED TACT Academy for Clinical Training, will provide internationally recognized certifications such as Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) from the American Heart Association (AHA) as well as Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) from the American College of Surgeons (ACS). In addition to short-duration certifications, RedVersity will offer medium-duration industry readiness programs, including EmergePro, a specialized finishing school designed to prepare undergraduate and postgraduate students for careers in emergency medical services and allied healthcare. The training portfolio will also include long-term academic collaborations with leading universities and institutions in India, integrating clinical exposure with academic excellence. Large-scale industrial safety programmes will further enhance workplace emergency preparedness, while a dedicated global workforce mobility initiative will open international career opportunities for healthcare professionals.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25749/vydehi-institute-of-medical-sciences-and-research-centre-and-intuitive-collaborate-to-expand-access-to-robotic-assisted-surgery.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25749/vydehi-institute-of-medical-sciences-and-research-centre-and-intuitive-collaborate-to-expand-access-to-robotic-assisted-surgery.html Thu, 27 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0530 Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Bengaluru, a leading institution in multi-specialty tertiary care, has joined hands with Intuitive, a global technology leader in minimally invasive care and the pioneer of robotic-assisted surgery (RAS), to introduce resident surgeons to robotic-assisted surgical technology through the Intuitive Robotic Onboarding Programme and Education (I-ROPE). This initiative marks the introduction of I-ROPE in a private hospital in India, providing surgical oncology postgraduate trainees with exposure to robotic-assisted surgery and its clinical applications.   The I-ROPE programme is designed to introduce early-career surgeons to robotic-assisted surgery through structured sessions that cover the technology, its applications across various surgical disciplines, and its potential role in modern clinical practice. At Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, the programme is being conducted using the state-of-the-art da Vinci surgical system, providing residents hands-on familiarity with one of the most advanced robotic-assisted surgical platforms available today. Despite the increasing adoption of robotic-assisted surgery worldwide, exposure to this technology remains limited within traditional surgical training programs in India. This collaboration between Intuitive and Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre aims to bridge this gap by integrating robotic-assisted surgery into early-stage surgical exposure, to help prepare future surgeons for evolving medical practices.  Intuitive has been expanding access to robotic-assisted surgery in India through the successful implementation of the I-ROPE programme across leading government medical institutions. These include AIIMS Delhi, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bengaluru, AIIMS Bhubaneswar, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi, and Armed Forces Medical College in Pune.     ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25672/iit-m-pravartak-partners-with-agilisium-to-accelerate-research-in-life-sciences-and-healthcare.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25672/iit-m-pravartak-partners-with-agilisium-to-accelerate-research-in-life-sciences-and-healthcare.html Thu, 13 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0530 The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) Pravartak Technologies Foundation has entered into a strategic partnership with Agilisium, a leading data innovation partner for Life Sciences companies, to accelerate Research in Life Sciences and Healthcare endeavors. With this move, the company aims to collaborate on joint research, social impact programmes, and innovative solutions. Agilisium, with its deep knowledge and on-ground expertise, will further develop data-focused solutions to create a strong ecosystem for the sectors in India. The MoU signed in the city will also enable Agilisium and IIT-M Pravartak to synergize their offerings for the benefit of the industry while driving innovation and societal impact. Through this newly-signed MoU, Agilisium will leverage its technological expertise and resources to augment IIT Madras’ Regional Interaction Centres (Kalvi Shakthi program), which are village-based study hubs designed to connect rural students with qualified educators via technology. This partnership will augment existing critical infrastructure, implement digital platforms for remote learning and healthcare, and collaborate on content development, transforming these centres into hubs of educational excellence in rural communities. IITM Pravartak Technologies is a Section 8 Company housing the Technology Innovation Hub on Sensors, Networking, Actuators and Control Systems. It is funded by Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, under its National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems and hosted by IIT Madras   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25642/upes-announces-strategic-partnership-with-medical-university-of-the-americas.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25642/upes-announces-strategic-partnership-with-medical-university-of-the-americas.html Thu, 06 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0530 The School of Health Sciences and Technology (SOHST) at UPES, a multi-disciplinary university in India, has announced a strategic first-of-its-kind partnership with the Medical University of the Americas (MUA). This collaboration marks a significant milestone in advancing medical education opportunities for aspiring doctors in India. Under this partnership with MUA, UPES will offer an accelerated pathway into medical education with admissions to the prestigious 5-Year BSc/MD undergraduate programme (1+2+2 years), with applications commencing in February 2025 for August 2025 intake. The programme consists of one year at UPES, followed by two years of pre-clinical education at MUA’s campus on St. Kitts, Nevis Island, and two years of clinical rotations in affiliated hospitals in the US. In the first year, students will be enrolled at the School of Health Sciences and Technology (SOHST) at UPES, in the Pre-Medical Certificate Programme. Upon successful completion of the first year, they will earn around 47 credits which can be transferred for progression to the MUA. Contingent on clearing all assessments and meeting MUA's eligibility criteria, students will receive a $50,000 scholarship, distributed over 13 semesters at MUA. This special inaugural scholarship is available exclusively to students who complete the Pre-Medical Certificate at UPES. This fully residential, highly rigorous programme will uphold the highest global standards of academic excellence, which require students to maintain a minimum 3 on a scale of 4 GPA to progress to MUA in the second year. The next 2 years of the programme will cover the foundations of medical school education. Delivered at the MUA academic campus on the island of Nevis, students will study Basic Sciences over 5 semesters. Students then travel to the US to complete five semesters of clinical rotations at teaching hospitals, clinics and medical centres that are affiliated with MUA.     Image caption- L-R- Diana Mockute, Chief Partnerships Officer, MUA and Dr Padma Venkat, Dean, School of Health Sciences and Technology (SOHST), UPES ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25566/iihmr-bangalore-and-red-health-academy-launch-first-of-its-kind-pg-certificate-course.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25566/iihmr-bangalore-and-red-health-academy-launch-first-of-its-kind-pg-certificate-course.html Mon, 20 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0530 Indian Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR) Bangalore, a leader in healthcare management education in India, and RED Health Academy, a pioneering institution in healthcare training and mobility, have joined hands to launch a groundbreaking programme- the Post Graduate Certificate in Management – Pre-Hospital Care (PGCM-PRHC). This 11-month postgraduate certificate course is the first of its kind in the Global South, aimed at addressing the critical talent gap in emergency medical services (EMS) and Pre-Hospital Care at large. Designed for healthcare professionals such as doctors, paramedics, nurses, and administrators, the programme equips participants with the managerial and clinical expertise required to excel in pre-hospital and emergency response services. With a unique curriculum blending theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and leadership training, graduates will be prepared to manage complex EMS operations in both India and global markets. Key Highlights of the Programme: 100% placement guarantee with opportunities in India and abroad. A balanced curriculum covering EMS concepts and hands on practice, patient communication, ethics, EMS regulations, trauma management, and leadership in emergency care. Career progression paths in EMS leadership, clinical operations, and academic training. The programme’s first cohort will launch in Bangalore, with plans to expand to other cities across India in subsequent batches. Graduates can look forward to career opportunities in roles such as a Clinical Operations Manager, Emergency Medicine Consultant, an Advanced Paramedic or an Emergency Response Instructor, with placement opportunities extending beyond India. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25546/tata-group-and-iisc-partner-to-establish-medical-school-to-pioneer-healthcare-education-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25546/tata-group-and-iisc-partner-to-establish-medical-school-to-pioneer-healthcare-education-.html Tue, 14 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0530 The Tata Group has announced a partnership with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) to establish the Tata IISc Medical School in the IISc Bengaluru campus. Under the MoU signed, the Tata Group will make a contribution of Rs 500 crore to support the establishment of the medical school. The Tata IISc Medical School will be a centre of excellence that seeks to catalyse a unique model of clinical research and medical education in India, by bringing basic science and engineering to bear on clinical science and practice. It will focus on a variety of specialities including oncology, cardiology, neurology, nephrology, diabetes and metabolic disorders, infectious diseases, integrative medicine, and public health. The Tata IISc Medical School will offer integrated MD-PhD and other dual degree programmes to create a new cadre of physician-scientists and medical technologists. These students will be trained simultaneously in the medical school as well as science and engineering labs at IISc, combining cutting-edge clinical practice with scientific research. The medical school seeks to establish a unique model of clinical research and training that can be emulated nationwide. It will also collaborate with renowned medical schools from across the world to enable students to acquire global expertise, knowledge and practices.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25519/chandigarh-university-announces-establishment-of-ai-enabled-futuristic-campus-in-lucknow-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25519/chandigarh-university-announces-establishment-of-ai-enabled-futuristic-campus-in-lucknow-.html Wed, 08 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0530 Chandigarh University (CU) has announced the establishment of the first-of-its-kind Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled next-gen futuristic campus at Unnao in Lucknow State Capital Region (SCR) of Uttar Pradesh, to provide AI-augmented multidisciplinary education tailored to the evolving needs of 21st-century learners. The AI-augmented Chandigarh University Uttar Pradesh Campus at India's first AI City in Lucknow SCR will revolutionise the country's educational landscape, with 43 AI-augmented futuristic undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. By embracing a multidisciplinary education model enriched by AI integration, these programmes will be offered across six streams, including Engineering, Business Administration, Health and Life Sciences, Humanities, Liberal Arts and Legal Studies from the 2025-26 academic year. The Uttar Pradesh government had earlier issued an 'Authorisation Letter' to Chandigarh University for its AI-integrated campus at Unnao in Lucknow SCR.  Uttar Pradesh Higher Education Minister Yogendra Upadhyay said, "Uttar Pradesh is on track to become a $1 trillion economy within the next five years as the state's GDP is projected to reach Rs 32 lakh crore by March 2025, positioning it as the fastest-growing economy in India and creating employment opportunities for 1.5 crore youth. In the past seven years, the state's economy, GDP, and per capita income have more than doubled due to the double engine government." ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25483/iit-b-joins-hands-with-tohoku-university-to-offer-mtech-and-phd-dual-degree-programmes.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25483/iit-b-joins-hands-with-tohoku-university-to-offer-mtech-and-phd-dual-degree-programmes.html Mon, 23 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0530 The Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT-B) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Japan's Tohoku University to launch the IIT Bombay-Tohoku University Joint Academic & Research Programme. The initiative will feature collaborative Master’s and PhD programmes, providing participants with the unique opportunity to receive dual mentorship from experts at both IIT Bombay and Tohoku University. In addition, students will gain access to world-class research facilities, cutting-edge resources, and the opportunity to immerse themselves in the academic environments of two prestigious universities. This partnership is designed to foster cross-border academic collaboration, enriching the learning journey and advancing research in various fields of study. The programme will initially focus on a dual degree initiative for research purposes, with the potential to evolve into a Joint Institute over time, pending necessary approvals from both the senate and government. Both IIT Bombay and Tohoku University are eager to launch this collaboration at the earliest, driven by a shared vision to implement cutting-edge academic and research programmes that address global challenges.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25470/iit-ropar-inaugurates-tinkerers-lab-for-advancements-in-stem-education.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25470/iit-ropar-inaugurates-tinkerers-lab-for-advancements-in-stem-education.html Tue, 17 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0530 The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar has announced the opening of its new Dr Ranbir Singh Tinkerers' Lab (TL), a cutting-edge facility designed to inspire and nurture the next generation of engineers and innovators. This maker space is accessible to all students around the clock and has been made possible by funding from the Maker Bhavan Foundation (MBF) through a donation from philanthropist Dr Ranbir Singh.                                                                        The inauguration ceremony took place on campus and was attended by faculty, students, and guests. This event marks a significant step forward in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education at IIT Ropar.  Dr Ranbir Singh Tinkerers’ Lab is more than just a workspace; it is a creative hub for aspiring engineers, innovators, and makers. The lab encourages students to view technology not just as a subject in school but as a powerful tool for creativity and future focused skilling for young engineers. The environment is designed to empower students to explore and experiment, allowing them to tinker, build, and innovate their ideas into real-world products.      The lab is equipped with state-of-the-art tools and technology. Students will have the chance to experiment and work on their projects any time of the day. This open access will help them freely explore their ideas beyond standard academic hours, leading to original and innovative projects.          ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25457/diginerve-unveils-orthopedics-ms-course-to-connect-medical-education-with-surgical-precision.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25457/diginerve-unveils-orthopedics-ms-course-to-connect-medical-education-with-surgical-precision.html Fri, 13 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0530 DigiNerve, an EdTech platform by Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers, is revolutionising Orthopedic medical education with the strategic launch of its comprehensive Orthopedics MS course. The course has been developed under the guidance of leading orthopedic surgeons and medical experts representing a transformative approach to medical education. By integrating cutting-edge digital learning techniques with hands-on practical insights, DigiNerve is set to redefine how medical professionals acquire advanced Orthopedic skills and knowledge. The programme offers flexibility, with course durations ranging from 6 to 36 months and competitively structured pricing from Rs 14,999 to Rs 38,999. Specifically tailored for medical residents, interns, and professionals seeking to enhance their orthopedic expertise, the course targets those aspiring to achieve remarkable standards in surgical precision and medical knowledge. DigiNerve's unique curriculum emphasises expert-led learning, featuring insights from eminent faculty and surgeons with extensive hands-on experience. The programme goes beyond theoretical knowledge, focusing on real-world applications that prepare students for the challenges of modern orthopedic practice.  The Orthopedics MS course offers a thorough and comprehensive preparation that is specifically tailored for MS Orthopedics examinations to ensure students remain well equipped with in-depth knowledge and expertise. The programme features interactive learning modules designed by leading surgical experts, fostering a deeper understanding of complex concepts. Practical training also remains a key focus while emphasising real-world clinical scenarios to bridge the gap between theory and practice. With flexible learning paths, the course accommodates diverse student needs while providing an adaptable approach to education. Additionally, the course also extends offers career advancement support and strategic skill development to empower students in achieving professional success.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25441/max-healthcare-foundation-announces-launch-of-second-edition-of-flagship-medical-scholarship-programme.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25441/max-healthcare-foundation-announces-launch-of-second-edition-of-flagship-medical-scholarship-programme.html Wed, 11 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0530 Max Healthcare Foundation has announced the launch of the second edition of its flagship Max Medical Scholarship Programme, designed to empower meritorious students from economically weaker sections pursuing medical education.   The scholarship will fully fund the medical education of 100 new students every year who have qualified for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET examination) and gained admission to the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) program in government medical colleges in Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Nagpur and Dehradun for the academic year 2024-25.   In addition to opening new opportunities for fresh applicants, Max Medical Scholarship programme will also continue to fund the education of students who were enrolled last year, now in the second year of academic journey, ensuring continuous support.   The Max Medical Scholarship Programme is part of Max Healthcare Foundation’s corporate social responsibility programme that aims to encourage and support the aspirations of next-generation medical professionals.     The registrations for this scholarship will open from December 13, 2024 (www.maxhealthcarefoundation.org). The Max Medical Scholarships marks one of the largest-ever annual scholarship grants for medical education in India.   The selected students will be granted comprehensive financial assistance for the duration of their 5-year MBBS course. The first year of the scholarship will cover support in tuition fees, a personal laptop, text books and tools like the bone set, dissection kit, stethoscope, and an allowance for monthly expenses, etc.   The initiative intends to support the academic expenses of the students throughout their educational journey. Every year, 100 scholarships will be granted to the eligible beneficiaries.   The applications will be open for a 15-day window following the program’s announcement. This will be followed by multiple stages including application review and shortlisting, interviews of shortlisted applicants, and final selection basis submission of mandatory documents. The selection process for these 100 scholars is based on rigorous evaluation criteria that will be assessed by a jury from the Max Healthcare Foundation.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25420/health-ministry-signs-mou-with-banaras-hindu-university-and-ministry-of-education-to-support-institute-of-medical-sciences.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25420/health-ministry-signs-mou-with-banaras-hindu-university-and-ministry-of-education-to-support-institute-of-medical-sciences.html Sat, 30 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0530 Union Health Ministry has entered into a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and Ministry of Education to provide enhanced funding and technical support to Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS), BHU. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) enables provision of grant in aid to IMS, BHU by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on the lines of new All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) set up under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). The provision of grant to IMS BHU by MoHFW will enhance the availability of affordable state-of-the-art secondary and tertiary health care services to the people of the region. It will contribute significantly in reducing referrals by enhancing delivery of clinical care services. This will result not only in increased patient experience and satisfaction but is expected to notably reduce out of pocket expenditure on patient care. Union Health Ministry has from time to time been providing support to IMS, BHU under various schemes for establishment of new facilities and upgradation of existing ones. Considering the excellence of IMS BHU and its potential to further improve the quality of health care services, need was felt for providing enhanced support to enable it to deliver healthcare services of highest standards. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25376/samsung-rd-institute-noida-and-iit-bombay-sign-mou-to-pioneer-research-in-digital-health-ai.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25376/samsung-rd-institute-noida-and-iit-bombay-sign-mou-to-pioneer-research-in-digital-health-ai.html Thu, 21 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0530 Samsung R&D Institute, Noida (SRI-Noida), has strengthened its commitment to industry-academia collaboration by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay). Under this MoU, SRI-Noida and IIT Bombay will explore breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI), digital health, and other critical areas. The five-year partnership will facilitate joint research projects, providing IIT Bombay students and faculty an opportunity to collaborate with Samsung engineers. This approach will not only open newer avenues for the students, but will enhance their industry readiness. In addition, it will equip Samsung engineers with specialized training and certification programmes from IIT Bombay in emerging technologies such as digital health and AI. The MoU was formally signed by Kyungyun Roo, Managing Director of SRI-Noida, and Prof. Upendra V. Bhandarkar, Associate Dean of Research and Development at IIT Bombay. The event, which took place at IIT Bombay, was attended by faculty members from the Koita Centre for Digital Health (KCDH), including Prof. Ranjith Padinhateeri, Head of KCDH, Prof. Nirmal Punjabi and Dr Raghavendran Lakshminarayanan.  The MoU encourages the publication of joint research papers, promoting knowledge sharing that will drive technological progress and industry-aligned innovation. Through this partnership, Samsung and IIT Bombay are setting the foundation for a sustained exchange of expertise that will push the boundaries of next-generation technologies and inspire future breakthroughs. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25332/iit-kharagpur-inks-mou-with-central-council-for-research-in-homeopathy.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25332/iit-kharagpur-inks-mou-with-central-council-for-research-in-homeopathy.html Fri, 08 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0530 Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT KGP) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Central Council for Research (CCRH) in Homeopathy on a collaborative study between IIT KGP and CCRH on the project titled “Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) Spectroscopic Study and Raman Study in Homeopathic Potentised Medicines and Characterisation, Standardisation and Analysis of the Imponderable Medicines (X-Ray, Electricity, Magnetis Polus, Australis etc.). The study include research activities, research schemes on Clinical Verification Research, Clinical Research, Drug Proving etc. The MoU was signed by Dr Subhash Kaushik, Director General, CCRH and Prof. Rintu Banerjee, Deputy Director, IIT Kharagpur in the presence of Prof. V. K. Tewari, Director, IIT Kharagpur. “A project based MoU has been signed between CCRH and IIT Kharagpur to undertake a fundamental research project on FTIR and Raman Study in Homeopathic Potentised Medicines and Characterisation and Analysis of the Imponderabilia Medicines,” said Dr Subhash Kaushik, Director General, CCRH. The period of the project is for 3 years. All the patents will be registered with the help of National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) with joint ownership. Both the institute shall consult each other for any publication in respect to the project which shall be a joint publication. Prof. V K Tewari, Director, IIT Kharagpur stated, “This MoU will be instrumental in the study of Homeopathic Potentized Medicines. We need to channelise the research projects that will give us the scope to develop and augment the field of medicine through technological convergence. In this study, Raman spectroscopy can be used to study the vibrational spectra of homeopathic medicines.”   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25320/kpmg-ficci-report-calls-for-revamping-of-post-graduate-medical-education.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25320/kpmg-ficci-report-calls-for-revamping-of-post-graduate-medical-education.html Wed, 06 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0530 KPMG in India, in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), has released a new report titled “Strengthening Post Graduate Medical Education in India”. The report was unveiled at the 18th edition of FICCI’s annual healthcare conference, FICCI HEAL 2024, on 5th November. This report highlights the urgent need for reform in India's healthcare system, where universal health coverage (UHC) is a national priority. The report emphasises the critical role of medical education in addressing the shortage of qualified professionals and analyzes the evolution of the Indian healthcare ecosystem over the past thirty years. It identifies three key pillars—Affordability, Accessibility, and Availability (the 3As)—that are vital for equitable healthcare services. While the Government of India has introduced initiatives like the Ayushman Bharat Yojana and the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) to promote UHC, challenges such as a shortage of qualified doctors and disparities in medical education remain. The report calls for a re-evaluation of the medical education system to better align with evolving healthcare needs and global standards, aiming to enhance the quality of healthcare professionals and improve health outcomes. The report's recommendations include- modernise curricula to focus on competency-based education, soft skills, and ethics; Improve faculty development and teaching experiences; Incorporate technology and digital health into training; Promote public-private partnerships (PPP) to elevate educational standards; Expand postgraduate seat capacity and ensure equitable distribution across specialties and states; Leverage PPPs and government support to improve infrastructure; and Diversify entry pathways and provide financial aid to ensure accessibility for all aspiring medical professionals.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25296/iit-delhi-launches-ms-research-programme-in-healthcare-technology-for-medical-and-allied-clinical-professionals.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25296/iit-delhi-launches-ms-research-programme-in-healthcare-technology-for-medical-and-allied-clinical-professionals.html Sun, 27 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0530 As an innovative programme aimed at bridging the gap between medicine and engineering, the Centre for Biomedical Engineering (CBME) at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has launched an exclusive Master of Science (Research) programme in ‘Healthcare Technology’. This unique programme starting in January 2025 is specifically designed for medical and allied clinical professionals, integrating the principles of medicine with cutting-edge engineering disciplines to foster deep-tech innovations in healthcare. The MS (Research) in Healthcare Technology stands out for its highly project-centric approach, ensuring that students gain hands-on experience with real-world applications. Participants will benefit from clinical and industrial immersion with leading institutes and corporates, providing them with a comprehensive understanding of both the medical and technological landscapes. This immersive experience is expected to pave the way for graduates to embark on entrepreneurial ventures or engage in advanced medical technology research and development (R&D). One of the key features of this programme is its flexibility, allowing medical professionals to continue their clinical practice while pursuing their studies. This ensures that practitioners can apply their learning directly to clinical work, enhancing patient care with innovative solutions. The programme is designed with core subjects and laboratory courses to impart skills required by the Healthcare Industry along with training to take up scientific research either for higher studies or in Industry and clinical laboratories. The students enrolled in this programme will be supported by high-value fellowships and remunerations that are comparable to salaries and stipends available for medical and allied discipline graduates at the entry-level positions.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25262/iit-madras-partners-with-french-university-to-offer-sustainable-biomanufacturing-course.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25262/iit-madras-partners-with-french-university-to-offer-sustainable-biomanufacturing-course.html Tue, 15 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0530 Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) is partnering with University of Tours, France, to offer a course on ‘Sustainable Bio-Manufacturing of high-value Phytochemicals’. This course is being offered through the ‘Global Initiative of Academic Networks’ (GIAN) programme to promote collaboration with international universities.  The course is in line with the vision of the Government of India’s recently-announced ‘BioE3’ Policy, which aims to promote and facilitate large-scale manufacturing of bio-products for sustainable development with high-performance biomanufacturing. The course deals with sustainable biomanufacturing of high-value plant-derived natural products using plant and microbial bio-factories, which can also conserve nature while fulfilling the increasing market demand for phytochemicals for various commercial applications. This course is also open for those outside IIT Madras. Researchers, industry professionals, students (BTech, MTech, MSc, PhD) in plant biotechnology/bioprocess engineering/biotechnology and faculty from recognised institutions can apply. Applicants are expected to have a basic knowledge of plant cell and microbial technology and fermentation. There will be 30 seats available for in-person participation. Registration for the course is open till 22nd November 2024. The course will be taught from 2nd to 14th December 2024. It will address the need for fundamental research on the identification of biosynthetic pathways and modern approaches that allow their acceleration as well as new developments in plant biotechnology approaches of rationally integrating bioprocess and metabolic engineering principles to maximise the yield of high-value phytochemicals from plant and yeast cell biofactories for economic feasibility in these bioprocesses. The objective of this course is to introduce to the participants, current state-of-the-art available technologies to sustainably produce high-value plant metabolites (phytochemicals like drugs and cosmetics) as an alternative to natural plant extraction and total chemical synthesis. These techniques are based on the application of plant and microbial cell technology called ‘cell factory’ for sustainable biomanufacturing of phytochemicals.     ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25245/azim-premji-foundation-to-support-cmc-vellore-with-rs-500-cr-grant-to-set-up-new-medical-college.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25245/azim-premji-foundation-to-support-cmc-vellore-with-rs-500-cr-grant-to-set-up-new-medical-college.html Wed, 09 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0530 Christian Medical College (CMC) Vellore has unveiled plans to set up a new medical college and a teaching hospital on its Chittoor campus and announced a partnership agreement with Azim Premji Foundation to offer value-based healthcare and medical education, primarily for the disadvantaged.  As a part of the agreement, the Foundation will extend a Rs 500 crore grant to CMC Vellore to set up the medical college and upgrade the existing 120-bed hospital into a teaching hospital with 422 beds. The grant will also enable CMC Vellore, a pioneer in medical education, to extend the distinctive elements of their MBBS education and focus on the discipline of Primary-cum-Secondary Healthcare (PSHC) to address the widening disparities in the Indian healthcare sector.  Dr Solomon Sathishkumar, Principal of CMC Vellore, said, “Education at the Chittoor Campus began with allied health science courses and a College of Nursing five years ago. We hope that the new Medical College will evolve into a national resource for the advancement of the discipline of Primary-cum-Secondary Healthcare, with a mandate to train general physicians who can function in any eventual role, but with preferential emphasis to quality primary and secondary care.” ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25204/metropolis-healthcare-launches-institute-of-laboratory-education-and-skilling-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25204/metropolis-healthcare-launches-institute-of-laboratory-education-and-skilling-.html Thu, 26 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0530 Metropolis Healthcare has announced the launch of its new initiative, the ‘Metropolis Institute of Laboratory Education and Skilling (MiLES).’ This initiative aims to bridge the gap between academic education and practical skills in healthcare. Through MiLES, Metropolis Healthcare has established a strategic partnership with DY Patil (Deemed-to-be) University in Navi Mumbai to offer fellowships courses. This collaboration with a prestigious academic institution marks a significant step towards equipping healthcare professionals with cutting-edge knowledge and expertise. In partnership with DY Patil (Deemed-to-be) University, Navi Mumbai, Metropolis is introducing a one-year Fellowship Course in Advanced Clinical Chemistry, Advanced Hematopathology, Advanced Surgical Pathology, Quality Assurance in Laboratory Medicine, and Molecular Pathology & Cytogenomics. Designed for Post-MD and DNB students, these courses integrate theoretical knowledge with practical training, focusing on the latest advancements in diagnostic technologies. Participants will develop advanced skills through laboratory immersion, real-world case studies & ancillary technologies, all under the guidance of Metropolis Healthcare's experienced subject matter experts. The legacy of DY Patil (Deemed-to-be) University as world leaders in the field of education will add immense value to the participants of these courses. The programme also includes research and publication opportunities, enabling participants to contribute to the progress of medical diagnostics.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25172/iim-lucknow-and-iit-kanpur-partner-to-offer-joint-postgraduate-programme-in-healthcare-management.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25172/iim-lucknow-and-iit-kanpur-partner-to-offer-joint-postgraduate-programme-in-healthcare-management.html Mon, 23 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0530 The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur to launch a joint postgraduate programme in Healthcare Management. This collaboration aims to address the growing need for leadership in the healthcare industry by integrating management principles with advanced medical technology. The agreement was signed by Prof. Archana Shukla, Director, IIM Lucknow, and Prof. Manindra Agrawal, Director, IIT Kanpur, in the presence of senior faculty members.  The Postgraduate Programme in Healthcare Management will serve professionals from various fields, including healthcare workers and doctors in public hospitals. The course is designed to blend expertise in medical technology with business administration, empowering participants to spearhead advancements in healthcare delivery and innovation. The joint programme will collaborate closely with IIT Kanpur's Centre of Excellence in Digital Health, working with international institutions critical to India's healthcare landscape. The initiative seeks to produce leaders equipped to tackle the evolving challenges of healthcare management and foster the integration of cutting-edge technology into medical practice. IIM Lucknow anticipates that this partnership will significantly enhance healthcare management education and research, helping to cultivate professionals capable of contributing to a stronger, more innovative healthcare system in India. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25154/iiit-hyderabad-offers-ai-based-online-courses-for-medical-professionals.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25154/iiit-hyderabad-offers-ai-based-online-courses-for-medical-professionals.html Tue, 17 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0530 International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad (IIIT-H) has launched an online course on 'AI for Medical Professionals', in collaboration with National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS), an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, and IHub-Data. The 12-week online orientation course on artificial intelligence (AI) will equip medical professionals with the requisite skills needed to understand, evaluate, and apply AI technologies in clinical settings, improving patient care and operational efficiency. It covers both theory and tutorials covering the basics of AI, machine learning, deep learning, and case studies on clinical applications involving screening, diagnosis, prognosis, and patient management. Participants will also explore ethical and governance issues in the use of AI tools and techniques. Delivered through video lectures, weekly contact sessions, and case studies, the course includes quizzes, assignments, and assessments, leading to certification upon completion. Around 200 medical professionals, which include senior faculty/research members from premier medical institutions, with postgraduate degrees across 41 specialities spread over 24 states and 56 cities across the country, are participating in the programme. Eminent faculty mentors from IIIT-H and NAMS are involved in delivering this course. Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary of DST; Dr Shiv Kumar Sarin, President of NAMS; and Prof. P J Narayanan, Director of IIIT Hyderabad launched this first-of-its-kind course virtually.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25150/eppendorf-india-strengthens-mou-with-rajalakshmi-engineering-college-for-training-biotech-students.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25150/eppendorf-india-strengthens-mou-with-rajalakshmi-engineering-college-for-training-biotech-students.html Mon, 16 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0530 Eppendorf India and Rajalakshmi Engineering College, Chennai have signed the extension of the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in setting up a framework to enable mutually beneficial and collaborative engagements in trainings to improve scientific research and development in the field of Biotechnology. Eppendorf is committed to skill development by offering tailor made training programmes for graduate students of Biotechnology. Eppendorf India training facility in Chennai includes state-of-the-art laboratories as well as conference and classroom facilities. A team of experts at Eppendorf would conduct the trainings on various modules such as Liquid Handling, Centrifugation, Extraction & Quantification of Biomolecules and PCR technique. Training includes intensive sessions with balanced theoretical and hands-on modules ensuring the participants gain proficiency, nuances and trouble-shooting skills. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25116/aster-health-academy-partners-with-iisc-mica-other-national-institutions-to-offer-advanced-medical-courses.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25116/aster-health-academy-partners-with-iisc-mica-other-national-institutions-to-offer-advanced-medical-courses.html Fri, 06 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0530 Bengaluru-based Aster Health Academy, a pioneering ed-tech institution dedicated to advancing professional education for clinicians and non-clinicians, is partnering with renowned national institutions and universities that includes the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), MICA School of Ideas (MICA), Yenepoya School of Allied Health Sciences, and Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research to offer cutting-edge programmes to healthcare professionals from across the country. The collaborations will help curate industry focused courses such as Advanced Certification courses for healthcare professionals in Healthcare Marketing, Healthcare Technology and Specialised Clinical Fellowship Level programmes with university accreditations.  The AI in Healthcare: Theory to Practice Programme in association with IISc, Bengaluru offers a comprehensive curriculum tailored to healthcare professionals, emphasising practical application of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Over half of the coursework is dedicated to hands-on experience, allowing students to solve real-world medical challenges using AI along with live weekend sessions. Aster Health Academy and MICA – The School of Ideas, Ahmedabad, a premier business management institution in Asia-Pacific, will offer postgraduate certification in Integrated Marketing and Branding for Healthcare, providing marketers with a comprehensive understanding of marketing and communication strategies for healthcare brands. The course features an interactive format and industry-focused curriculum, ensuring participants are equipped to handle unique challenges and seize opportunities in healthcare marketing and communication. Yenepoya School of Allied Health Sciences, located in South Karnataka near Mangalore, a leading institution dedicated to training skilled professionals in healthcare, in partnership with the Academy, will offer a wide range of programmes in allied health sciences, equipping students with knowledge and practical skills necessary to excel in multiple healthcare roles. The focus will be on theoretical and clinical training and improving patient outcomes. Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (SRIHER), the renowned Chennai-based university along with Aster Health Academy will offer a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses focusing on innovation in healthcare. The Academy’s Clinical Fellowship Level programmes will offer specialisations in Diabetes Mellitus, Critical Care Medicine and Emergency Medicine, focusing on bridging the educational gap – between theory and clinical practice and experience - for aspiring physicians. In addition to being accredited by the Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, these courses are also recognised by the CPD Standards Office (UK), further enhancing their relevance and credibility within the industry. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25111/apollo-hospitals-launches-research-academy-to-lead-global-healthcare-innovation.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25111/apollo-hospitals-launches-research-academy-to-lead-global-healthcare-innovation.html Wed, 04 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0530 Apollo Hospitals has announced the launch of the Apollo Research Academy, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at positioning Apollo as a global leader in healthcare research and innovation. The Academy, led by Professor Ravi P Mahajan CBE, is set to harmonise the efforts of various Apollo entities, including Apollo Health Education and Research Foundation (AHERF), Apollo University, ARI, Apollo Research Centre, Apollo Clinical Innovation Group, and others, to create a cohesive and internationally recognized hub of research excellence. The Academy will focus on five key areas: Capacity and Culture, Sponsored Research, Investigator-Driven/Grant-Funded Research, Data Sciences, and Innovation. Each area will be developed through a strategic framework that includes: Capacity and Culture: With a comprehensive programme of educational courses, skill-enhancing events, and resource sharing, and with ambitious collaborative projects for research and innovation across and beyond the Apollo ecosystem. Sponsored Research: Expanding this portfolio by establishing a consortium approach and strengthening partnership working with Contract Research Organizations (CROs). Investigator-Driven Research: Building consortiums on areas of national priority, and strategic international collaborations and partnerships to further enhance research programmes and outputs targeted at best possible world class healthcare delivery and patient outcomes. Data Sciences: Establishing an internationally recognised Centre for Digital Health and Precision Medicine, focusing on research outputs, grant funding and innovations. Innovation: Developing well-coordinated innovation hubs, incubators, and accelerators, harnessing talent, and establishing strong partnerships nationally and internationally to drive programs for translation of innovative ideas into working reality.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25092/meril-expands-healthcare-education-network-with-opening-of-satellite-academy-in-kochi.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25092/meril-expands-healthcare-education-network-with-opening-of-satellite-academy-in-kochi.html Mon, 02 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0530 Meril, a global medical technology and education leader, has expanded its healthcare education network by launching the Meril Satellite Academy in Kerala’s port city, Kochi. This move reinforces the company's dedication to advancing surgical standards and empowering healthcare professionals in India and worldwide. In the fast-changing world of medicine, continuous learning and hands-on training are vital for healthcare providers. Recognising this necessity, Meril Satellite Academies aim to balance theoretical learning and practical implementation, offering professionals a platform to enhance their skills and engage in global collaboration. Positioned within Kerala's robust healthcare infrastructure and its emphasis on quality patient care, the Kochi Academy is strategically placed to meet the educational needs of healthcare professionals in Southern India. The new academy is equipped with cutting-edge facilities, including advanced simulators and robotic systems, providing participants with an immersive, hands-on learning environment. The academy features lecture rooms, state-of-the-art audio-visual systems, and specialized simulation spaces, offering the right blend of theoretical knowledge and practical training. Meril’s educational network already includes two prominent academies: the Vapi Academy in Gujarat, serving as the central hub for Meril's global educational initiatives, and the Delhi Academy, which caters to healthcare professionals in Northern India with specialised training programmes and advanced facilities. The company has ambitious plans to expand further its educational reach with the upcoming launch of new academies across the globe, including locations in Madrid (Spain); Philadelphia (USA); Seoul (South Korea); Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia); and Kolkata, (India). ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25062/school-of-economics-and-public-policy-launches-centre-for-global-health-and-development-in-bengaluru.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25062/school-of-economics-and-public-policy-launches-centre-for-global-health-and-development-in-bengaluru.html Tue, 27 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0530 RV University’s School of Economics and Public Policy (SOEPP) recently inaugurated the Centre for Global Health and Development (CGHD). The Centre was jointly inaugurated by distinguished experts in the fields of health and public policy. Prof. Ranjini C. Raghavendra who heads the Centre, presented the Centre's vision, mission, and focus areas, along with a tentative roadmap of activities planned for the academic year 2024-25. The dignitaries also unveiled the logo of the new Centre, designed by an alumnus of RV University. This event marks the first major initiative by SOEPP since its establishment. India has made significant strides towards achieving health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The NITI Aayog's SDG India Index 2020-21 report shows that India's overall score for SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) improved from 61 in 2019-20 to 74 in 2020-21. The launch of the Centre for Global Health and Development at RV University addresses critical health challenges in India. By combining expertise in non-communicable diseases, capacity building, and sustainable development, the CGHD is aimed at influencing both policy and practice. The Centre's establishment is timely, given India's health-related economic burdens and recent progress in digital health and SDGs. Through its multidisciplinary approach focusing on research, education, and community engagement, the CGHD aims to drive improvements in global health outcomes and contribute to India's development agenda. In addition to the inauguration, the Centre for Global Health and Development (CGHD) organised a panel discussion on ‘Global Health Challenges in the Post-COVID-19 World.’  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25042/mahe-signs-mou-with-skan-and-happiest-health-for-academics-research-and-consultancy.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25042/mahe-signs-mou-with-skan-and-happiest-health-for-academics-research-and-consultancy.html Wed, 21 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0530 SKAN Research Trust, promoted by Indian entrepreneur Ashok Soota, has announced that Happiest Health and SKAN have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) for academics, research and consultancy. The projects for joint collaborative research will include microbiome studies, stem cell research, and biotherapeutics. MAHE will use its vast experience to provide consultancy to facilitate the setting up of various healthcare practices for Happiest Health. Ashok Soota, Chairman & Managing Trustee of SKAN, said, "We are delighted that Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) has agreed to sign an agreement covering R&D and academic collaboration with SKAN and also an agreement to provide consultancy to Happiest Health, for various healthcare practices." Lt. Gen. (Dr) M. D. Venkatesh, VSM (Retd.), Vice Chancellor of Manipal Academy of Higher Education, added, "This partnership not only enhances our capabilities but also allows us to contribute significantly to impactful research in emerging fields like microbiome studies and stem cell therapies, areas where MAHE has been actively involved. We look forward to leveraging our strengths to drive innovations that will transform healthcare practices." ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25043/merittrac-partners-with-oet-to-boost-healthcare-opportunities-and-bridge-skills-gap.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25043/merittrac-partners-with-oet-to-boost-healthcare-opportunities-and-bridge-skills-gap.html Tue, 20 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0530 MeritTrac, India's leading pure-play Testing & Assessment provider, has announced a strategic partnership with the Occupational English Test (OET), a global leader in English Testing for healthcare professionals. This collaboration aims to enhance opportunities for nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals in India seeking international careers. With a global shortage of 4.5 million nurses by 2030, through this partnership, MeritTrac will leverage its vast experience in testing to oversee the delivery of the OET Test, which has versions for 12 healthcare professions, in Bengaluru. This initiative will facilitate convenient access to these assessments for healthcare professionals across the region, ensuring they meet international standards and qualifications necessary for overseas employment. OET Test’s has acceptance by 500+ employers, regulators and universities worldwide.   With this partnership, MeritTrac along with OET will nurture a comprehensive ecosystem involving various stakeholders from medical and nursing education. This ecosystem will encompass aspiring learners, nursing schools, employers, and  OET’s network of accredited preparation partners, all aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the test preparation and assessment journey and providing professionals with better opportunities for success. By partnering with OET, MeritTrac aims to contribute to the global healthcare workforce by ensuring that professionals from India can confidently demonstrate their language proficiency to meet international healthcare standards.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25020/all-india-institute-of-ayurveda-and-amity-university-ink-mou-to-promote-ayurveda-research-and-education.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25020/all-india-institute-of-ayurveda-and-amity-university-ink-mou-to-promote-ayurveda-research-and-education.html Mon, 12 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0530 A significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi and Amity University, Noida, to collaborate on education, research, and technology. The MoU was signed by AIIA Director, Prof. Tanuja Nesari, and Joint Registrar of Amity University, Asha Premnath. This MoU extends the ongoing five-year agreement with Amity University. The MoU was signed under the leadership of Amity University Chancellor, Dr Atul Chauhan, and under the aegis of the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India. The objective of the MoU is to promote collaborative education programmes, publications, capacity-building, and joint capacity-building projects. This includes fostering academic excellence, technological advancement, and state-of-the-art programmes through capacity building and lifelong learning. The MoU will facilitate the exchange of students and faculty for academic, research, and training purposes. AIIA has signed 40 MoUs with national-level technical institutions and universities, including major institutes like IIT and CSIR, to promote research and documentation in the field of Ayurveda. Additionally, 17 MoUs have been signed with renowned international institutions. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25013/plaksha-university-opens-anthem-biosciences-natures-machines-lab-in-mohali.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25013/plaksha-university-opens-anthem-biosciences-natures-machines-lab-in-mohali.html Fri, 09 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0530 Plaksha University has announced the inauguration of the Anthem BioSciences Nature’s Machines Lab, a pathbreaking facility dedicated to fostering experiential learning and interdisciplinary research in biosciences. This lab, sponsored by Anthem BioSciences, is all set to make a significant impact on over 1,500 students in the next five years. Part of the Havells Research Building at the Mohali campus, the Nature’s Machines Lab spans approximately 1,500 square feet and is designed to connect students with the intricate machinery of the natural world. The lab aims to promote ecological awareness and the application of biological concepts through modern tools, advanced research techniques, and interdisciplinary thinking. This research lab is a hub for engaging neighboring communities, high school educators, and other stakeholders in developing biological literacy and stewardship. Nature’s Machines Lab will be equipped for following training and research activities: Cell biology: Students will learn basic and advanced microscopic techniques that will allow them to study cells and their behavior. Nanobiology: Students will learn to isolate, express-purify and analyse biomolecules – molecular machines – from various sources, which will enable them to study, characterize and understand the biological world at the nano scale. Genetic Engineering: Students will learn to edit genes in bacteria and insect cells using conventional and CRISPR based techniques enabling them to design and produce cells with novel functionalities. Environmental Monitoring: Students will analyse water and soil samples to assess environmental health, detect pollutants and develop measures to mitigate environmental risks at local and global level. UG Research Projects: Students can innovate and engineer interdisciplinary solutions for challenges related to human and planetary health through their internship and capstone projects.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25004/pw-skills-launches-school-of-healthcare-to-solve-indias-critical-shortage-of-medical-professionals.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25004/pw-skills-launches-school-of-healthcare-to-solve-indias-critical-shortage-of-medical-professionals.html Thu, 08 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0530 PW Skills, the upskilling vertical of Physics Wallah (PW) has announced the launch of School of Healthcare across five cities in India, namely, Noida, Indore, Lucknow, Patna and Delhi. This initiative comes in response to the increasing demand within India’s healthcare sector, which has been growing at a CAGR of 22% since 2016 and currently employs 4.7 million professionals directly. The School of Healthcare aims to solve the shortage of skilled healthcare workers by offering specialised courses. These programmes are meticulously designed to meet industry standards and cater to the diverse needs of the healthcare market. Ashish Sharma, Chief Business Officer (CBO), PW, said, "India's healthcare sector is experiencing rapid growth, yet only 15% of our 65 lakh allied health professionals are vocationally trained. This significant gap highlights the urgent need for high-quality, affordable education. With the launch of our School of Healthcare, PW Skills is committed to bridging this divide by offering diverse, hands-on training programmes." PW Skills has launched the School of Healthcare to ensure comprehensive education and career readiness. The courses integrate practical internships as a unique component, offering hands-on experience crucial for professional development. For B.Vocational courses such as Medical Lab Technician (MLT) and Operation Theatre Technician (OTT), students will spend two years in classroom training followed by a year of intensive internship. Similarly, Advanced Diploma programs in MLT and OTT offer a balanced mix of theoretical learning and practical exposure through a one-year classroom session and a subsequent year of internship. The institution aims to facilitate international placements for its graduates, further enhancing career opportunities in the global healthcare market. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25005/novo-nordisk-global-business-services-signs-mou-with-bits-pilani-for-healthcare-cooperation.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25005/novo-nordisk-global-business-services-signs-mou-with-bits-pilani-for-healthcare-cooperation.html Thu, 08 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0530 Novo Nordisk Global Business Services has signed a two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for academic cooperation in healthcare with BITS Pilani. This is the third academic collaboration in the last one year after Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) and IIIT Bangalore, this MoU will mark yet another significant step for Novo Nordisk for co-creation and ideation between students and Novo Nordisk employees.  As part of the partnership, both organisations will collaborate on a range of activities, including hackathons, case competitions, guest lectures, educational programs, internships, placements, employee development, branding initiatives, innovation projects, research collaborations, and corporate social responsibility endeavours. BITS will provide Novo Nordisk with the necessary resources and support to conduct campus engagement initiatives while keeping them informed of relevant activities and themes. Speaking on the collaboration, John Dawber, Corporate Vice President & Managing Director, Novo Nordisk Global Business Services, said, "This collaboration with BITS Pilani is a strategic learning partnership that empowers our healthcare workforce and drives innovation and progress in the industry. It reflects our dedication to enhancing knowledge, nurturing talent, and creating a healthier tomorrow." Commenting on the collaboration, Professor Ramgopal Rao, Vice Chancellor, BITS Pilani said, "The MoU marks a significant step in bridging the gap between academia and industry. By collaborating with Novo Nordisk, we're providing our students with invaluable, real-world skills development opportunities, directly enhancing their employability in the pharma and healthcare sector. This will also provide opportunities for Novo Nordisk employees to upgrade their skills through our academic programmes."   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25001/thieme-group-signs-pact-with-national-medical-librarys-electronic-resources-in-medicine-consortium.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/25001/thieme-group-signs-pact-with-national-medical-librarys-electronic-resources-in-medicine-consortium.html Tue, 06 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0530 In a major step towards strengthening medical education in India, Thieme Group has signed a pact with National Medical Library’s Electronic Resources in Medicine (NML-ERMED) Consortium, an initiative of Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, to license Thieme Group's medical e-learning platform, MedOne Education for NML’s 58 member institutions. This unique collaboration between Thieme Group and NML will benefit over 5000 students, researchers, and faculty with access to MedOne Education's vast library of resources, covering a around 30 disciplines in the undergraduate medical curriculum.  Thieme Group’s MedOne Education is licensed by 9 of the top 10 medical schools worldwide. The comprehensive collection of medical educational resources includes over 150 e-books, totaling more than 85,000 pages of high-quality illustrated content, 900 videos, 90,000+ images, 239 clinical modules, and 12,000 Q&A sets. With Thieme’s MedOne Education, NLM-ERMED users will have access to classic Thieme Flexibooks and Color Atlases, including the award-winning Thieme Atlas of Anatomy. Additionally, it will provide instant access to medical textbooks aligned with the Indian medical curriculum. Students not only gain access to high-quality images and illustrations alongside engaging videos to enhance understanding and retention of complex medical concepts, but they can also create custom playlists tailored to their courses. MedOne Education offers students targeted practice questions tailored to both national and international medical licensing exams. It also includes real-world case studies, helping students develop critical clinical reasoning skills.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24989/iit-kanpur-inaugurates-national-cryo-em-facility-for-structural-biology-research.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24989/iit-kanpur-inaugurates-national-cryo-em-facility-for-structural-biology-research.html Sun, 04 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0530 In a significant step towards augmenting India's scientific research capabilities, the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT-K) has inaugurated its National Cryogenic-Electron Microscopy (Cryo-EM) facility. The facility, established with support from the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), now integrated with the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), was inaugurated by Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, in the presence of Prof. Manindra Agrawal, Director, IIT Kanpur; Dr Dipti Kakkar Thukral, Scientist G, DST ANRF; Dr T Thangaradjou, Scientist F, DST ANRF; and Prof. Shalabh, Dean of Academic Affairs, IIT Kanpur, among others. Cryo-EM is a revolutionary technology that allows scientists to visualise biological molecules, such as proteins and viruses, in their near-native states and at unprecedented resolutions. This detailed view is crucial for understanding the fundamental processes of life and for designing novel drugs and therapies. The state-of-the-art facility at IIT Kanpur is a significant milestone in India's pursuit of self-reliance in life science research in line with the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision. It is one of four such high-end facilities in strategic locations across the nation to support research and ground-breaking discoveries in structural biology. The Cryo-EM facility will conduct research on a vast array of drugs to position it at the forefront of drug discovery and development efforts in India. The facility is equipped with a powerful 300 KV Cryo-EM microscope, sophisticated sample preparation equipment, and advanced computational infrastructure for data analysis.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24979/iit-delhi-transfers-indigenous-healthcare-technologies-to-industry.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24979/iit-delhi-transfers-indigenous-healthcare-technologies-to-industry.html Thu, 01 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0530 Two indigenous healthcare technologies developed under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)-funded project Nanoelectronics Network for Research and Applications (NNetRA) have been transferred to the industry at an event recently hosted by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT) at IIT Delhi has played an instrumental role in fostering this technology transfer. The technology named DNA Aptamer for Prostate Cancer Detection has been transferred to Dr Swapnil Sinha, Hummsa Biotech in Kolkata. The aptamer is developed by Prof. Prashant Mishra and his team from IIT Delhi and is capable of binding to the specific oncogenes and could be useful as theranostics for prostate cancer. On the other hand, the technology Photonic Chip based Spectrometric Biosensor for pathogen detection has been transferred to Nitin Zaveri, Unino Healthcare in Mumbai. This new technology has been developed by Prof. Joby Joseph and his team from IIT Delhi and will enable quick and accurate detection of the pathogens, thereby aiding in the prevention of infectious diseases. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24934/indian-institute-of-cosmetology-aesthetics-and-nutrition-expands-horizons-with-new-centre-in-hyderabad.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24934/indian-institute-of-cosmetology-aesthetics-and-nutrition-expands-horizons-with-new-centre-in-hyderabad.html Mon, 22 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0530 The Indian Institute of Cosmetology, Aesthetics, and Nutrition (I2CAN), a wellness and beauty training institute affiliated with the National Skill Development Corporation, has announced the establishment of a new centre in Hyderabad. This expansion brings high-quality education closer to students in South India. The opening of the Hyderabad centre is driven by I2CAN’s strategic partnership with Derma Aura Cosmetic and Laser Clinic. I2CAN will focus on delivering academic and certification services, while Derma Aura will handle the centre’s operational activities. I2CAN currently operates in Pune, Mumbai & Mathura and offers clinical cosmetology course, trichology course along with beauty and hair design, aesthetics, weight management, and clinical nutrition & dietetics courses. The Hyderabad centre will provide all the courses available at other centres, including in-demand programmes such as Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Cosmetology (PGDCC), Advanced Diploma in Cosmetology & Trichology (ADCT), Certification in Microblading, Micropigmentation & BB Glow and Certificate in Aesthetic Gynaecology. Nandan Gijare, Managing Director of I2CAN, comments, “Our new centre aims to enhance accessibility for students in Hyderabad and nearby areas seeking aesthetic medicine courses. Addressing the significant shortage of trained professionals in India's aesthetic medicine industry, which currently employs 500,000 professionals, this expansion aims to meet the growing demand and keep pace with advancements. We are set to complete the centre by late July, with our inaugural batch beginning on October 1, 2024" The Indian market for aesthetic medicine devices is projected to grow significantly, reaching $3.02 billion by 2029 from $1.62 billion in 2024, with a CAGR of 13.28%. Despite this growth, high costs and extensive training requirements pose challenges to accessibility. I2CAN aims to address these issues by offering affordable courses, thereby making training more accessible to aspiring professionals.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24924/ahmedabad-university-announces-bagchi-school-of-public-health.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24924/ahmedabad-university-announces-bagchi-school-of-public-health.html Fri, 19 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0530 Ahmedabad University has announced the Bagchi School of Public Health. Established in 2023, the School is now named in honour of renowned philanthropists Susmita and Subroto Bagchi. The Bagchi School of Public Health aims to revolutionise public health education and research in India. The Bagchi couple's transformative grant of Rs 55 crore will fuel the development of world-class physical, digital, and intellectual infrastructure. This investment empowers the School to become a global leader in public health education and research. The Bagchi School leverages Ahmedabad University's unique interdisciplinary environment and integrates research, education, and action. The Bagchi School will break new ground by prioritising rigorous structured Master's and PhD programmes in specific core public health disciplines. The School's flagship programme, a PhD in Epidemiology, equips students with the necessary advanced analytical as well as soft skills to tackle complex public health challenges, both ongoing and unforeseen. Initial focus area include Environmental Health, Analytical Methods for Health including Biostatistics and Data Science. This focus on specialisation and advanced analytical methods addresses a critical gap in India's public health education landscape. Research will focus on discovering sustainable solutions to improve lifestyle, clinical practice, policy, and the environment. The School's action arm will translate research findings into innovative, evidence-based initiatives and policies. The Bagchi School also fosters collaboration through the Sahyog Centre for Promoting Health, established in partnership with the Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA). This Centre empowers individuals, communities, and organisations to make healthy and eco-friendly choices. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24899/medisim-vr-launches-chennais-first-virtual-reality-based-coe-for-medical-training.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24899/medisim-vr-launches-chennais-first-virtual-reality-based-coe-for-medical-training.html Sun, 14 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0530 MediSim VR has announced the establishment of Chennai's first Center of Excellence (CoE) virtual reality (VR) lab at Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (SRIHER). This state-of-the-art facility offers access to immersive and interactive VR- training for medical students across the nation. Since its inception, MediSim VR has benefited over 4,000 students, providing unparalleled access to immersive, hands-on medical training. The innovative VR technology employed in the lab offers realistic medical scenario simulations in a safe and controlled environment to prepare upcoming medical professionals with procedural competency, skills, and the confidence needed to care for their patients. MediSim VR uses Virtual Reality to bridge the gap between theoretical understanding and practical application to ensure that students are well-prepared for real-world medical situations. This Center of Excellence at SRIHER redefines medical education by incorporating VR-based learning, empowering students from across the state and all over the country to perfect their skills and improve patient outcomes. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24888/fischer-medical-ventures-collaborates-with-tech-avant-garde-to-enhance-health-programmes-in-educational-institutions.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24888/fischer-medical-ventures-collaborates-with-tech-avant-garde-to-enhance-health-programmes-in-educational-institutions.html Thu, 11 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0530 Chennai-based Fischer Medical Ventures has  signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bengaluru-based Tech Avant-Garde (TAG), an innovative  educational solutions provider, to implement comprehensive health programmes in educational  institutions across India. This strategic partnership aims to drive holistic healthcare of students and their connected communities to enable a healthier and more conducive learning  environment. Fischer MV, as the first company to indigenously manufacture high-quality Magnetic  Resonance Imaging (MRI) systems in India and owning a diverse portfolio of breakthrough  diagnostic solutions, is expanding into children healthcare with TAG fits their mission to support India’s education system by promoting long-term health awareness and preventive care for a  healthier youth generation. Fischer MV-TAG collaboration in India will start with screening students through Fischer MV’s Flynn Health Kiosk, a health screening machine that conducts a  comprehensive diagnostic of over 60 clinical vital signs parameters within minutes. Eye  health, audiology, oral health, mental health, lung & respiratory health checks which are  important aspects for students will also be implemented in phases. In parallel, adolescent  girls and women’s health will be added to provide a holistic view of each student’s health  status every quarterly. As of 2022, India has around 1.4 million schools, one of the largest in the world. Student enrolment in 2021-22 was reported to be over 265 million. However, a significant number of students suffer  from some health conditions that could hinder their education path. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24877/aster-health-academy-announces-strategic-partnerships-with-premier-hospitals-across-india.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24877/aster-health-academy-announces-strategic-partnerships-with-premier-hospitals-across-india.html Sat, 06 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0530 Aster Health Academy, part of Aster DM Healthcare, has announced its strategic collaborations with a distinguished array of hospitals across India. Currently, the academy has secured partnerships with 15 esteemed hospitals, furthering its mission to provide unparalleled practical training opportunities for its enrollees. These affiliations are integral to the Academy's curriculum, particularly for clinical programmes such as Fellowships in Emergency Medicine, Diabetes, and Critical Care. Enrolled doctors are placed in hospitals for Observership programmes, where they gain invaluable hands-on experience under the mentorship of departmental heads. This practical exposure is meticulously aligned with the educational objectives of their respective programmes. Prominent among the partnered institutions are KIMS Hospital, Telangana & Andhra Pradesh, Jaslok Hospital – Maharashtra, Metro Hospital – Delhi NCR, Accord Super speciality Hospital, Faridabad, Aster Whitefield Hospital - Karnataka, Charnock Hospital- West Bengal, Chandan Hospital – Lucknow, Spandana Hospital – Bengaluru. Additionally, Aster Health Academy has joined forces with Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Karnataka which accredits their courses under the Healthcare Practice Excellence category. Accredited programmes include Certificates in Healthcare Quality Management, Service Excellence in Healthcare, and Doctor-Patient Communication, among others. These partnerships also signify an expansion of the Academy’s reach into tier 2 and tier 3 regions, providing learners with practical exposure at leading hospitals nationwide. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24905/telangana-govt-accepts-proposal-for-establishing-pharmaceutical-university.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24905/telangana-govt-accepts-proposal-for-establishing-pharmaceutical-university.html Sat, 06 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0530 In a significant development at the 73rd edition of the Indian Pharmaceutical Congress (IPC), the Telangana government had endorsed a proposal from pharmacy professionals to establish a dedicated Pharmaceutical University in the state. This move aims to bolster pharmaceutical education, which is crucial for advancing manufacturing, research and development (R&D) programmes, and implementing digital technology in the sector. 73rd IPC, held from 5 to 7 July in Hyderabad, which witnessed more than 12000 delegates from Academia, Industry, Research and Development and Healthcare sector from across India, have pitched for the establishment of a Pharma University with a Centre of Excellence in Telangana to enhance global recognition in life sciences. Telangana, already a hub for bulk drugs, vaccine development, and pharmaceutical formulations, contributes 40 percent to India's export earnings and boasts a large pool of highly qualified pharmacy professionals, making it an ideal location for the proposed university. Telangana's Minister for Information Technology and Industries, Duddilla Sridhar Babu, announced the acceptance of the Pharma University proposal at the IPC event's inauguration. "We are on the job to put in place the framework and processes to conceive the university," said Babu. He highlighted the presence of over 200 pharmacy colleges and the existing pool of scientific and technically qualified human resources as key factors necessitating the establishment of a dedicated Pharma University. The event also saw the attendance of Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Minister for Roads, Buildings, and Cinematography Komatireddy Venkat Reddy as chief guests. Babu further revealed that Telangana is working towards establishing a Skill Development and Digital Technology University. He emphasised the need for an advanced workforce equipped with digital skills, highlighting the importance of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and robotic technology in the pharma industry. Deputy Chief Minister Vikramarka added that Telangana is planning to decentralise pharmaceutical production from Hyderabad to the outskirts and districts, fostering job creation and overcoming employment challenges. "We are setting up an Artificial Intelligence City to boost comprehensive digital technology implementation, bringing speed and transparency to manufacturing," said Vikramarka.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24870/international-institute-of-health-management-research-launches-new-pg-certificate-programmes.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24870/international-institute-of-health-management-research-launches-new-pg-certificate-programmes.html Fri, 05 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0530 International Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR), Delhi has announced the launch of its AICTE-approved Online Postgraduate (PG) Certificate Programmes, designed to cater to the growing demand for specialised education in the healthcare sector. In alignment with the National Education Policy's mandate to enhance the quality and reach of higher education, IIHMR Delhi has introduced three courses- 1. PG Certificate in Hospital Management 2. PG Certificate in Logistics & Supply Chain Management 3. PG Certificate in Public Health Financial Management These online programmes are specifically designed to provide flexibility and accessibility for working executives, enabling them to advance their careers without disrupting their professional commitments. By leveraging technology, these programmes offer a dynamic learning environment that combines academic rigor with practical relevance. The AICTE approval ensures that these programs meet the highest standards of academic excellence and are equivalent to the quality of on-campus programmes. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24833/sri-balaji-vidyapeeth-inks-mou-with-university-of-leeds-to-support-medical-students.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24833/sri-balaji-vidyapeeth-inks-mou-with-university-of-leeds-to-support-medical-students.html Wed, 26 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0530 Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, a Deemed-to-be-University, has announced the signing of a strategic MoU with the University of Leeds, one of the largest Universities in the UK. The MoU was signed by and between Prof. Hai-Sui Yu, Interim Vice Chancellor & President, University of Leeds and Dr Nirmal Coumare V., Director of Hospitals, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth in the presence of Dr Prashanth Rajagopalan, Trustee, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth; Dr Urjitha Rajagopalan, Trustee, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth; Prof. Nihar Ranjan Biswas, Vice Chancellor, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth and Asha K., General Manager (Admin), Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth. Commenting on the partnership, Dr. Nirmal Coumare V. said, “This partnership with the University of Leeds is a significant milestone in our mission to provide high-quality education and professional upskilling that is both accessible and relevant to the needs of medical students." This alliance aims to foster the spirit of academic cooperation and friendship. It will allow students to experience the best of both institutions in terms of providing the required focus on skills necessary to equip young minds to excel in the global marketplace. By offering study programmes with faculty from both the University of Leeds and Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, both institutions look forward to setting new benchmarks in the quality and delivery of higher education. The collaboration will involve development of collaborative research projects; organisation of joint academic activities like courses, conferences, seminars, symposiums and lectures; exchange of research personnel and faculty; placement and/or exchange of students; and exchange of publications and other materials of common interest. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24837/studymedic-oc-academy-launch-clinical-fellowship-programme-for-global-medical-careers.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24837/studymedic-oc-academy-launch-clinical-fellowship-programme-for-global-medical-careers.html Wed, 26 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0530 StudyMEDIC, the leading International Medical Education Training Provider based in Qatar, and Bengaluru-based OC Academy, India’s leading online healthcare education and medical upskilling firm, have introduced the transformative Clinical Fellowship Programmes integrated with Royal College Memberships and Fellowships Examination Training. This programme aims to empower medical professionals with the knowledge, hands-on experience, skills, and global recognition necessary to propel their careers to new heights. The two-year programme offers a unique combination of comprehensive foundational online learning, hands-on clinical training at leading multi-specialty and super-specialty across India, and expert coaching to prepare candidates for the prestigious Royal College Memberships and Fellowships Clinical Fellowship Programmes integrated with Royal College Memberships and Fellowships Examination. Successfully completing these exams will confer esteemed Royal College Memberships and Fellowships. This presents an alternative path for MBBS graduates for a specialist career. Administered by UK institutions, these qualifications are recognised globally (including India, and Middle Eastern countries), opening doors to international medical practice for Indian doctors. The programme offers a diverse range of specialty courses, including Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Emergency Medicine, Paediatrics, Surgery, Orthopaedics, Radiology, PLAB and more. Each course is designed to prepare candidates for the corresponding Royal College examinations, such as MRCOG, MRCEM, MRCPCH, MRCS, FRCR and PLAB. It will equip the participants to accelerate their careers with the Gold Standard UK Royal College Memberships recognised across the globe. This offers a unique pathway for Indian doctors to pursue opportunities worldwide with commensurate international pay packages.   Image caption- Balu Ramachandran, Founder and CEO of OC Academy; and Dr Sowmya NS, Co-Founder & COO of StudyMEDIC ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24795/syngene-announces-second-year-of-stem-scholarship-programme-for-women-in-collaboration-with-rich.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24795/syngene-announces-second-year-of-stem-scholarship-programme-for-women-in-collaboration-with-rich.html Thu, 20 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0530 Bengaluru-based Syngene International, a leading integrated research, development and manufacturing services company, has announced the second cohort of the Scholarship, Mentoring and Industry Orientation for Women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) in collaboration with the Research and Innovation Circle of Hyderabad (RICH).  This programme offers scholarships to women studying STEM subjects at tier 2 and 3 institutions across various regions of the country, to enable them to gain industry experience in research institutions and companies and receive mentoring support. Out of 549 applications, 216 profiles were shortlisted based on academic merit, socio-economic background, and STEM disciplines. One-on-one interviews were conducted with 151 students to assess their achievements and research interests. The top 60 applications were then reviewed by the Selection Committee, comprising experts from both industry and academia. As a result, the second cohort of the programme has identified 30 women, with 10 selected from undergraduate programmes and 20 from postgraduate programmes. Despite increased female enrolment in existing STEM programmes, dropout rates and limited career opportunities persist, especially for women from tier 2 and 3 cities. The Syngene/RICH programme addresses these issues by offering scholarships and mentorship, enabling students to gain internships and practical experience in top research institutions and industries.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24785/msn-labs-collaborates-with-bits-pilani-to-elevate-educational-opportunities-for-young-workforce.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24785/msn-labs-collaborates-with-bits-pilani-to-elevate-educational-opportunities-for-young-workforce.html Tue, 18 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0530 Hyderabad-based MSN Laboratories has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani’s Work Integrated Learning Programmes (WILP) division, in an endeavour to elevate educational opportunities for their Self-Directed Teams (SDTs) within the formulation units. This collaboration aims to help their professionals in keeping pace with the rapid global pharmaceutical industry evolution and in preparing them for their designated roles, which in turn will aid MSN Labs in addressing the ever-changing business requirements. As part of the collaboration, the professionals will also undergo training to operate machinery and fulfil roles within different production departments, by working closely with their senior staff members.  MSN Laboratories operates 25 world-class, state-of-the-art manufacturing units across Hyderabad and the USA. Recently, they onboarded young budding professionals who have completed their 10+2 higher school programme. To ensure seamless integration and equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary for driving sustainable progress in the pharmaceutical industry, MSN Laboratories has partnered with BITS Pilani. As of now, sixty team members from MSN Laboratories’ formulation division have been enrolled in the B.Sc. Pharmaceutical Science programme offered by BITS Pilani WILP.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24707/iit-bhubaneswar-collaborates-with-institute-of-life-sciences-for-technical-education-and-research.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24707/iit-bhubaneswar-collaborates-with-institute-of-life-sciences-for-technical-education-and-research.html Sat, 01 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0530 With an objective to explore opportunities of collaboration in technical education and research, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Institute of Life Sciences (ILS). The MoU was signed by Prof. Rajesh Roshan Dash, Dean-Sponsored Research & Industrial Consultancy (SRIC) (In-Charge) of IIT Bhubaneswar and Prof. Debasis Dash, Director of Institute of Life Sciences, in the presence of Prof. Shreepad Karmalkar, Director, IIT Bhubaneswar. The MoU intends to have collaboration between the two premier institutions to bring about excellence in technical education, particularly in the fields of Biological Sciences, Molecular Biology, and Microbiology to improve the quality of academic practices and to build research capabilities of their students and faculty members. It may be mentioned that both institutes have agreed to carry out research projects with special emphasis on the development of vaccine for preventing tuberculosis. Also, as per the MoU, the Faculty members from IIT Bhubaneswar and ILS will be free to collaborate and train students of both institutes in their area of expertise based on mutually agreed programmes; they can jointly organise symposia, colloquium, workshops, seminars, and conferences on chosen topics and areas to train students in both the institutes; and conduct joint research projects based on specific interest of individual faculties of both the institutes. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24697/dr-polisetty-acquires-majority-stake-in-british-college-of-ayurveda.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24697/dr-polisetty-acquires-majority-stake-in-british-college-of-ayurveda.html Thu, 30 May 2024 00:00:00 +0530 In a significant collaboration expected to propel India’s traditional ayurvedic knowledge to the global stage, Dr Ravishankar Polisetty, the pioneer of Poly Scientific Ayurveda (PSA), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to acquire a majority stake in the British College of Ayurveda (BCA) in the UK. Institute of Polyscientific Ayurveda (IPSA) - a division of Dr Polisetty’s Sai Ganga Panakeia will introduce innovative courses in poly scientific Ayurveda at BCA, UK’s oldest Ayurveda College.This strategic collaboration aims to introduce courses on Poly Scientific Ayurveda, providing advanced training to the institution,  the premier educator for individuals seeking to make a difference in the world through a career restoring the natural balance of body, mind and spirit with the wisdom of Ayurveda in the UK. The initiative is set to bridge the distance between ancient Ayurvedic principles and modern medicine as well as provide holistic care for end-stage disease patients. The alliance with BCA will also facilitate the global propagation of PSA knowledge, providing modern and alternative medical practitioners with comprehensive skills to improve patient care.The MoU was signed between Dr Polisetty and the representatives of BCA, Dr Mauroof Athique and Dr Shanta Godagama in the presence of Amarjit Bhamra, Secretariat of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Traditional Sciences in the UK Parliament. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24689/srm-university-inks-mou-with-igcar-for-cutting-edge-biomedical-research.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24689/srm-university-inks-mou-with-igcar-for-cutting-edge-biomedical-research.html Wed, 29 May 2024 00:00:00 +0530 SRM University-AP has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, to collaborate on academic and research projects in Biomedical Research, Disaster Management, and other domains. The MoU was signed by Dr B Venkatraman, Director-IGCAR and Prof. Manoj K Arora, Vice Chancellor, SRM University-AP. The MoU underscores a mutually beneficial agreement between the two institutes. On the academic front, the MoU provides internship opportunities, research collaboration for projects and industry visits for the students and faculty of SRM AP. This ensures a knowledge transfer between the two organisations, promoting stellar growth in scientific and technological advancements. SRM AP has already collaborated with IGCAR on a consultancy project in the pioneering field of Biomedical Research last year. The parties have successfully conducted health screening of over 1500 subjects in the Chengalpattu region in Tamil Nadu, with SRM Medical Hospital & Research Centre and AIIMS Mangalagiri as secondary collaborators. Upon the successful completion of the project, IGCAR and SRM University-AP further extend their association with an official MoU for academic and research collaborations. Both institutes plan to extend their collaborative health screening project to the state of Andhra Pradesh, focusing on the neighbouring villages of SRM AP.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24655/amity-university-inks-mou-with-nottingham-trent-university-for-cognitive-computing-and-brain-informatics.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24655/amity-university-inks-mou-with-nottingham-trent-university-for-cognitive-computing-and-brain-informatics.html Thu, 23 May 2024 00:00:00 +0530 A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Cognitive Computing and Brain Informatics (CCBI) research group of Nottingham Trent University (UK) and the newly established Amity Cognitive Computing and Brain Informatics Centre (ACCBI). Dr Mufti Mahmud, Director of the Cognitive Computing and Brain Informatics (CCBI) Research Group at Nottingham Trent University (UK), and Prof. Kanad Ray, Director, Amity Cognitive Computing and Brain Informatics Centre, Amity University Rajasthan, signed the MoU. This MoU paves the way for collaborative research and the exchange of ideas between these institutions. Alongside, Amity University Rajasthan hosted a Co-Design Workshop on 'Designing and Developing Explainable Artificial Intelligence-Powered Tools for Early Detection and Management of Dementia', funded by Nottingham Trent University (UK) and supported by DST PURSE. The event also marked the official inauguration of the Amity Cognitive Computing and Brain Informatics Centre (ACCBI), a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to advancing research in cognitive computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and brain informatics. The inauguration ceremony commenced with the address of Prof. Amit Jain, Vice Chancellor, Amity University Rajasthan. Prof. Jain emphasised the significance of this new Centre in promoting innovation and multidisciplinary research. He highlighted the importance of developing explainable AI tools to address the growing need for the early detection and management of dementia, a crucial aspect of modern healthcare. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24642/bversity-announces-1-year-hybrid-post-graduate-programme-in-bioinformatics-in-partnership-with-atria-university.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24642/bversity-announces-1-year-hybrid-post-graduate-programme-in-bioinformatics-in-partnership-with-atria-university.html Mon, 20 May 2024 00:00:00 +0530 In a pioneering move for biosciences education, Bversity, the first-of-its-kind virtual college specialising in Biosciences, has announced the launch of its flagship 1-year hybrid Postgraduate Programme in Bioinformatics in partnership with Atria University, Bengaluru which is now set to commence in August 2024. Designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and industry demands, Bversity's programme is crafted to cultivate the next generation of biotechnology leaders, fully equipped to thrive in a rapidly evolving global bioinformatics landscape.   Unlike traditional 2-year Master’s programmes, Bversity offers a condensed, intensive 1-year postgraduate programme that focuses on imparting essential skill sets required for immediate entry and success in the biotech industry. Candidates can specialise in Bioinformatics, Genomics and Data science, which is aligned with the sector's most pressing needs and future directions. "The essence of our Postgraduate Programme lies in revolutionising traditional educational paradigms to foster a deep connection with the biotech industry," stated Sudharsan Varadharajan, CEO & Co-founder of Bversity. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24614/dr-kiran-mazumdar-shaw-inaugurates-bio-sciences-lab-at-chanakya-university-bengaluru.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24614/dr-kiran-mazumdar-shaw-inaugurates-bio-sciences-lab-at-chanakya-university-bengaluru.html Mon, 13 May 2024 00:00:00 +0530 Chanakya University, in Bengaluru, recently celebrated a momentous stride in scientific innovation with the inauguration of the Chanakya School of Biosciences. The launch of the School of Biosciences is a landmark in the industry-academia collaboration in driving scientific innovation and addressing real-world challenges. The need for academia is to stay attuned to industry trends and for industry to leverage the wealth of knowledge generated in academic institutions. Dr Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, a visionary entrepreneur, Chairperson of Biocon Limited, and member of the International Advisory Council at Chanakya University, officially launched the Chanakya School of Biosciences and the academic activities with the support of the Mazumdar – Shaw Philanthropy. Equipped with advanced instrumentation and infrastructure, the newly inaugurated Biosciences Lab is poised to support a wide array of research activities spanning Genomics, Bioengineering, Diesel Biology, Computational Biology, and more. It is positioned to serve as a hub for interdisciplinary collaboration, bringing together faculty, researchers, and students from diverse backgrounds to address pressing health, agriculture, and environmental sustainability challenges. The university plans to offer bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes along with PhD programmes, short-term courses, workshops, and certificate and diploma courses. Additionally, the integration of publications, patents, technology licensing, startups, and skilled human and online resources is on the agenda. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24578/concerns-rise-as-niper-hyderabad-contemplates-termination-of-mba-pharma-programme.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24578/concerns-rise-as-niper-hyderabad-contemplates-termination-of-mba-pharma-programme.html Thu, 02 May 2024 00:00:00 +0530 Students and alumni of National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Hyderabad have raised concerns over the potential termination of the MBA (Pharma) programme at the institution, echoing similar apprehensions about its discontinuation at NIPER Ahmadabad. Sandeep Batra, an alumni of NIPER Hyderabad, lauds the MBA (Pharm) programme for its stellar reputation over the past decade. Renowned for producing highly skilled professionals, the programme boasts a remarkable 100% placement record, with top recruiters offering lucrative packages of up to Rs 28 lakh PA. Expressing dismay, Batra highlights the adverse impact on enrolled students should the pharmaceutical management department be dissolved and the Pharma MBA course terminated. "We are deeply concerned about the recent decision to discontinue the MBA (Pharm) programme. The students earnestly urge the institute to reconsider this move and reinstate the programme for the upcoming NIPER JEE 2024," he emphasises. Echoing these sentiments, current students underscore the invaluable benefits of the programme. They stress its role as a revenue generator for the institution, citing its minimal resource consumption and substantial annual revenue from fees. Moreover, the programme's affordability, with Rs 5 lakhs tuition fee for a two-year course, makes it accessible to students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. The MBA (Pharm) programme is lauded for fostering industry collaboration and consultancy, enabling students to actively contribute to the pharmaceutical sector through internships, research projects, and consultancy work. Furthermore, the program's holistic approach to student development, exemplified by initiatives like Market Mayhem and Bio-Asia, enhances students' skills and bolsters NIPER's visibility.     ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24547/clirnet-teams-up-with-african-medical-associations-to-revolutionise-healthcare-education.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24547/clirnet-teams-up-with-african-medical-associations-to-revolutionise-healthcare-education.html Fri, 26 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0530 Mumbai-based startup Clirnet, a pioneer in innovative medical education solutions, has announced a ground-breaking collaboration with multiple African Medical Associations. With a network encompassing over 450,000 doctors in India, Clirnet believes this partnership heralds a new era in advancing healthcare education. The collaboration aims to equip African healthcare professionals (HCPs) with seamless access to cutting-edge tools for enhancing medical learning. In the first phase, Clirnet has received an overwhelming welcome from the young medical community in Africa. Building upon this momentum, the next step involves forging partnerships with specialised associations of healthcare professionals as Clirnet progresses into its second phase through the Pan-African Medical Marathon. This unique initiative, comprising 75 CME sessions from eminent clinical experts, is designed to address the evolving needs and challenges faced by healthcare practitioners in Africa, equipping them with the latest advancements, best practices, and insights to enhance patient care and professional growth. The alliance with African Medical Associations underscores CLIRNET's dedication to democratising healthcare education and breaking down geographical barriers. Through this partnership, healthcare professionals across Africa will gain unprecedented access to the latest medical advancements, facilitated by Clirnet's artificial intelligence (AI)-driven platform, thereby fostering a robust global network of HCPs.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24550/jaipurs-iihmr-university-introduces-certificate-course-on-digital-health.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24550/jaipurs-iihmr-university-introduces-certificate-course-on-digital-health.html Fri, 26 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0530 IIHMR University (previously known as Indian Institute of Health Management Research), Jaipur, has launched its first-ever certificate course on digital health for aspiring professionals interested in navigating the corridors of the digital healthcare ecosystem.   The objective behind launching this course is to develop healthcare professionals with an understanding of digital health innovations so they can contribute in enhancing the performance of health systems keeping availability, affordability, and quality of healthcare services on top priority.     Approved by the advisory board at the School of Digital Health, the 6-month-long immersive programme is designed and conceptualised by the faculty members at IIHMR University. The course is curated keeping in mind the geographical barriers hence, it will be conducted in online mode.   However, participants wishing to attend discussions at the campus can contact the officials at the university. Through this launch, the School of Digital Health is focused on aggressively engaging in all verticals of the healthcare segment and contributing to the government’s agenda of making India’s healthcare digitally armed.   The curriculum will be conducted through a judicious mix of training methods appropriately suitable for working professionals including lectures-cum-discussions, case discussion/analysis, project work, term papers, and assignments.    ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24543/sightsavers-india-opens-applications-for-annual-fellowship-programme-2024-for-ophthalmology.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24543/sightsavers-india-opens-applications-for-annual-fellowship-programme-2024-for-ophthalmology.html Thu, 25 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0530 Sightsavers India, a development organisation dedicated to eradicating avoidable blindness and promoting equality of opportunity for individuals with disabilities, has announced the commencement of applications for its annual Fellowship Programme for the year 2024. The application window remains open until 30th June 2024, with the programme scheduled to commence in August 2024. The Sightsavers India Fellowship Programme provides a distinctive and promising career pathway for ophthalmologists, crafted to guide selected fellows through a rewarding 24-month journey. This structured programme enhances skills and provides mentorship across various domains, including clinical and surgical ophthalmology, as well as managerial and holistic life skills development. Upon acceptance, fellows undergo an intensive four-month training focused on Small Incision Cataract Surgery (SICS), a vital aspect of the fellowship. Subsequently, they are placed within peripheral centres across one of eight states: Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha. These placements facilitate continuous skills enhancement and invaluable personal interactions with respected leaders in the eye care and development sectors. At each stage of the programme, emphasis is placed on optimising learning experiences, enabling fellows to evolve into well-rounded, seasoned professionals. Furthermore, they receive an attractive stipend throughout the duration of the fellowship. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24540/new-partnership-to-improve-healthcare-outcomes-in-india-and-uk.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24540/new-partnership-to-improve-healthcare-outcomes-in-india-and-uk.html Wed, 24 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0530 King’s College London, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, the Hinduja Foundation UK and P.D. Hinduja Hospital & Medical Research Centre (owned and managed by the National Health & Education Society) have announced a new strategic partnership to advance training, education and research capacity building focused on healthcare outcomes. King’s College London, Guy’s and St Thomas’, and the National Health & Education Society have signed a memorandum of agreement which will deliver King’s and Guy’s and St Thomas’ training in clinical and non-clinical short courses, research capacity building and executive education to health professionals in India and the UK to mutually share the best clinical practices. Separately, a significant philanthropic gift from the Hinduja Foundation UK will enable health engineering research and clinical innovation through PhD and Masters scholarships for students from India in biomedical engineering and imaging sciences.  Together, these joint activities will create the Hinduja-King’s Health Partners Academy. With King’s leading research, teaching and focus on biomedical technologies, health data (including AI) and advanced therapies, it is hoped that as well as supporting healthcare provision in India, the partnership will help drive forward the development of new technologies to address global healthcare challenges in these areas. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24499/university-of-leicester-and-apollo-university-partner-to-revolutionise-global-healthcare.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24499/university-of-leicester-and-apollo-university-partner-to-revolutionise-global-healthcare.html Mon, 15 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0530 Strengthening collaborative education and research ties between the UK and India, University of Leicester and The Apollo University (TAU), a part of the Apollo Hospitals Group, have initiated a programme partnership. Marking a significant milestone, this collaboration launches a computer science programme wherein students commence their studies with two years at TAU in Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, India, before progressing to their final year and graduation at the University of Leicester, UK. The Apollo University and University of Leicester aim to prepare 120 students for the first cohort, with the curriculum jointly mapped between the two universities. Students who achieve a minimum of 50% in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics during their Intermediate or diploma studies, and successfully complete Class 12 or its equivalent with these subjects as majors from a recognised Board are eligible to apply for the programme. Upon successful completion of their studies at TAU, students have the opportunity to select from computer science programme specialising in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, or Software Engineering at Leicester. Furthermore, the articulation pathway (formally agreed and approved admission route, for enrolled students) provides students with the option to pursue a one-year master’s degree in their chosen discipline. Post course completion, students who are eligible will also have access to placement opportunities and post-study work visas in the UK. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24492/aicte-inks-mou-with-c-camp-to-strengthen-collaboration-between-engineering-and-medical-domain.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24492/aicte-inks-mou-with-c-camp-to-strengthen-collaboration-between-engineering-and-medical-domain.html Wed, 10 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0530 The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bengaluru-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) and launched AICTE-Inter-Institutional Biomedical Innovations Programme (IBIP) to catalyse interdisciplinary education, research and innovations between medical and engineering institutions. The MoU was exchanged between Prof. Rajive Kumar, Member Secretary, AICTE; Dr Taslimarif Saiyed, CEO and Director of C-CAMP and Dr Ravi Nayar, Programme Lead of C-CAMP IBIP at AICTE HQ in New Delhi. AICTE Chairman Prof. TG Sitharam launched the AICTE-Inter-Institutional Biomedical Innovations Programme (IBIP), to promote education, research and innovations through facilitated, forged and focused interaction between medical and engineering institutions. The AICTE-IBIP programme is the collective endeavour of AICTE and C-CAMP to promote accessible, affordable and quality healthcare to all, making health and lives better. The objective of the programme is to facilitate engineering and medical graduates, post graduates and faculty members to jointly work on the challenges from the medical domain. Besides imparting multidisciplinary education and research, the initiative will also prompt and prepare them for entrepreneurship particularly in the healthcare sector. The programme will also offer a structured Bio Entrepreneurship Didactic course online, which has health sector skills council accreditation for the participants. Under IBIP, AICTE will provide a grant-in-aid of Rs 10 lakh against a matching contribution from Institution to develop and implement at least 10 ideas/innovations to address the challenges posed by the healthcare domain. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24441/medisim-vr-and-sriher-ink-mou-to-establish-cutting-edge-vr-skill-training-lab-in-chennai.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24441/medisim-vr-and-sriher-ink-mou-to-establish-cutting-edge-vr-skill-training-lab-in-chennai.html Thu, 28 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0530 Medisim VR, a Chennai-based healthcare simulation startup, and Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (SRIHER), have announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a state-of-the-art virtual reality (VR) Skill Training Lab – Centre of Excellence on SRIHER's campus in Chennai. As a part of the collaboration, Medisim VR will establish an immersive and realistic skill training lab for medical students, nursing students, faculty, and allied healthcare professionals. The lab will offer advanced VR medical simulations, allowing users to practise medical procedures and develop critical clinical skills in a safe and controlled setting. The new lab is set to benefit students' career development and placement opportunities, as it equips them with hands-on experience, boosting their confidence and expertise in medical procedures. As a Centre of Excellence (CoE), the simulation lab will play a pivotal role in upskilling medical students, nursing students and healthcare professionals, as well as professionals from other medical colleges across Chennai.   This collaboration between MediSim VR and SRIHER sets a new precedent for medical colleges to seamlessly integrate VR-based skill training technology into their curriculum and serve as a catalyst for a brighter future in the global healthcare community.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24432/unicef-india-iihmr-delhi-iit-b-jointly-launch-digital-health-course.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24432/unicef-india-iihmr-delhi-iit-b-jointly-launch-digital-health-course.html Wed, 27 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0530 United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) India, the International Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR) Delhi, and the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) have jointly launched a comprehensive health course.   Rolling out from 17 April 2024, the 'Digital Health Enterprise Planning Course' will equip healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, healthcare administrators, and allied health professionals with the skills to support the digital transformation of the healthcare sector. Policymakers, IT professionals, and individuals involved in healthcare technology implementation too can take the course.   The course is a major step toward fulfilling UNICEF India's commitment to the Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH), launched during India's G20 Presidency in 2023. It aims to improve healthcare delivery by using digital technologies effectively, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the GIDH.  The course is designed to address the growing demand for digital health education and to bridge the gap in training among healthcare professionals.  The 10-week course includes nine modules and covers a range of topics crucial to digital health implementation. It starts with understanding the link between digital technology and healthcare, progresses through planning national digital health systems, integrating digital interventions into health systems, and executing digital health initiatives using an enterprise approach. Participants will learn to develop digital health strategies, implement enterprise plans, establish digital health platforms, execute interventions, manage costing and procurement, as well as address governance, policies, regulations, and workforce issues. The course concludes with a module on the future of digital health.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24421/merck-life-science-enters-into-mou-with-amity-university-noida.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24421/merck-life-science-enters-into-mou-with-amity-university-noida.html Fri, 22 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0530 Merck Life Science has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Amity University, Uttar Pradesh, Noida campus, envisioning significant collaborations between the organisation in Academics and Research.  Under this MoU, 'Practical & Industry Oriented Certificate Courses' focusing on advanced instrumentation will be offered to the students with hands-on training opportunities. The objective behind this collaboration is to ensure that the students are industry-ready.  The MoU was signed by Dhananjay Singh, Head, of Science and Lab Solutions, India Commercials from Merck Life Science, and Prof (Dr) R.K. Kapur and Dr W. Sevamurthy from the Amity University, Noida Campus, Uttar Pradesh.  Among the other dignitaries, Dr Pankaj Joshi, Head of Asia Pacific Commercial Marketing, Science and Lab Solutions APAC Commercials; Mahesh Goyal, Sales Head Academia (North and West) and Dr Paramita Sen, Ph.D., Solution Scientist from Merck were also present at the signing.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24394/maharashtra-government-gives-re-recognition-to-medical-courses-at-colleges-of-physicians-and-surgeons-mumbai.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24394/maharashtra-government-gives-re-recognition-to-medical-courses-at-colleges-of-physicians-and-surgeons-mumbai.html Mon, 18 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0530 The State Government of Maharashtra in consultation with Maharashtra Medical Council has announced significant amendments to the Maharashtra Medical Council Act, 1965. In a move aimed at expanding the scope of medical education and accreditation, the State Government, after extensive consultations with the Maharashtra Medical Council, has approved the reintroduction of 10 National Medical Commission (NMC) recognised courses offered by the Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons (CPS), Mumbai, into the schedule of the Maharashtra Medical Council Act, 1965. This development marks a significant milestone in the re-recognition and validation of the academic programmes offered by the institution. The amended schedule now includes a comprehensive list of courses offered by the Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons, Mumbai, which align with the standards set forth by the National Medical Commission. Notable inclusions encompass a range of membership and fellowship programs, as well as diploma courses, covering various medical specialisations such as Medicine, Pathology, Surgery, Dermatology, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Ophthalmology and Child Health. "We always believed that de-recognition of CPS courses wasn't in the best interest of the Medical Fraternity, the healthcare system of the state and at  large the healthcare system of the country. Today our belief has been validated, all 10 NMC approved courses are now re-recognised by the Government of Maharashtra. With this notification not only CPS but the entire alumni of CPS and the future students have received justice , which was long due. This order will also benefit the healthcare system of the state. I would like to thank the Government of Maharashtra and the concerned authorities for their prudent decision," remarked CPS President Dr. Ajay D. Sambre.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24388/iit-m-pravartak-partners-with-vyvoxel-to-launch-ar-vr-medical-programming-course.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24388/iit-m-pravartak-partners-with-vyvoxel-to-launch-ar-vr-medical-programming-course.html Thu, 14 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0530 The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation is partnering with VyVoxel, an international AR/VR/MR company, to offer a course on Augmented Reality / Virtual Reality (AR/VR) Programming for students to build a career in this cutting-edge field. The course is offered in online mode and has a duration of 60 hours. VyVoxel is a company based in the US and in Chennai specialising in visual computing and application development. They develop enterprise solutions in AR, VR and MR experiences, 3D graphics, animation, programming and computer vision.  VR simulations can be used to train medical professionals in a safe and realistic environment, allowing for practising complex procedures and decision-making skills. Augmented and Virtual Reality as a field has seen several technological advancements recently.  Market analysts predict the AR and VR market to reach a size of $71.2 billion to $372.73 billion by 2032, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) ranging from 23.2% to 39.8%. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24370/indira-ivf-to-train-indias-talent-in-reproductive-medicine-with-nbe-accreditation.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24370/indira-ivf-to-train-indias-talent-in-reproductive-medicine-with-nbe-accreditation.html Wed, 13 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0530 Indira IVF, India’s largest network of infertility treatment hospitals, has announced its accreditation in the Fellowship of National Board (FNB) - Reproductive Medicine course by the National Board of Examinations (NBE), India. The accreditation has been provided to its Udaipur and Pune hospitals for four and two seats, respectively. The company aspires to train 100 FNB candidates in the next five years hence, addressing the critical need gap for trained fertility specialists in the country. As a distinguished institution in India, the National Board of Examinations (NBE) sets exceptional benchmarks for medical education and training, and provides accreditation to organisations that fulfil its stringent guidelines. Medical graduates who have a DNB/MS degree in Obstetrics and Gynaecology can appear for the qualifying examination and a selected few are allocated seats in NBE-accredited Medical Colleges, Institutes or Hospitals. The Fellowship of National Board - Reproductive Medicine course is widely recognised for its comprehensive curriculum and rigorous training protocols, ensuring that professionals in the field of reproductive medicine adhere to the highest standards of expertise and competence. During the two-year fellowship, selected candidates will go through a rigorous course divided into theoretical, clinical, practical and symposia formats that takes them through knowledge, skills, behaviour, delivery of rehabilitative care, and methodology of research and training.    ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24364/dr-d-y-patil-medical-college-in-pune-partners-with-johns-hopkins-university.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24364/dr-d-y-patil-medical-college-in-pune-partners-with-johns-hopkins-university.html Tue, 12 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0530 Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Pimpri, Pune has collaborated with Johns Hopkins University (JHU), USA. This partnership aims to strengthen the exchange of knowledge via student exchange programmes, joint research initiatives and applications for competitive research funding. Researchers from both institutions can combine their unique perspectives leading to deeper insights and innovative solutions to complex medical challenges. This partnership is set to elevate the international reputation of Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre and JHU, by addressing critical global health concerns such as infectious diseases, particularly issues of tuberculosis (TB) care, antimicrobial resistance and healthcare disparities. Developing personalised treatment approaches based on individual genetic and molecular profiles, collaborating on research, surveillance and prevention strategies for new and evolving pathogens are some of the key focus areas of the collaboration.  This collaboration has yielded several impactful research studies funded by institutions like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Ongoing projects like ‘TB Aftermath’ and the ‘Hybrid Trial for Alcohol Reduction in TB’ demonstrate their unwavering commitment to addressing critical healthcare challenges.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24367/government-introduces-common-fellowship-portal-for-various-schemes-by-dbt.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24367/government-introduces-common-fellowship-portal-for-various-schemes-by-dbt.html Tue, 12 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0530 Union Minister of Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh launched ‘Common Fellowship Portal’- a single interface between applicants and various fellowship schemes by Department of Biotechnology (DBT) at the National Media Centre, New Delhi. "This portal will save the energy and time of aspiring students and startups, besides bringing ease of applying will enable a simplified and streamlined process from the submission of application form to the selection. The applicants can create their profile on the portal and use the same information to auto-fill different applications. This portal will help all applicants by reducing their time and energy by getting full information and submission of applications at a single place by click of a mouse", said the Minister. Dr Jitendra Singh, while addressing the ceremony, congratulated the team of the ‘Department of Biotechnology’ under guidance of Secretary Dr Rajesh Gokhale, for developing the Common Fellowship Portal for the benefit of PhD and Post-doctoral students of the country.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24357/north-indias-first-govt-homeopathic-college-to-open-in-kathua-jk.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24357/north-indias-first-govt-homeopathic-college-to-open-in-kathua-jk.html Sun, 10 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0530 “North India’s first Government Homeopathic College, centrally funded at a cost of Rs 80 crore will come up in Jasrota area of district Kathua in J&K”, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh said. Dr Jitendra Singh visited the proposed site of the college in Jasrota village, where work for the boundary wall has already started. The Minister was briefed by the engineers and senior experts from the Department of Ayush about the institution. He said the institution will be spread over an area of more than 8 acres, adding that the adjoining three acres may also be added to the existing premises in due course of time.  “The proposed structure will include a hospital complex, a college, an administrative block and one hostel each for male and female students”, Dr Jitendra Singh informed. He further informed that the open space will be utilised later on for construction of an auditorium, playground, etc. Highlighting the medical infrastructure of Kathua built in the last ten years, Dr Jitendra Singh said the district now has a government medical college and a cancer treatment facility being provided by Tata Memorial Centre, Bombay. “The addition of a government Homeopathic College will make Kathua an integrated and cost effective healthcare centre of North India in times to come'', he underlined.  The Minister added that with this, Kathua is all set to emerge as North India’s cost-effective and state-of-the-art centre of medical facilities. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24329/atal-innovation-mission-niti-aayog-and-meta-join-hands-to-establish-frontier-technology-labs-in-schools.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24329/atal-innovation-mission-niti-aayog-and-meta-join-hands-to-establish-frontier-technology-labs-in-schools.html Wed, 06 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0530 In an effort to democratise future technologies and empower youth to innovate, Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog and Meta have announced the launch of Frontier Technology Labs (FTLs). Atal Innovation Mission and Meta will partner to set up FTLs in schools of strategic importance to ensure that students from diverse backgrounds across India will have equal opportunities to learn and engage with frontier technologies. Till date, AIM has established 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) in schools across 722 districts in India. The objective of ATLs is to foster curiosity, creativity, and imagination in young minds; and inculcate skills such as design mindset, computational thinking, physical computing etc. The FTL is an advanced version of Atal Tinkering Lab equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure, including all components of the Tinkering Lab to empower students to innovate using technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Augmented & Virtual Reality (AR/VR), Blockchain, Cybersecurity, Robotics, 3D Printing, and Internet of Things. The labs support the government’s focus on equipping youth with digital skills to succeed in the evolving landscape of technology and the global economy. The FTLs will be funded by Meta and Atal Innovation Mission will be the knowledge partner. Through engaging workshops, interactive sessions, and project-based learning, students will be trained on using AI tools effectively, understanding generative AI & prompt engineering, exploring scientific concepts interactively using AR & VR, dealing with new age cyber security threats, amongst other things.  Students will also be given access to tools and resources from Meta, like LLaMA and other AI tools, to build innovative solutions.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24321/iit-guwahati-strengthens-international-collaboration-with-universities-in-canada-japan.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24321/iit-guwahati-strengthens-international-collaboration-with-universities-in-canada-japan.html Tue, 05 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0530 The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati has bolstered its global partnerships by signing four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with renowned international educational institutions. On 3rd March 2024, the institute took a significant step towards enhancing knowledge exchange by formalising collaborations with Dalhousie University, Canada and Gifu University, Japan. All the MoUs have been signed for a period of 5 years and may be further extended based on mutual understanding. The key highlight of the MoU with Dalhousie University, Canada, is to establish Joint Doctoral Programme. This innovative collaboration marks the inception of joint doctoral programmes designed to foster dynamic research collaborations between scholars and students from both institutions. By facilitating exchange programmes for students and academic staff, fostering joint research activities, and promoting the sharing of research materials, this partnership aims to cultivate a rich academic environment conducive to ground breaking discoveries and academic excellence.  IIT-Guwahati has established an ‘International Joint PhD Programme’ in collaboration with Gifu University, spanning a standard duration of three years.  IIT-Guwahati has further collaborated with Gifu University to establish a ‘Glocal Expert Programme,’ an international joint-certificate initiative under the Inter-University Exchange Project (IUEP). ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24242/maharashtra-university-of-health-sciences-launches-indias-first-state-led-network-of-coes-in-healthcare.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24242/maharashtra-university-of-health-sciences-launches-indias-first-state-led-network-of-coes-in-healthcare.html Mon, 26 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0530 Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) has launched India’s first state-led Network of Centers of Excellence (CoEs) in healthcare, to be led by the University as the central hub. The initiative was launched by Hasan Mushrif, Minister of Medical Education for Maharashtra, in the presence of Dinesh Waghmare, Principal Secretary, Medical Education Department (MH), and other officials. The Network of CoEs aims to improve medical research, education, and healthcare quality in the state through a collaborative approach. The CoE idea received a significant boost when the policy Network of Centers of Excellence Policy, 2023 was issued by the Govt. of Maharashtra, as a part of the loan programme by Asian Development Bank (ADB). ADB team worked with Government of Maharashtra and MUHS team to refine concept of network of CoE. Beyond CoE, the ADB loan programme of $500 million is to develop healthcare infrastructure, boost digital medical education and healthcare, talent and performance management and procurement in Maharashtra. This Network will operate as a hub and spoke model, with the newly launched Maharashtra State Health Training and Research Institute (MSHTRI), in MUHS, as the hub and apex Centre. In the very first year of operations, MSHTRI will support digital learning for over 10,000 medical students in the state with 20 online learning modules, incubate over 20 startups and train over 400 faculty at faculty development academy, 1000 students at the simulation lab, and 400 students at the digital health centre.  Digital Health Foundation Course (DHFC) has also been launched in collaboration with Koita Foundation. DHFC will be offered as apart of the curriculum to over 450 medical colleges and more than 40,000 medical students. With the introduction of DHFC, Maharashtra becomes the first state in India to introduce Digital Health as a formal course for medical students. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24237/iiph-shillong-launches-masters-programme-on-health-economics-and-technology-assessment.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24237/iiph-shillong-launches-masters-programme-on-health-economics-and-technology-assessment.html Wed, 21 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0530 Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare recently inaugurated a Regional Consultative Workshop on Research Priority for Providing Accessible and Affordable Healthcare for the Northeastern States of India. The workshop was jointly organised by Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India; Indian Institute of Public Health (IIPH), Shillong and Indian Council of Medical Research - Regional Medical Research Centre, Dibrugarh. During the occasion, the Union Health Minister launched a Master’s Programme on Health Economics and Technology Assessment in IIPH, Shillong.  The programme will help the students learn and evaluate health intervention’s social, economic, and ethical impacts. The programme will also help assess health technology’s role in a priority setting. Dr Mandaviya said that the government is working on Essential Health Technology on the lines of essential medicine. These efforts will make health technologies available, accessible, affordable and equitable for all people in the coming times. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24235/two-new-academic-complexes-open-at-iit-d-to-focus-on-ai-biotech-biomedical-engineering-and-more.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24235/two-new-academic-complexes-open-at-iit-d-to-focus-on-ai-biotech-biomedical-engineering-and-more.html Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0530 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the newly constructed Academic Complex East and Academic Complex West at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT-D)’s Hauz Khas campus through video conferencing on 20 February. This is the largest ever single-time construction activity for research and academic purposes in the history of IIT-D. The two multi-storey complexes are developed at a cost of Rs 260 crore, with a plinth area of over 60,000 square meters and have come up as an addition to the existing academic area on the campus. The East and West Complex will host more than 20 academic units of the Institute including School of AI, School of Public Policy, Department of Design, Department of Textile and Fibre, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Material Science and Engineering, Department of Mathematics, Department of Energy Science and Engineering, School of Biological Sciences, Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Department of Biotechnology, Centre for Automative Research and Tribology, Department of Electrical Engineering, Department of Physics, Department of Chemistry, Centre of Excellence on Cyber Security, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Central Workshop, School of Inter-disciplinary Research, and Central Research Facilities. More than 300 research-cum-teaching labs focusing on research and development in the areas of Energy, Environment and Sustainability, Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, Advanced Materials and Devices, MedTech & Healthcare, 5G/IoT/Communication, Quantum Technologies, Electric Mobility, Biological Sciences, Healthcare and many other frontier areas of technological and scientific research will be set up in the two complexes. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24173/iit-d-announces-new-academic-programme-in-biological-sciences.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24173/iit-d-announces-new-academic-programme-in-biological-sciences.html Sat, 10 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0530 The Kusuma School of Biological Sciences at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT-D) has launched a new academic programme, i.e., an M.Sc. in Biological Sciences. The programme will commence from the academic year 2024-25. Admissions to the two-year Masters programme will be through the Joint Admission Test for Masters (JAM 2024). There are 20 seats under the new academic programme.   This curriculum will have a strong emphasis on quantitative biology as a core topic to fill  the gap in big data analysis and presentation in the current job market. Students will have an open basket of electives to choose from. This programme will have a strong emphasis on “learning by doing”, not by instruction. All core courses in the programme have a practical or analytics-based component, not a single pure theory course is proposed. Students will be encouraged to undertake projects/internship in academic laboratories, as well as in start-up/industry settings in the last semester, which will increase their real-world exposure and eventual employability. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24174/up-govt-allocates-rs-10-cr-funding-for-medical-school-at-iit-kanpur.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24174/up-govt-allocates-rs-10-cr-funding-for-medical-school-at-iit-kanpur.html Sat, 10 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0530 The Uttar Pradesh (UP) government has allocated a fund of Rs 10 crore in the recently announced State Budget 2024-25 for the Medical School at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT-K). IIT-K has established the Gangwal School of Medical Sciences & Technology, and the Yadupati Singhania Super Speciality Hospital. While the former will cater to postgraduate academic degrees and biomedical research, the latter would be a 500-bed super specialty hospital fulfilling medical components and high-end care. The state budgetary allocation for IIT Kanpur’s Medical School is a significant development, which will help consolidate infrastructure and related services. This development opens up the scope for grants, funding etc. at the state level. It is anticipated that the Gangwal School of Medical Sciences & Technology shall launch various academic programs by July 2026. The School is already executing the flagship Hridyantra project – development of an affordable and advanced artificial heart – among a number of other significant projects based on contemporary biomedical research problems. The 500-bed Yadupati Singhania Super Speciality Hospital, once completed, would offer affordable treatment to patients from the state and elsewhere. Simultaneously, patients would also be able to avail benefits under Ayushman Bharat and other health welfare schemes launched by the Central as well as State governments. The state-of-the-art medical and research facilities the Medical School would house,are expected to transform the state into a knowledge hub, while also ensuring ease-of-living. With donations from global IIT-K alumni and corporate grants, the School is coming up as a milestone project by the Institute. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24159/st-minister-launches-multi-disciplinary-doctoral-courses-in-bio-sciences-to-address-global-health-challenges.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24159/st-minister-launches-multi-disciplinary-doctoral-courses-in-bio-sciences-to-address-global-health-challenges.html Wed, 07 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0530 Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology (S&T) Dr Jitendra Singh launches multi-disciplinary doctoral courses in Biosciences to address global health challenges. Delivering the key-note address at the launch of “i3c BRIC-RCB PhD Programme” in Biosciences in New Delhi, Dr Jitendra Singh announced that 1000 PhD students will be enrolled in the next five years to drive innovation in the critical healthcare sector. The Minister said this PhD programme is designed on the four pillars of ideation, immersion, innovation and collaboration. The Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), an Institution of National Importance under the Department of Biotechnolgy (DBT), along with iBRIC (institutions of Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council or BRIC) has rolled out a globally competitive interdisciplinary PhD programme- “The i3c BRIC-RCB PhD Programme in Biosciences”. Along with a unique course curriculum, hands-on training on high-end facilities would be provided to all the research scholars. A special on-field ‘Immersion Fellowship’ supported by Grand Challenges India would be provided to first-hand experience challenges and problems and to derive motivation to address them through collaborative research in the DBT institutions. Additionally, the programme will also induct and provide opportunities for non-biologists to undertake this PhD programme through special fellowships. Dr Jitendra Singh also launched the DBT-Handbook on Bio-design for Med-Tech Innovations and licensed medical technologies developed by DBT-Bio-design fellows to the startups incorporated by them. The DBT-Biodesign Programme promotes and nurtures med-tech innovators in the country. At present, six Biodesign Centres across the country twining over 20 leading medical schools and technical institutions are providing the biodesign capacity building and indigenous med-tech innovations. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24139/iit-m-receives-endowment-of-rs-110-cr-to-establish-wadhwani-school-of-data-science-ai.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24139/iit-m-receives-endowment-of-rs-110-cr-to-establish-wadhwani-school-of-data-science-ai.html Tue, 30 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0530 The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) has announced an endowment of Rs 110 crore by Sunil Wadhwani towards setting up the Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI. A distinguished alumnus of IIT-M and the Co-founder of IGATE and Mastech Digital, Wadhwani’s gift is one of the largest gifts given by an alumnus to create a School at an educational institution in India. The MoU was signed between Sunil Wadhwani and Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT-M, in the presence of faculty, students, alumni, and researchers.  With a vision to be among the top artificial intelligence (AI) focused schools worldwide, Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI also aims to advise the government and policymakers on Data Science and AI-related policy areas. Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI will offer courses such as BTech programme in AI and Data Analytics; MTech programme in Data Science and AI; MS & PhD Programmes in Data Science and AI; Joint MSc in Data Science and AI with the University of Birmingham, UK; International Interdisciplinary Masters Programme in Data Science; Interdisciplinary Dual Degree in Data Science; Web-enabled MTech in Industrial AI. Admissions will commence in July 2024. The school will also run a Joint MSc in Data Science and AI with the University of Birmingham, UK, admitting 30 students and an International Interdisciplinary Masters Programme. The Applied Research Areas of this School will be Healthcare, Agriculture, Smart cities and transportation, Financial analytics, Manufacturing, Energy and Environment, Defence, Education, Systems Biology. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24095/cactus-communications-partners-with-society-of-cell-biology.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24095/cactus-communications-partners-with-society-of-cell-biology.html Sat, 20 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0530 Cactus Communications, a company specialising in science communication and technology, has joined forces with the Indian Society of Cell Biology. This two years partnership aims to enhance academic growth and offer training support to students, postdocs, and researchers in various life sciences fields, highlighting a step forward in academic development. The 46th All India Cell Biology Conference (AICBC2024), recently organised by the Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research, and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Tata Memorial Centre. It was a key event for promoting collaboration and sharing knowledge in the field. Complementing this, Cactus Communications also conducted two webinars in partnership with the Society: 'Writing and structuring your manuscript to make it publish-worthy' and 'The power of conferences, networking, and social media in academia'. These webinars, designed for Ph.D. students and postdocs, focused on manuscript writing and effective networking skills in academia. Abhishek Goel, Co-Founder & CEO of Cactus Communications shared, “Collaborating with the Indian Society of Cell Biology enables us to connect with a diverse spectrum of students, postdocs, and researchers, empowering them through upskilling programmes and offering comprehensive service solutions” Dr Pritha Ray, Principal Investigator, ACTREC and Vice President, Indian Society of Cell Biology commented, “Working with Cactus Communications gives our participants access to important resources and insights. The insightful webinars not only enriched our academic community but also created opportunities for new collaborations and skill building.”   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24067/national-institute-of-pharmaceutical-education-and-research-opens-in-guwahati.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24067/national-institute-of-pharmaceutical-education-and-research-opens-in-guwahati.html Sat, 13 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0530 Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers & Health and Family Welfare virtually inaugurated the permanent campus of National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) in Guwahati, Assam. He also laid the foundation stone of NIPER Hyderabad and NIPER Raebareli. In a significant boost to healthcare infrastructure in the Northeast, Dr Mandaviya dedicated five new facilities in the Regional Institute of Paramedical and Nursing Science (RIPANS) in Aizawl, Mizoram to the nation. He also laid the foundation stone for over 80 units of health infrastructure in 7 Northeastern states including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura under the Pradhan Mantri – Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) and the National Health Mission (NHM). NIPER Guwahati, which is spread across many buildings, including around 10 centres of excellence on about 60 acres of land, with a total project cost of Rs 157 crore, stands as a testament to the government’s unwavering dedication to a progressive Northeast and unified nation.  Bhagwanth Khuba, Minister of State, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers & New and Renewable Energy; Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Minister, Assam; Prof. Manik Saha, Chief Minister, Tripura; Keshab Mahanta, Health Minister, Assam; Lalrinpuii, Health Minister, Mizoram were among the dignitaries present on the occasion.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24057/afmc-aiims-new-delhi-collaborate-to-conduct-combined-research-projects.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24057/afmc-aiims-new-delhi-collaborate-to-conduct-combined-research-projects.html Thu, 11 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0530 Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) under the Ministry of Defence, and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with objectives of collaboration in areas of mutual interest, combined research and academic activities addressing multidisciplinary scientific and technological issues. DG AFMS Lt Gen Daljit Singh & Director, AIIMS Professor M Srinivas signed the MoU to explore possibilities of joint research projects, common educational activities, and a faculty exchange programme. The faculties of these two organisations would explore facilities available with both institutions, especially in investigations, research, and patient care services. The faculty exchange programme will smoothen faculty movement from one institution to another for research and training purposes. A collaboration board of five members from both institutions has been formed, which will have monthly meetings to explore possible collaborations. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24029/icmr-invites-applications-for-post-doc-fellowship-research-programme-in-biomedical-health.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24029/icmr-invites-applications-for-post-doc-fellowship-research-programme-in-biomedical-health.html Tue, 02 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0530 The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) has issued a call for applications for its Post Doctoral Fellowship (PDF) programme targeted at PhD holders. This initiative, known as the 'ICMR Centenary-Post Doctoral Fellowship', aims to provide a platform for researchers to delve into cutting-edge biomedical health research. According to the official notification released by the ICMR, the organisation is inviting applications from Indian Nationals who hold a PhD degree and are keen on advancing research in biomedical health. The application window for the December 2023 batch is open from January 1, 2024, to January 31, 2024. Applicants interested in participating in the ICMR's post doctoral programme are required to have completed their PhD degrees in the field of biomedical health research. This encompasses fundamental research in areas such as disease biology, epidemiology, diagnostic development, drug delivery, new generation therapeutics, vaccines, and alternative systems of medicine. The focus areas also extend to communicable and non-communicable diseases, as well as reproductive and child health, including nutrition. Dr Rajiv Bahl, Secretary DHR and Director General ICMR, emphasised that the fellowship is open to both fresh PhD holders and those who have already received their provisional degrees. Even individuals whose PhD degrees are awarded on the last date of application submission are eligible to apply. Applicants are advised to complete their applications meticulously, ensuring all relevant columns are filled with necessary enclosures adhering to ICMR guidelines.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24035/iit-gandhinagar-invites-applications-for-masters-in-cognitive-science-programme.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/24035/iit-gandhinagar-invites-applications-for-masters-in-cognitive-science-programme.html Tue, 02 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0530 The Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IIT Gandhinagar) is inviting applications for its Masters in Cognitive Science programme. IIT Gandhinagar has established a state-of-the-art Department of Cognitive and Brain Sciences, which conducts high-quality research in the frontier areas of cognitive science It has been a pioneer in the field of cognitive science as the first IIT to start the M.Sc. (Cognitive Science) in 2013 and a PhD programme in Cognitive Science in 2010. Written Examination will be conducted online while interviews will be conducted in offline mode.  The heart of the programme lies in its forward-thinking curriculum, with core courses embracing the interdisciplinary fields of Psychology, Philosophy, Computation, and Neuroscience. The programme is designed to immerse students in research with integrated laboratory courses covering research methodologies and experimental techniques such as Behavioural studies, Physiological measurements, Eye tracking, Motion tracking, Brain Stimulation, Brain mapping with EEG, and functional MRI. The unique feature of the MSc programme is a two month summer internship that the students pursue in various top Indian institutes such as NIMHANS, Bengaluru, IIT Delhi, IIT Mandi, IIIT Hyderabad, IIT Madras, and abroad with competitive fellowships such as the Shastri Indo-Canadian Fellowship, DAAD Exchange Fellowship, Computation and Cognition Tübingen Summer Internship, Radboud Gateway Fellowship, Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship, etc.   The key careers opportunities and research options available to students of M.Sc. in Cognitive Science include industry roles such as Educators, User Experience (UX), Linguistic analysts, Data analysts, Product developers/designers, AI engineers, Cognitive rehabilitation, Robotics, consumer behavior etc.; Academic roles such as Teaching or Research in Human-Computer Interface, Neuroscience, Decision Making, etc. and International Ph.D. opportunities; and Establishing a startup.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23981/iit-madras-to-offer-seven-new-online-courses-on-sports-science.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23981/iit-madras-to-offer-seven-new-online-courses-on-sports-science.html Wed, 20 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0530 The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M)- National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) is launching seven new online courses on Sports Science, which is a fast-growing field in India. The courses can be taken online free of cost. The first batch for these seven courses will commence classes on 19th February 2023. These comprehensive online courses are aimed at bridging the gap between theory and practical applications. The courses are tailored for the Indian and South Asian body structure and cultural aspects. NPTEL was initiated by seven Indian Institutes of Technology (Madras, Bombay, Delhi, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Guwahati and Roorkee) along with the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore in 2003. With a recommended Class XII Pass as qualification, learners can take this introductory NPTEL course to explore this growing field. The courses are relevant for students pursuing Bachelor’s and Master’s in Sports Sciences, Physiotherapy, and Physical Education, and other related areas. On completion, students can pursue Diplomas or PG degrees in these areas. The Center of Excellence in Sports Science and Analytics at IIT-M has introduced the courses in this domain. These courses are targeted towards a broad audience including coaches, athletes, trainers, physiotherapists, nutritionists, among others. It covers crucial sports topics such as biomechanics, injury prevention, sports psychology, strength training for Indians, and cultural aspects of sports. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23986/iim-nagpur-aiims-nagpur-timespro-bring-pg-certificate-programme-in-advanced-healthcare-management.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23986/iim-nagpur-aiims-nagpur-timespro-bring-pg-certificate-programme-in-advanced-healthcare-management.html Wed, 20 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0530 The Indian Institute of Management Nagpur (IIM Nagpur) in collaboration with All India Institute of Medical Sciences Nagpur (AIIMS Nagpur) and TimesPro has announced the launch of the inaugural batch of the Post Graduate (PG) Certificate Programme in Advanced Healthcare Management. The Post Graduate Certificate Programme in Advanced Healthcare Management is a one-of-a-kind joint certification programme with IIM Nagpur and AIIMS Nagpur that is designed for working professionals with approximately two years of experience, offering a transformative curriculum that combines the expertise of healthcare professionals from AIIMS Nagpur and management professionals from IIM Nagpur. The 12-month blended programme aims to equip healthcare and management professionals with the essential skills and knowledge to navigate the complex landscape of healthcare management. It offers an in-depth understanding of the industry through learning modules such as Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety, Information Systems and Technology, Financial Management, Marketing and Stakeholder Management, Leadership, Policy and Regulations, Technology, MIS, and Analytics, among others. This collaboration marks a significant milestone as AIIMS Nagpur faculty will visit the IIM Nagpur to deliver lectures and masterclasses for the learners, providing a holistic learning experience that combines academic rigour with real-world insights. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23971/csir-iict-gitam-sign-pact-to-foster-new-research-in-science-and-technology.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23971/csir-iict-gitam-sign-pact-to-foster-new-research-in-science-and-technology.html Sun, 17 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0530 In a significant development, the Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management (GITAM), based in Vishakapatnam, has formally joined hands with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT). The collaboration was solidified through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at fostering collaboration in the realms of science and technology. The MoU, officially exchanged by GITAM's registrar, D Gunasekharan, and CSIR-IICT's analytical chair scientist, B Jagadeesh, in the presence of Vice-Chancellor Dayananda Siddavattam, paves the way for collaborative efforts in various scientific fields, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, chemical engineering, and medical research. Under this partnership, both institutions have committed to facilitating faculty exchanges, conducting joint research projects, and organising skill development initiatives such as workshops and training sessions. The collaboration will also feature invited lectures on shared interests, project proposals for funding, and opportunities for student internships and research exposure.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23949/bengalurus-oc-academy-partners-with-queen-mary-university-of-london-for-upskilling-indian-doctors.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23949/bengalurus-oc-academy-partners-with-queen-mary-university-of-london-for-upskilling-indian-doctors.html Wed, 13 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0530 Bengaluru-based OC Academy, a leading upskilling online platform for medical professionals, has joined forces with the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at Queen Mary University of London, UK, to launch Online Postgraduate Diploma Programmes in India. This collaboration crystalises their shared commitment to broaden access to world-class healthcare education.  With one of the largest networks of healthcare professionals within OC Academy, this partnership presents Queen Mary with a unique opportunity to further enhance its reputation, leveraging established connections in India through state-of-the-art digital education. This builds upon the firm foundation of Queen Mary being a top Russell Group university destination for Indian students studying in the UK. The final signoff of the agreement took place at the UK-India Healthcare Trade Mission in Mumbai, in the presence of Harjinder Kang, Trade Commissioner (South Asia) and British Deputy High Commissioner, Western India; and Professor Sir Stephen Powis, National Medical Director for NHS England, along with Professor Richard Grose, Dean for Global Engagement, and Professor Chie Adachi, Dean for Digital Education, from Queen Mary University of London, and Balu Ramachandran, Founder & CEO of OC Academy.  Harjinder Kang expressed, “The new programme will be instrumental in helping to educate and train many Indian doctors and nurses to UK standards of excellence and best practice.”   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23926/india-short-of-15-lakh-medical-specialists.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23926/india-short-of-15-lakh-medical-specialists.html Sat, 09 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0530 “Our country is short of 15 lakh medical specialists and currently we produce only 65,000 postgraduates every year seemingly impossible to cover the gap,” said Dr Minu Bajpai, Executive Director, National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) and Former Dean, The All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) New Delhi. In his key note address at the two days Global Health Conference on the theme – Augmenting Synergies for Universal Healthcare organised by Sri Madhusudan Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (SMSIMSR) in association with The All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) New Delhi at Sathya Sai Grama at Chikkaballapur district in Karnataka on December 8, 2023 he said “In order to spike up the postgraduate students, the intake of undergraduates must be increased through the tripartite model of National Board, medical colleges, and private hospitals.”  “Looking at the awe-inspiring service provided by SMSIMSR, I am going to propose the board to make this institution a centre in South India for conducting National Board examinations and also to be one of the 25 centres of National Centre for Skill Development to be launched by National Board soon,” he added. It may be noted that National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) is an autonomous body entrusted with the task to bring standardisation in postgraduate examinations conducted in India. With a prime objective to improve the quality of medical education in the country, the NBEMS was established by the Government of India in 1975. For the award of Diplomate of National Board, NBE conducts examination at postgraduate and postdoctoral exam level in 54 diverse disciplines. Prof. Minu Bajpai is the Vice President & Honorary Executive Director, NBEMS. Every year, National Board of Examinations conducts nine major examinations. SMSIMSR, India’s first free private rural medical college which imparts free-of-cost values-based medical education to underprivileged students is a part of Sri Sathya Sai Sarla Memorial Hospital, (SSSSMH), Muddenahalli, Karnataka, a multi-speciality completely free-of-cost hospital that treats over 1,300 outpatients and 300 inpatients on any given day.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23861/cloudnine-signs-mou-with-british-association-of-physicians-of-indian-origin-training-academy.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23861/cloudnine-signs-mou-with-british-association-of-physicians-of-indian-origin-training-academy.html Tue, 21 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0530 Cloudnine, India’s premium birthing centre for maternal and childcare, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with the British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO) Training Academy, UK making it as the first hospital in India to initiate a global training programme for doctors. As a part of the MoU, Cloudnine Hospital and BAPIO Training Academy will work together to strengthen training programmes especially in the fields of Obstetrics, Pediatrics, IVF and Fetal Medicine.  Cloudnine Hospitals will engage and invest in training of its doctors specialising in maternity, fertility, and pediatrics through these programmes.  This programme is being offered for the first time in India for Membership of the Royal College of Obstetrics & Gynaecology (MRCOG) and Member of Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (MRCPCH) exams. This MoU will also enable doctors to take Royal College exams in Pediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBG). It further opens an opportunity to all the MBBS doctors across the country who have been unable to join postgraduate (PG) courses in India to become members of the Royal Colleges of UK. Key highlights of the MoU include specialised training programmes; structure module teaching; and organise hands-on workshops and skill enhancement sessions.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23842/iit-m-partners-with-sri-ramachandra-institute-of-higher-education-and-research-to-offer-md-phd-dual-medical-degree.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23842/iit-m-partners-with-sri-ramachandra-institute-of-higher-education-and-research-to-offer-md-phd-dual-medical-degree.html Thu, 16 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0530 The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) is partnering with Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (SRIHER) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, to offer a MD-PhD Dual Degree programme. The postgraduate medical degree will be awarded by SRIHER and a PhD degree by the Department of Medical Sciences and Technology of IIT-M. This partnership will concentrate on core clinical, interdisciplinary, and translational research.   A MoU towards this Dual Degree programme was signed by Dr Uma Sekar, Vice Chancellor, SRIHER and Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT-M. IIT Madras in May 2023 had launched the Department of Medical Sciences and Technology, which will offer a four-year B.S. programme in medical sciences and engineering. This course will be a first-of-its-kind in India. The objective of MD-PhD Dual Degree Programme is to produce well-trained research scientists who will lead India’s quest for self-sufficiency in the field of medicine and health. The programme will be operational from the next academic year. The postgraduates admitted to SRIHER through NEET and desirous of doing PhD will apply for the PhD programme at the end of the second year to the Department of Medical Sciences and Technology at IIT-M. The Department of Medical Sciences and Technology will follow established procedure to select candidates to pursue the PhD programme.  Once selected, IIT-M will issue them a pre-PhD offer and they will be eligible to register after their degree in SRIHER. Such candidates will be mentored by IIT-M faculty and a SRIHER faculty during their third year at SRIHER.    ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23808/iit-madras-announces-inauguration-of-zanzibar-campus.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23808/iit-madras-announces-inauguration-of-zanzibar-campus.html Mon, 06 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0530 Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, inaugurated the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras Zanzibar at an event held on 6th November 2023 at the Zanzibar campus in the presence of Tanzanian officials, Indian dignitaries, faculty and students. This historic initiative is being undertaken as part of the Government of India’s endeavour to take top quality education system of India to international arenas. IIT Madras Zanzibar is the first ever international campus of an IIT. The existing campus in Bweleo district, located approximately 15 km south of Zanzibar Town, is equipped with international amenities designed to meet the current needs of students. A permanent campus will be built soon jointly by the Government of Zanzibar and the Government of India. While initially, the Institute will offer BS and MTech programmes, in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, more academic programmes will be offered in the coming year. In the first batch at IIT-M Zanzibar, students from Zanzibar, mainland Tanzania, Nepal and India have been admitted with 40 per cent of the students being women. The programmes at IIT-M Zanzibar are open to students of all nationalities, including Indians. Apart from a comprehensive curriculum that includes all aspects of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, students will have access to several interesting opportunities during their course of study. These include study abroad/semester exchange programmes with IIT Madras’ partner institutions in the UK and Australia, among other countries, internships with various relevant companies and a chance to meet some of the course requirements at the IIT Madras campus in Chennai, India.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23803/dpsru-inks-mou-with-akums-drugs-to-promote-pharmacy-education.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23803/dpsru-inks-mou-with-akums-drugs-to-promote-pharmacy-education.html Sat, 04 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0530 Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University (DPSRU), Govt. of N.C.T of Delhi, and Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals, have embarked on a collaborative journey to research on specific therapy-gaps and introduce novel products for Indian patients. This industry-academia partnership will also enhance pharmaceutical education and research opportunities for DPSRU students. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) sealing this partnership was recently signed by Dr Harvinder Popli (Registrar & Dean - DPSRU) and Arushi Jain (Director – Akums). The collaboration represents a step towards equipping students with practical, industry-relevant knowledge and experience, fostering a brighter future for the pharmaceutical sector. This partnership aims to empower the next generation of pharmaceutical professionals, for them to contribute to the growth and development of the nation. It is believed to be a harmonious alliance bridging the gap between academia and industry for the betterment of research and education in the pharmaceutical field. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23778/college-of-physicians-and-surgeons-launches-groundbreaking-simulation-lab-in-india.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23778/college-of-physicians-and-surgeons-launches-groundbreaking-simulation-lab-in-india.html Wed, 01 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0530 The College of Physicians and Surgeons (CPS) has announced the inauguration of its state-of-the-art high fidelity Simulation Lab, the first-of-its-kind in Mumbai.  The Simulation Lab, a testament to CPS Mumbai's commitment to cutting-edge medical education, is equipped with modern technology and resources. It serves as a hub for training in various medical disciplines, through the induction of simulation manikin namely Ares (Male adult manikin), Lucina (Female adult manikin), and Arya (Paediatric manikin). The students and the medical practitioners can be trained on various medical scenarios on these simulation manikins. These innovative training modalities are designed to enhance the clinical skills and competence of medical practitioners, ensuring they are better prepared to deliver high-quality patient care. One of the standout features of the Simulation Lab is its hospital like facility. Within this setting, the students or a medical practitioner can be supervised continuously from a glass room. In this room, students engage in hands-on training while the teachers are monitoring their activities from behind the glass. This setup allows for a unique and realistic training experience, as students are immersed in life-like medical scenarios, while teachers can observe and evaluate their performance. This innovative approach enhances the learning process, fostering a more practical and comprehensive understanding of clinical practice. There are three rooms in the simulation lab, each equipped with a manikin. All the rooms are connected to a monitoring room as well as the debriefing room. The case scenarios presented to the students are discussed in the debriefing room, where other students can also observe their peers working with the manikin. Additionally, each manikin is controlled by software displayed on screens in the simulation lab. CPS has already initiated faculty training for conducting simulation-based seminars, training programs, and examinations.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23742/apollo-hospitals-group-partners-with-university-of-leicester-to-transform-global-healthcare-education.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23742/apollo-hospitals-group-partners-with-university-of-leicester-to-transform-global-healthcare-education.html Wed, 25 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0530 The Apollo Hospitals Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Leicester, UK. The MoU will strengthen existing links with the UK and sets out a mutual desire to promote international cooperation and explore collaborative education and research programmes, particularly in the fields of healthcare management, healthcare and data science. Preetha Reddy, Vice Chairperson of the Apollo Hospitals Group, said, “This agreement with the University of Leicester (UoL) will explore the creation of education programmes, cutting edge research and global mobility opportunities for Indian students to excel in their area of interest. Building a healthcare workforce to global standards has been the cornerstone of Apollo’s education and skilling initiatives." President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leicester, Professor Nishan Canagarajah, said: “The purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding is to set out a vision to help to build the healthcare of the future with the potential to transform lives, not only in India and the UK, but around the globe.”  As one of only 20 institutions in the UK, the University of Leicester Biomedical Research Centre was awarded £26 million of funding by the National Institute for Health and Care Research. The Biomedical Research Centre will drive clinical research from the laboratory to the patient's bedside in the areas of; cardiovascular disease; respiratory and infectious diseases; lifestyle and physical activity; personalised cancer prevention and treatments; environment and health; and data innovations in multiple long term health conditions and ethnic health. Another of the University’s flagship projects is a £10 million initiative led by Professor Kamlesh Kunti which will see the University work with the UK, Indian and Nepalese governments to improve the health outcomes of those with multimorbidity, as well as create a self-sustaining international centre for improving management of multiple long-term conditions and disseminate outputs globally. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23625/sri-manakula-vinayagar-medical-college-announces-partnership-with-kaplan.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23625/sri-manakula-vinayagar-medical-college-announces-partnership-with-kaplan.html Thu, 28 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0530 Puducherry-based Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College has partnered with Kaplan Medical, a unit of global educational services provider Kaplan, to improve medical education outcomes and bolster clinical readiness. The partnership will leverage Kaplan’s renowned virtual remediation and assessment resources to benefit both faculty and students. Additionally, Kaplan expertise will support the enhancement of teaching methods, learning processes, and the overall success of aspiring medical professionals at Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College and Hospital (SMVMCH). As part of the partnership, Kaplan is offering comprehensive resources to SMVMCH helping the school align with the new curriculum guidelines set forth by the National Medical Commission, the Indian regulatory body that regulates medical education and medical professionals, while also preparing students for successful outcomes on the NExT examination. While the partnership will open avenues for domestic success, it will additionally allow students to pursue international opportunities; Kaplan also prepares students for the USMLE®, a series of exams that students must pass to practice medicine in the United States. The partnership comes at a time as Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College is proactively focusing on standardizing curriculum and preparing its students for global career pathways in medicine. The integration of Kaplan’s resources will help to identify and address educational gaps, fostering a more effective and comprehensive learning environment.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23609/galgotias-university-and-hcl-to-open-medical-centre-for-students-in-greater-noida.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23609/galgotias-university-and-hcl-to-open-medical-centre-for-students-in-greater-noida.html Mon, 18 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0530 Galgotias University has announced a collaboration with HCL Healthcare to establish a cutting-edge medical centre right within its campus in Greater Noida. This partnership marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of the shared vision to provide accessible and high-quality healthcare services to the entire student body at Galgotias University.  The new medical centre at Galgotias University will offer unparalleled benefits to both students and staff, who will have easy access to healthcare services right on campus, ensuring prompt and convenient medical attention. The significance of this partnership lies in HCL Healthcare's expertise as a digital technology leader. With access to advanced digital platforms and a track record of innovation, HCL Healthcare is poised to drive advancements in healthcare services and ensure universal health coverage. This collaboration promises to revolutionise healthcare delivery within the Galgotias campus. The partnership acknowledges the increasing mental health challenges faced by students in today's society. It highlights the importance of timely counselling and mental health support, underlining the potential to save lives through such interventions.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23593/manipal-global-education-services-launches-first-of-its-kind-app-for-medical-learning.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23593/manipal-global-education-services-launches-first-of-its-kind-app-for-medical-learning.html Thu, 14 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0530 Manipal Global Education Services, a leading international provider of quality learning solutions in higher education, has launched Manipal MedAce, a first-of-its-kind super app for Medical Learning and Medical PG Prep, in a new mobile and cloud first format. Manipal MedAce is a comprehensive and outcome driven resource built on academic and learner research. It enables MBBS students to supplement campus learning by providing access to a Comprehensive and Curated learning resource on a single platform through its Learn Product. It provides a Personalised Experience for PG aspirants that is Efficient, Clutter free and Stress Free, through its Prep Product. The Learn product for Basic Sciences contains dynamic, engaging, credible and easily accessible content, designed around the microlearning philosophy to provide flexible learning options. MedAce offers a plethora of resources, such as Micro learning modules; Live tutoring sessions; Online dissection lab; 3D interactive learning; and Gamified assessments. On the other hand, Prep provides a comprehensive learning experience to empower medical students on their journey to NEET PG/NexT/INICET/FMGE success. It is the only platform conceived and developed in accordance with NExT guidelines. It adheres to CBME curriculum- defined categories, including Must Know, Nice to Know, and May Know, ensuring that students are well-prepared for the new examination platform. The entire MCQ bank is designed based on these guidelines, focusing on problem-solving, comprehension, and recall skills.      Image caption- Ravi Panchnadan, MD and CEO of Manipal Global Education Services and Preethi Frederick, Head - Product Development and Marketing, Manipal MedAce ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23577/research-solutions-clinitech-india-partner-to-transform-medical-education.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23577/research-solutions-clinitech-india-partner-to-transform-medical-education.html Tue, 12 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0530 US-based Research Solutions has announced its partnership with Clinitech India, a leading eLearning platform provider, as a preferred distributor of Research Solutions' advanced transactional services to Indian medical colleges. This strategic collaboration will enhance the availability of crucial research materials, scientific literature, and other essential resources for the nearly 400 medical colleges throughout India that are customers of Clinitech. With access to Research Solutions' comprehensive suite of cloud-based research tools, combined with Clinitech's expertise in the Indian market, medical colleges will be able to streamline their research process for a more efficient experience.   The synergy between Gurugram-based startup Clinitech and Research Solutions will transform the research experience for these medical colleges, enabling them to achieve their research objectives and pursue academic excellence more efficiently and seamlessly. With this partnership, both companies hope to make a positive impact on the future of medical education in India. Clinitech Founder & Director, Rajesh Kumar Singh, said, "Our aim is to make it easier for educational institutions across India to access crucial resources that can help further their academic pursuits." ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23583/iim-kashipur-max-healthcare-to-launch-hospital-management-programme.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23583/iim-kashipur-max-healthcare-to-launch-hospital-management-programme.html Tue, 12 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0530 The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Kashipur hosted an event at its campus during which a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between IIM Kashipur and Max Healthcare. Both organisations have decided to launch a PG Diploma programme in Hospital Management to address the increasing demand for trained manpower for the healthcare sector. On this occasion, Prof. Kulbhooshan Balooni, Director, IIM Kashipur (left in the image), and Umesh Gupta, Senior Director-HR, Max Healthcare, signed the agreement. The nine-month Post Graduate Programme in hospital management will cater exclusively to executives and managers looking to develop and enhance their expertise in hospital operations. Both organisations also decided to conduct joint research, seminars, and other academic collaborations. Speaking on this occasion, Prof. Kunal Ganguly, Dean (Development), IIM Kashipur said “This collaboration is a milestone for IIM Kashipur to diversify its education offering and contribute to the healthcare sector.” He added that the first such programme would be launched by the end of this year at IIM Kashipur, where the classes will be taken by faculty from both IIM Kashipur and Max Healthcare, along with the provision of hands-on training at the Max hospitals.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23568/national-law-university-odisha-organising-certificate-course-on-pharma-public-policy.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23568/national-law-university-odisha-organising-certificate-course-on-pharma-public-policy.html Fri, 08 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0530 Intellectual Property Advocacy & Analysis Centre at the National Law University in Odisha is organising a certificate course titled: Pharmaceutical Industry, IPRs and Public Policy in India, in October 2023. The course would challenge the students to think about why pharmaceutical industry is much talked about in the context of public health crises, especially in developing countries like India. It would familiarise them with the dynamics of the linkage between the pharmaceutical industry, intellectual property rights (IPRs) and public health touching upon economic, legal and public policy issues. The course will focus on the significance of pharmaceuticals for public health; Trade in pharmaceuticals; R&D in pharma industry; IPRs and access to medical products, to name a few. The course is set to begin in the first week of October, with online classes to be scheduled on Saturdays, between 5pm and 7pm. Dr Reji K Joseph, Associate Professor, Institute for Studies in Industrial Development is the faculty in-charge. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23551/dbt-signs-mou-with-armed-forces-medical-services-on-research-collaborations-in-biomedical-sciences.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23551/dbt-signs-mou-with-armed-forces-medical-services-on-research-collaborations-in-biomedical-sciences.html Tue, 05 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0530 The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS), Ministry of Defence. The MoU envisages to build research collaborations in biomedical sciences and also promote scientific cooperation through faculty exchange programmes.  DBT and AFMS will formulate joint academic activities such as short courses, seminars, workshops and conferences based on mutual interests and available expertise in the institutions. The objective is also to explore opportunities of undertaking joint research projects to be funded by DBT and work together for the purpose of identifying the needs of the country in terms of research and technology and collaborate in the identified areas.      The two parties will explore opportunities for interaction among members of faculty between DBT and AFMS institutions as well as for possibility of visiting faculty arrangements.  During the signing of the MoU, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh launched the Association of Physicians of India (API) Chapter of AFMC, Pune and also inaugurated the first annual conference of API-AFMS Continuing Medical Education (CME) on “Emerging trends in the practice of Medicine”. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23495/india-and-germany-collaborate-to-bridge-healthcare-worker-gap.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23495/india-and-germany-collaborate-to-bridge-healthcare-worker-gap.html Thu, 24 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0530 Indo-Euro Synchronization (IES) has announced the groundbreaking event, ‘Upskilling Certification Linked to Nursing Employment in Germany’, which took place recently at India Habitat Centre in New Delhi. The event served as a catalyst for fostering collaborations between Germany and India while prominently spotlighting the wealth of lucrative career opportunities within the health sector, particularly in the field of nursing. At the inaugural stage, IES has set the ambitious goal of selecting 2000 students from diverse regions across India in its inaugural year. The selection process is based on comprehensive counselling and rigorous psychometric evaluations, with a primary focus on B.Sc. Nursing students. IES plans to gradually expand this number in the subsequent years. Upon successful selection, students will undergo intensive full-time training meticulously crafted to meet German standards, conducted within Indian centres. After obtaining certification, all candidates will receive robust support in securing desirable employment positions in Germany's healthcare industry. Lukas Rogge, Head of Global Business Operation, Calmoroi Germany said: "Our skilled team is committed to addressing Germany's pressing deficit of 1.8 million healthcare professionals. Through collaboration, we're facilitating the transition of up to 50 Indian healthcare professionals per month to Germany, with plans to increase this number. This initiative span locations and begins with language training in India, forming a solid foundation for seamless integration.”   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23480/university-of-hyderabad-inks-mou-with-emri-green-health-services-to-develop-new-educational-module.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23480/university-of-hyderabad-inks-mou-with-emri-green-health-services-to-develop-new-educational-module.html Mon, 21 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0530 The University of Hyderabad (UoH) through its component school; the School of Medical Sciences as the nodal centre, has entered into a broad-based Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with EMRI Green Health Services (GHS), Hyderabad for a period of 3 years. The activities under the MoU would broadly be in the area of Capacity Building and Training, Collaborative Research, Student and Faculty Exchange in the domain of Emergency Health Care Services. As part of this and as an initial offering, University of Hyderabad, and EMRI GHS, a pioneer and professional emergency care not-for-profit organisation, have jointly designed and developed a unique 3-credit educational module that is blended to ensure enhancement of relevant knowledge, acquisition of life support skills to individual participants. A “trainer of trainer – (ToT)” hub and spoke model for the university stakeholders as well as an interdisciplinary course at the College of Integrated Studies, UoH will be rolled out very soon. After successful completion of the course, as per the laid guidelines, the participants would receive a certificate of “Trained Basic Emergency Care Volunteer” jointly issued by UoH-EMRI, which could be also be part of the Academic Bank of Credits as per the National Education Policy (NEP) guidelines. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23437/novo-nordisk-inks-mou-with-manipal-academy-to-catalyse-healthcare-innovation.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23437/novo-nordisk-inks-mou-with-manipal-academy-to-catalyse-healthcare-innovation.html Fri, 04 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0530 Novo Nordisk Global Business Services (GBS) and Manipal Academy for Higher Education (MAHE) have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore opportunities to collaborate across the pharma value chain and its application in the healthcare ecosystem. Under the terms of the MoU, MAHE, and Novo Nordisk GBS will jointly engage in initiatives including, innovation projects, hackathons, case competitions, guest lectures, education programs, internships, placements, employee development, and corporate social responsibility collaborations. The MoU was signed on August 3 at the Manipal campus and will be effective for a period of two years. Dr Sharath Rao, Pro Vice Chancellor – Health Sciences, MAHE said “MAHE and Novo Nordisk GBS will work together to develop training programmes and workshops to enhance the skills of healthcare professionals, researchers, and students. This collaboration will promote continuous learning, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and empower individuals to excel in their respective fields.”   Dr C Mallikarjuna Rao, Principal of Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences said that he would be delighted to initiate a centre on Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics. The proposed centre will offer certificate programs and research collaboration with Novo Nordisk.  This will be the second partnership for Novo Nordisk GBS with the academia, having signed an MoU with IIIT Bangalore in May 2023. Besides fostering knowledge sharing between industry and academia, the partnership will also provide students at MAHE with opportunities to gain real-world experiences, develop new skills, and build relationships with leading industry professionals.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/views/68/23375/elevating-nursing-as-a-prestigious-career-choice.html https://biospectrumindia.com/views/68/23375/elevating-nursing-as-a-prestigious-career-choice.html Tue, 01 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0530 The nursing profession plays a crucial role in the healthcare system, yet it often faces a lack of importance and recognition in India. The lack of importance accorded to nursing professionals can stem from several factors, including societal perceptions, historical biases, and systemic issues within the healthcare industry. Elaborating on these will give us a deeper understanding of what ails and what needs to be done.  Historical perception: Nursing has traditionally been viewed as a subordinate role in healthcare, primarily associated with women's caregiving duties. This historical perception may have contributed to undervaluing the importance of nursing professionals. Gender bias: Nursing is a predominantly female-dominated profession. Gender biases and stereotypes can influence the perceived value and status of nursing, leading to its underappreciation compared to other healthcare professions. Lack of awareness: Many people may not fully understand the breadth and depth of the nursing profession. The complex responsibilities and specialised skills of nurses, including patient care, critical thinking, and decision-making, might not be widely recognised or acknowledged. Hierarchical healthcare culture: In some healthcare settings, there can be a hierarchical culture that places physicians and other healthcare professionals in higher esteem than nursing professionals. This can result in an imbalance of power and influence within the healthcare team, diminishing the recognition of nursing professionals. Insufficient representation: Nursing professionals may be underrepresented in decision-making positions and leadership roles within healthcare organisations. This lack of representation can contribute to the marginalisation of nursing and a reduced emphasis on their importance. Limited advocacy and visibility: Compared to other healthcare professions, nursing may face challenges in advocating for their value and contributions. Insufficient visibility and advocacy efforts can lead to a diminished perception of nursing professionals. It is crucial to address these issues and promote a more comprehensive understanding of the vital role that nursing professionals play in healthcare. Recognising and valuing their skills, expertise, and contributions can lead to improved support, resources, and opportunities for professional growth within the nursing profession. It will also promote a better understanding of the nursing profession among potential applicants across the country, several steps can be introduced including campaigns and collaborations. In fact, Mission Niramaya is actively engaged in uplifting the nursing education in Uttar Pradesh which also involves shifting perception about these cadres.  Enhancing public perception: Through collaborating with media outlets to portray nurses in a positive light and highlight their contributions to healthcare can involve featuring stories of nurses who have made a significant impact, showcasing their skills and dedication, and debunking stereotypes associated with the profession; or launching awareness campaigns and community outreach programmes could be a significant part of shifting perceptions about them. Awareness Campaigns: Launching nationwide awareness campaigns that highlight the significance of the nursing profession, the diverse career opportunities it offers, and the impact nurses have on patient care. It is also important to shift their portrayal from meek side-player to people who are in positions of power and active decision makers. For instance, in a hospital setting, a nurse must be shown as someone who has an equal say in decision making when it comes to patient protocols as well as in key aspects of hospital management itself. This will bring them to the centre stage in conversation about healthcare and they will no longer be relegated to sidelines to surface only during tough times such as pandemics. These campaigns can utilise various media channels, such as television, radio, social media, films, and print, to reach a wide audience.  Community Engagement: Encourage nursing professionals to actively engage with their local communities through health camps, awareness campaigns, and volunteer work. This can help raise awareness about the important role of nurses in promoting health and well-being. Conducting health check-up camps in schools and communities, where nurses can showcase their skills and provide basic healthcare services. This can help students and community members gain firsthand experience of the value that nursing professionals bring to healthcare. This will also help them to see the active role that nurses play in healthcare delivery through the care continuum. Utilise Digital Platforms: Leverage social media platforms, websites, and online forums to provide accessible information about nursing careers. Develop informative videos, testimonials, and success stories that highlight the impact of nursing professionals in diverse healthcare settings. Creating online platforms or blogs where nursing professionals can share their experiences, challenges, and achievements. This can inspire potential applicants and provide them with a deeper understanding of the profession. Collaboration with Media: Collaborate with media organisations to promote positive narratives and stories about nursing professionals. Encourage the portrayal of nurses as competent, compassionate, and integral members of the healthcare team who have positions of power and decision making. For example, featuring articles, interviews, and documentaries that highlight the critical role of nurses in patient care and their contributions to the healthcare system, as also shift their portrayal in films and television serials. Typically, they are depicted in roles that are second fiddle to the decision makers and often support hierarchical norms. Placing them as pioneers, who chalk out new paths and are active decision makers can help change public perceptions and increase the appreciation for nursing professionals. Educational Outreach: Collaborating with educational institutions, particularly schools and colleges, to incorporate nursing awareness programmes into their curriculum. This can include interactive sessions, workshops, and career guidance programmes that provide students with comprehensive information about nursing as a profession. It can also include meets with acclaimed nursing leaders who could share their own journey of success. This can help dispel misconceptions and provide valuable insights into the profession.  Collaboration with Nursing Associations: Collaborate with nursing associations and professional bodies to develop outreach programmes. These programmes can involve nurses visiting schools and colleges to share their knowledge, provide hands-on demonstrations, and engage students in discussions about the nursing profession. For instance, organising panel discussions or career fairs where nursing professionals from different specialties can interact with potential applicants, answer their questions, and provide guidance on educational pathways and career prospects.  Role Models and Mentors: Encouraging experienced and successful nurses to serve as role models and mentors for aspiring nursing professionals. Establishing mentorship programmes where students can interact with practising nurses, gain insights into their experiences, and receive guidance and support throughout their educational journey.  Industry Collaboration: Strengthening partnerships between schools, nursing institutions and healthcare organisations to provide more practical training opportunities, and internships. This collaboration can help bridge the gap between education and practice, demonstrating the real-world value of nursing skills and expertise, and will inject an early interest in students towards this profession.  Research and Innovation: Encouraging nursing professionals to actively engage in research, innovation, and evidence-based practice. Promoting the publication of nursing research studies, participation in conferences, and recognition of nursing-led initiatives can elevate the profession's status and attract individuals who value intellectual growth and innovation. These researches could be incorporated in school curricula, and showcased via media reports, and public recognition platforms. By implementing these steps, we can foster a greater understanding of the nursing profession among potential applicants across India. This, in turn, will help attract more talented individuals to pursue nursing careers, enhance the overall quality of healthcare services, and ensure a well-trained and competent nursing workforce to meet the evolving healthcare needs of the country.   Alok Kumar, Principal Secretary, Medical Education, Government of Uttar Pradesh ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23419/siemens-healthineers-collaborates-with-manipal-academy-of-higher-education.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23419/siemens-healthineers-collaborates-with-manipal-academy-of-higher-education.html Tue, 01 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0530 Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) and Siemens Healthineers have signed a Master Research collaboration (MRA) for continued strengthening of future cooperation between both organisations in achieving  shared outcomes for the stakeholders. Dileep Mangsuli, Head of R&D for Siemens-Healthineers for India and Slovakia said “It is a proud moment for us to lay the foundation of a collaboration with MAHE. Both our organisations share similar values, and we are excited about the huge potential that this MRA holds for advancing healthcare research and education for India and the world.” Dr Sharath Rao, Pro Vice Chancellor – Health Sciences, MAHE added, “Siemens Healthineers is known for pioneering breakthroughs in healthcare for everyone, everywhere, and so we are looking forward to collaborating with them. MAHE is focusing on academia-industry engagement and this partnership may lead to new research outcomes, new products and improve the quality of life.” Dr Giridhar P Kini, Registrar, MAHE said “This MRA is an important step towards increasing collaboration between the two organizations and advancing the research, educational and healthcare goals that both organizations share.” MAHE’s vision is to provide the highest quality healthcare services to the community, and this agreement with Siemens Healthineers will bring us much closer to achieving this goal. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23402/rajasthan-to-witness-major-expansion-in-health-infrastructure-with-new-medical-colleges.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23402/rajasthan-to-witness-major-expansion-in-health-infrastructure-with-new-medical-colleges.html Thu, 27 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0530 Rajasthan will witness a major expansion in health infrastructure as Prime Minister inaugurated five new medical colleges at Chittorgarh, Dholpur, Sirohi, Sikar and Sri Ganganagar and laid the foundation stone for seven medical colleges at Baran, Bundi, Karauli, Jhunjhunu, Sawai Madhopur, Jaisalmer and Tonk. The medical colleges are being established under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for “Establishment of new medical colleges attached with existing district/ referral hospitals”. The five medical colleges inaugurated by the Prime Minister have been developed at a cumulative cost of more than Rs 1400 crore, while the seven medical colleges whose foundation stone has been laid will be built at a cumulative cost of Rs 2275 crore. Until 2014, there were only 10 medical colleges in the State of Rajasthan. Gradually, the number of medical colleges in the State has grown to 35, which is a 250% increase. The establishment of these 12 new medical colleges would increase the number of MBBS seats in the State to 6275 seats from 1750 seats in 2013-14, which would be a 258% increase. As medical education is being made accessible, the Prime Minister mentioned the step to provide medical education in the mother tongue, further democratising it and opening avenues for the deprived sections.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23379/iiit-h-sets-up-vr-facility-at-osmania-medical-college-for-teaching-anatomy.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23379/iiit-h-sets-up-vr-facility-at-osmania-medical-college-for-teaching-anatomy.html Fri, 21 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0530 The International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad (IIIT-H) has set up a virtual reality (VR) facility at Osmania Medical College (OMC) to introduce advanced technology-assisted teaching. Currently this is aimed at teaching anatomy, a basic subject for 1st year MBBS students. The facility was inaugurated by Prof. P J Narayanan, Director of IIIT-H in the presence of Dr Shashikala Reddy, Principal of OMC. The VR tool for teaching neuroanatomy was developed as part of a project by Prof. Jayanthi Sivaswamy and her team, she being principal investigator of the project. This joint project with Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences, Thiruvananthapuram, is funded by Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. This project also sponsored the setting up of the VR facility at OMC. According to Prof Jayanthi Sivaswamy, "The VR solution that has been developed in this project allows teaching gross as well as radiological anatomy in an integrated manner to UG1 students. This integration is essential since radiological anatomy which is based on images is a key part of clinical practice. However, the integration has not been done so far at UG1 level."  "Virtual Reality is the key technology behind the much-awaited Metaverse. This project makes a small beginning with Neuroanatomy wherein the parts and structures inside the brain is explained with the help of 3D imagery, interactive manipulations, etc." said Prof P J Narayanan.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23360/ssn-school-and-drexel-university-introduce-graduate-programme-in-biomedical-engineering.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23360/ssn-school-and-drexel-university-introduce-graduate-programme-in-biomedical-engineering.html Wed, 19 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0530 SSN School of Advanced Career Education in Chennai (a part of SSN Institutions and Shiv Nadar Foundation) and Drexel University, US have announced a landmark collaboration to establish the SSN-Drexel University International Graduate Programme in Biomedical Engineering. The programme will specialise in Medical Instrumentation, offering Indian students exceptional opportunities to pursue an advanced degree. By combining the expertise of two world-class institutions, students will gain a strong foundation in biomedical engineering principles and cutting-edge knowledge in medical instrumentation. Graduates, in particular international STEM students, will benefit from a guaranteed three-year work visa (OTP) on graduation, enhancing their career prospects globally.  “The Department of Biomedical Engineering at SSN has a long-standing association with the Drexel School of Biomedical Engineering, including joint research publications and student internships. This collaboration will offer students a world-class opportunity to foster creativity and technological innovation cost-effectively,” said Dr. Kala Vijayakumar, President, SSN Institutions, India. “Drexel’s unique co-op programme offers students the possibility to find employment directly in industry during their degree programme. Students on co-op put into practice what they learn in the classroom, gain real work experience, and make a salary that substantially offsets tuition costs”, said Rogelio Miñana, Ph.D. Vice Provost for Global Engagement, Professor of Spanish and Global Studies, Drexel University, Philadelphia, USA.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23346/ministry-of-education-inks-mou-to-establish-first-campus-of-iit-delhi-in-abu-dhabi.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23346/ministry-of-education-inks-mou-to-establish-first-campus-of-iit-delhi-in-abu-dhabi.html Sat, 15 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0530 A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Ministry of Education and Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi to establish first campus of IIT Delhi in Abu Dhabi. The signing took place in the presence of Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India. The MoU was signed by HE Mubarak Hamad Al Mheiri, ADEK Under  Complementing the ongoing UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the MoU reflects the shared vision of both nations to prioritise educational excellence, innovation, knowledge exchange, and investments in human capital as the foundations for future prosperity and enablers of long-term economic growth and sustainable development.  IIT Delhi - Abu Dhabi will complement the academic, research and innovation ecosystem in Abu Dhabi through collaboration with key players such as Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, Khalifa University, New York University Abu Dhabi, Technology Innovation Institute, and Hub71 to offer complimentary programs, conduct cutting edge research, and advance the local startup ecosystem. The IIT Delhi - Abu Dhabi campus is expected to launch its academic programmes in 2024  and a host of bachelor’s, master’s and PhD programmes, and operate research centres related to sustainable energy and climate studies, as well as computing and data sciences. IIT Delhi - Abu Dhabi is expected to offer a diverse range of programmes covering Energy and Sustainability, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science and Engineering, Mathematics and Computing and other disciplines of engineering, sciences, and humanities.    ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23337/glenmark-pharma-hosts-drug-discovery-workshop-for-sion-hospital-students.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23337/glenmark-pharma-hosts-drug-discovery-workshop-for-sion-hospital-students.html Thu, 13 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0530 Glenmark Pharmaceuticals recently hosted MBBS students at one of its R&D centres in Mumbai for a special workshop on drug discovery. The workshop is part of Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College’s (LTMMC) Trinity event that brings together over 3000 MBBS student delegates from across the country and around the world. As part of Glenmark’s ongoing commitment to fostering innovation and research in the medical field, the R&D centre tour was aimed at encouraging medical students to explore new horizons in their academic journey. This year, the opportunity was extended to 74 student delegates from LTMMC (Sion Hospital). It is a continuation of similar tours for students being done by Glenmark for the last 12 years. The tour commenced with an informative 15-minute introductory session, providing an overview of Glenmark's journey in pharma research and development. Through this tour, the student delegates had the chance to witness the multiple avenues of an R&D centre that work together to develop medicines responsible for treating patients. Over the years, Glenmark had the privilege of collaborating with renowned hospitals such as LTMMC (Sion Hospital) and KEM Hospital to support various initiatives promoting medical education and research. Through this immersive experience, Glenmark aims to inspire the next generation of medical professionals and drive them towards making significant contributions in the field of research. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23331/first-ever-initiative-of-rating-383-nursing-colleges-and-294-paramedical-colleges-in-india.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23331/first-ever-initiative-of-rating-383-nursing-colleges-and-294-paramedical-colleges-in-india.html Wed, 12 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0530 Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh (UP), Yogi Adityanath released the rating of 383 Nursing colleges, and 294 Paramedical colleges in the state. These include both private as well as government colleges. These ratings will be made available to the public through the official website of the UP State Medical Faculty. This move will enable colleges to gain valuable insights into their quality standing and serve as an inspiration for them to improve their teaching and training methodologies. The colleges have been classified into five grades: A, B, C, D, and E which serve as a useful tool to evaluate their standing. Colleges such as Indra Gandhi School of Nursing (Amethi), Vedanta School of Nursing (Azamgarh), Ruhelkhand School of Nursing (Barielly), to name a few, have received A-rating. The rating mechanism is a part of "Mission Niramaya," a pioneering initiative aimed at elevating the quality of pre-service education programmes in Nursing and Paramedical Education. The Chief Minister also announced the addition of two Medical Colleges in public-private partnership (PPP) mode to the existing set. These colleges to be set up in Mau and Shamli form the next phase of an ambitious program One District One Medical College launched in September 2021 to provide medical colleges in the unserved districts. The two private partners selected are Rajeev Samajik Shiksha Sewa Sansthan for Mau district and Gyan Chetna Educational Society for Shamli district. These 2 medical colleges, once operational, will add at least 200 doctors to the medical workforce annually, and generate at least 1300 jobs as direct employment. A total of Rs 200-300 crore is envisaged to be injected into the state economy by each of the private investors. The move is expected to add an additional 600 beds to the districts over the next 5 years.     ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23302/first-ever-iit-campus-to-be-set-up-outside-india.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23302/first-ever-iit-campus-to-be-set-up-outside-india.html Thu, 06 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0530 A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for setting up of campus of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras in Zanzibar- Tanzania was signed between the Ministry of Education (MoE), Govt. of India, IIT Madras (IIT-M) and Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (MoEVT) Zanzibar- Tanzania on 6th July. It is reflective of the longstanding friendship between India and Tanzania and a reminder of the focus India places on building people to people ties across Africa and the Global South. Recognising the strategic partnership between the Tanzania and India, the relationship of educational partnership has been formalised by signing the document which provides the framework for the Parties to detail out the setting up of the proposed campus of IIT Madras in Zanzibar- Tanzania, with plans to launch programmes in Oct 2023. This unique partnership will bring the top-ranked educational expertise of IIT-M to a prime destination in Africa and serve the imperative current needs of the region. The academic programmes, curricula, student selection aspects and pedagogical details will be by IIT-M, whereas the capital and operating expenditure will be met by the government of Zanzibar-Tanzania. IIT-M degrees will be awarded to the students enrolled in this campus. The state-of-the-art interdisciplinary degrees are expected to attract a diverse cohort and will include students from Tanzania and other countries as well. Indian students are also eligible to apply to these programmes. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23243/max-healthcare-iit-b-ink-mou-for-research-capacity-building-in-healthcare-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23243/max-healthcare-iit-b-ink-mou-for-research-capacity-building-in-healthcare-.html Wed, 21 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0530 Max Healthcare Institute, and the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create an alliance intended to encourage research, capacity building and innovation in the healthcare industry. The collaboration between Max Healthcare Institute and IIT-B represents a significant milestone in the pursuit of transformative digital healthcare solutions. By joining forces, both organisations seek to leverage their unique strengths and expertise to address pressing healthcare challenges and enhance patient care. The MoU sets forth the objectives and modes of collaboration to promote interaction and provide a formal basis for initiating joint initiatives. The partnership will foster joint research projects focusing on healthcare technologies, medical devices, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and other cutting-edge areas.  Max Healthcare Institute and IIT-Bombay will work together to develop training programmes and workshops to enhance the skills of healthcare professionals, researchers, and students. This collaboration will promote continuous learning, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and empower individuals to excel in their respective fields. The collaboration will also facilitate transfer of technology and commercialisation of innovative healthcare solutions.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23223/aiims-inks-mou-with-smsimsr-to-enhance-medical-education-in-india.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23223/aiims-inks-mou-with-smsimsr-to-enhance-medical-education-in-india.html Fri, 16 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0530 The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India's first free medical college, Sri Madhusudan Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (SMSIMSR), to jointly work for undergraduate and postgraduate education in healthcare. M. Srinivas, Director of AIIMS Delhi, and Madhusudan Sai, founder of SMSIMSR, signed the MoU to jointly work for undergraduate and postgraduate education in healthcare. Both AIIMS and SMSIMSR will strive to promote and promulgate modules of teaching methodology, to work on and facilitate projects of national importance in healthcare services with a special focus on primary healthcare, preventive health and telemedicine to give combined impetus and augment research and innovation, and to promote and enhance scientific and academic collaboration, training, and interaction in healthcare services and medical education. Srinivas said, "The collaboration between the two institutions will transform good doctors into extraordinary healers. Spirituality and compassion are keys to flourishing in any field."   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23216/government-launches-new-fellowship-programme-for-indian-stemm-diaspora-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23216/government-launches-new-fellowship-programme-for-indian-stemm-diaspora-.html Thu, 15 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0530 The government has launched a new fellowship programme to connect the Indian STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine) diaspora, across the world, with Indian academic and R&D institutions for collaborative research work leading to sharing of knowledge, wisdom, and best practices in the frontier areas of science & technology. The Vaishvik Bhartiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV) fellowships programme to be implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology, would be awarded to outstanding scientist/technologists of Indian origin (NRI/OCI/PIO) who are engaged in research activities in their respective countries. The 75 selected fellows would be invited to work in 18 identified knowledge verticals including quantum technology, health, pharma, electronics, agriculture, energy, computer sciences, and material sciences amongst others. Applications for the first call are being invited through call for proposals from 15 June 2023 till 31 July 2023. The VAIBHAV Fellow would identify an Indian Institution for collaboration and may spend up to two months in a year for a maximum of 3 years. Fellowship would include fellowship grant (Rs 4,00,000 per month), international and domestic travel, accommodation and contingencies. The VAIBHAV fellows are expected to collaborate with their Indian counterparts and help initiate research activities in the host institution in the cutting-edge areas of Science and Technology.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23215/eye-q-pinnacle-school-of-optometry-to-provide-new-employment-opportunities.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23215/eye-q-pinnacle-school-of-optometry-to-provide-new-employment-opportunities.html Wed, 14 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0530 Eye-Q, a chain of 32 Super- Speciality Eye Hospitals having presence in Delhi-NCR, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Gujarat, had announced the collaboration with Pinnacle School of Optometry, a pioneering platform aimed at upskilling and providing employment opportunities to youth through its short-term paramedical courses. Affiliated with Centurion University of Technology and Management, Odisha, the school offers courses in Ophthalmic Assistant, Ophthalmic Surgical Assistant, and Optical Sales Executive, each consisting of 1-year academic training plus 6 months of practical training. Eye-Q will provide 100% guaranteed employment to the students who successfully complete the programme. The courses have limited availability, with only 35 seats available per course. More than 105 students per year are set to benefit from these courses, with a special focus on empowering youth, accounting for over 90% of the total beneficiaries. In this collaboration, the faculty will comprise of Eye-Q’s esteemed doctors from AIIMS and Sankara Nethralaya and will operate under the efficient stewardship of Deepti Jaiswal, Principal of Pinnacle School of Optometry. The launch of the Pinnacle School of Optometry comes at a crucial time, with the growing prevalence of eye-related conditions in India. By providing specialised training and employment opportunities, Eye-Q is not only addressing the growing demand for skilled professionals but also ensuring that individuals are well-equipped to contribute effectively to the eye care sector. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23208/mumbai-based-startup-upgrad-to-set-up-institute-of-medical-sciences-in-vanuatu.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23208/mumbai-based-startup-upgrad-to-set-up-institute-of-medical-sciences-in-vanuatu.html Tue, 13 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0530 upGrad, Asia's largest integrated learning skilling and workforce development company, has announced the setting up of upGrad Institute of Medical Sciences (UIMS), a fully-offline campus in the Republic of Vanuatu to attract and train global talent with modern-day clinical competencies and build the next crop of skilled medical practitioners. The company earmarks $10 million to launch the university.  Vanuatu is a South Pacific Ocean nation made up of roughly 80 islands that stretch 1,300 kilometers. UIMS is expected to invite enrolments from the second half of June this year. The announcement comes soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a 12-point development agenda for the Pacific Island Nations while making healthcare, renewable energy, and cyber-security the focus areas of development. He further allocated a significant budget to build a super-speciality cardiology hospital in Fiji.  The Mumbai-headquartered skilling giant has also committed $50,000 to Vanuatu Prime Minister's Relief Fund to further enhance healthcare services at the Port Vila Central Hospital in the region. It will provide the Govt. of Vanuatu with a new tranche of technology and financial aid and the ability to scale across boundaries.   Image caption- (L-R) Phalgun Kompalli Co-founder, Mayank Kumar Co-founder & MD, and Ronnie Screwvala, Chairperson & Co-founder, upGrad ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23204/shoolini-university-to-provide-science-students-more-pathways-to-global-education.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23204/shoolini-university-to-provide-science-students-more-pathways-to-global-education.html Mon, 12 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0530 Indian students will be able to study both at home and in Australia under a landmark agreement between the University of Melbourne and one of India’s top institutions, Shoolini University. Beginning with undergraduate studies in science, the new dual degree agreement gives Indian students additional pathways to access an international education experience with the confidence of a world-class curriculum. Shoolini University, in Himachal Pradesh, is India’s first-ranked private university, and the country’s second-ranked university overall, according to the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings. The University of Melbourne is ranked first in Australia and 34 worldwide. Under the Bachelor of Science Advanced (Honours) dual degree programme, which will soon begin accepting admissions, students will spend two years at Shoolini University and then two years at the University of Melbourne. In years 3 and 4, students will be able to choose from a huge range of multidisciplinary majors, with globally significant themes such as Agriculture, Sustainability and Environment, Biosciences, and Computer Sciences being considered. Eligible students may choose to stay a further year to complete a Masters of Science at the University of Melbourne.  When completing their studies in Australia, students will have the option to apply for post-study work rights if they meet the Australian government criteria.         ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23167/max-healthcare-iiit-delhi-collaborate-to-advance-healthcare-research-and-education.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23167/max-healthcare-iiit-delhi-collaborate-to-advance-healthcare-research-and-education.html Wed, 31 May 2023 00:00:00 +0530 Max Healthcare Institute, a leading healthcare provider in India, and Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Delhi (IIIT-Delhi), a leading research institute in the field of information technology, have announced a strategic collaboration to advance healthcare research and education in India. The partnership aims to leverage the strengths of both organisations to promote and conduct high-quality research, develop cutting-edge healthcare solutions, and design and deliver capability and capacity-building programs for healthcare professionals. IIIT-Delhi will bring its expertise in data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to this partnership and help develop innovative solutions that can augment the depth and breadth of healthcare services while reducing costs. Additionally, IIIT-D will also focus on enhancing the training of healthcare professionals, and promoting research in the field of healthcare technology in order to make a lasting impact in the healthcare space.” Max Healthcare and Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Delhi (IIIT-Delhi) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the strategic collaboration. The MoU was signed by Rakesh Kaushik, Director Legal & Regulatory Affairs of Max Healthcare and Dr Ashok Solanki, Registrar, IIIT-Delhi.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23143/moksh-releases-comprehensive-guide-for-indian-students-on-mbbs-education-in-russia.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23143/moksh-releases-comprehensive-guide-for-indian-students-on-mbbs-education-in-russia.html Wed, 24 May 2023 00:00:00 +0530 Mumbai-based Moksh Overseas Educon Limited, a leading study abroad consulting company in India, has released a comprehensive guide on the top 10 universities in Russia for MBBS education. The guide offers Indian students an overview of the medical education system in Russia, the benefits of studying MBBS in Russia, the top Russian medical universities, the admission process, eligibility criteria, Russian MBBS fees and scholarships, accommodation and living expenses, medical licensing exams, and career prospects after MBBS in Russia. Russia is one of the most popular destinations for Indian students to study MBBS, with more than 10,000 Indian students studying medicine in 40+ medical colleges in Russia.  MBBS in Russia is divided into two parts: the pre & para-clinical and clinical phase. The pre & para clinical phase is three years long, and it focuses on the theoretical aspects of medicine. The clinical phase is three years long, and it focuses on the practical aspects of medicine. It also matches with the requirement of National Medical Commission (NMC) such as minimum 54 months of theory + 12 months of internship. The total duration of the course is 5.8 years including internship. Top 10 Medical Universities in Russia include- Orel State University; Bashkir State Medical University; Astrakhan Medical University; Kazan State Medical University; Kabardino Balkarian State University; Saint Petersburg State University; Kursk State Medical University; Pirogov National Research Medical University; First Moscow State Medical University; and Peoples' Friendship University of Russia. A total of $1500 to $2000 is required to be spent per year towards living in Russia as a medical student. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23148/iit-m-announces-launch-of-15-centres-of-excellence-to-develop-next-generation-technologies.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23148/iit-m-announces-launch-of-15-centres-of-excellence-to-develop-next-generation-technologies.html Wed, 24 May 2023 00:00:00 +0530 Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) has launched 15 Centres of Excellence (CoE) as part of the ‘Institute of Eminence’ (IoE) Scheme. These Centres will be undertaking cutting-edge research to develop next-generation technologies and create a significant impact not just in India but internationally as well. The IoE Scheme was launched by the Government of India to empower Higher Educational Institutions to become world-class teaching and research institutions. IIT-M had identified 68 research initiatives across 21 technology clusters in diverse fields in Phase I. Through an extensive and rigorous review process, the Institute shortlisted 15 Centres of Excellence within the IIT-M system alongside 23 Research Centres and 10 Research Projects in Phase II. These research initiatives encompass a broad spectrum of disciplines and involve over 400 faculty members. By fostering interdisciplinary research, they facilitate collaborations that can lead to ground-breaking discoveries, innovations, and advancements in key areas including Healthcare and Assistive Technologies; Centre for Cancer Genomics and Molecular Therapeutics, among others. The financial support through IoE will enable IIT-M faculty members to pursue ambitious research goals, undertake cutting-edge projects and attract top talent to work on ground-breaking research topics.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23132/iim-lucknow-launches-new-executive-programme-in-healthcare-management.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23132/iim-lucknow-launches-new-executive-programme-in-healthcare-management.html Tue, 23 May 2023 00:00:00 +0530 In a bid to equip mid to senior professionals in healthcare and allied industries to take on the global healthcare boom since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indian Institute of Management Lucknow (IIM Lucknow), has partnered with Emeritus, a global leader in accessible and affordable high-quality education, to introduce a new Executive Programme in Healthcare Management. This first-of-its-kind 11-month programme is designed to foster an interdisciplinary approach to healthcare management and nurture professionals in managerial leadership.Commencing on June 30, 2023, this high-impact programme has been meticulously designed for executives, healthcare practitioners, entrepreneurs, business owners, and consultants. The programme’s key takeaways for its participants include exposure to healthcare dynamics, resilient leadership management and organisational development to enable cultural advantage, as well as agility and collaboration skills within healthcare systems to accelerate growth. It will also help participants delve into healthcare supply chain, value chain, financial and marketing management, advance strategic and leadership acumen, as well as apply digital, analytics and design thinking into healthcare.With the National Skill Development Corporation estimating over 500,000 new jobs to come up annually in India's thriving healthcare industry post-pandemic, the programme is strategically designed to empower mid to senior professionals to upskill and enhance their contemporary management skills, enabling them to elevate their critical thinking and decision-making abilities while ascending to executive leadership positions.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23128/novo-nordisk-iiit-bangalore-to-drive-industry-academia-research-opportunities.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23128/novo-nordisk-iiit-bangalore-to-drive-industry-academia-research-opportunities.html Mon, 22 May 2023 00:00:00 +0530 Novo Nordisk Global Business Services (GBS) and the International Institute of Information Technology, Bangalore (IIIT Bangalore) have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to combine IIIT’s technology and digital capabilities with Denmark headquartered healthcare firm Novo Nordisk’s development and data science expertise to explore breakthrough innovations and efficiency gains to better serve the needs of patients. Under the terms of the MoU, IIIT Bangalore, and Novo Nordisk GBS will jointly engage in initiatives including research, innovation projects, hackathons, case competitions, guest lectures, education programs, internships, placements, employee development, branding and corporate social responsibility collaborations. The MoU is effective from May 19, 2023, for a period of two years. John Dawber, Corporate Vice President, and Managing Director of Novo Nordisk Global Business Services, said, "Novo Nordisk is expanding in Bangalore, adding more than 500 new skilled positions each year, delivering high levels of expertise and process excellence for our global company. With access to the talent pool at IIIT Bangalore, we believe we can significantly enhance our innovation contribution to the Indian academic ecosystem and ultimately improve health."   Besides fostering knowledge sharing between industry and academia, the partnership will also provide students at IIIT Bangalore with opportunities to gain real-world experiences, develop new skills, and build relationships with leading industry professionals.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23076/iit-madras-unveils-department-of-medical-sciences-technology.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23076/iit-madras-unveils-department-of-medical-sciences-technology.html Thu, 11 May 2023 00:00:00 +0530 The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) has launched a Department of Medical Sciences and Technology, which will offer four-year B.S. programme in medical sciences and engineering. This course will be a first-of-its-kind in India. The course offers an interdisciplinary approach to prepare students for designing life-saving medical devices, drug discovery, artificial intelligence in medicine, and fundamental medical research. The department will train physicians to effectively apply technology in their clinical practice and lay the foundation for physician-scientists training in India. Top medical doctors in India and abroad, who were also closely involved in the development of the curriculum, will be ‘Professors of Practice’ in this department, which has already established tie-ups with premier hospitals and medical institutions in India. The goal is to establish an exceptional research facility for medical sciences and technology to develop and train ‘physician-scientists’ and engineering physiologists to become the future leaders in their fields. The new department will conduct both fundamental and applied research programs that connect various medical disciplines. The Department of Medical Sciences & Technology will offer the following courses: Ø  BS in Medical Sciences & Engineering (4 Year Programme) Ø  PhD Programme for Doctors Ø  MS by Research for Doctors Ø  MS in Medical Sciences and Engineering Ø  PhD Programme for Science & Engineering Graduates ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23069/health-ministry-introduces-saksham-learning-management-information-system.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23069/health-ministry-introduces-saksham-learning-management-information-system.html Wed, 10 May 2023 00:00:00 +0530 Rajesh Bhushan, Union Health Secretary has launched the SAKSHAM (Stimulating Advanced Knowledge for Sustainable Health Management), a Learning Management Information System (LMIS). This digital learning platform has been developed by the National Institute of Health & Family Welfare (NIHFW), New Delhi.  SAKSHAM is a dedicated and unified platform for providing online training and medical education to all health professionals in the country. This digital learning platform will ensure inclusive capacity building of health professionals from primary health centres located in rural and remote areas all the way up to tertiary care and corporate hospitals in metropolitan cities. Currently SAKSHAM: LMIS is hosting more than 200 public health and 100 clinical courses through online mode. Health professionals can register themselves for these courses on the portal and get the certification after undergoing requisite training and qualifying the required assessment criteria. SAKSHAM is an initiative of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India which provides all health-related training programmes to healthcare professionals of the country in digital mode.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23040/beato-and-iihmr-delhi-launch-certificate-course-in-diabetes-education.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23040/beato-and-iihmr-delhi-launch-certificate-course-in-diabetes-education.html Tue, 02 May 2023 00:00:00 +0530 In a bid to amplify awareness about diabetes and to address the growing need for diabetes care and management in the country, New Delhi-based startup BeatO has partnered with International Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR) Delhi, to launch a competitive  course- Certificate in Diabetes Education. This 10-week course is an industry-first collaboration between a health-tech platform and an esteemed educational and research institute in India. The course aims to provide comprehensive training to healthcare professionals which will eventually bridge the gap in the availability of diabetes care educators in India.   The Certificate in Diabetes Education aims to address the gap by providing healthcare professionals like paramedical staff, nurses, dietitians, and caretakers working in hospitals, clinics or in the community with  necessary skills and knowledge to provide high-quality care to people with diabetes. Through this course the healthcare professionals will  gain hands-on experience in diabetes care. BeatO experts will leverage best clinical practices, scientific studies, and vast experience of diabetes care professionals towards  practical training components and IIHMR-Delhi will lend technical expertise towards quality assurance, systematic  delivery, and certification. Upon completion of the course, the aspirants will receive  certification from BeatO and IIHMR-Delhi.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23017/shoolini-university-receives-purse-grant-of-rs-9-cr-for-cancer-research.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23017/shoolini-university-receives-purse-grant-of-rs-9-cr-for-cancer-research.html Thu, 27 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0530 Shoolini University, located in Solan, has been awarded the Promotion of University Research and Scientific Award by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India Awarded the Excellence (PURSE) Grant. This grant of Rs 9 crore will be used for advanced research in water and cancer. This fund will be used to buy expensive equipment for research in medicine, biology, chemistry and other related fields. In addition, it will enable the University to set up extraordinary infrastructure, which is not provided for in other funding schemes.  About 70% of the grant will be spent on purchasing modern equipment needed for research, while the remaining funds will be used for consumables, human resources, organising seminars, maintenance, and startup support and industrial alliances. According to Pro Chancellor Vishal Anand, this grant will provide essential resources to advance research work in areas such as water and cancer, and to invest in state-of-the-art equipment and infrastructure needed to enhance the university's research capabilities. The grant will be utilised over the next four years as per the terms and conditions and the university has been asked to set up a 'Project Implementation' group for its implementation. This grant will help Shoolini University faculty members and researchers to plan and conduct high-quality research in water and cancer, which will contribute significantly to the scientific progress of the country. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23013/cabinet-gives-nod-to-establishment-of-157-new-nursing-colleges-at-cost-of-rs-1570-cr.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/23013/cabinet-gives-nod-to-establishment-of-157-new-nursing-colleges-at-cost-of-rs-1570-cr.html Wed, 26 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0530 In a significant move towards strengthening nursing workforce in the country, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved establishment of 157 new nursing colleges in co-location with the existing medical colleges established since 2014. The step will add approximately 15,700 nursing graduates every year. This will further ensure quality, affordable, and equitable nursing education in India, particularly in underserved districts and States/Union Territories.  The total financial implication will be Rs 1,570 crore. The initiative aims to address the geographical and rural-urban imbalances in the healthcare sector, which have led to the skewed availability of nursing professionals and impacted healthcare services in underserved areas. The establishment of these nursing colleges will provide a significant boost to the availability of qualified human resources in healthcare. Co-location of these nursing colleges with existing medical colleges will allow optimal utilisation of the existing infrastructure, skill labs, clinical facilities, and faculty. This initiative is expected to provide better clinical exposure to nursing students and will also result in better care and service provision for patients in medical colleges. Use of green technologies will also be explored in these nursing colleges and will be adopted as per relevancy to ensure energy efficiency and reduction in carbon footprint.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22995/c3ihub-iit-k-announce-cybersecurity-skilling-programme-to-make-workforce-future-ready.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22995/c3ihub-iit-k-announce-cybersecurity-skilling-programme-to-make-workforce-future-ready.html Mon, 24 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0530 The Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT-K), through its cybersecurity Technology and Innovation Hub, C3iHub, is launching a Cybersecurity Skilling Programme to train learners in the growing landscape of cyber space and security. The programme is supported by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India under National Mission in Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical Systems (NM-ICPS), along with C3iHub-incubated startups Threat Guardians and Workers Union Support, as the implementing partners. T The programme aims to provide learners with a deeper understanding of the technical basics of cyberspace and cyber issues, introduce real-time cybersecurity techniques and methods, and focus on the models, tools, and techniques for enforcing security. The programme comes with a combination of deep academic rigor and intense practical approach, which will allow participants to master the required skills and build world class expertise. It explores the most critical elements beyond technology that shape the playing field on which cybersecurity problems emerge and are managed. The course covers system security, malware analysis, network security, cryptography, and IoT security. With healthcare and pharmaceutical companies facing major cybersecurity challenges as they hold sensitive data and deal with highly valuable technology, this progamme might offer new solutions.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22971/st-georges-university-announces-new-5-year-medical-degree-pathway-in-india-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22971/st-georges-university-announces-new-5-year-medical-degree-pathway-in-india-.html Wed, 19 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0530 St. George’s University (SGU), Grenada, in association with Ramaiah Group of Institutions, has announced that applications are open for its September 2023 intake, starting in India. This association offers a 5-Year Medical Degree Pathway, where students can complete the first year of the pathway at Ramaiah International Medical School, Bengaluru. The pathway provides an opportunity for students to benefit from two medical institutions while learning from each other and the community, along with experiencing a diverse range of clinical rotations in the US or UK. This pathway does not require Indian students to sit for the NEET or the MCAT to apply. Ramaiah's association with SGU offers students the opportunity to experience medical education on an international level. Both organisations are giving students the exposure they need to succeed in their careers as medical professionals anywhere in the world. Moreover, students get to begin their medical education in Bengaluru, and forge enduring bonds with their peers, before moving for the Four Year Doctor of Medicine programme. SGU India pathway offers an environment that brings practice-based learning to the fore and allows students to experience multiple global healthcare systems before starting their careers as professional medical practitioners.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22960/akums-drugs-pharma-inks-industry-academia-partnership-with-sgt-university.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22960/akums-drugs-pharma-inks-industry-academia-partnership-with-sgt-university.html Mon, 17 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0530 Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals, a New Delhi-based Contract Development and Manufacturing organisation (CDMO) has announced a nation-progressive collaboration with SGT University, Gurugram. This collaboration will provide a platform where students can have experiential learning, hands-on training and experience live research projects of the pharmaceutical industry and most importantly, access to placement opportunities at Akums. The MoU was signed between Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals and SGT University Gurugram recently in the presence of Arushi Jain, Director, Akums and SGT University Leadership Team led by Dr Atul Nasa. The company intends to foster a bridge between academia and industry by providing them access to the required resources and guidance. The efforts are in the direction of making the next-generation of pharmacy students future-ready to contribute to the growth of our country. R&D projects assigned to students will harbor live research experience and help them attain a detailed understanding of the ongoing trends of the pharmaceutical industry. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22954/allen-introduces-superapp-for-pg-medical-aspirants.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22954/allen-introduces-superapp-for-pg-medical-aspirants.html Sat, 15 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0530 Allen, a leading name in medical coaching across India with presence in Kota, Delhi and Panchkula, has announced the launch of the ALLEN NExT App, a cutting-edge platform designed to provide post graduate (PG) medical students with a comprehensive solution for National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET-PG), Institute of National Importance Combined Entrance Test (INI-CET), and Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE) exam preparation. The app offers a range of unique features and resources, setting it apart from other exam preparation platforms in the market. ALLEN NExT goes beyond just offering online resources. Students can also participate in computer-based offline major and minor subject-wise test series at ALLEN centres across India, allowing them to assess their knowledge in a real-world environment and identify areas for improvement before the actual exam. Its designed to help students increase their knowledge through daily quizzes, conceptual video sections, latest news updates, exam information, and a video bank that covers concepts tested in NEET-PG, INI-CET, FMGE, and NExT. With over 700+ hours of content available in English and Hinglish, the app is taught by a team of experienced faculties. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22942/aiims-iit-bhubaneswar-join-hands-to-promote-health-research-collaboration.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22942/aiims-iit-bhubaneswar-join-hands-to-promote-health-research-collaboration.html Wed, 12 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0530 To integrate medical science with technology for providing a better and more equipped healthcare service, in a first of its kind effort two premier institutes- All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhubaneswar and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote academic and research collaboration in various areas of health and technology. Both the institutes have agreed to extend collaboration in advancing research for public health applications like early diagnosis of disease and outbreaks, Artificial Intelligence and data analytics, biomedical engineering and technology, disease prediction modelling, digital health, development of tools, equipment’s and strategies for diagnostic and therapeutic use. The institutes will also focus on dedicated laboratory development. An advanced research centre called “Centre for Biomedical Engineering and Technology” which will largely include biomedical signal processing, advanced characterization, detector fabrication for imaging, additive manufacturing for designed materials, bio tracker and biosensor development for mental health care, is also planned under this collaboration. In addition, both the institutes have agreed to facilitate faculty and student exchange programmes and reorientation/training courses that will bring academic excellence in their respective fields. The institutes also agreed to develop and offer joint academic programmes involving technology and healthcare as well as academic credit sharing mechanism.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22912/amrita-school-of-medicine-opens-at-faridabad.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22912/amrita-school-of-medicine-opens-at-faridabad.html Sat, 08 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0530 Opening new vistas for medical education in Haryana, Chief Minister Manohar Lal recently inaugurated the Amrita School of Medicine in Faridabad. The Amrita School of Medicine, sprawling across an area of 5.2 lakh sq. ft, is offering 150 MBBS seats for the academic year 2023-24. Indian and international students seeking admission need to appear for the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (UG). Amrita has also built a one lakh sq.ft. Simulation Learning and Development Centre which would cater to robotic training, haptic-based training surgical training simulation, cadaver, and high-fidelity training for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Amrita School of Medicine is the 8th campus of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham. Dr Sanjeev Singh, Medical Director, Amrita Hospital, Faridabad said, "At Amrita Hospital campus in Faridabad, we now host a Medical College and a Nursing College. We are also operating an Allied Health Sciences College that offers 20 to 30 courses that help build capacity and skill sets and supports the clinical teams at the adjacent hospital."   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22889/novo-nordisk-foundation-to-support-education-of-health-professionals-in-india.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22889/novo-nordisk-foundation-to-support-education-of-health-professionals-in-india.html Mon, 03 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0530 The global shortage of qualified health professionals is an increasing challenge. According to the WHO, an additional 10 million health professionals will be needed by 2030. The demand is particularly acute in low- and middle-income countries, where health systems are already under immense pressure. With the launch of the Partnership for Education of health Professionals (PEP), Denamrk-based Novo Nordisk Foundation takes a step towards reducing inequity in health by initially targeting the education of health professionals in underserved regions in India and East Africa.  PEP will be implemented across multiple geographical locations across India and East Africa. In India, the need is especially urgent in the North-eastern Region, where access to quality healthcare is under particular pressure. In East Africa, PEP will initially be launched in Kenya and Tanzania, where there is political commitment to prevent and manage cardiometabolic diseases. Through PEP, a global partnership network will be established to ensure that innovation and new knowledge are shared between partners in India, East Africa, Denmark and more broadly globally.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22883/national-skills-academy-to-open-for-building-capacities-in-healthcare-and-paramedics-in-tripura.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22883/national-skills-academy-to-open-for-building-capacities-in-healthcare-and-paramedics-in-tripura.html Sat, 01 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0530 National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), working under the aegis of Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), has announced a tri-partite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Administration of Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) and Medhavi Skills university to develop National Skills Academy named as “Maharaja Kirit Bikram International Centre for Innovation & Skills Excellence”. The Centre of Excellence (CoE) will focus on building capacities in the field of healthcare and paramedical skills for catering to the growing demand of trained paramedical staff and nurses in India and across the world. The MoU was exchanged between Ved Mani Tiwari, COO (Officiating CEO), NSDC, Kuldip Sharma, Pro Chancellor, Medhavi Skills university and Chandra Kumar Jamatia, IAS, Chief Executive Officer, Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council. Acting as an employment hub, the CoE will provide best-in class skill development initiatives to the youth of Tripura by facilitating international skills training and mobility in the healthcare and paramedical sectors along with other related sectors that have been showcasing high demand for talent building. Through this joint venture, Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) will support in promotional activities to create awareness of the courses available at the CoE. The council will be responsible for an overall administrative support and promote the academy at an international level for greater recognition. They will also provide recommendations whenever required to the central ministries, international foundations, and reputed corporates. It will be one of the most exclusive projects in entire Northeast where the students will be trained as per global standards and will be placed in the best countries of the world. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22887/amrita-school-of-ayurveda-and-rashtriya-ayurveda-vidyapeeth-to-create-repository-of-clinical-cases-in-ayurveda.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22887/amrita-school-of-ayurveda-and-rashtriya-ayurveda-vidyapeeth-to-create-repository-of-clinical-cases-in-ayurveda.html Sat, 01 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0530 Amrita School of Ayurveda and Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth, Ministry of AYUSH have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to further develop the AyurCeL (online portal) and create a repository of clinical cases in Ayurveda. This collaboration will facilitate the generation of practice-based evidence by helping clinicians report clinical outcomes systematically supported by multimedia. The MoU was signed by Dr Kousthubha Upadhyaya on behalf of Rashtriya Ayurved Vidyapeeth and Swami Sankaramritananda Puri on behalf of Amrita School of Ayurveda. The Ayurveda Clinical e-Learning (AYURCeL) project aims to fill this gap by creating a web platform to make available the clinical experiences of successful Ayurveda clinicians in a digital form and format that will facilitate continuous clinical learning based on well-documented case studies. Under the MoU, the collaboration between Amrita School of Ayurveda, Kerala, and RAV (Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth), will be established in the area of mutual interest to both the institutions for submission of selected clinical case reports of the Certificate course of RAV (CRAV) students after due verification from their corresponding Gurus to the AyurCeL portal for preliminary screening every month. The Amrita School of Ayurveda, Kerala shall examine the submitted cases as per their selection criterion and update the case report and further follow-ups and after vetting done by the experts shall publish the report in the portal. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22862/iit-d-announces-inter-disciplinary-m-tech-programme-in-medical-robotics.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22862/iit-d-announces-inter-disciplinary-m-tech-programme-in-medical-robotics.html Tue, 28 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0530 The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT-D) has launched a new inter-disciplinary academic programme M Tech in Robotics. The two-year programme will be jointly offered by the Department of Computer Science & Engineering, the Department of Electrical Engineering, the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and the Yardi School of Artificial Intelligence in association with the Center of Excellence on Biologically Inspired Robots and Drones (CoE-BIRD). There are 25 seats in this programme to which admissions will be through GATE, programming test, and interview. The first batch of the programme will start in the academic year 2023–24. The Master of Technology in Robotics at IIT Delhi will provide students a multidisciplinary curriculum that will prepare them to create innovative and intelligent products and systems to address today's challenges in developing Robotics platforms and applications. The programme is designed to be heavy on experiential learning coupled with firm theoretical foundations. Robotic technologies can be used in a wide range of fields, including healthcare and rehabilitation, transportation and mobility, dealing with hazardous environments, providing energy, protecting the environment, and, of course, speeding up industrialisation. Hence, the M Tech programme also supports four specialisations- Collaborative Robotics; Industrial Robotics; Rehabilitation and Medical Robotics; and Autonomous and Intelligent Vehicles.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22856/amrita-vishwa-vidyapeetham-introduces-healthcare-leadership-training-programme.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22856/amrita-vishwa-vidyapeetham-introduces-healthcare-leadership-training-programme.html Mon, 27 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0530 Coimbatore-based Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham has recently signed a letter of agreement with Harvard Medical School’s Postgraduate Medical Education (HMS PGME). Under the agreement, HMS PGME will design and deliver an educational programme in the field of healthcare leadership at Amrita. Harvard Medical School’s Leadership in Healthcare – India programme will kick off in October 2023. The twelve-month programme covers financial management, patient safety, innovation, transformational leadership, and empowering women. This cutting-edge curriculum will help participants to develop skills and knowledge that are essential for leading and managing complex health organisations in India and the world-over.  “Effective healthcare leadership is essential to creating a collaborative environment that helps to ensure the delivery of quality health care,” said Dr Ajay K. Singh, Senior Associate Dean for Postgraduate Medical Education at Harvard Medical School. “By making high-impact educational opportunities available to health care professionals around the world, we advance the HMS mission to nurture a diverse, inclusive community dedicated to alleviating suffering and improving health and well-being.” Participants who have satisfactorily completed the programme requirements shall receive a Certificate of Completion from Harvard Medical School.  Graduates of Harvard Medical School Postgraduate Medical Education certificate programsme have an excellent track record of career advancement in local and international leadership positions.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22858/indias-first-totally-free-medical-college-to-be-set-up-at-cost-of-rs-400-cr.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22858/indias-first-totally-free-medical-college-to-be-set-up-at-cost-of-rs-400-cr.html Mon, 27 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0530 Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated India’s first totally-free medical college established by humanitarian and spiritual leader Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai, built at a capital cost of Rs 400 crore at Muddenahalli, the birthplace of Bharath Ratna M Visvesvaraya. This unique model of medical education – giving medical education for free - will be an added impetus to the various government interventions to address the need for quality healthcare delivery in rural India. The Sri Madhusudan Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research which comprises of one teaching hospital and an academic block apart from hostels, auditorium, staff residences and sports facilities with a total area of about 3,25,000 sq.ft., is a unique and first-of-its-kind project, which will set a new standard for accessibility to quality medical education, check exclusion, for first-generation learners and disadvantaged students from rural India. After qualifying in the NEET entrance examination, students will be embraced into the college with just one pair of clothes, and everything else will be taken care by the Prashanthi Balamandira Trust which has established this medical college. The Trust acquired the necessary land and built the infrastructure for the medical college to commence in the academic year June 2023-24.  The teaching hospital currently comprises 360 beds spread across two buildings. In the next phase, another hospital block with an extension of academic, and more hostel facilities will be constructed.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22840/iit-k-and-university-at-buffalo-to-enrich-research-in-biomedicine-bioengineering.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22840/iit-k-and-university-at-buffalo-to-enrich-research-in-biomedicine-bioengineering.html Fri, 24 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0530 The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT-K) and the University at Buffalo, USA (UB) have signed a cooperation agreement to enrich research in Biomedicine & Bioengineering. The agreement was signed by Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Director, IIT Kanpur, and Prof A. Scott Weber, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of Buffalo. By signing this cooperation agreement, IIT-K and UB have agreed to establish the IITK-UB Joint Centre of Excellence in Biomedicine and Bioengineering at IIT Kanpur premises. The CoE is being established with the objective to facilitate long-term collaborations in education and research between IIT-K and University at Buffalo, as well as other institutions. The research focus of this Centre will be on developing materials and technologies for both in vitro (studies performed with cells) and in vivo (studies performed with animals) applications in biosciences.   The formation of the Centre under the agreement would facilitate exchange of students and researchers between IIT-K and University at Buffalo; along with facilitating collaborative research and training programs; joint conferences, thematic workshops and exchange of scholarly material.  The cooperation agreement comes after a Joint Degree Programme agreement that was signed between IIT-K and UB in 2017, to provide selected doctoral students at either institutes the opportunity to conduct research at the partner institute and earn two degrees, one each from IIT-K and UB. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22828/iit-k-and-university-of-california-join-hands-for-academic-and-research-collaborations.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22828/iit-k-and-university-of-california-join-hands-for-academic-and-research-collaborations.html Tue, 21 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0530 The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT-K) and the University of California, Santa Cruz, USA (UCSC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for joint academic and research collaborations. The formal agreement was signed by Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Director, IIT Kanpur and Prof. Dhirendra Katti, Dean of International Relations, from IIT Kanpur’s side; and Dr Cynthia Larive, Chancellor, UCSC, and Becky George, Assistant Vice Provost of Global Engagement at UCSC, on behalf of UCSC.  The research collaborations between IIT-K and UCSC will cater to crucial research areas in Computer Science and Engineering, and Biological Sciences and Bioengineering. This partnership will provide opportunities for both institutes to share their expertise, knowledge, and resources to further research and development in these fields. The exchange of faculty members between the two institutes will enable researchers to work collaboratively on important research initiatives, leveraging the strengths of each institution to address complex scientific challenges. Joint supervision of Ph.D. students will enable students to receive guidance and mentorship from faculty members at both institutions, broadening their knowledge and perspectives. The research collaboration is expected to focus on a variety of areas, including but not limited to, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, bioinformatics, biotechnology, among others.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22821/aragen-life-sciences-iict-and-kewaunee-sign-mou-for-finishing-school-skill-centre.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22821/aragen-life-sciences-iict-and-kewaunee-sign-mou-for-finishing-school-skill-centre.html Mon, 20 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0530 Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Aragen Life Sciences and Kewaunee Labway India have signed a Memorandum of Understanding  (MoU) for conducting a skill development programme focused on developing skills in Advanced Synthetic Organic Chemistry and pertinent Analytical Chemistry fields. It is a Finishing School programme enabling hands-on training to postgraduate students in chemistry to make them industry-ready by the end of their curriculum. The training will be offered by the scientists of CSIR-IICT in association with teaching assistance from Aragen at CSIR-IICT campus in Hyderabad. The MoU was signed by Dr D. Srinivasa Reddy, Director, CSIR-IICT, Manni Kantipudi, Chief Executive Officer, Aragen Life Sciences, and Sathyamurthy, Managing Director, Kewaunee Labway India in the presence of Union Minister of Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh. India has historically been a major hub for chemistry talent pool. It is estimated that in the past decade, there have been about 80% growth in demand for chemistry graduates and around 37% for post-graduates driven by the growth in key sectors such as pharma, biotech and other life sciences and allied industries. With the continued focus on further boosting the life sciences and manufacturing sectors, demand for this talent pool is expected to pick momentum. This tripartite MoU will enable leveraging the power of public-private partnership in further boosting the chemistry talent pool in the country and will benefit both students and industry. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22824/medlern-collaborates-with-rohilkhand-medical-college-and-hospital-in-bareilly.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22824/medlern-collaborates-with-rohilkhand-medical-college-and-hospital-in-bareilly.html Fri, 17 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0530 After making its mark in South India, Bengaluru-based startup MedLern broadens its horizons to the north by collaborating with Rohilkhand Medical College and Hospital, Bareilly, UP. The tie-up is set to train 100 Post Graduates and nursing graduates to undergo Basic Life Support (BLS) programme. Backed by American Heart Association (AHA), the programme will give them an edge on performing high-quality Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). MedLern has collaborated with Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI) Partners to offer BLS programme to tactfully handle emergency situations such as cardiac arrest, where the window to act is very short. The collaboration will commence with the training of 100 students now. The programme will make use of a mobile platform application, giving a person the freedom to access the content at any time. Worldwide, there is a less than 1% survival rate from sudden cardiac arrest; with this training programme, cardiac mortality can be decreased by enhancing the resuscitation skills of medical students. Frequent training of medical professionals on the latest advancements in healthcare & technology is a must to avoid skill decay.     ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22805/saveetha-dental-college-emerges-as-highest-publishing-dental-institution-globally.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22805/saveetha-dental-college-emerges-as-highest-publishing-dental-institution-globally.html Wed, 15 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0530 In what marks a major milestone in India’s modern academic history, Saveetha Dental College, Tamil Nadu, has emerged as the highest publishing dental institution in the world, dethroning Harvard University’s School of Dental Medicine from the top spot. This prestigious dental college in India achieved this rarest feat when the number of its publications in Scopus, the world's largest scientific database, rose to 8,920 on March 2023, surpassing the total of 8,854 from Harvard School of Dental Medicine. A 35-year-old Indian institution beating the over 150-year-old dental school of Harvard University in producing research work, has garnered international attention, and inspired institutions across the country that setting global records has nothing to do with an institution’s age or location.   Saveetha Dental College is known for its unwavering focus, concerted efforts, and investments in research and patient care. It has a team of 75 top researchers. It has a unique curriculum that places a strong emphasis on training students in research and publishing. The collaboration between researchers and students has been instrumental in producing numerous publications in highly respected medical journals. In 2022 alone, the college published 12 papers in Lancet, one of the world's highest-impact, peer-reviewed general medical journals. The college hospital serves 3,600 outpatients every day, and performs over 25,000 crowns and 2,000 General Anaesthesia cases every year. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22793/amrita-school-of-ayurveda-launches-online-portals-for-panchakarma-and-clinical-e-learning.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22793/amrita-school-of-ayurveda-launches-online-portals-for-panchakarma-and-clinical-e-learning.html Mon, 13 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0530 Amrita School of Ayurveda, a part of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, has launched two online portals for the Ayurveda community. While e-MAP is an e-module application for Panchakarma, AyurCel is tailor-made for clinical e-learning. The projects have been funded by the Rashtriya Ayurved Vidyapeeth, Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India.  The e-MAP project is an interactive portal that provides comprehensive information related to Panchakarma. It includes a learning module featuring lesson plans, sloka recitations, illustrative animations, and self-assessment aids on UG and PG Panchakarma syllabi. It also offers standardised videos of various clinically practiced Panchakarma procedures and a directory search for information related to faculties, postgraduates, publications, dissertations, and colleges offering Panchakarma PG, PhD, and equipment suppliers. The project is led by team Dr Parameswaran Namboothiri, Professor, Panchakarma, School of Ayurveda, Amritapuri. The AyurCel project is a clinical learning tool to make the clinical experiences of successful Ayurveda clinicians available in a digital format to facilitate continuous clinical learning. It offers case studies, modules for post-publication review of published case reports, and a preprint server for fast-track publication of the first draft of case reports. The doctors can use the portal to share their treatment experiences.The project is led by a team under Dr P Rammanohar, Research Director, Amrita Centre for Advanced Research in Ayurveda (ĀCĀRA), School of Ayurveda, Amritapuri.       ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22763/jamia-hamdard-university-inks-mou-with-dalhousie-university-canada-for-nursing-courses.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22763/jamia-hamdard-university-inks-mou-with-dalhousie-university-canada-for-nursing-courses.html Wed, 08 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0530 New Delhi-based Jamia Hamdard University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dalhousie University, Canada, to promote academic and research cooperation between the two universities. Dalhousie VP Global, Matt Hebb, and Jamia Hamdard University Vice-Chancellor Afshar Alam have signed the MoU by kicking off a partnership that will focus first on collaborations in nursing. The MoU seeks to establish a collaborative research and degree programme for the nursing students of School of Nursing and Allied Health, Jamia Hamdard. “The coming together of these two institutes of international repute will further increase the quality of research, education and opportunities for students and help them become global citizens,” said Hebb. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22751/government-launches-one-stop-non-stop-digital-job-portal-of-pharmacy-council-of-india-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22751/government-launches-one-stop-non-stop-digital-job-portal-of-pharmacy-council-of-india-.html Tue, 07 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0530 Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), the statutory body under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, recently organised “Pharma Anveshan 2023” to promote research & innovation, enhancing industry & academia. “It is the need of the hour to change our gears and adopt a focused approach to impart the best pharmacy education keeping our curriculum in line with the latest developments in the field and also provide extensive education of specialised drugs so as to benefit the reach of pharmacists in the country”. This was stated by Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar as she inaugurated Pharma Anveshan 2023 on the occasion of National Pharmacy Education Day on 6th March. She also launched a 'One Stop-Non Stop' digital job portal of Pharmacy Council of India, which will be useful for pharma professionals as well as recruiters from the industry. This will prove to be a game changer for the students coming from small towns and villages. At the event, PCI also signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Karnataka Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Manufacturer’s Association (KDPMA), Life Sciences Sector Skill Development Council, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (LSSSDC), Indian Pharma Alliance (IPA) and Federation of Pharma Entrepreneurs (FOPE) to reduce the gap of industry and academia, strengthen faculty and student training and promote entrepreneurship and infrastructure development. Dr Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, Drug Controller General of India elaborated on the need to promote interdisciplinary research and innovation through industry-academia strengthening. He said that the core of pharma business is quality and India has grown leaps and bounds in last 25 years in this area. He elaborated on the need to create fear free environment and risk-taking environment in order to promote innovation. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22722/infosys-collaborates-with-motherhood-hospitals-to-foster-learning-in-healthcare.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22722/infosys-collaborates-with-motherhood-hospitals-to-foster-learning-in-healthcare.html Wed, 01 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0530 Infosys has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Motherhood Hospitals, a specialty hospital chain providing women and child-care, to digitally upskill learners in the healthcare sector through Infosys Springboard. This first-of-its-kind collaboration will democratise healthcare education for school students, graduates, and lifelong learners, giving them access to masterclasses in health-related topics. Furthermore, Infosys Springboard will empower learners to develop a deep understanding of the healthcare industry through free interactive sessions with healthcare experts. Additionally, masterclasses on health-related themes will be held for learners registered on Infosys Springboard. The initiative will aim to educate them while opening new avenues for people looking to pursue careers in the sector. This collaboration will also enable nurses, customer care executives and the administrative staff at companies under Motherhood Hospitals to benefit from a comprehensive learning and development program. Congruent with its ESG Vision 2030, Infosys aims to enable digital skills at scale and empower over 10 million people in India by 2025 through the Infosys Springboard program. Infosys Springboard continues to expand its reach to learners by growing its thriving community to more than 5 million registered users in India, since its launch. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22691/iit-m-partners-with-ansys-to-augment-courses-for-building-skills-in-healthcare.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22691/iit-m-partners-with-ansys-to-augment-courses-for-building-skills-in-healthcare.html Fri, 24 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0530 The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) is partnering with US-based Ansys, a leader in engineering simulation software, to support new courses in emerging areas and build industry-relevant skills for NPTEL learners. The programme would be implemented through National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL), a joint initiative of the IITs and Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru.  Ansys will also make available its speakers for the Tech Talk lecture series conducted by NPTEL, and they will be able to leverage Ansys simulation for the same. Ansys will additionally support NPTEL in a hands-on workshop on fundamental engineering simulations. Ansys' CSR funding will enable a certification fee waiver to hundreds of students from underprivileged backgrounds and particularly women candidates.  NPTEL currently works closely with more than 5,000 colleges across India in various disciplines including engineering, arts, commerce, science and management. Many students and faculty take these certification examinations to improve their employability and upskill themselves with the latest skills in their area. Speaking about the collaboration, Rafiq Somani, Area Vice President - India and South Asia Pacific, Ansys, said, “The joint Tech Talk series by NPTEL and Ansys will help students learn current and ever-evolving technological themes of Electrification, 5G, Autonomous Vehicles, Drones, and Healthcare. Furthermore, the selectively tailored courses, certification fee waiver and dedicated workshops will equip more students with advanced engineering simulation knowledge and help them become industry-ready to support the Skill India Mission.”   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22679/terumo-siemens-healthineers-bring-unique-programme-for-cathlab-directors-with-isb.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22679/terumo-siemens-healthineers-bring-unique-programme-for-cathlab-directors-with-isb.html Wed, 22 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0530 Terumo India, the Indian arm of Japan-based Terumo Corporation, has partnered with Siemens Healthineers, to introduce a first-of-its-kind programme for Cathlab Directors aimed at building standards of care and enhancing efficiency in Cathlabs across India, in collaboration with Executive Education at the Indian School of Business (ISB ExecEd), a globally top-ranked business school.The increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, accompanied by technological advancements in medical care, is driving entrepreneurial activity in India's healthcare delivery space. This is evidenced by the rapid growth of Cathlabs, with around 200-250 new labs being set up each year. This has further increased the need for more structured training programs to enhance operational efficiency and patient experience in Cathlabs.The 5-day intensive ‘Cathlab Director Programme’ was curated by ISB ExecEd with its healthcare excellence centre – taking inputs from leading interventional cardiologists across the country. It included topics on Operations Excellence, Digital Transformation, and Patient Centricity.The first batch of 27 participants of this multi-cohort programme successfully graduated this month."With our specialised knowledge-driven approach to empower healthcare providers, this programme will act as a catalyst to aid access to care, ably supported by state-of-the-art technological and academic cognizance,” says Vivek Kanade, Managing Director, Siemens Healthcare.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22663/aster-dm-healthcare-signs-mou-with-university-of-michigan-for-collaborative-academic-efforts.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22663/aster-dm-healthcare-signs-mou-with-university-of-michigan-for-collaborative-academic-efforts.html Mon, 20 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0530 The University of Michigan Medical School and Aster DM Healthcare have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will allow Indian doctors access to the most cutting-edge information and abilities in the field of healthcare worldwide. This MoU signed with Aster Medcity, a division of Aster DM Healthcare situated in Kochi, Kerala incorporates a variety of collaborative procedures, creating enormous possibilities to support academic and scientific endeavours while empowering healthcare providers. The University of Michigan Medical School is the first medical school in the US to establish a university hospital for the purpose of training future doctors. They were among the first institutions to alter the role of the student from one of a passive observer to one of an active participant in the learning process through the adoption of the current science-based curriculum and the introduction of high-quality laboratory instruction and clerkships. The MoU will promote international cooperation and cover a wide range of topics, such as knowledge transfer, through collaborative research projects in areas of shared interest, the exchange of academic publications and reports, the sharing of experiences with cutting-edge teaching strategies and course design, and organize joint symposia, workshops, and conferences. Additionally, as a result of this collaboration, opportunities for faculty growth and exchange, student mobility, and visiting research scholars will be made possible across the organisations. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22629/springer-nature-and-bits-pilani-partner-to-advance-discovery-and-research-in-india.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22629/springer-nature-and-bits-pilani-partner-to-advance-discovery-and-research-in-india.html Mon, 13 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0530 Springer Nature has entered into an exclusive partnership with Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani, a renowned institute offering higher education in the fields of science, engineering, pharmacy and management in India. The partnership will advance knowledge and accelerate research by providing services such as author workshops, mentoring sessions and community engagements for the students and faculty of the institute. It will also provide students and researchers at the institute paths to publish quality research, build research communities, incubate ideas and drive open science and open access through collaboration. More than 2700 students and researchers will be benefit from these services and will be able to engage in interactive discussions with editors and researchers.  According to the leadership and faculty at BITS Pilani, this partnership with Springer Nature will not only provide the students and faculty insights into the do’s and don’t’s of research publishing but will also help them incubate ideas and innovate better.  Steven Inchcoombe, Chief Publishing Officer of Springer Nature said, “This partnership with BITS Pilani will see the opening up of new knowledge and will enable its wider dissemination and reach of the important research looking to address the pressing problems we are facing globally. It will also play an important role in supporting the drive towards open science both regionally and internationally.”   Image caption- Steven Inchcoombe, Chief Publishing Officer, Springer Nature Group and Venkatesh Satvasiddhi, MD, Springer Nature India signing the MoU virtually with Dr Sudhirkumar Barai, Director, BITS Pilani ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22588/cargill-iit-m-announce-scholarship-for-data-science-students.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22588/cargill-iit-m-announce-scholarship-for-data-science-students.html Fri, 03 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0530 Cargill, a US-global food and agriculture corporation, in partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) has announced a full scholarship for students who wish to pursue BS in Data Science Applications at IIT Madras. The students would be selected based on the eligibility criteria for the Merit-cum-Means Scholarship. About 7,500 new students enter the programme every year, of which between 25% and 30% fall in the category of annual family income of less than Rs 5 lakh. The Cargill Scholarship will enable over 100 students from this low income background to fulfil their dream of pursuing higher education at IIT Madras. IIT Madras launched the BS in Data Science and Applications in June 2020. The programme has completed six academic terms and is stepping into its third year. The programme was recently awarded the Silver medal by QS-Wharton Reimagine Education Awards for Best Online programme. More than 22,000 learners have qualified for the programme so far and about 17,000 are actively studying. While 195 students are at the Degree level, more than 4,500 are at the Diploma level. The IIT Madras BS Degree in Data Science and Applications is a unique programme designed to offer students multiple entry and exit options where the learner can enter and exit with a certificate, diploma or degree. There are four levels in the IIT Madras Degree programme and to get the BS Degree in Data Science and Applications from IIT Madras, a student has to successfully complete all four levels. This programme provides flexibility for learners and empowers the students to choose what they want to accomplish through this programme. Unlike the highly competitive Joint Entrance Examinations (JEE), in which very few candidates qualify, this programme is more open and has an inclusive qualifier process which provides learners across the country access to IIT quality education.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22537/health-minister-urges-national-institute-of-biologicals-to-strengthen-training-programmes-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22537/health-minister-urges-national-institute-of-biologicals-to-strengthen-training-programmes-.html Fri, 27 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0530 While virtually inaugurating the National Summit on Quality of Biologicals, organised by the National Institute of Biologicals (NIB) in New Delhi, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya urged NIB to further strengthen the training programs to prepare qualified human resource in this particular field. Dr Mandaviya also highlighted the need to initiate studies using state-of-the-art analytical platforms to promote the development of pharmacopeial monographs for new biologicals made from updated technologies. He said that if such products are developed indigenously, “the treatments will become more affordable for the common man and also our public health system will become stronger”. “Industry, academia and the regulatory network will have to work together to spur indigenous development of new biological medicines, including existing drugs for the treatment of rare and neglected diseases, innovation on new product categories such as gene therapy, stem cell therapy and personalised medicines”, he stated. Further, highlighting the need to adopt digital interventions in the biopharma industry, Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, urged the biopharma manufacturers to evolve “keeping disruptive changes in mind, and build bioprocess models for the future. The regulators as well as the testing laboratories should also keep in pace with the emerging technologies and practices so that lifesaving medicines are introduced into the market at fastest possible pathway”. She also urged the industry representatives to “focus on increased thrust on R&D and innovation, self-reliance in API, upgrading quality standards, increased digitisation, regulatory simplification and increased thrust towards exports”. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22521/nabh-and-hssc-join-forces-for-skilling-initiatives-of-healthcare-professionals-across-india.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22521/nabh-and-hssc-join-forces-for-skilling-initiatives-of-healthcare-professionals-across-india.html Mon, 23 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0530 Dr Atul Kochhar, CEO of National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) and Ashish Jain, CEO of Healthcare Sector Skill Council (HSSC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at recognition of HSSC certification for NABH accreditation; develop training programmes for Skilling, Reskilling and Upskilling required for healthcare professionals. The collaboration will help in achieving the goal of enhancing healthcare quality in the country. The MoU was signed in the presence of Dr Selvakumar I.A.S, Secretary, Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood, Government of Karnataka and Dr Devi Shetty, Chairman, Healthcare Sector Skill Council. Dr Atul Kochhar, CEO, NABH said, "Our partnership with HSSC will assist us in further strengthening the entire ecosystem of patient safety and healthcare delivery. Over the years, NABH standards have brought paradigm shift in delivering healthcare services and it has helped in sensitising heath care workers about their responsibilities. However, a country as diverse as India, growing at an unprecedented rate, requires many professionals who are skilled, continuously reskilling and upskilling. Today, our overall medical professional count per 1000 patients is much below than WHO standards across doctors, patients and para medics category. This partnership will also help us in exploring solutions and addressing this gap." Ashish Jain, CEO HSSC, briefed that HSSC collaboration with NABH will facilitate better placement and apprenticeship opportunities for HSSC certified healthcare professionals across the country. HSSC works closely with industry and academia to create a skills eco-system in the healthcare sector, which helps in development of skilled and work ready professionals as required by the industry.  This landmark initiative is envisaged to provide impetus to quality training, skilling, creating placement opportunities for skilled healthcare workforce leading to enhanced quality of healthcare for patients. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22507/goa-institute-of-management-launches-professional-certificate-programme-in-healthcare.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22507/goa-institute-of-management-launches-professional-certificate-programme-in-healthcare.html Thu, 19 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0530 Goa Institute of Management (GIM) has launched a Professional Certificate Programme in Healthcare Management powered by Asia’s largest higher Edtech Company, upGrad. The 11-month course offers 300+ hours of learning experience and is designed by industry experts and academicians to integrate hands-on training within the curriculum seamlessly. A 3-day on-campus immersion tour has also been embedded to make the learning more immersive and engaging through lectures, alumni connect, networking sessions, etc.  Other value adds include 40+ hours of live sessions, 8+ case studies and assignments, and a capstone project along with 360-degree career support, 1:1 mentorship and job assistance to help learners build a stronger career in healthcare management. As per an industry report, healthcare jobs continue to rank high among the careers with the most job security. Individuals with an extensive understanding of the medical field and strong communication skills may find healthcare management to be an ideal career choice. The GIM Healthcare programme also provides ample career prospects that go beyond the fields of medicine, nursing, and therapy.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22440/govt-launches-smart-programme-for-ayurveda-professionals-to-boost-rd-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22440/govt-launches-smart-programme-for-ayurveda-professionals-to-boost-rd-.html Wed, 04 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0530 The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) and the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), the two prominent institutions under the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India for regulating medical education and conducting scientific research respectively, have launched ‘SMART’ (Scope for Mainstreaming Ayurveda Research in Teaching Professionals) programme aimed to boost scientific research in priority healthcare research areas through ayurveda colleges and hospitals. The programme was launched recently by Vaidya Jayant Deopujari, Chairman, NCISM and Prof. Rabinarayan Acharya, Director General, CCRAS in the presence of Prof. B. S. Prasad, President of Board of Ayurveda, NCISM and other senior officials. While highlighting key points of ‘SMART’, Prof. Vaidya Rabinarayan Acharya, Director General, CCRAS said, “The proposed initiative is conceptualised with an objective to identify, support and promote innovative research ideas in healthcare including Osteoarthritis, Iron Deficiency Anaemia, Chronic Bronchitis, Dyslipidemia, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Obesity, Diabetes Mellitus, Psoriasis, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)”. He also added, “The eligible Ayurveda academic institutions may apply by 10 January, 2023. All details regarding contact information, eligibility criteria and application process has been shared to all recognised academic institutions and hospitals through NCISM”. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22414/ck-birla-hospitals-medisage-join-hands-to-empower-doctors-in-eastern-india-expanding-to-saarc-region.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22414/ck-birla-hospitals-medisage-join-hands-to-empower-doctors-in-eastern-india-expanding-to-saarc-region.html Mon, 26 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0530 CK Birla Hospitals, Kolkata, and Mumbai-based startup MediSage have come together to hold a series of virtual programmes for continued medical education of doctors in and around West Bengal and the north-eastern parts of the country. The programmes introduce doctors to advanced treatment options available and how their patients can benefit significantly from these. Bhagwat Dhingra, Founder & MD, MediSage, while speaking about the event, said, "We believe the initiative by the CK Birla group of hospitals is vital for ensuring last-mile information dissemination to our health practitioners and that this partnership will go a long way towards bridging the current knowledge gap digitally." The hospital leveraged MediSage's digital capabilities to achieve its goal and gathered more than 25,000 doctors to be a part of the virtual seminars. The webinars were conducted by various super-specialty doctors of CK Birla Hospitals who shared their expertise with other medical practitioners with the vision of helping last-mile doctors improve patient treatment outcomes in multiple specialties, such as Neurology, Cardiology, Nephrology and so on. This activity helped map the patients' journey from diagnosis to treatment planning and on to getting advanced treatment options in the region, in turn ensuring better patient care and prognosis for diseases that had earlier been challenging to treat due to limited options. CK Birla Hospitals and MediSage further seek to expand such programmes to countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar and Cambodia, to help the doctors provide better patient outcomes. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22384/one-health-trust-bits-pilani-offer-phd-programme-in-data-sciences-for-global-health.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22384/one-health-trust-bits-pilani-offer-phd-programme-in-data-sciences-for-global-health.html Tue, 20 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0530 The Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS Pilani) and the One Health Trust (founded as Centre for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy or CDDEP) have agreed to establish a PhD programme in Data Sciences for Global Health to train graduates/postgraduates on current global health issues and cutting-edge research methodology, with rigorous fieldwork and data analysis. The unique full-time interdisciplinary degree will provide advanced education in global health along with expertise in statistical/quantitative and qualitative skills to future students. The faculty at BITS Pilani and OHT have vast research experience in communicable disease dynamics; antimicrobial resistance; vaccines and immunization; environmental health; gender, equity, and livelihoods; health and development; health systems; and economics. The first cohort will begin coursework in July 2023. Students will take courses and conduct research at both BITS Pilani, Hyderabad, and at the Nimai Valley Center of the One Health Trust, set to open in January 2024. This programme is ideal for students who are seeking new roles as public health data scientists in government, nonprofit, and for-profit organisations in the public health and biomedical fields and working professionals already employed in such organisations who would like to use data more effectively to advance their missions.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22327/trivitron-healthcare-signs-mou-with-amity-university-to-promote-collaborative-research-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22327/trivitron-healthcare-signs-mou-with-amity-university-to-promote-collaborative-research-.html Tue, 06 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0530 Trivitron Healthcare and Amity University & Institutions (AU) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in to bridge the gap between academia and the medtech industry through joint research and training. This MoU will go into effect immediately and will remain effective for five years. As part of the MoU, Trivitron Healthcare and Amity University will synergise on multiple initiatives in cooperation for the joint research and training in the areas of Pharmacology, Immunology, Virology, Biotechnology, Healthcare Devices, Molecular and Stem Cell Research, Applied Sciences, New Born Screening, Next Generation Sequencing, Molecular/Serology and Advanced Diagnostics.  Trivitron Healthcare and Amity University will also have collaborations in joint research, joint projects, dissertation projects for AU students at Trivitron, organising of joint seminars and conferences, joint publications, any collaborative efforts that both may deem fit from time to time, and Trivitron Healthcare will offer internships and projects to students from Amity University. The MoU is expected to significantly improve the quality of collaborative research and training, and topics for future research collaboration will be identified and noted in additional research-specific agreements that specify the proper and pertinent contributions from both the organisations. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22304/iim-raipur-inks-mou-with-digital-health-academy-for-launching-new-online-course.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22304/iim-raipur-inks-mou-with-digital-health-academy-for-launching-new-online-course.html Tue, 29 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0530 A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Digital Health Academy (an SBU of Digital Health Associates) and the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Raipur to start the first-of-its-kind online course on Digital Health.  The Certified Digital Health Professional (CDHP) course will be a year-long, completely online course specifically designed for healthcare and management professionals.   The CDHP course is designed for Physicians, Allied Healthcare Professionals, and professionals in healthcare administration and life sciences. The aim of this course is to enhance the competence level with regard to the use of digital tools across the continuum of care.   Ideated in 2020 by Digital Health Academy, CDHP is the result of two years of research, brainstorming, and extensive consultation with around 54 global leaders. The academy will have the world's foremost leaders and pioneers as faculty.  Through CDHP course, Digital Health Academy wants to bridge the gap between the healthcare professional & application- oriented Digital Health. Segregated into three levels: Basic, Advanced and Professional, the course will cover the theoretical and practical implementation of digital health technologies.  Apart from getting access to many offerings from the digital health ecosystem, at Digital Health Academy, the students will be entitled to join the global alumni of health professionals and become a part of the impact-full Digital Health Professionals network across the globe.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22288/eurofins-to-set-up-new-analytical-lab-at-st-josephs-university-in-bengaluru.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22288/eurofins-to-set-up-new-analytical-lab-at-st-josephs-university-in-bengaluru.html Thu, 24 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0530 Eurofins India and St. Joseph’s University, Bengaluru have signed a multi-year collaboration to create a state-of-the-art analytical chemistry lab at the University. This collaboration paves the way for active partnership between Eurofins and the School of Chemical Science for providing hands-on experience to master’s level students of St. Josephs University on the latest instrumentation for analytical chemistry such as HPLC, LCMSMS, GC, GCMS, ICPMS, etc. and making them industry ready by the time they graduate. As part of this collaboration, Eurofins will support curriculum development in analytical chemistry and instrumentation, provide visiting faculty and offer paid internships and possibilities of full-time employment to the graduates of the University, at various Eurofins companies all over India. Neeraj Garg, Regional Director, South Asia and Middle East, Eurofins, while signing the MOU said, “The company is working with industry to support quality initiatives and R&D programmes. Enhancing the academic rigour and providing hands-on experience to the scientific manpower of the country is a critical initiative that Eurofins is supporting as a part of its efforts.”  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22281/university-of-birmingham-and-iit-m-launch-study-programme-for-biomedical-engineering.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22281/university-of-birmingham-and-iit-m-launch-study-programme-for-biomedical-engineering.html Wed, 23 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0530 The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) and the University of Birmingham, UK, are joining forces to launch Joint Masters’ programmes that will see students studying in Birmingham and Chennai before receiving a single degree awarded by both universities. It is proposed to launch the first joint postgraduate programme next year before developing further study programmes in subsequent years. The partnership agreement was reached during a visit to Chennai, by Professor Adam Tickell. Professor V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, and Professor Adam Tickell, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, University of Birmingham, signed a collaborative Statement of Intent to explore study areas including data science, energy systems and biomedical engineering. The universities have also agreed to establish a joint research fund to support academics and researchers as they explore potential research partnerships in data science, energy systems, and biomedical engineering. This is the first such education partnership at Masters’ level between any IIT and a UK Russell Group University. Students would benefit from academic flexibility to learn and work in current areas that would define the future of global engineering and technology.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22279/ayush-ministry-appoints-academic-chair-in-ayurvedic-science-at-western-sydney-university.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22279/ayush-ministry-appoints-academic-chair-in-ayurvedic-science-at-western-sydney-university.html Tue, 22 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0530 The Ministry of Ayush has formally announced setting up of Ayurveda Academic Chair based at Western Sydney University’s NICM Health Research Institute, with tenure for a period of three years. Dr Rajagopala S., Associate Professor & Head (Department of Kaumarabhritya) All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi has been selected for the post of Academic Chair in Ayurvedic Science at Western Sydney University, Australia. The Academic Chair will undertake academic and collaborative research activities in Ayurveda, including herbal medicine and yoga, as well as design academic standards and short-term/medium-term courses and educational guidelines. It will provide academic leadership in demonstrating and fostering excellence in teaching, research and policy development related to Ayurveda, within the robust Australian regulatory frame work, and develop strategies to promote the translation and integration of evidence based Ayurveda medicines into conventional healthcare. Prof Barney Glover, Vice Chancellor & President, Western Sydney University acknowledged that this collaboration will help in bringing together Western medicine and Ayurvedic Science. “The collaboration strengthens the University’s reputation as Australia’s leader in integrative and complementary medicine, and is a significant step towards developing a new research stream for the NICM Health Research Institute", Prof Glover said. NICM Health Research Institute’s Director, Professor Dennis Chang said, “There is great synergy between All India Institute of Ayurveda and NICM Health Research Institute in preclinical, clinical and translational research of traditional medicine." Dr Dilip Ghosh, Adjunct Fellow, NICM Health Research Institute was also present during the event along with other officials. "I am happy to see that this collaboration has finally taken place which was started three years ago. We hope to achieve high levels in the field of integrative medicine in the next few years", he said. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22216/timespro-iim-nagpur-introduce-pg-certificate-programme-in-blockchain-technology.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22216/timespro-iim-nagpur-introduce-pg-certificate-programme-in-blockchain-technology.html Mon, 07 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0530 TimesPro and the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Nagpur have launched the inaugural batch of Post Graduate Certificate Programme in Blockchain Technology to equip learners in developing critical thinking abilities and strong fundaments in blockchain to provide innovative solutions for varied sectors. The nine-month Post Graduate Certificate Programme in Blockchain Technology will empower learners with a comprehensive understanding of blockchain technology and expose them to platforms like Ethereum and Hyperledger Fabric to write smart contracts and develop blockchain-based solutions. Blockchain has found global acceptance across leading sectors like financial services, technology, crypto assets, healthcare, governments, supply chains, entrepreneurs and innovators and led to significant benefits across business, including transparency, traceability, reduced costs, etc. The Post Graduate Certificate Programme in Blockchain Technology will be conducted via TimesPro's state-of-the-art Interactive Learning (IL) platform and delivered in Direct-to-Device (D2D) mode. The programme also includes a three-day campus-immersive session for learners. I The programme will help learners vastly enhance their skillsets by learning subjects such as Cryptocurrency Mechanics, Blockchain Mechanics, Smart Contracts and Decentralised Applications, Blockchain Applications and Use Cases, Blockchain Architectures and Platforms, Blockchain Programming, among others.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22094/skf-india-unveils-lab-on-a-bike-programme-in-bihar.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22094/skf-india-unveils-lab-on-a-bike-programme-in-bihar.html Tue, 11 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0530 SKF India, a technology and solutions provider of bearings and services, has launched ‘Lab-on-a-Bike’ programme in Bihar under its WeGyaan STEM learning initiative. To be implemented by Agastya International Foundation, the ‘Lab-on-a-Bike’ programme will reach out to more than 2000 students across 18 government schools in Muzaffarpur and Sitamarhi districts with an aim to make STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education accessible.  ‘Lab-on-a-Bike’ programme aims to spark interest in STEM subjects and inspire students to pursue a STEM related career. The curriculum will be delivered through innovative tools, DIY models, experiential science-based activities, and other need-based interventions. It will also build critical thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving capabilities among students. The programme will train the teachers to arm them with the right resources, skills, and knowledge on STEM subjects to help them enhance the learning experience of children. It also has several on-ground engagement initiatives with local communities and families on the importance of STEM education and related careers.      ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22073/all-india-institute-of-ayurveda-signs-mou-with-advanced-industrial-science-and-technology-japan.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22073/all-india-institute-of-ayurveda-signs-mou-with-advanced-industrial-science-and-technology-japan.html Fri, 07 Oct 2022 13:00:00 +0530 The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), the apex institute of Ayurveda in India under the Ministry of AYUSH, and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Japan, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for academic establishment. With the signing of this MoU, AIIA aims to promote the institute’s research activities both at a national and international stage. The MoU will enable both countries to promote research collaboration and building capacities in the field of the Indian Ayurvedic system of traditional medicines. All these activities will be executed in support of the Ministry of Ayush. The scope of activities that is intended by the participants includes research activities in the field of Ayurveda, including studies in design and execution with the purpose of developing evidence-based guidelines for integrating Ayurvedic principles and practices with conventional medicine, evolving safety standards and protocols for the use of Ayurveda in Japan in conformity with medical guidelines, exchanging scientists, researchers and staff as determined by the collaborators on a project-to-project basis, students’ participation in collaborative activities, to achieve excellence in Ayurveda towards achieving scientific advances, tools, and techniques.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22012/pfizer-partners-with-father-muller-research-to-create-avenues-for-new-research-in-india-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/22012/pfizer-partners-with-father-muller-research-to-create-avenues-for-new-research-in-india-.html Mon, 26 Sep 2022 01:05:00 +0530 Pfizer India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Father Muller Research to strengthen evidence generation and encourage young researchers to gather real-world evidence (RWE) on drug efficacy and proven therapies from existing Electronic Patient records. This evidence generation will focus on prevention, treatment and management of diseases that are of public health priority in India, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. The bespoke fellowships will be a form of recognition and will enable young clinicians who want to pursue medical research to do so with clear goals in place. Commenting on the MoU, Dr Sonali Dighe, Senior Director Medical Affairs at Pfizer, said, “This partnership will focus on capacity building initiatives including educational initiatives for healthcare practitioners and clinical research team in several therapy areas, such as oncology, cardiology, anti-infectives, women’s health, dermatology and vaccines." Pfizer sees this as a long-term, academic collaboration to promote high-quality medical research in the country. Additionally, through this collaboration, Pfizer and Father Muller Research Center plan to build centers of excellence (CoEs) in rare diseases. The Father Muller Research will be CoE for placing various RWE studies, capability building workshops, fellowship programs in rare disease area to start with. This may get extended to other therapy areas going forward. Rev.Fr. Richard Aloysius Coelho, Director, Father Muller Charitable Institutions said, “Industry Institutional interaction is the order of the day which will immensely help the medical field and also helps us to develop new modalities of treatment development of drug and devices and so on."  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21989/aster-international-institute-of-oncology-to-offer-training-fellowship-programmes.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21989/aster-international-institute-of-oncology-to-offer-training-fellowship-programmes.html Wed, 21 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0530 Aster Hospitals Bangalore, a unit of Aster DM Healthcare, has launched an institute of oncology under the banner - Aster International Institute of Oncology (AIIO). This newly launched institute will be the centre of excellence in the treatment of all cancers under a single roof. The state-of-the-art institute was launched by Dr Azad Moopen, Founder Chairman and Managing Director, Aster DM Healthcare. Speaking on the launch, Prof Dr Somashekhar S P, Chairman of Medical Advisory Board and Global Director of Aster International Institute of Oncology, Aster DM Healthcare, India & GCC, said, “The idea is to establish AIIO as the number one cancer care institute in India, and soon to be in the top 5 globally. All centres will have robots, hi-tech dedicated machines, intra-operative radio therapy, state-of-the-art medical equipment. We are also partnering with top universities in the world for the research and development purposes. We are establishing training and fellowship programmes in affiliation with Rajiv Gandhi University or any recognized university and offering DrNB Oncology programme. AIIO will be the exclusive research wing and for clinical trials.” ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21973/5c-network-launches-academy-for-training-radiographers-and-radiologists.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21973/5c-network-launches-academy-for-training-radiographers-and-radiologists.html Mon, 19 Sep 2022 17:00:00 +0530 Focused on providing advanced practical training for radiographers and radiologists, Bengaluru-based startup 5C Network has launched the 5C Academy. The need for this kind of institutionalized, professional training stems from the fact that in the radiology domain that is continuously witnessing technology and domain advances, there is a long-felt need for a forum that can help radiographers and radiologists stay up-to-date on domain knowledge, learn new best practices, benefit from the experience of experts in the domain, and also get mentored on improving on their own skills on the job. 5C Network’s chief radiologist, Dr Chandramouly M, MBBS, DMRD, DNB-RD, will serve as 5C Academy’s dean. Dr Chandramouly comes with over three decades of experience in radiology. The academy launches the first-ever certification programme for practicing radiographers specializing in CT and MRI scans. As part of the curriculum, the participants will experience interactive workshops on CT and MRI best practices with live case demos. The workshops will be followed by question and answer sessions, and assessments to ensure a complete understanding of each module. Each module when completed grants one credit to the participant. Subject to the participant successfully completing all the modules, the 5C Academy will grant a Diploma in Practical Radiography to them. The launching of the 5C Academy is a next-step to the long-running Masterclass for Radiologists, namely the 5C Radiology Academy of Informatics and Specialist Education (RAISE) - an ongoing, globally-acclaimed advanced radiologist training programme offered by 5C Network and led by Dr.Vimal Raj, renowned cardiothoracic radiologist.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21939/medvarsity-wolters-kluwer-to-improve-learning-outcomes-in-healthcare-education.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21939/medvarsity-wolters-kluwer-to-improve-learning-outcomes-in-healthcare-education.html Mon, 12 Sep 2022 13:00:00 +0530 Hyderabad-based Medvarsity and Netherlands headquartered Wolters Kluwer have joined hands to create a revolution in the healthcare education sector in India. The online course content for Medvarsity Fellowship courses has been redesigned to leverage relevant information from Wolters Kluwer's Ovid platform. Additionally, students enrolled in these courses will also get a year-long subscription to core clinical books and a multi-speciality medical journal database from Wolters Kluwer. The books and journals offer working physicians the ability to stay up to date on the latest disease guidelines.  Ruchi Tushir, VP & GM, Wolters Kluwer Global Growth Markets said, "The collaboration with Medvarsity helps us further that, by increasing access to impactful evidence-based research and books, keeping them up to date to advance decision making.” Gerald Jaideep, CEO, Medvarsity said, “All Medvarsity students will now get a one-year subscription to publications from Wolters Kluwer when they upskill with a Fellowship course from Medvarsity. This includes their peer-reviewed medical journals and clinical books in medicine spanning a breadth of healthcare specialities. The content will be mapped to each of the courses to allow an enhanced learning experience for the user. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21938/manipals-american-university-of-antigua-to-commence-pre-med-programme.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21938/manipals-american-university-of-antigua-to-commence-pre-med-programme.html Mon, 12 Sep 2022 12:50:00 +0530 Manipal's American University of Antigua (AUA) will commence the current batch of its two-year Pre-med programme on the campus of Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Karnataka from October 10, 2022. American University of Antigua (AUA) is fully owned by the Manipal Education & Medical Group.   Students aspiring to pursue a medical degree in the US can now start their journey from India right after the completion of senior high school, on the Manipal campus. The selection process deems the senior high school graduates from English medium instruction, with a score of 65 per cent and above in the mandatory subjects of physics, chemistry and biology eligible to apply for this programme.    The Pre-Med to MD programme is a 6.5 years programme designed for high school graduates and non-traditional students who are all set to pursue an international career in medicine. The students complete the first two years of the programme and then move to the Manipal's American University of Antigua, College of Medicine to complete the next 4.5 years: 2.5 years of pre-clinical sciences in the state-of-the-art campus in Antigua, the remaining 2 years of clinical rotations across the US, the UK and Canada.        ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21914/siro-clinpharm-unveils-clinical-research-institute-to-create-industry-ready-professionals.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21914/siro-clinpharm-unveils-clinical-research-institute-to-create-industry-ready-professionals.html Tue, 06 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0530 Mumbai-based SIRO Clinpharm has launched SIRO Clinical Research Institute (SCRI) to create CRO industry-ready professionals. With this initiative, the goal of SIRO is to give back to the industry by revolutionizing it with hand-on training and creating professionals for pharmaceutical companies and global contract research organizations, through cutting-edge learning concepts, a strong curriculum, real-world case studies, and soft skill development. Currently, the institute is offering the Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Research to anyone who has a graduate or post-graduate degree in areas like Pharma, Microbiology, Botany, Biochemistry, Chemistry, etc. The course is also open to anyone who has done MBBS, BDS, BAMS, or BHMS. The course has been divided into nine modules over 16 weeks of in-person classroom training & 4 weeks of on-job training under the guidance of skilled SIRO professionals, covering all the aspects of clinical research which will equip the students to be industry ready.  “The programme is intended for recent graduates who want to work in various areas of the clinical research industry, such as Clinical Operations, Data Management, Biostatistics, Programming and Medical Writing. The course was created by industry specialists with the most recent advancements and the varied needs of the clinical research industry in mind. The largest differentiator this course aims to offer is practical with strong elements of on-job training. The course would educate students for a career in corporate settings with a focus on communication and other skills in addition to the technicalities of clinical research,” added Karan Daftary, Director, SIRO Clinpharm. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21907/govt-announces-studentship-programme-for-ayurveda-research.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21907/govt-announces-studentship-programme-for-ayurveda-research.html Sun, 04 Sep 2022 20:10:00 +0530 The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) has launched a Studentship Programme for Ayurveda Research Ken (SPARK) for Ayurveda (BAMS) students studying in recognised Ayurveda colleges.    Pramod Kumar Pathak, Special Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, Government of India and Vaidya Jayant Yeshwant Deopujari, Chairman, National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) launched the fellowship scheme and the application portal.   While sharing more details about the SPARK programme Dr Adarsh Kumar, Assistant Director (Ayurveda), CCRAS informed, "SPARK’ aims to support the research ideas of young undergraduate students enrolled in Ayurveda Colleges across India. The application process for SPARK will be completely online through the portal www.spark.ccras.nic.in.”    Dr Adarsh added, “Interested candidates will be required to submit their research proposals through the SPARK Portal. The proposals will be evaluated by eminent experts and reviewers. The selected fellows will be offered financial support of Rs 50,000 under the fellowship. Initially, there will be a total of 100 seats per session and further details may be accessed at the programme portal."   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21872/scigenom-charusat-university-announce-industry-oriented-phd-programme.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21872/scigenom-charusat-university-announce-industry-oriented-phd-programme.html Mon, 29 Aug 2022 15:40:00 +0530 SciGenom Labs, a genomics company with facilities in India (Cochin, Chennai, Hyderabad) and the US (San Francisco), has announced a unique industry-based PhD programme to support research in the disciplines of genomics, proteomics, microbiome and bio-nanotech in collaboration with CHARUSAT University (Charotar University of Science and Technology), Gujarat.    This industry-academia collaboration will provide students with an opportunity to participate in research activities with multiple international universities and scientists from independent research institutions to find solutions to real-world problems that plague humanity while working in SciGenom.   The students should have qualified in one of the National Eligibility Tests for Junior Research Fellowship such as (NET-JRF) CSIR-UGC, DBT, GATE and INSPIRE. The selected students will be registered with CHARUSAT university while working with one of the leading companies under the SciGenom group of companies. The selected researchers will be provided with an additional stipend during their PhD program in addition to the government fellowship. Admissions will start in September 2022 and will continue throughout the year. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21870/apollo-university-signs-mou-with-uoh-for-healthcare-research.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21870/apollo-university-signs-mou-with-uoh-for-healthcare-research.html Fri, 26 Aug 2022 23:35:00 +0530 The Apollo University, Chittoor has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Hyderabad (UoH), an Institution of Eminence. The MoU was signed by Dr Devesh Nigam (Registrar, UoH) and Dr M Potha Raju (Registrar, The Apollo University). Prof. BJ Rao, Honourable Vice-Chancellor, UoH, and Dr K Prabakar Head, Academic Affairs, Apollo Knowledge, Chennai were present for the ceremony.   Prof P Prakash Babu, Senior Professor, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad and Prof R Satyanarayana, The Apollo University will be the coordinators for the implementation of the MoU.   The objective of the collaboration is to support quality training programmes in technological and healthcare research and promote inter-institutional cooperation. The agreement explores the exchange of knowledge and collaboration in technology, medicine, data science, machine learning and speedy diagnosis.   The agreement is a boost-up for both institutions in the areas of biomedical science, genetics and molecular biology and health informatics and analytics.       ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21841/iit-kanpur-kgmu-lucknow-announce-sib-shine-fellows-batch-for-2022-23.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21841/iit-kanpur-kgmu-lucknow-announce-sib-shine-fellows-batch-for-2022-23.html Tue, 23 Aug 2022 13:00:00 +0530 The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur and King George’s Medical University (KGMU) Lucknow have announced the list of nine fellows for the inaugural batch of the DBT School of International Biodesign-Synergizing Healthcare Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SIB-SHInE) fellowship programme. The fellows will work towards developing indigenised MedTech devices and systems to uplift the healthcare ecosystem in India.   SIB-SHInE programme is a year-long full-time dedicated residential fellowship programme aimed at creating the next generation of biomedical entrepreneurs. The objective is to create a dynamic ecosystem to identify and nurture the next generation of biodesign innovators in developing disruptive and accessible technologies for the world. The SIB-SHInE Programme is sponsored by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.    The batch of the selected nine innovation enthusiasts will scout critical biomedical problems by shadowing doctors, nurses and patients at KGMU Lucknow in the first three months of the programme, which will constitute the Clinical Immersion segment. The later three stages will be carried forward at IIT Kanpur.   Upon moving to the IIT Kanpur campus, the fellows will go through the Conception stage, where the conceptual basis will be formed based on the identified problems. In the Creation stage, the fellows will be guided to develop prototypes based on the findings. This will be followed by the final stage – Corroboration, where the prototypes will go through clinical trials for ascertaining efficacy.    ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21785/iit-hyderabad-announces-msc-programme-in-medical-physics.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21785/iit-hyderabad-announces-msc-programme-in-medical-physics.html Wed, 10 Aug 2022 19:20:00 +0530 Department of Biomedical Engineering, Physics, under the aegis of the Centre of Interdisciplinary Programme, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad, is launching an AERB (Atomic Energy Regulatory Board) approved three years Master of Science (MSc) Programme in Medical Physics in collaboration with Basavatarakam Indo American Cancer Hospital and Research Institute (BIACH&RI). The programme aims to is to provide world-class ‘Medical Physicist’ specialist training in the concepts and techniques of applying physics in medicine. Further, the programme intends to provide Clinical Orientation for Radiation physics, Clinical immersion and shadowing, Industry/ Clinical Lectures, Short term projects, and Clinical Internship (3rd Year) for 12 months (Mandatory for Certification) for the admitted students at BIACH&RI. The students will benefit from the academic acumen of IITH’s Faculty & Practical Expertise of the BIACH&RI Team. This programme is ideal for BSc candidates with Physics as one of the main subjects and who want to make a career in applied physics for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of human diseases. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21766/iit-madras-collaborates-with-national-institute-of-siddha.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21766/iit-madras-collaborates-with-national-institute-of-siddha.html Sat, 06 Aug 2022 10:40:00 +0530 Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) is partnering with the National Institute of Siddha (NIS), a Centre of Excellence for Research and Higher Education in the Siddha system of Medicine in Chennai, for training, research and clinical studies.    The partnership is expected to result in the development of new collaborative teaching programmes and research in the areas of clinical research, molecular biology and in-vitro cell line studies and health system research besides in exchange of faculty members.   An MoU towards this effect was signed recently by Prof V Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, and Dr R Meenakumari, Director, NIS, in the presence of Prof Ravindra Gettu, IIT Madras.   Highlighting the impact of this collaboration, Prof V Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said, “Siddha is a very important school of Indian Medicine. This collaboration will focus on establishing a scientific basis that explains the efficacy of Siddha medicines.”   The institutes will also jointly organise seminars, workshops, webinars, conferences and continuing education programmes [including Continuing Medical Education (CME)] and develop academic programmes. They will also promote the exchange of students, PhD, Postdoctoral Scholars and faculty for teaching/training programmes.     image caption- Prof V Kamakoti (R), Director, IIT Madras and Dr R Meenakumari, Director, NIS, sign MoU in the presence of Prof. Ravindra Gettu, IIT-M ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21748/govt-launches-new-scheme-to-augment-research-capabilities-in-state-universities-and-colleges.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21748/govt-launches-new-scheme-to-augment-research-capabilities-in-state-universities-and-colleges.html Wed, 03 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0530 A new scheme has been launched to augment the research capabilities in a structured way to create a robust R&D ecosystem in state and private universities and colleges, including self-financed institutions working within these universities. State University Research Excellence (SERB-SURE) is a new innovative scheme of the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), a statutory body of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), that can foster collaboration for high-end research at state and private universities and colleges. “The new scheme will help bring the university system, which was so far mostly limited to teaching, into mainstream research and enable the young faculty there to participate in cutting-edge research,” said Dr. Srivari Chandrasekhar, Chairman SERB and Secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DST) at the launch of the programme. He added that the new programme, which would also support data-driven social science research, would be a great stimulus to the latent potential that lies in our universities. Chairman University Grants Commission, Professor M Jagadesh Kumar, said that this scheme would provide much-needed research opportunities to the faculties of state universities, 45% of which are located in rural areas. He also emphasized on the need to train the faculty of the universities on how to write and submit proposals, procurements, and management of projects.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21744/parul-university-joins-hands-with-wolters-kluwer-to-deploy-clinical-decision-support-systems.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21744/parul-university-joins-hands-with-wolters-kluwer-to-deploy-clinical-decision-support-systems.html Tue, 02 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0530 Gujarat-based Parul Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, a constituent college of Parul University and recognised by National Medical Commission, has announced its association with Wolters Kluwer. As a part of this collaboration, Wolters Kluwer has deployed its Clinical Decision Support Systems, at its institute to further enhance the quality of their evidence-based care delivery. The three products that have been deployed by the institute are UpToDate, UpToDate Advanced and Lexicomp. To make quality care more accessible and enhance the knowledge of using technology in healthcare to improve patient outcomes, Parul University, has chosen UpToDate and Lexicomp as a partner of choice for its institute. Wolters Kluwer will conduct regular workshops to equip the students and faculties on the effective use of these products for better patient care.  The clinical decision support systems (CDSS) provide clinicians with verified information within a few clicks, facilitating faster diagnosis. With CDSS, doctors can bookmark topics for easy access to information when they need it. It improves patient outcomes and results in better quality health care. A CDSS alerts the doctors to potential problems that can be easily resolved. It supports clinicians while making complex clinical decisions.  By providing students with comprehensive medical education and sufficient clinical experience through CDSS tools like UpToDate, we can help prevent medical errors.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21727/medlern-shree-bhavani-group-of-institutions-to-introduce-heartcode-complete-resuscitation-prog-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21727/medlern-shree-bhavani-group-of-institutions-to-introduce-heartcode-complete-resuscitation-prog-.html Fri, 29 Jul 2022 10:50:00 +0530 India MedLern, a leading digital learning solution for hospitals and healthcare professionals, has collaborated with Shree Bhavani Group of Institutions to provide resuscitation training. Shree Bhavani Group of Institution will adopt this programme, HeartCode️ Complete, for training their nursing students in BLS. The programme is divided into two parts – online, self-paced Cognitive Part 1 and Skills Session on the RQI-P GO Simulation Station. Upon completing both parts, the students will receive an American Heart Association BLS e-Card. RQI-P GO Simulation Stations are portable and students will have the flexibility to be trained on BLS without having to travel at any location. The innovation training programme is also user friendly and provides real time audio visual feedback to the learners. It also adapts to the learning style of the students so that they can complete the training at their own pace and time. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21710/astrazeneca-launches-chronic-kidney-disease-academy.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21710/astrazeneca-launches-chronic-kidney-disease-academy.html Wed, 27 Jul 2022 17:35:00 +0530 AstraZeneca India has launched Chronic Kidney Disease Academy, in collaboration with the Indian Society of Nephrology (ISN). The academy will offer module-based learning for clinicians to enable them to provide better kidney care to their patients. The training programme aims to cover the pathophysiology, presentation, diagnosis, complications and management of CKD.    Through this programme, AstraZeneca and the Indian Society of Nephrology aim to help clinicians and healthcare practitioners to provide holistic kidney care to their patients.    The certificate training course on CKD's latest updates will train about 1000 primary care physicians through three interactive modules. The modules would chronologically focus on the burden and risk factors of CKD, followed by the holistic guidelines for the management of CKD and lastly on newer therapies for better CKD management with a focus on SGLT2i inhibitors.    These modules will be delivered by 30 eminent nephrologists from across the country, who will serve as faculty for the programme. The faculty shall be available both online and offline for mentoring young nephrologists and aiding scientific support. The modules will be one hour each and will be delivered by the faculty members in three to four months duration over virtual mode. On completing the three modules, a certificate of participation that will be endorsed by AstraZeneca and ISN will be provided to all participants.    ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21684/karnataka-highlights-practical-approaches-for-making-medical-education-accessible.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21684/karnataka-highlights-practical-approaches-for-making-medical-education-accessible.html Fri, 22 Jul 2022 17:20:00 +0530 Appreciating the efforts of Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai for starting a free medical college in Karnataka for rural poor students, Dr K Sudhakar, Minister of Medical Education and Health of Karnataka Govt, said that medical education and healthcare are unaffordable for millions of people. Dr Sudhakar was speaking at an international conference on post-pandemic reforms in medical education for accessible and affordable rural healthcare organised by Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence.The conference brought together leading medical education experts from India and other countries to share their ideas and programmes and lead the way to national and international reforms in format, curriculum, structure, funding, evaluation, and access to quality medical education. “Today, I am so glad to announce that Chikkaballapur will have two medical colleges and two super-speciality hospitals. To promote traditional medicines, the Government of Karnataka has taken a step to establish an autonomous Ayush University in Shivamogga,” Dr  Sudhakar added. The objective of this conference was to develop practical approaches for making medical education and training accessible and equitable, to increase the access to high-quality integrative medical education and training the students from rural, tribal and underserved areas, based on their educational accomplishments and future academic portal, and to enhance the quality of medical education system by developing national metrics to evaluate the credentials & social impact of individual, faculty, departments, programmes and institutions. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21681/india-uk-sign-mou-on-academic-collaboration-between-heis.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21681/india-uk-sign-mou-on-academic-collaboration-between-heis.html Fri, 22 Jul 2022 10:40:00 +0530 A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Mutual Recognition of Academic Qualifications was signed between James Bowler, Permanent Secretary, Department of International Trade of United Kingdom (UK) and K Sanjay Murthy, Secretary (Higher Education), Ministry of Education, Government of India.   In May 2021, during the Virtual Summit between Prime Ministers of India and the UK, a comprehensive Roadmap to 2030 was adopted for enhanced bilateral cooperation between the two countries. Both sides also agreed to a new Enhanced Trade Partnership. Education forms an important pillar of this roadmap. In light of India’s National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020), the two sides agreed to expand education by agreeing to mutual recognition of academic qualifications.   This is a landmark moment in bilateral educational relations as the signing of this MoU will enable smoother student mobility between the two countries and help in developing stronger institutional collaboration and widen the scope of academic and research collaboration between the higher education institutions of both countries.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21666/cactus-partners-with-indiabioscience-to-conduct-research-training-programmes.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21666/cactus-partners-with-indiabioscience-to-conduct-research-training-programmes.html Thu, 21 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0530 Cactus Communications (CACTUS) has partnered with IndiaBioscience, primarily funded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, to conduct training sessions for PhD students and postdoctoral fellows in the life sciences industry in India. These online training sessions will be conducted starting August 5, 2022, under the aegis of the event ‘Write Right series in Research Communication’ by Editage and IndiaBioscience.   The one-hour training sessions will occur every Friday 4-5 PM IST for five weeks. These workshops aim to provide comprehensive training in research communication to a group of 50 selected participants for each workshop.   Over the sessions, the workshop will cover various topics around literature review, manuscript writing, manuscript proofreading and editing, and many more sessions exclusively prepared to help participants understand the criticality of writing and structuring good manuscripts to improve the chances of their papers getting published.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21665/upes-dehradun-wipro-ge-healthcare-launch-biomedical-engineering-programme.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21665/upes-dehradun-wipro-ge-healthcare-launch-biomedical-engineering-programme.html Wed, 20 Jul 2022 12:05:00 +0530 UPES School of Health Sciences & Technology, Dehradun has signed an exclusive partnership with Wipro GE Healthcare, to jointly launch the B.Tech Biomedical Engineering programme. The partnership aims to co-design and co-deliver this programme to students during their semesters of study so that students who graduate here are industry-ready from Day 1.   Wipro GE Healthcare will be setting up a state-of-the-art skill lab for students. Upon successful completion of the modules, students will receive a certificate of completion by Wipro GE Healthcare.    Final year students will be provided with an opportunity to attend a 21-day advanced training programme at the GE Healthcare Institute in Bengaluru. Upon completion of the advance certification, students will also be provided with an internship within the healthcare industry, so that they are ready for the job from the very first day and can serve as an asset to any healthcare employer. There will be advanced ECG machines, precise anaesthesia solutions, high-frequency X-ray machines and advanced simulation monitors that will offer students a unique learning experience.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21650/iima-lal-pathlabs-foundation-to-set-up-research-chair-in-healthcare.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21650/iima-lal-pathlabs-foundation-to-set-up-research-chair-in-healthcare.html Mon, 18 Jul 2022 14:25:00 +0530 The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Lal PathLabs Foundation – the CSR arm of Dr Lal PathLabs to set up the ‘Dr Lal Pathlabs Chair in Healthcare’. The MoU was signed by Professor Errol D’ Souza, Director, IIMA and Dr Om Manchanda, IIMA alumnus, MD, Dr Lal PathLabs and Trustee Lal PathLabs Foundation, at the institute’s campus. The objective of the Dr Lal Pathlabs Chair in Healthcare is to complement the institute’s existing research being done by its faculty members in the healthcare and allied sectors. The research conducted by this Chair will further strengthen the collaboration between academia and industry, optimise the forward and backward linkages in the healthcare ecosystem and promote thought leadership in this domain. Additionally, this will also enhance the learning experience for students by engaging and exposing them to various industry practices and trends. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21647/sensodyne-partners-with-ida-for-shining-star-scholarship-prog.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21647/sensodyne-partners-with-ida-for-shining-star-scholarship-prog.html Sun, 17 Jul 2022 20:40:00 +0530 Sensodyne, an oral health care brand by GSK Consumer Healthcare announced its partnership with Indian Dental Association (IDA) for ‘Shining Star Scholarship Programme’. The scholarship has been introduced as a part of GSK’s ongoing corporate social responsibility initiative.    The Sensodyne IDA Shining Star Scholarship Programme is focussed towards providing financial support to underprivileged and meritorious Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) students across India. Under this scholarship programme, 100 deserving students will be selected who are pursuing their first year of BDS courses in government colleges or government-funded colleges. Each selected student will be provided with the financial assistance of INR 1,05,000 per year, for four years, to support their academic and living expenses incurred towards their BDS programme.   Sensodyne IDA Shining Star Scholarship Programme is GSK Consumer Healthcare’s CSR initiative to provide scholarships to underprivileged students who aspire to become dentists. The programme has been designed to ensure that students achieve their goals of pursuing professional dental education without any financial hindrances. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21641/pfizer-partners-with-max-super-speciality-hospitals-to-encourage-young-researchers.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21641/pfizer-partners-with-max-super-speciality-hospitals-to-encourage-young-researchers.html Fri, 15 Jul 2022 13:00:00 +0530 Pfizer India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Max Super Specialty Hospitals to give fellowships to young doctors in 17 Max Hospitals to gather real-world evidence (RWE) on drug efficacy and proven therapies from existing electronic patient records. This evidence generation will focus on the prevention, treatment and management of diseases that are of public health priority in India, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. The bespoke fellowships will be a form of recognition and will enable young clinicians who want to pursue medical research to do so with clear goals in place.    The fellowship programme will provide young clinicians and researchers at all 17 Max Speciality Hospitals across 4 states in India, with an opportunity to acquire funding and sponsorships for their research work. The selection criteria for these fellowships will be decided by the medical and research experts at Max Healthcare. Pfizer will provide technical and financial support to the programme.   Additionally, through this collaboration, Pfizer and Max Hospitals plan to build centres of excellence (CoEs) in rare diseases. The MAX hospital will be CoE for placing various RWE studies, capability-building workshops and fellowship programmes in rare disease areas to start with.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21591/iit-k-kgmu-lucknow-launch-fellowship-programme-for-biomedical-innovation.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21591/iit-k-kgmu-lucknow-launch-fellowship-programme-for-biomedical-innovation.html Fri, 08 Jul 2022 14:15:00 +0530 The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT-K) and King George's Medical University (KGMU) Lucknow have jointly launched a School of International Biodesign - Synergizing Healthcare Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SIB-SHInE) programme. The year-long full-time dedicated residential fellowship programme is aimed at creating the next generation of biomedical entrepreneurs. The programme also envisages making an impact in the global medical device market by promoting the development of India-specific, globally relevant medical devices.The programme is sponsored by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India. IIT Kanpur and KGMU are the second set of institutes after IIT Delhi and AIIMS Delhi to launch this programme. The programme will commence with the deployment of a multi-disciplinary team of SIB SHInE fellows, selected through rigorous screening, who will undergo clinical immersion at KGMU Lucknow. During clinical immersion, the fellows will shadow doctors and identify various unmet clinical needs. Upon completing their clinical immersion, fellows will move to IIT Kanpur to begin the prototype development for the identified biomedical problems.A monthly stipend of Rs 60000 will be given to all the selected fellows. The programme is currently accepting applications for the 2022-23 cohort until July 20, 2022. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21577/zeon-lifesciences-signs-mou-with-niper.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21577/zeon-lifesciences-signs-mou-with-niper.html Wed, 06 Jul 2022 13:35:00 +0530 Zeon Lifesciences has announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on their collaborative joint venture with the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) SAS Nagar Mohali with an intent to focus on academic interaction and research advancement in the specified fields, as well as to share facilities and expertise.   Through the proposed partnership under this MoU, NIPER & Zeon will conduct collaborative research activities at NIPER Mohali encompassing pharmaceutical technology, synthesis, analytical techniques, pharmacotherapeutics, and standardisation of herbal actives and protocols adopted to comply with the regulatory milieu of the region/country concerned. NIPER Mohali has CIL (Central instrument Laboratories), which is equipped with highly sophisticated equipment and definitely will assist in innovative outcomes of this joint research programme.   The objective of this collaboration is to carry out R&D projects to examine the product formulation and its development in the fields of nutraceuticals, ayurveda, and phytopharmaceuticals. Other than that, Zeon Lifesciences and NIPER will be conducting joint clinical trials as per Ayush or DCGI guidelines that are applicable for selected formulations. Under this collaborative venture, both entities will conduct studies to compare the prevailing regulations, approaches, and challenges while registration of drug products.      ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21553/education-minister-dharmendra-pradhan-unveils-research-centre-complex-at-iit-hyderabad-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21553/education-minister-dharmendra-pradhan-unveils-research-centre-complex-at-iit-hyderabad-.html Mon, 04 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0530 Union Minister for Education and Skill Development Dharmendra Pradhan recently unveiled a new Research Centre Complex (RCC) at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad. It is a five-storied (G+4) building with an interesting oval shape. The total plinth area of the building is 12,325 Sqm. The objective of the RCC is to house sophisticated labs with high-end research equipment. This building is a part of the JICA collaborative project, which has funded both construction and some of the research equipment. The RCC constitutes 48 labs in total, out of which 16 are wet labs, 20 dry labs, and 2 mega labs on the ground floor with double ceiling height. An animal house is also proposed to be set up in the RCC building to carry out high-end research related to the Biotech/biomedical field. Dharmendra Pradhan also inaugurated other state-of-the-art facilities, laid the foundation stone for BVRSCIENT & witnessed a landmark MoU for the first-of-its-kind Greenko School of Sustainable Science & Technology at IIT Hyderabad. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21511/apollo-hospitals-group-introduces-international-clinical-fellowship-programme.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21511/apollo-hospitals-group-introduces-international-clinical-fellowship-programme.html Tue, 28 Jun 2022 17:25:00 +0530 Apollo Education UK (AEUK) will launch the Apollo International Clinical Fellowship Programme (ICFP), 2022, as a part of its Global Workforce Development (GWD) initiative. Over the three-year ICFP programme, doctors (MS/MD/DnB) can ‘earn as they learn’, receiving mentorship from senior doctors at Apollo Hospitals, India, in a preparatory year to aid transition into NHS clinical practice before being placed in a UK hospital for the next two or more years, where they can complete their clinical learning. At the same time as gaining this international work experience in an area of speciality, doctors will study for a Master of Surgery or Master of Medicine degree at Edge Hill University.    The Apollo ICFP is carefully structured to ensure that doctors get mentorship, world-class specialist clinical exposure and hands-on experience in providing the highest standards of healthcare. The programme is a collaboration between AEUK, Global Training and Education Centre (GTEC) at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Edge Hill University, UK.   It is the latest initiative under the 'Apollo Knowledge' umbrella which is the Apollo Group’s skilling, training, education, and resourcing arm. This is part of AEUK’s Global Workforce Development (GWD) initiative, an education, skilling and placement programme for healthcare professionals, helping them broaden their horizons and receive training and work experience across geographies.    ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21485/iit-mandi-embassy-of-the-republic-of-korea-explore-academic-and-research-progs.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21485/iit-mandi-embassy-of-the-republic-of-korea-explore-academic-and-research-progs.html Fri, 24 Jun 2022 13:10:00 +0530 Dr YJ Park, Director, Indo-Korean Center for Research and Innovation (IKCRI), New Delhi, and Hyo Hee Lee, the Science and Technology attaché at the embassy of the Republic of Korea, recently visited IIT Mandi. The two-day trip included discussions on potential collaborations between IIT Mandi and the Korean Universities that can contribute to the institute’s vision of serving the stakeholders of both communities via technological interventions and research.    During their campus tour, Dr. Park and Lee visited multiple state-of-the-art labs including MANAS Lab, ACS Lab and Advanced Materials Research Centre, BioX Centre, Centre for Design and Fabrication of Electronic Devices (C4DFED), and IIT Mandi iHub and HCI Foundation (iHub) and interacted with the students and researchers at the respective facilities.    While meeting the Institute’s Director, Prof Laxmidhar Behera, Dr Park, and Lee discussed the Korean Ambassador’s visit to India, to participate in the institute’s colloquium as well as to sign an MoU between IIT Mandi and Yonsei University College of Medicine. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21476/iit-m-partners-with-ministry-of-ayush-for-ayurtech-2022.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21476/iit-m-partners-with-ministry-of-ayush-for-ayurtech-2022.html Thu, 23 Jun 2022 08:50:00 +0530 Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) is partnering with the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, to organise a major event on the indigenous system of medicine in India.   IIT-M Department of Biotechnology is organising a six-day continuing Medical Education (CME) programme on ‘Technological interventions to standardise the indigenous system of medicine in India’ called AYURTECH 2022-CME, till June 25, 2022. This CME programme is being sponsored by the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India.    This includes lectures by experts from academia and industry across the country followed by a hands-on workshop exclusively designed for the CME participants, who are nominees from the nodal research and academic centres under the Ministry of AYUSH.   In parallel, the Department of Biotechnology is also organising a lecture series open to students, academicians and industry working on AYUSH sciences and natural products to create increased awareness and promote interest for interdisciplinary research and education in the field of AYUSH.   The hands-on workshop will focus on four relevant areas:   Applied plant biotechnology for sustainable production of uniform and high-quality medicinal plant biomass at a large scale Qualitative and quantitative characterisation of phytochemicals in medicinal plant extracts Bioactivity analysis of medicinal plant extracts for targeted therapeutic applications with underlying mechanism of action Application of bioinformatics to study the pleiotropic effects of medicinal plant extracts (phytochemicals) ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21453/iit-h-lvpei-announce-mtech-programme-in-ophthalmic-engineering.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21453/iit-h-lvpei-announce-mtech-programme-in-ophthalmic-engineering.html Sat, 18 Jun 2022 21:50:00 +0530 Centre for Interdisciplinary Program (CIP), Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad (IIT-H), in collaboration with the LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), is launching a blended Master of Technology (MTech) programme in Ophthalmic Engineering through their combined expertise in ophthalmic care and engineering and technology from this academic year (August 2022).   The collaborative MTech programme aims to bridge the gap between clinicians and medical practitioners working in eye care with qualified technologists from related engineering streams. The programme intends to create a pool of qualified ophthalmic engineers who could take up the pressing challenges in eye care and develop technology products. This unique, promising programme is expected to create professionals who can take up technology challenges in ophthalmology as a startup.    The programme is ideal for medical school graduates, ophthalmologists, optometrists, and engineers interested in advancing their careers in areas of technology-enabled eye care and vision science. The programme requires the students to complete 52 credits across two years, consisting of two semesters in the first year with 14 credits/semester.    The coursework has both theory and labs and will be taken by the leading academicians from both IIT-H and LVPEI teams.        ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21448/workshop-on-evidence-based-journalism-on-child-health-held-in-hyd.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21448/workshop-on-evidence-based-journalism-on-child-health-held-in-hyd.html Thu, 16 Jun 2022 17:00:00 +0530 A two-day workshop on evidence-based health journalism was recently organised by the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism (MCJ), Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU), in association with UNICEF in Hyderabad.   Over 120 students of journalism and mass communication from MANUU, Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) and Himachal Pradesh University and health journalists learnt the importance of evidence-based reporting and fact-checking in health journalism – through UNICEF’s Critical Appraisal Skills (CAS) programme. The workshop brought together practitioners of CAS, journalism students and subject experts to discuss the importance of evidence-based journalism in areas that impact children such as routine immunisation, COVID-19 and vaccines, antibiotics, mother and child health and primary healthcare. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21428/bharat-serums-and-vaccines-partners-with-national-chemical-laboratory-pune.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21428/bharat-serums-and-vaccines-partners-with-national-chemical-laboratory-pune.html Mon, 13 Jun 2022 18:00:00 +0530 Mumbai-based Bharat Serums and Vaccines has partnered with the National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), Pune, a constituent laboratory of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Government of India. This collaboration primarily focuses on the evaluation of certain recombinant cell line technologies developed by NCL for biopharmaceutical products currently under development at BSV. The technology involves using CRISPR/Cas9 techniques to perform specific modifications of mammalian cell lines to achieve certain desired product quality attributes.Sanjiv Navangul, MD and CEO, BSV said, “Through this collaboration, we are delighted to tap some of the best research minds in the country  to help us bring innovative treatments and cures for patients in India and the world.” ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21422/iit-jodhpur-aiims-jodhpur-to-offer-medtech-programme.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21422/iit-jodhpur-aiims-jodhpur-to-offer-medtech-programme.html Mon, 13 Jun 2022 15:00:00 +0530 The Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur and the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) Jodhpur have announced Master’s, Master’s-PhD and PhD programmes in medical technologies. The collaboration allows students to work under the joint guidance of faculty from these premier institutes in the emerging areas of healthcare technologies. The last date to apply for the course is June 15, 2022. The coursework will commence in July 2022.   The aim is to provide a common platform for doctors and engineers, fostering knowledge sharing and innovation, leading to the development of indigenous healthcare devices and systems through incubation and entrepreneurship.    To pursue the course, the applicant must qualify for the written test and interview conducted jointly by IIT Jodhpur and AIIMS Jodhpur. The programme will provide opportunities to assimilate cutting-edge knowledge in medical and technological science to address current, emerging, and future challenges in the healthcare sector in the global scenario.      ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21415/pfizer-india-launches-online-education-platform-for-nurses.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21415/pfizer-india-launches-online-education-platform-for-nurses.html Sat, 11 Jun 2022 13:30:00 +0530 Pfizer India and Americares India Foundation have announced the launch of OPEN-AMR an online platform for education among nurses on antimicrobial resistance. Americares India Foundation, a health-focussed relief and development organisation, has joined as the execution partner. OPEN-AMR is a web-based platform that can be accessed by any nurse anywhere in India in seven different languages: English, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Marathi. Courses on the platform are available free of cost to the nurses and hospitals. The courses will focus on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practices and Antimicrobial Stewardship Practices (AMSP) under antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The platform was unveiled at Antimicrobial Resistance Summit 2022 on 9 June by KK Shailaja Teacher, Former Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Government of Kerala and Dr Atul Goel, Director General of Health Services, Government of India. Designing the audio-visual courses and the full curriculum was a multi-staged process and involved several experts and stakeholders from Pfizer, Americares India Foundation, and Medvarsity which is the technical partner for this programme. The classes are available for all nurses, at different designations and levels of education and professional experience, from students to administrators and nurse supervisors. After the initial registration, nurses may select the course that optimally meets their professional requirements and receive a certificate on completion of each of the courses. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21393/iit-jodhpur-ihub-drishti-foundation-start-mtech-prog-in-ar-and-vr.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21393/iit-jodhpur-ihub-drishti-foundation-start-mtech-prog-in-ar-and-vr.html Wed, 08 Jun 2022 16:45:00 +0530 The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jodhpur, in collaboration with iHub Drishti Foundation, the Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) at IIT Jodhpur, is starting a new part-time online MTech programme with campus immersions for working professionals in Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) for the semester commencing 2022-23.   Students will be provided hands-on experience in the latest, state-of-the-art AR/VR tools available at the Institute. At the end of the programme, a student is expected to have a knowledge of working principles of game design, medical applications, amongst others.   The main objectives of the programme are: To produce competent engineers who can design and develop AR and VR applications, To impart in-depth knowledge, and analytical and experimental research skills to solve AR and VR systems problems, To provide knowledge of several tools for the design and modelling of AR and VR applications and immersive experiences, and To develop the ability to cultivate technological solutions for addressing the growing demands of AR and VR systems. Professor Santanu Chaudhury, Director, IIT Jodhpur, said, “This is possibly the first MTech program in this area, offered by an IIT in this space. The uniqueness of the program is that this has been devised and designed through collaboration of experts across IITs. The course will be taught and executed by a team of experts across the country including experts from industry.” ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21382/cliniminds-inks-mou-with-govt-of-kerala-for-skill-development-programme.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21382/cliniminds-inks-mou-with-govt-of-kerala-for-skill-development-programme.html Tue, 07 Jun 2022 12:45:00 +0530 Noida-based Cliniminds has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Additional Skill Acquisition Programme (ASAP) Kerala, Section 8 Company Under Department of Higher Education, Education Department, Government of Kerala.    Under the agreement, Cliniminds would offer job oriented skill training programmes in pharmaceutical business analytics, health economics and outcomes research, healthcare decision analytics, clinical research, pharmacovigilance and data management, prepare students for the job roles and provide placement opportunities to the students. ASAP would also be offering subsidised education loans to the students through banks.    Programmes will be offered for life sciences, biotechnology, pharmacy, medical, dental, ayurvedic, homoeopathic, nursing, IT and computer sciences, mathematics and statistics graduates and post graduates from Kerala.   Both ASAP and Cliniminds would work closely to make the agreement successful, which would help students from Kerala.    ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21350/uoh-signs-mou-with-hyd-based-aig-for-health-research.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21350/uoh-signs-mou-with-hyd-based-aig-for-health-research.html Wed, 01 Jun 2022 07:30:00 +0530 University of Hyderabad (UoH) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AIG, a renowned hospital and research centre in Hyderabad. The MoU explores increasing, improving, and integrating health sciences and life sciences research.   The MoU was signed by Dr Devesh Nigam (Registrar of UoH) and Dr Nageshwar Reddy (Chairman, Managing Director, AIG). Other officials who participated in the event were Prof BJ Rao, Vice-Chancellor, UoH, and Dr GV Rao from AIG.   The objective of the collaboration is to support quality training to conduct clinical and healthcare research, undertake bi-centric trails of research projects, and promote inter-institutional cooperation. The agreement explores the exchange of knowledge, information, and collaboration in medicine, nephrology, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, infectious disease, non-infectious diseases, virology, clinical data analysis, machine learning, and diagnosis.   Scientists from UoH and clinicians from AIG will be involved in training PhD students in the areas such as pathophysiology, histology, disease models, molecular markers, and diagnosis. Faculty from different schools of UoH, such as the School of Life Sciences, Medical Sciences, and Computer and Information Sciences are expected to bring in their expertise to make this collaboration successful. Physicians from AIG will be recognised as supervisors by UoH, and a joint Ph D programme will be initiated. Both the institutes will be organising joint conferences, symposia, and workshops to impart better training programmes to the students and young researchers.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21296/national-institute-of-technology-dr-moopens-medical-college-focus-on-healthcare-research.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21296/national-institute-of-technology-dr-moopens-medical-college-focus-on-healthcare-research.html Mon, 23 May 2022 14:55:00 +0530 The National Institute of Technology - Calicut (NIT-C) has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dr Moopen’s Medical College (DMMC), Wayanad, to initiate collaborative work in the field of research, faculty/student exchange and development of methodologies in joint teaching and learning.    The objective of the collaboration is to stimulate quality education and training to conduct research, undertake multicentric trials of research projects and promote inter-institutional cooperation. The MoU between NITC and DMMC was signed by Dr PS Sathidevi, Deputy Director, NITC, and Dr Gopakumaran Kartha, Dean, DMMC.    The agreement emphasises fulfilling the unmet clinical needs with technology, the development of biodevices in a cost-effective way using the Make in India project and exploring the scope of application of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in the creation of various diagnostic and therapeutic tools. The agreement also envisaged the utilisation of biotechnology, bio-informatics, and bio-materials in the field of the healthcare system.   NIT Calicut and DMMC will work jointly to promote education, research, technology development and its translation. This agreement will stimulate quality education and training and thereby develop an ecosystem of shared infrastructure for research, undertake multi-centric trials of various research projects, and promote inter-institutional cooperation.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21288/medlern-bmj-publishing-group-launch-cpd-courses-for-indian-nurses.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21288/medlern-bmj-publishing-group-launch-cpd-courses-for-indian-nurses.html Sat, 21 May 2022 11:25:00 +0530 MedLern and BMJ Publishing Group (British Medical Journal publishing group) have teamed up to provide via its association, evidence-based CPD (Continuing Professional Development) courses to help nurses stay updated with the evolving best practices, latest developments and training requirements besides empowering them to develop their skillsets.   BMJ Learning offers medical education for doctors and other healthcare professionals including nurses. It features hundreds of peer-reviewed learning modules in text, video, and audio formats on topics relevant to nurses. It covers nursing modules on practical skills, case management, patient assessment, COVID, communication skills, case discussions, medication management, and mental health among others.   The BMJ Learning courses on MedLern platform will allow nurses to identify learning needs and keep up with the latest evidence, guidelines and best practice in India, where the demand for highly-skilled and modern nurses has risen during the pandemic.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21285/assam-advanced-health-innovation-institute-to-open-with-an-outlay-of-rs-546-cr.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21285/assam-advanced-health-innovation-institute-to-open-with-an-outlay-of-rs-546-cr.html Fri, 20 May 2022 16:30:00 +0530 The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati has signed an MoU with the Government of Assam to establish 'The Assam Advanced Health Innovation Institute (AAHII). The MoU was signed during the North East Research Conclave 2022, which was inaugurated by Dharmendra Pradhan, Education Minister, Government of India, on 20 May 2022.This will be a unique partnership between the Government of Assam and IIT Guwahati to set up a research institution to leverage advanced technologies to transform medical science. The joint venture company will invite participation from intending parties including corporates/ business houses/research institutions and philanthropic organisations. The scope of this collaboration involves establishing a research institute and postgraduate medical college offering advanced medical degrees - DNB, MD, PhD, MS and MD-PhD, 350-bedded 'Connected' Multi-Specialty Hospital spread over 50000 sq metres in existing IIT, Guwahati campus with an outlay of Rs 546 crores. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21283/sanskriti-university-opens-drug-discovery-and-development-research-centre.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21283/sanskriti-university-opens-drug-discovery-and-development-research-centre.html Fri, 20 May 2022 14:15:00 +0530 Mathura-based Sanskriti Universiti's School of Pharmacy has opened its research centre with the name 'Drug Discovery and Development Centre.' The centre will help in providing a conducive and rewarding environment for faculty and students to ignite and sustain a passion for knowledge and excellence, which will generate future leaders with innovative and creative minds.   Sachin Gupta, Chancellor, Sanskriti University said, "The centre will provide quality classroom space to our faculty and staff, students along with researchers. The centre is aimed to provide utility quality infrastructure, hi-tech laboratories, to the students, teachers and researchers."     ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21249/iit-g-to-launch-jyoti-and-bhupat-mehta-school-of-health-sciences-technology.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21249/iit-g-to-launch-jyoti-and-bhupat-mehta-school-of-health-sciences-technology.html Mon, 16 May 2022 16:40:00 +0530 Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT-G) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mehta Family Foundation (MFF), Houston, Texas, USA, to establish the ‘Jyoti and Bhupat Mehta School of Health Sciences and Technology.’ The New School at IIT Guwahati will commence academic activities during the current academic year.   The Jyoti and Bhupat Mehta School of Health Sciences and Technology has launched new Master’s and PhD programmes in Health Sciences and Technology this academic year. The first batch of 20 M.Tech students in the stream of Biomedical Science and Engineering will be admitted to IIT Guwahati through GATE 2022.    The new programme will emphasise extending training in both theoretical as well as hands-on perspectives, which will enable the development of academic leaders with a strong scientific foundation alongside having the capability to translate the ideas into biomedical technologies.    The school aims to train the students in topics related to health science and technology, with the emphasis on courses from other disciplines of science and engineering such as biosciences and bioengineering, electronics and electrical engineering, chemical engineering, mathematics and statistics, and design.    ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21186/govt-releases-guidelines-on-pharma-innovation-and-entrepreneurship-for-academic-institutions.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21186/govt-releases-guidelines-on-pharma-innovation-and-entrepreneurship-for-academic-institutions.html Fri, 06 May 2022 00:00:00 +0530   In order to encourage innovation and research and to facilitate the entrepreneurship in National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPERs), the Department of Pharmaceuticals, after considering the National Innovation & Startup Policy 2019, National IPR Policy 2016 and similar policies of other institutes/ departments, has prepared ‘Common Guidelines on Pharmaceutical Innovation and Entrepreneurship’ for academic institutions under its control. The policy aims to transform the academic research into innovative and commercially applicable technologies/products; build strong ecosystem for nurturing creativity and entrepreneurial activities and contribute to self-reliant India mission. The Policy Guidelines aims to encourage the faculty/staff members and students to pursue entrepreneurship; formulate policies & foster an ecosystem to generate ideas across disciplines that can be transformed into successful technologies, products, and services; establish a mechanism for technology development and technology transfer; create institutional framework for effective implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the policy; and promote pharmaceutical innovation and entrepreneurship to foster the unmet therapeutic, socially impactful technologies delivering benefits to mankind. These Policy Guidelines, finalized with approval of the Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers have been forwarded to all NIPERs for taking up further steps for their speedy and effective implementation. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21160/dams-lays-focus-on-simulation-based-medical-education.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21160/dams-lays-focus-on-simulation-based-medical-education.html Mon, 02 May 2022 14:00:00 +0530 Delhi Academy of Medical Sciences (DAMS) has launched simulation-based medical education at its Delhi centre. The innovative idea of simulation-based education enhances the students from all perspectives- it provides a structured, learner-centred environment in which novice, intermediate, and advanced practitioners can learn or practice skills without causing harm to patients.  The innovation of eMedicoz app helps to bridge the gap amongst medical students preparing for various career opportunities at the post-doctoral level and provides them with a common platform where they can get all useful information in one place and prepare for common national level examinations like NEET-PG, NEXT. Through this app, students get the opportunity to discuss medical cases with their seniors and peers across the world. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21116/british-pm-announces-6-9-m-indo-uk-training-programme-for-healthcare-workers-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21116/british-pm-announces-6-9-m-indo-uk-training-programme-for-healthcare-workers-.html Mon, 25 Apr 2022 17:50:00 +0530 The Prime Minister of the UK, Boris Johnson, who was on a two day-visit to India, announced £ 1 billion of new commercial deals, which also captures New Delhi-based Ujala Cygnus Healthcare Group £6.9 million deal to train Indian doctors in acute medicine. An advanced Post Graduate Program in Primary Care and Acute Medicine has been designed by Ujala Cygnus Healthcare Group in collaboration with BAPIO (British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin) Training Academy to expand India’s medical capacity in the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic and rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).The Indo-UK Training Programme in Acute Medicine has been designed to upskill Indian MBBS doctors seeking higher qualifications and training and an aspiring career in Medicine in India. A group of interested doctors will be recruited for this programme and will be enrolled in MSc in Acute Medicine which will provide them with knowledge, hands-on clinical training and bedside medicine by local faculty and topped up virtually by UK-based faculty. The medical aspirants will also get a chance to visit all the NHS Hospitals in the country for six weeks to have a first-hand experience of the best practises in these healthcare centres so that they can learn and implement those teaching in the Indian hospitals, where 20 doctors will be selected to work eventually. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21037/iit-k-signs-2-5-m-mou-with-anil-and-kumud-bansal-foundation-for-medical-school.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21037/iit-k-signs-2-5-m-mou-with-anil-and-kumud-bansal-foundation-for-medical-school.html Tue, 12 Apr 2022 12:45:00 +0530 The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT-K) has announced the signing of an MoU with the Anil and Kumud Bansal Foundation to support the establishment of the School of Medical Sciences and Technology (SMST) at IIT Kanpur.    Anil Bansal, the proprietor of the Anil and Kumud Bansal Foundation, is an alumnus of IIT Kanpur and runs the Foundation, along with his wife Kumud Bansal. Under the MoU, the Anil and Kumud Bansal Foundation pledges to donate an amount of $2.5 million for the establishment of the School. The school is now being named Gangwal School of Medical Sciences and Technology.   The medical school at IIT Kanpur will be completed in two phases. Phase I of the project will include setting up a 500-bed Super-Specialty Hospital, Academic Block, Residential/Hostel, and Service Block with a total built-up area of approximately 8,10,000 sq ft. Phase I will also include setting up Centers of Excellence (CoE) for pursuing R&D activities in futuristic medicine. This phase is tentatively planned to be completed over the next three to five years.    The Phase II of the project will see the hospital capacity grow to 1000 beds, expansion in clinical departments/centres, research areas, the inclusion of paramedical disciplines, alternative medicine, hospital management, sports medicine, and public health programmes. Phase II is planned to be completed over 7-10 years. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21021/iisc-partners-with-university-of-melbourne-for-phd-prog-in-science-and-tech.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21021/iisc-partners-with-university-of-melbourne-for-phd-prog-in-science-and-tech.html Fri, 08 Apr 2022 17:50:00 +0530 The University of Melbourne and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have joined hands for the first-ever joint PhD programme in Science and Technology which may be extended to Medical PhD programmes in near future. The programme is part of the Melbourne India Postgraduate Academy (MIPA) a joint initiative consisting of established researchers and joint PhD candidates from the University of Melbourne and a group of India’s top research institutions, engaging in projects that address key issues in science and technology.   Under this partnership, IISc and the University of Melbourne will support up to 10 joint PhD candidates each year for the next five years. Students enrolled in the programme can spend at least 12 and up to 24 months in each institution, and upon successful completion of their PhD, graduate with one joint testamur. Graduate researchers must satisfy the entry requirements for PhD at both the Indian Institute of Science and The University of Melbourne.   The programme intends to further strengthen the strong research collaborations between the two institutions, such as the work of Professor Udaya Parampalli at the University of Melbourne and Associate Professor Sudhan Majhi from IISc. Together, they have established a Coding, Sensing and Communications (CSC) research network involving IISc, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, Madras and Kharagpur, India.    The aim of the network, which also has links to the US, Europe and Singapore, is to advance research in innovative applications in cyber security and communications. Uniquely, they use researchers with fundamental skills in information theory, coding and signal processing.  The network is working to drive the growth of distributed storage for big data, medical security, agricultural sensing, and disaster management.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21002/gangwal-school-of-medical-sciences-and-technology-to-open-at-iit-k.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/21002/gangwal-school-of-medical-sciences-and-technology-to-open-at-iit-k.html Wed, 06 Apr 2022 07:10:00 +0530 The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT-K) and its distinguished alumnus Rakesh Gangwal (co-founder of IndiGo airlines) have inked an agreement to work together for establishing the School of Medical Sciences and Technology on the IIT Kanpur campus.   Gangwal has signed an agreement with IIT Kanpur to support the ambitious project. Under this agreement, Gangwal will be donating Rs 100 crores to support the establishment of the school.   The school is expected to build academic and research leadership in the clinical research and MedTech domains. IIT Kanpur will converge its technology and innovation competencies with medical sciences to catapult the institute into the league of global institutions. This will be achieved through the Centers of Excellence (CoE) on futuristic medicine and a Super-specialty Hospital.    The agreement was signed between Prof Abhay Karandikar, Director, IIT Kanpur and Rakesh Gangwal. The proposed School will be named as “Gangwal School of Medical Sciences and Technology”. Gangwal will also be joining the advisory Board of the School.    The Gangwal School of Medical Sciences and Technology will be completed in two phases. Phase I of the project will include setting up a 500-bed super-speciality hospital, academic block, residential/hostel, and service block with a total built-up area of approximately 8,10,000 sq ft. Phase I will also include setting up Centers of Excellence (CoE) for pursuing R&D activities in futuristic medicine. This phase is tentatively planned to be completed over the next three to five years. The Phase II of the project will see the hospital capacity grow to 1000 beds, expand in clinical departments/centres, research areas, the inclusion of paramedical disciplines, alternative medicine, hospital management, sports medicine, and public health programs. Phase II is planned to be completed over 7-10 years.         ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20998/zeon-lifesciences-signs-mou-with-dpsru-for-research-activities.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20998/zeon-lifesciences-signs-mou-with-dpsru-for-research-activities.html Tue, 05 Apr 2022 16:45:00 +0530 Zeon Lifesciences signs a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences & Research University (DPSRU) to establish collaboration for academic interaction and research advancement in the specified fields, as well as to share facilities and expertise.   DPSRU and Zeon will conduct collaborative research activities at DPSRU encompassing pharmaceutical technology, synthesis and analytical techniques, pharmacotherapeutics, standardisation of herbal actives and protocols adopted to comply with the regulatory milieu of the region/country concerned.   The goal of this collaboration is to conduct R&D projects to investigate formulation and product development in the fields of nutraceuticals, phytopharmaceuticals, and Ayurveda.   Zeon Lifesciences and DPSRU will be conducting clinical trials as per AYUSH or DCGI guidelines, applicable for selected formulations. Both entities will also conduct studies to compare the prevailing regulations, approaches and challenges while registration of drug products.     ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20954/rcse-with-rela-hospital-launch-interactive-course-on-health-care.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20954/rcse-with-rela-hospital-launch-interactive-course-on-health-care.html Mon, 28 Mar 2022 15:15:00 +0530 Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCSE) has partnered with Rela Hospital, Chennai for an interactive course on 'Care of the Critically Ill Surgical Patients' (CCrISP) and another course designated ‘Systematic Training in Acute Illness Recognition and Treatment’ (START) for the practising doctors in the state.    The interactive course (Including mandatory, pre-course e-learning) covers the practical skills and knowledge needed to look after surgical patients including those who are deteriorating or at risk of doing so. These courses are for pre-selected candidates who have completed their MBBS with an additional two years of surgical experience training.   CCrISP and START have been designed by some of the UK’s most academic faculties from both surgical and anaesthetic specialities. The two-day workshop is aimed to deliver/share knowledge, experience, and insights for the participating doctors to learn and develop skills to manage critical situations in surgery systematically. The START programme is headed by Dr Stephen P Cavanagh, Consultant Vascular Surgeon at York Hospital, and CCrISP course is led by Dr Rajesh Sivaprakasam, Consultant in Transplant, Access and General Surgery, Barts Health NHS Trust. Both the interactive courses were further supported by Dr Michal John Fried, Consultant in Anaesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, Chesterfield Royal Hospital, UK and Dr Abdul Rahman Hakeem, Consultant Hepatobiliary and Liver Transplant Surgeon, St James's University Hospital, Leeds.   Highlights of the course include- Presentation of critically ill patients; formulation of a plan of action; prevention and recognition of complications; Interaction with colleagues; Communication with patients and relatives during critical illness and conducting a surgical ward round. The number is participants in each course is limited to aid active participation, however, several such courses will be conducted throughout the year.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20946/indo-us-collaboration-to-advance-orthopaedic-research-and-education.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20946/indo-us-collaboration-to-advance-orthopaedic-research-and-education.html Sat, 26 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0530 Gardner Orthopedics, a recognized figure in orthopaedic treatment and surgery located in Fort Myers, Florida, and Shalby Advanced Technologies, a division of Shalby Hospitals, headquartered in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, have announced an Indo-US collaboration to form Advanced Orthopedic Centres of Excellence at 11 multispecialty Shalby Hospitals in India and form Shalby Orthopedic Centres of Excellence in Fort Myers, Florida, and across India. "This collaboration will lead to reproduceable high-quality and improved outcomes in our joint replacement patient population in the US and India through the exchange of orthopaedic research and technology," said Dr. Ronald Gardner, CEO, Gardner Orthopedics. The joint initiative includes conducting educational seminars for medical and engineering professionals to advance knowledge transfer between India and US; developing short-term travelling fellowships between the two countries for direct experience participating in actual healthcare delivery systems; pioneering new learnings and training tools to improve the technical aspects of advanced orthopedic surgery; and collecting valuable patient data from these high-volume surgery centers in both countries to help improve outcomes. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20941/gujarat-biotech-university-opens-msc-admission-2022.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20941/gujarat-biotech-university-opens-msc-admission-2022.html Fri, 25 Mar 2022 15:50:00 +0530 Gujarat Biotechnology University (GBU) is inviting applications from students interested in pursuing their careers in biotechnology. Students can apply for various MSc courses provided by the institute using their Graduate Aptitude Test - Biotechnology (GAT B) scores. The last date to apply for the GAT B exam is March 31, 2022. The examination is scheduled to be held on April 23, 2022. Candidates can find more information on the registration process and important dates in the following link - https://dbt.nta.ac.in . The courses provided by the Gujarat Biotechnology University include: Animal Biotechnology Environment Biotechnology Industrial Biotechnology Medical Biotechnology Plant Biotechnology Eligible students will be provided a monthly stipend of Rs 5,000 will be provided to all eligible students. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20933/vav-life-sciences-to-support-academic-research-in-lipid-nanomedicine.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20933/vav-life-sciences-to-support-academic-research-in-lipid-nanomedicine.html Thu, 24 Mar 2022 13:30:00 +0530 Mumbai-based VAV Life Sciences has offered to support academic research on advanced lipid-based novel drug delivery systems (NDDS) used in medical, cosmetics, and nutritional therapies.   The company has announced a slew of research benefits to universities and academic institutions around the world that take up research in lipids.   VAV is offering guidance in analytical techniques, research assistance in characterisation, and project guidance. Its subject matter experts will assist university research students in selecting the right grade and writing the project protocol, and standard operating procedures.   In addition to this, the company will provide complementary lipid samples that are otherwise not easily available and are expensive to procure. Universities and research institutes interested in developing and testing lipids can also avail of VAV’s world-class GMP facilities for research and development.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20901/indian-institute-of-science-to-set-up-centre-for-public-health-with-rs-105-cr-funding.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20901/indian-institute-of-science-to-set-up-centre-for-public-health-with-rs-105-cr-funding.html Thu, 17 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0530 The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ajit Isaac, Founder and Chairman of Quess Corp, and Sarah Isaac, for establishing a Centre for Public Health at the IISc campus. Isaac have committed a sum of Rs 105 crore towards setting up this Centre, which will be called the Isaac Centre for Public Health (ICPH), and will be a part of the postgraduate Medical School soon to be established on campus. The Centre will be operational by 2024 and is expected to encourage aspirants to pursue careers in clinical research to develop new treatments and healthcare solutions driven by a bench-to-bedside philosophy. The Centre is poised to create world-class post-graduate education and research programmes in public health to redefine healthcare models for India and for the rest of the world. It will offer dual degree programmes such as Master of Public Health (MPH)-PhD (5-6 years) and Master of Public Health (MPH)-MTech Research (3 years). The total annual student intake will be about 10 per year with a steady-state student population of about 40 over time. The Centre will also host state-of-the-art biomedical research computing infrastructure to host the data, develop and test big data analysis methods tailored for public health. In addition, the Centre will provide funding for carrying out impactful research projects in public health, including bio-surveillance, digital health, as well as mobile-based diagnostics. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20874/medical-edtech-startup-docemy-to-offer-free-coaching-for-ukraine-returnee-students.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20874/medical-edtech-startup-docemy-to-offer-free-coaching-for-ukraine-returnee-students.html Fri, 11 Mar 2022 13:10:00 +0530 Medical education app Docemy, owned by education technology solutions provider Celebrate Learning based in Kochi, has launched an intensive coaching course for foreign medical students looking to crack Foreign Medical Graduate Exam (FMGE). Students can register for the course by clicking on the 'FMGE Course' on the Docemy app.   In a bid to restore continuity in learning for returnee medical students from Ukraine, Docemy is also offering them free access to the newly launched FMGE course. Its FMGE program includes 600 video tutorials covering all the clinical subjects along with slides, quizzes and multiple-choice questions.   Live guidance sessions will also be a part of its engagement drive so that students can directly interact with the experts for guidance in planning their way forward. For FMGE preparations, students will also have access to mock tests and question banks. All tutorial aids and lecture notes are available in offline mode too so students with poor connectivity can access all study materials at all times. Docemy's news feed will also allow students to get the latest updates on medical exam schedules.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20855/apeejay-stya-university-invites-applications-for-b-tech-in-biotechnology.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20855/apeejay-stya-university-invites-applications-for-b-tech-in-biotechnology.html Tue, 08 Mar 2022 18:35:00 +0530 Apeejay Stya University (ASU) is offering a Bachelor of Technology in Biotechnology (B. Tech in Biotech).    The programme covers fundamental and advanced subjects such as molecular biology, molecular genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, immunology, microbiology, bioprocessing, bioinformatics, biostatistics, stem cell physiology, anatomy, environment science, biophysics, developmental biology, biosensors, enzymology, genetic engineering, cell culture and tissue culture, pharmaceutical biotechnology among others.   The degree programme includes regular summer internships, and the final year is a complete one-year internship that the student can complete in leading institutes, and/or industry.   The duration of the course is four years.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20857/union-health-minister-lays-foundation-stone-for-new-medical-colleges-in-rajasthan.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20857/union-health-minister-lays-foundation-stone-for-new-medical-colleges-in-rajasthan.html Tue, 08 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0530 Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare and Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot virtually laid the foundation stone for two new medical colleges in Alwar and Nagaur in Rajasthan.  Highlighting the importance of establishing medical colleges in the country, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya said that “Each medical college has a crucial role in providing quality medical education to its students and at the same time providing healthcare services to its citizens. It serves the purpose of creating a vibrant ecosystem for not just welfare but human resource development too.” He further added that, “This will not only expedite bringing affordable healthcare facilities to the doorsteps of people but will also give impetus to medical education in the country." Dr Mandaviya further stated that 23 Medical colleges in Rajasthan are being established under three phases out of which 7 under phase-1 has been completed.  In the second phase, 1 medical college and in the third phase, 15 are being established in Rajasthan out of 75 medical colleges across the country. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20839/gitam-university-pfizer-start-bsc-chemistry-course-to-increase-pharma-workforce.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20839/gitam-university-pfizer-start-bsc-chemistry-course-to-increase-pharma-workforce.html Mon, 07 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0530 Pfizer Healthcare in association with GITAM (Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management) Deemed to be University, has launched an undergraduate programme in Chemistry (B.Sc. Chemistry Pfizer Programme).   The course which will begin later this year was recently inaugurated to encourage students who have opted for the Pfizer Autonomous Teams (PAT) programme under B.Sc. Chemistry at GITAM Deemed to be University.     The programme has been designed with the help of GITAM faculty to develop qualified professionals to contribute and excel in the pharmaceutical industry. One of the goals of Pfizer is to increase the participation of women in the workforce through the PAT programme and provide avenues to enhance their knowledge, skills and employability in pharma operations.   The university has planned to invest around Rs 15 crore to upgrade the infrastructure facilities and academic reforms.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20818/ihub-data-unveils-course-on-machine-learning-for-chemistry-drug-design.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20818/ihub-data-unveils-course-on-machine-learning-for-chemistry-drug-design.html Fri, 04 Mar 2022 07:35:00 +0530 IHub-Data in collaboration with IIIT-Hyderabad is offering a 12-week course on 'Machine Learning for Chemistry and Drug Design' with special emphasis on drug discovery. The course is slated to commence from March 10, 2022.   Participation is open to students, researchers, professionals with a background in sciences who wish to understand methods and applications of AI/ML in domains like chemistry, biology and pharmaceutical Science. Students and professionals with a background in computer science who wish to understand applications of AI/ML in other domains would also find the course very stimulating.   The course offers fundamental theoretical and practical concepts in AI/ML and their application for Drug Discovery. There would be a series of lectures covering topics in both Sciences and AI/ML to help build a strong theoretical foundation. There will also be accompanying hands-on tutorial sessions to help the participant's pick up practical problem-solving abilities. An understanding of mathematics at the +2 level is deemed essential for participants. Knowledge of any programming language would be highly beneficial.   The participation fee for this 12-week course is Rs 7,500 for UG/Masters students, Rs 15,000 for Ph.D/Post Doc students and Rs 30,000 for industry professionals. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20789/medvarsity-with-clove-dental-to-launch-fellowship-in-endodontics.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20789/medvarsity-with-clove-dental-to-launch-fellowship-in-endodontics.html Tue, 01 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0530 Hyderabad-based Medvarsity and Clove Dental have partnered to launch a Fellowship course in Endodontics. This six months fellowship programme includes a three-month contact programme with New Delhi-based Clove Dental across all major Indian cities.    Clove Dental will provide Medvarsity students with the right infrastructure across the country as well as highly experienced and trained faculty in this discipline to provide the right kind of training to young dentists.   The programme allows BDS graduates to learn through the clinical application of knowledge rather than rote learning, allowing students to understand and recall concepts better in a clinical setting. The programme further provides a framework for optimal diagnosis, treatment planning, and management of all endodontic lesions.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20716/pearson-apollo-medskills-join-hands-to-bridge-healthcare-skill-gap-in-india.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20716/pearson-apollo-medskills-join-hands-to-bridge-healthcare-skill-gap-in-india.html Tue, 22 Feb 2022 17:05:00 +0530 UK-based Pearson has announced the partnership with Apollo MedSkills, the educational arm of Apollo Hospitals, to develop effective skilling programmes and training solutions for strengthening the healthcare sector in India and globally.   As part of the collaboration, both companies aim to enhance access to quality healthcare education and upskill around 15,000 healthcare workers in the country.   The partnership is initially signed for two years with the aim of long-term partnership. Wherein Pearson will provide Apollo Med skills training centres with up-to-date digital content, technical and vocational programmes, qualifications, and certification (including BTEC content, qualifications, and resources) to support Apollo Med Skills, Apollo knowledge, and wider Apollo Hospitals group.   The objective of this partnership is the development and enhancement of various aspects for group education, training, continuing medical education, workforce development and sustainable talent retention in India and globally.     ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20676/bbc-collaborates-with-cytiva-to-aid-in-bioprocessing-training-programme.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20676/bbc-collaborates-with-cytiva-to-aid-in-bioprocessing-training-programme.html Wed, 16 Feb 2022 18:00:00 +0530 Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre (BBC) and Cytiva have agreed to work together to support the startup ecosystem and academia in the field of biopharmaceuticals by providing a platform for skill development and industry-oriented training in the field of bioprocessing (upstream, downstream and analytical characterisation).    The collaboration aligns well in giving impetus to the innovation ecosystem by driving industry-academia linkages and eventually, enhanced research.   Dr Jitendra, MD, Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre says, “This partnership will help to create a training program catering to the Biopharma Industry which is much needed today”.   Vaggu Raghavendra Goud, GM, Cytiva South Asia, says: “This collaboration enables us to bring our global knowledge and expertise to support BBC, local biotech companies and academia in fulfilling the need for skilled talent which will lead to improved efficiency, reduced time and cost of regional biopharma industry development.”    According to the Cytiva Biopharma Resilience Index, the talent pool is the weakest link in the global biopharma industry. 65% of Indian respondents in the Biopharma Resilience Index say that sourcing talent in technology, manufacturing, and R&D is a substantial challenge. Thus, the demand for the collaboration is expected to be high. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20624/govt-invests-rs-20-cr-for-ayurveda-based-health-research-in-guwahati.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20624/govt-invests-rs-20-cr-for-ayurveda-based-health-research-in-guwahati.html Mon, 14 Feb 2022 00:00:00 +0530 The Union Ayush and Ports, Shipping & Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal laid the foundation stones for setting up a Panchakarma Block at Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CARI) in Borsajai and a Panchakarma Centre of Excellence at State Ayurveda College in Jalukbari, Guwahati. The cost of these centres is Rs 20 crores.   A Centre of Excellence for Panchakarma will be established at the State Ayurvedic College. The State Ayurvedic Pharmacy will also be upgraded under Ayurswastha Yojana of the Ministry of AYUSH. The total cost of these initiatives is pegged at Rs 10 crore.    The Panchakarma Block at CARI will be a G+2 building and the Pharmacology & Chemistry Laboratories will be a G+3 building. The built-up cost for these two buildings will also be Rs 10 crore.    The new buildings for Panchkarma will help in providing world-class training courses for skill development. The pharmacology and chemistry building at CARI will help in pre-clinical experimental procedures, drugs standardisation, chemical testing for any herb, animal-related toxicology report etc. This first of its kind facility is in the Northeast. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20498/dr-mansukh-mandaviya-unveils-niper-research-portal.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20498/dr-mansukh-mandaviya-unveils-niper-research-portal.html Fri, 28 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0530 Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers Mansukh Mandaviya has launched NIPER Research Portal along with Bhagwanth Khuba, Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers in presence of Dr V. K Paul, Member (Health), Niti Aayog. National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Research Portal has been created with the aim to disseminate the information about all the NIPERs and their research activities, patents filed and publication information at one place so that a industry and other stakeholders know about them. Pointing towards the importance of healthy competition both in Industry and Academia, the Union Minister noted that competition and demand is a necessity of research and innovation as this promotes quality ideas and solutions for our citizens. He stressed that Research and Innovation is a necessity for the sustained growth of pharmaceuticals sector. The purpose of this portal is to authenticate availability of the research work that is ongoing. It will help other researchers and especially the industry to get in touch with the relevant organization so that they can work together and make the research more purposeful and meaningful.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20343/metropolis-healthcare-launches-3rd-edition-of-medengage-scholarship-prog.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20343/metropolis-healthcare-launches-3rd-edition-of-medengage-scholarship-prog.html Wed, 12 Jan 2022 13:20:00 +0530 Metropolis Healthcare has announced the launch of the 3rd edition of MedEngage Scholarship programme and is now inviting applications from the final year MBBS and MD/DNB students. The last date to apply for the programme is January 18, 2022. For more details of MedEngage Scholarship program, students can log onto www.med-engage.com.    Metropolis conducted the scholarship programme successfully for the consecutive 2 years and has awarded more than100 students with scholarships worth up to 50 lakhs. In this year 2022, it intends to reward 150 students from across India through this scholarship program.    The students can log on to www.med-engage.com to register and apply for the programme. The applications will be checked by an eminent panel of jury members, predominantly from the healthcare fraternity and external bodies. The winners will be announced in February 2022, followed by a felicitation ceremony which will be held in April 2022.    ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20347/pm-inaugurates-11-new-medical-colleges-in-tamil-nadu.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20347/pm-inaugurates-11-new-medical-colleges-in-tamil-nadu.html Wed, 12 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0530 The Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated 11 new medical colleges in Tamil Nadu. The Prime Minister pointed out that shortage of doctors had remained an issue for a very long time and the current government made it a priority to address this critical gap. He informed that in 2014, the country had 387 medical colleges. In the last seven years only, this number has gone up to 596 medical colleges. This is an increase of 54%.  The new medical colleges are being established at an estimated cost of about Rs 4000 crore, out of which around Rs 2145 crore has been provided by the Union government and rest by the Tamil Nadu government. The districts in which the new Medical Colleges are being established are Virudhunagar, Namakkal, The Nilgiris, Tiruppur, Thiruvallur, Nagapattinam, Dindigul, Kallakurichi, Ariyalur, Ramanathapuram and Krishnagiri. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20338/govt-stresses-on-building-innovation-ecosystem-in-educational-institutes.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20338/govt-stresses-on-building-innovation-ecosystem-in-educational-institutes.html Tue, 11 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0530 Our Higher Educational institutions have enormous potential to serve as enablers in the Indian innovation and startup ecosystem said Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Minister of State for Education while addressing E- Symposium On ‘Building Innovation Ecosystem In Educational Institutes’ organised by Ministry of Education, DPIIT,  AICTE and Innovation Cell of the MoE. Singh further said that our country has one of the largest higher education systems and the third largest startup ecosystem in the world. We strive to be a knowledge-based economy and this is not possible without innovative sprit and entrepreneurship within our educational institutions, he added. The Minister urged the educational institutions in India to shift their mind-set and create environment that supports high-quality research, innovation, and entrepreneurship leading to commercialization and technology transfer. Sanjay Murthy, Secretary, Department of Higher Education said that in India currently we have 2500 Innovation Cell and an additional 5000 Cell will be added in the future.  He informed that 50,000 teachers under the ambassador programme are being trained which will bring huge transformation in education sector.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20312/goa-cm-inaugurates-mini-science-centre-at-navelim.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20312/goa-cm-inaugurates-mini-science-centre-at-navelim.html Thu, 06 Jan 2022 14:15:00 +0530 Goa Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant inaugurated a Mini Science Centre (MSC) installed at a Govt School Navelim – Bicholim.   Developed in partnership with STEM Learning, the Mini Science Centres now house innovative models, experiments and instruments to enhance the aptitude and skills of students in learning science and mathematics in effective and interesting ways.   STEM Learning has 80 interactive Math and Science working models and has so far reached out to 10,00,000 students.    With a mission ‘To make the world a brighter place’, STEM Learning aspires to provide innovative solutions, which change the lives of people for the better. Science education in India is facing several challenges today. The basic problem that has persisted since independence is our inability to provide schools with labs and equipment to be used while teaching science. The Mini Science Centres are a powerful and innovative tool to revolutionise science education and make it increasingly accessible.   In continuation with its efforts to promote science education in India, the Mini Science Centres established by STEM Learning aim to enhance awareness among teachers and students about the value of learning, with a special focus on science and mathematics. The initiative also encompasses a unique teachers’ training programme and facility maintenance for two years.      ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20231/iit-delhi-iiit-delhi-join-hands-for-cutting-edge-interdisciplinary-research.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20231/iit-delhi-iiit-delhi-join-hands-for-cutting-edge-interdisciplinary-research.html Tue, 21 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0530 The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi and Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology (IIIT-Delhi) had signed an MoU earlier this year to establish a collaborative platform for mutual benefit. The MoU intended to initiate wide-ranging partnerships in academics, research, product & process development, and human resource development with profound socio-economic impact. Taking it forward, IIT Delhi and IIIT-Delhi had invited joint research projects from the faculty members of both institutions for inter-disciplinary research in cutting-edge areas viz. Computer Science and Engineering, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), Electronics and Communication Engineering, Computational Biology, Social Science, Humanities and Quantum Computing. An external expert committee evaluated the projects and selected five projects for a seed grant. The projects include studies on human brain structure and anxiety; femtech and its future in India; development of nanodevices; mathematics theories propounded by Ramanujam; model agnostic evaluation of deep-model transfer. Tenable for two years, the projects aim to attract full-fledged sponsorship from external agencies based on their outcomes. These projects will function through the Multi-Institutional Faculty Interdisciplinary Projects (MFIRP) scheme of the Industrial Research & Development (IRD) Unit of IIT Delhi. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20105/iit-mandi-signs-mou-with-aiims-bilaspur-in-research-and-academics.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20105/iit-mandi-signs-mou-with-aiims-bilaspur-in-research-and-academics.html Thu, 02 Dec 2021 13:30:00 +0530 Indian Institute of Technology Mandi has collaborated with All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) Bilaspur on Research and Academic Activities. The two institutions have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at conducting joint research activities and academic exchange activities.    The MoU was signed in a meeting between Prof Ajit Chaturvedi, Director, IIT Mandi; Dr Vir Singh Negi, Director, AIIMS Bilaspur, and Dr Venkata Krishnan, Dean (SRIC), IIT Mandi. The meeting was also attended by Dr Vikrant Kanwar, Dy. Medical Superintendent AIIMS Bilaspur and some faculty members from IIT Mandi.   Under this MoU, both the institutions plan to work on joint research projects and involve in short-term joint academic programmes in the future providing the researchers and students with an opportunity to visit and work collaboratively with the other Institution.    The joint research and academic collaboration activities under this MoU will cater to various domains related to medical science and technology including medical imaging, digital pathology, point-of-care testing devices, bioinformatics, endocrinology, biomaterials, telemedicine, among others. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20039/biocon-academy-receives-smart-bio-award-2021-at-bits-2021.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20039/biocon-academy-receives-smart-bio-award-2021-at-bits-2021.html Tue, 23 Nov 2021 12:40:00 +0530 Biocon Academy has won the Smart Bio Award 2021 in the ‘Best Social Enterprise/Institute’ category for the work towards training biotech students and bridging the gap between academia and industry. Programme Dean Bindu Ajit and Academic Dean Salavadi Easwaran received the award on behalf of the academy at the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2021.   Ajit said, “Receiving this award re-affirms our core mission and vision, and the values with which Biocon Academy is working towards bridging the gap between academia and the industry."   Biocon Academy was founded by Biocon in 2013 as a CSR initiative with a vision to transform raw talent in India into skilful professionals by offering industry-oriented certificate programs with an international curriculum. Ever since then, more than 700 students have graduated from our certificate programmes, and everyone has been successfully placed in various companies across the industry.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20026/centre-for-nanotechnology-opens-in-iit-guwahati.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20026/centre-for-nanotechnology-opens-in-iit-guwahati.html Mon, 22 Nov 2021 14:30:00 +0530 Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship visited IIT Guwahati and inaugurated the state-of-the-art Centre for Nanotechnology (CNT) and Centre for Indian Knowledge System (CIKS) as well as two hostels at the institute. Centre for Nanotechnology (CNT) aims at meeting future challenges and augmenting academic partnerships with industry in nanotechnology. The major funding for the centre, which included Rs 37 crore for the building, apart from equipment, was obtained from the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India. It will host 25 advanced laboratories that will focus on advancements in multi-disciplinary, scientific and translational research and is equipped with Class-100 cleanroom facilities integrated with state-of-the-art fabrication, characterisation and testing laboratories. The key outcomes expected from the Centre for Nanotechnology include nano-enabled healthcare, energy harvesting, and LED prototypes, devices and technologies, start-ups/ incubation ecosystem, high-end R&D outputs, capacity building of highly skilled manpower in the area of nanofabrication and nanoelectronics, etc. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20010/indias-first-medical-cobotics-centre-to-come-up-at-iiit-delhi.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/20010/indias-first-medical-cobotics-centre-to-come-up-at-iiit-delhi.html Fri, 19 Nov 2021 12:10:00 +0530 I-Hub Foundation for Cobotics (IHFC), the Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) of Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) and iHub Anubhuti, the TIH of Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi (IIITD), recently signed an MoU to set up India’s first Medical Cobotics Centre (MCC) at IIIT-Delhi.   The ceremony was held in the presence of Prof Ashutosh Sharma, former DST Secretary as the Chief Guest and Dr KR Murali Mohan, Mission Director of NM-ICPS, DST.   Medical Cobotics Centre (MCC) will be a technology-enabled medical simulation and training facility for the young resident doctors besides acting as a validation centre for the research outcomes in the area of healthcare robotics and digital health. The centre would facilitate the training of other healthcare professionals, paramedical staff, technicians, engineers, and researchers.   The TIHs are funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India under its National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS).   The training programmes will be designed in consultation with leading doctors/experts, mainly from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at New Delhi, Jodhpur, and other prestigious medical colleges.    It is planned to induct the first batch of trainees in April/May 2022 with some of the basic training simulators, which are widely available in the open market, whereas advanced surgical robots will be inducted in the next phase.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19974/iit-m-re-launches-ms-in-entrepreneurship-programme.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19974/iit-m-re-launches-ms-in-entrepreneurship-programme.html Mon, 15 Nov 2021 14:10:00 +0530 Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) is re-launching the MS in Entrepreneurship Programme. Selected scholars will work with faculty on ‘commercialisable ideas.’ They will be guided on how to discover entrepreneurial opportunities and formally establish their start-ups via an effective combination of taught courses, intense research supported by astute supervision and mentorship by highly accomplished entrepreneurs and others of the start-up ecosystem.The programme is open to students across India who have completed their undergraduate or postgraduate degrees.  Highlighting the unique aspects of this course, Prof. Ashwin Mahalingam, who is part of the selection committee, said, “A lot of research happens at IIT Madras that has commercial potential. This program will create technology entrepreneurs who will ‘product-ize’ these ideas and work on developing business plans around them. In this way, we hope to ease the ‘lab to market’ transition of technologies, develop entrepreneurs, and consequently have greater societal impact.” ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19928/sightsavers-india-invites-applications-for-fellowship-prog.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19928/sightsavers-india-invites-applications-for-fellowship-prog.html Tue, 09 Nov 2021 12:45:00 +0530 Sightsavers India has opened applications for the Sightsavers India Fellowship programme 2022. The fellowship is a first-of-its-kind programme, started in 2019 for young ophthalmologists. The initiative focuses on grooming bright and competent young ophthalmologists into skilled professionals. Sightsavers India Fellowship is an opportunity for promising and passionate young ophthalmologists to get trained at leading eye health institutions in India. Alongside, it gives them a chance to apply their skills and knowledge in the real world while being placed under Sightsavers India Eye Health Programme. Over 24 months, the fellows experience a structured skill enhancement and mentoring process covering not only clinical and surgical ophthalmology but also managerial and holistic life skills. The process involves skills up-gradation components and personal interactions with eminent leaders in the eye care and development sector. Selected fellows get an attractive appreciative stipend through the fellowship period. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19915/c-camp-offers-training-program-on-next-gen-sequencing-with-clinical-genomics-focus.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19915/c-camp-offers-training-program-on-next-gen-sequencing-with-clinical-genomics-focus.html Sat, 06 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0530 Bengaluru-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) and Premas Lifesciences in Gurugram have collaborated to organize a focused 3-day hands-on, in-person course on “Next-Generation Sequencing Training Program with Clinical Genomics Focus”The program will be held from 26th-28th November, 2021 It will be focused on- Introduction to Illumina technology and systems | Library Preparation | Clinical applications of NGS & Microarrays | Single cell genomics & Clinical Paradigms | Wet Labs Library Preparation & QC | Setting up a NGS run | Run Monitoring | Illumina Clinical Analysis/BI Solutions: LRM, Dragen and Basespace Clinicians, pathological/clinical lab specialists are encouraged to apply. Participation is by selection only.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19898/c-camp-bgc-to-conduct-training-course-on-genomics-bioinformatics.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19898/c-camp-bgc-to-conduct-training-course-on-genomics-bioinformatics.html Tue, 02 Nov 2021 13:40:00 +0530 The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) and Bengaluru Genomics Center (BGC) will be jointly organising the 3rd online training course on 'Introduction to Genomics and Bioinformatics: An Online Primer on Transcriptome/RNA Sequence Data Analysis'. The three-day course is scheduled from November 10-12, 2021. The course will have a plenary lecture on Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) Technologies and Applications, Illumina- based NGS Library preparation, sequencing using Next-Generation Sequencing Platform, basics of bioinformatics and NGS Data Formats, transcriptome data assembly, annotation of transcripts and differential gene expression analysis. Candidates will need to fill up the registration form and furnish the required details at https://tinyurl.com/NGSCourse3.     ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19841/healthians-svsu-aim-to-create-3000-jobs-within-next-three-years.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19841/healthians-svsu-aim-to-create-3000-jobs-within-next-three-years.html Tue, 26 Oct 2021 15:45:00 +0530 Healthians in collaboration with Shri Vishwakarma Skill University (SVSU), has announced the launch of the On-The-Job Training programme of selected youth candidates who have enrolled in a dual training and skilling programme of B. Voc. MLT and Public Health/Short Term Programmes offered by the Sri Vishwakarma Skilling University. The partnership aims to create 3000 jobs within the next 36 months.    The purpose of this programme is primarily to facilitate and create a pool of qualified job-ready skilled resources in the diagnostic sector, which will meet the industry-specific requirements by getting into a joint training mode for the course being undertaken by SVSU in collaboration with Healthians to execute the dual model skilling programme.   The vocational training programme aims to promote job opportunities in the healthcare industry whilst offering quality training and education in the field of diagnosis, paramedical sciences and healthcare.    The genesis of this partnership is to ensure that apart from quality education and curriculum, students can also be provided with a practical learning environment by delivering hands-on training of skill-based educational programmes in the field of diagnostics and pathology.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19834/9-medical-colleges-open-in-up.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19834/9-medical-colleges-open-in-up.html Mon, 25 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0530 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated 9 Medical Colleges in Siddharth Nagar, UP. These nine medical colleges are in the districts of Siddharthnagar, Etah, Hardoi, Pratapgarh, Fatehpur, Deoria, Ghazipur, Mirzapur and Jaunpur.  The PM remarked that with the creation of 9 new medical colleges, about two and a half thousand new beds have been created, new employment opportunities have been created for more than 5 thousand doctors and paramedics. “With this, a new path of medical education has been opened for hundreds of youth every year”, he said. The Prime Minister said before 2014, the medical seats in our country were less than 90,000. In the last 7 years, 60,000 new medical seats have been added in the country. In Uttar Pradesh too, till 2017 there were only 1900 medical seats in government medical colleges. Whereas in the government of double engine, more than 1900 seats have been increased in just the last four years. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19810/iit-madras-offers-advanced-diploma-prog-in-virtual-reality.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19810/iit-madras-offers-advanced-diploma-prog-in-virtual-reality.html Thu, 21 Oct 2021 12:50:00 +0530 Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) and Monolith Research And Training Labs are going to launch an advanced diploma programme in virtual reality to be offered in both online and offline mode. The course would be open for anyone with an engineering background including students currently enrolled in engineering degrees anywhere in India. The applications will be available from November 2021 and the first batch will commence from January 2022. The course will have an annual intake of 50 students.An MoU towards this collaboration was signed recently between IIT Madras and Monolith Research And Training Labs, an associate company of Monolith.Asia- a leading Japanese media communication technology company. The course is being coordinated by IIT Madras by the Centre of Excellence on Virtual Reality and Haptics, set up under the ‘Institute of Eminence’ initiative of the Government of India.Graduates of this course will have potential job opportunities in sectors such as IT Companies, animation industries, architecture, and engineering industries to healthcare and media production.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19772/srl-diagnostics-dseu-collaborate-for-education-in-medical-lab-tech.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19772/srl-diagnostics-dseu-collaborate-for-education-in-medical-lab-tech.html Thu, 14 Oct 2021 18:05:00 +0530 SRL Diagnostics has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Delhi Skill and Entrepreneurship University (DSEU), an institute set up by the Delhi Government.   SRL will partner with DSEU to co-create the content and curriculum for undergraduate studies that aim at an industry-relevant programme for training students in the field of medical laboratory technology.   SRL will also be on the Board of Studies to review the programme periodically and update it to bring it in line with the industry requirements. The prime areas of the programme would include laboratory specialities like biochemistry, haematology, microbiology, serology, histopathology and cytology, genetics and molecular diagnosis.   Anand K, CEO, SRL Diagnostics said, “We will also facilitate sponsorships for those students who are top-performing and those students who are not able to afford the programme financially. Students who complete this diploma and undergraduate programme will get opportunities as phlebotomists, accessioning officers and lab technologists.”   Additionally, students can also benefit from SRL’s extensive network of over 420+ labs for laboratory visits and internship programmes that will provide them with a perspective of global laboratory standards. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19758/eye-care-education-academy-to-facilitate-skill-upgradation.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19758/eye-care-education-academy-to-facilitate-skill-upgradation.html Tue, 12 Oct 2021 17:50:00 +0530 Dr Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital (SCEH) in partnership with Standard Chartered Bank has launched Standard Chartered-Shroff’s Eye Care Education Academy in New Delhi.   The academy will help in imparting eye care education to healthcare practitioners (who engage with the eye, including eye care professionals, nurses, technicians, and students), with a focus on tier II and III cities.   It will facilitate skill upgradation to more than 25000 eye healthcare workers in four years including ophthalmologists, optometrists, allied eye health care workers, and eye care managers.   The academy aims to revamp eye care education and training and create new training offerings, develop a resource centre for capacity building to train all levels of eye care professionals, and strengthen continuing medical and non-medical education with the help of the existing team of ophthalmic educators.   India has approximately 9000 optometrists who have undergone a four-year training course. However, to provide comprehensive vision care across the country, nearly 115,000 four-year trained optometrists are required. The ratio of ophthalmologist to population in urban India is 1:25,000, and in the rural areas, the ratio is close to 1: 219,000.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19735/india-croatia-collaborate-for-academic-research-in-traditional-medicine-systems.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19735/india-croatia-collaborate-for-academic-research-in-traditional-medicine-systems.html Fri, 08 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0530 Paving the way for academic collaboration in India’s traditional medicine systems, especially in the field of Ayurveda, between the two countries, the Ministry of Ayush has entered into an agreement with Croatia. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed between All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) and Croatia’s Kvarner Health Tourism Cluster. AIIA is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Ayush. The MoU with Croatia is a significant step towards bolstering India’s ties with other countries and promoting academic research, clinical and educational activities, medical education, training, and competency building. The two sides will undertake academic activities in the field of Ayurveda in collaboration with the identified institutions. There will be close cooperation and collaboration on research, including study design and execution, developing evidence-based guidelines for integrating Ayurvedic principles and practices with modern medicine, conducting lectures, workshops, seminars and conferences, and other such activities on Ayurveda. Both sides will also develop academic standards and courses in accordance with the needs of the institution, end users and stakeholders and develop Ayurvedic medical education guidelines for Ayurveda education in Croatia. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19714/iit-k-rec-foundation-ink-moa-to-support-school-of-medical-research-and-technology.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19714/iit-k-rec-foundation-ink-moa-to-support-school-of-medical-research-and-technology.html Wed, 06 Oct 2021 17:40:00 +0530 In its efforts to get underway the upcoming School of Medical Research and Technology (SMRT), the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT-K) has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the REC Foundation, the CSR arm of REC (formerly Rural Electrification Corporation Limited).   REC Foundation has committed financial assistance of Rs 14.4 Crores under its CSR programme to IIT Kanpur for the construction of student housing facilities at the upcoming SMRT.   School of Medical Research and Technology (SMRT) will be India’s first medical school that aims to narrow the gap between medical sciences and technology disciplines.   As a part of the SMRT, the institute will set up a 500-bed super speciality hospital and centres of excellence (CoE’s) for pursuing R&D activities in futuristic medicine. The school is likely to offer postgraduate and doctoral programmes in various super specialities.    As per this CSR Agreement, the REC will provide financial support through its CSR initiative to IIT Kanpur towards the establishment of SMRT at IIT Kanpur. The CSR contribution will be utilised for the construction of 2 Hostel Towers with furniture, fixtures, landscaping, external lighting and solar power generation facility for postgraduate students. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19690/regional-ayurveda-research-institute-inks-mou-with-sikkim-manipal-university.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19690/regional-ayurveda-research-institute-inks-mou-with-sikkim-manipal-university.html Mon, 04 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0530 Regional Ayurveda Research Institute (RARI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sikkim Manipal University (SMU) to conduct collaborative research in mutually identified areas and promote research activities.   Dr Shriprakash, Assistant Director-Incharge RARI, Gangtok and Dr. (Lt Gen) Rajan S Grewal, Vice-Chancellor, SMU signed the MoU on behalf of their respective institutions.   At the MoU signing ceremony, SMU VC Dr (Lt Gen) Grewal also asked RARI to open a unit at Central Reference Hospital of Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences in Gangtok.    The MoU aims at promoting relations and mutual understanding between the two institutions to recognise their strengths in research and education in one or more disciplines of science, medical and allied health sciences.   The RARI and SMU also agreed on the promotion and development of academic cooperation by jointly engaging in research and training programmes and jointly organise seminars, conferences and workshops on topics of mutual interest. Both the institutions also decided to explore opportunities to exchange information on research, training, learning material and other literature relevant to their educational and research activities.     ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19684/pm-modi-lays-foundations-of-four-district-medical-colleges-in-rajasthan.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19684/pm-modi-lays-foundations-of-four-district-medical-colleges-in-rajasthan.html Fri, 01 Oct 2021 12:00:00 +0530 Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stones of four district medical colleges and Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering & Technology (CIPET) Jaipur in Rajasthan. The four medical colleges will serve the districts of Sirohi, Hanumangarh, Banswara and Dausa.   Present on the occasion were Om Birla, Speaker, Lok Sabha, Ashok Gehlot, Chief Minister, Rajasthan, Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, and Chemicals and Fertilizers, and Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar, MOS (HFW).    According to the PM, Rajasthan had about 2000 undergraduate and less than 1000 post-graduate medical seats which has now increased to more than 4000 and 2100, respectively.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19645/iit-roorkee-sets-up-mehta-family-school-of-data-science-and-ai.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19645/iit-roorkee-sets-up-mehta-family-school-of-data-science-and-ai.html Tue, 28 Sep 2021 11:05:00 +0530 Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee is collaborating with the Mehta Family Foundation (MFF), USA, to establish the Mehta Family School of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two organisations was recently signed. Under this collaboration, the new School will offer Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral Degree programmes. The school will welcome its first cohort of Bachelor's degree students in September 2022. The objective of the school is to develop new and skilled manpower in the areas of data science and artificial intelligence along with an aim to empower existing manpower by offering focussed training and certifications in the fields.  The school will be housed in a new dedicated building at the IIT Roorkee campus developed with the support provided by MFF.  In addition to the infrastructure, renowned global experts in the field of AI iwill actively participate in designing the curriculum, faculty recruitment, monitoring and suggesting new research ideas to the Indian students of this school. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19618/taylor-francis-group-partners-with-iit-m-for-ai-data-science-research.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19618/taylor-francis-group-partners-with-iit-m-for-ai-data-science-research.html Thu, 23 Sep 2021 18:30:00 +0530 UK-based Taylor & Francis Group has partnered with Robert Bosch Centre for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (RBCDSAI) at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M).   The RBCDSAI is one of India's pre-eminent interdisciplinary research centres for Data Science and AI, with 28 faculty spanning ten departments.   Prof Balaraman Ravindran, Mindtree Faculty Fellow and the Head of RBCDSAI, IIT Madras, says,"The collaboration will give RBCDSAI more visibility for our research as well as support services and guidance for our authors on publishing. Researchers at the centre will also be able to avail onboarding assistance on publishing processes, open practices, research promotion, and ongoing support from the knowledgeable Taylor & Francis team.”   "As part of this partnership, we will be able to provide our society and association partners with information, advice, and exclusive benefits to serve their authors and members," says Dr Gagandeep Singh, Senior Publisher (Engineering), CRC Press.   "We anticipate that this co-branded organic commissioning programme from this world-leading institute will result in an exchange of ideas, concerns, and best practices in scholarly publishing that will be mutually beneficial," added Dr Singh.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19596/careerlabs-partners-with-dr-reddys-for-chemical-engineering-certification-programme.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19596/careerlabs-partners-with-dr-reddys-for-chemical-engineering-certification-programme.html Mon, 20 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0530 CareerLabs, Bengaluru-based EdTech startup, has announced a brand new industry certification programme for chemical engineers in partnership with Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories. The partnership aims at opening up avenues for students to pursue highly rewarding careers in the pharmaceutical industry and concurrently meeting the ever-increasing demand for chemical engineers to cater to the need of the hour with relevant skill development. The new chemical engineering certification programme will be launched with select students across India, who will be chosen through a scholarship test administered at various colleges across the country. Towards the end of the pilot programme, successful students will be given the opportunity to pursue an internship and also be considered for possible pre-placement offers at Dr. Reddy’s in Hyderabad. Chemical engineering is a field that is intertwined with a spectrum of industries and chemical engineers are highly in demand due to the versatility of their expertise. From conceptualisation and design of processes, to experimentation, to implementation; chemical engineers are required at every step of the way. The global COVID-19 pandemic further reinforced the importance of the pharmaceutical industry and chemical engineering.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19544/global-dental-academy-opens-in-india.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19544/global-dental-academy-opens-in-india.html Mon, 13 Sep 2021 09:50:00 +0530 Global Healthcare Academy (GHA) has launched the Global Dental Academy under the aegis of Dr Girish Rao and Dr Anand Krishna, maxillofacial surgeons from Bengaluru. Both the dental surgeons have been practising in Bengaluru for the past 25 and more years.  The Global Dental Academy will initially offer courses such as digital dentistry, smile designing, implantology, infection control in dental surgery, medical emergencies in dentistry, to name a few. Besides online Courses, GDA will also conduct workshops and hands on practice courses. The future oral implantology has developed and progressed into a central core of the art and science of dentistry. This field, over the course of its existence, has transformed from a modality on the fringes of the profession to being embraced by virtually every component and aspect of our discipline. Oral Implantology is a discipline filled with complexity. The field demands its practitioners to have a high level of expertise in a vast array of areas, many of which evolve at a fast rate. These courses aim to introduce its participants to a fascinating subspeciality whilst understanding its core concepts. Speaking on the occasion, Dr BS Ajaikumar, Chairman, GHA said that the launch of the Global Dental Academy is a major achievement for GHA and its commitment to offer state of the art CME training courses to healthcare professionals in India and abroad. The GDA has a competent team of professionals, and we will be delivering world-class courses through this academy.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19512/asus-school-of-pharma-sciences-inks-mou-with-phdcci.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19512/asus-school-of-pharma-sciences-inks-mou-with-phdcci.html Mon, 06 Sep 2021 14:10:00 +0530 Gurugram-based Apeejay Stya University (ASU)’s School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and apex industry chamber PHDCCI (PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry) have recently signed an MoU facilitating collaboration in the incubation of ideas, new product development, two-way knowledge-sharing, scale-up and technology transfers, skill development and other areas. Apart from knowledge dissemination through national and international guest lectures, workshops, conclave and seminars, it seeks to ensure industry readiness, internships and faculty development programmes. Among other things, it will be of major benefit to the students to enhance their skills and knowledge. Sushma Paul Berlia, Co-Founder and Chancellor, ASU said, “Industry-academia interface has always been a focus area in our approach to education. The MoU with PHD Chamber would provide a formal basis for collaboration between industry and academia to develop required skills in a path towards excellence.” Berlia is also Chairperson, Apeejay Stya and Svran Group and Apeejay Education, which runs 24 educational institutions across India.  At the MoU ceremony, Sanjay Aggarwal, President, PHDCCI, said, “Industry leaders’ knowledge through lectures, workshops, seminars and faculty development programmes etc. will help academia to have the know-how of industry’s requirements and will help in bridging the skill gap.”  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19462/iit-g-inks-rd-collaboration-with-amrita-vishwa-vidyapeetham.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19462/iit-g-inks-rd-collaboration-with-amrita-vishwa-vidyapeetham.html Mon, 30 Aug 2021 15:45:00 +0530 Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati (IIT-G) is collaborating with Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (AVV), a private, deemed-university based in Coimbatore, in education and research activities. This will help in enriching academic programmes and promote the exchange of students between two institutions.   IIT Guwahati and AVV will encourage cooperation between their faculty members, departments, and research centres including visits of faculty members to deliver lectures, conduct seminars, discussions, research and supervise student studies. Students visits to attend courses and jointly develop teaching programmes would also be encouraged along with collaboration in research projects.   An MoU towards this collaboration was signed by Prof. T.G. Sitharam, Director, IIT Guwahati, and Prof. Venkata Rangan, Vice-Chancellor, AVV.   Sitharam said, “This mutual collaboration will help both the institutes scale new heights in research and academics.”   Dr Rangan said, “I am sure we will leverage our strengths and work for a sustainable world to the betterment of humanity as our Chancellor Amma has always envisaged.” ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19436/medtronic-inks-mou-with-kerala-govt-to-advance-skill-development.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19436/medtronic-inks-mou-with-kerala-govt-to-advance-skill-development.html Wed, 25 Aug 2021 15:45:00 +0530 India Medtronic has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Kerala’s promoted Section 8 Company, Additional Skill Acquisition Programme Kerala (ASAP), to equip final year students with advanced skill sets and improve overall employability within the healthcare industry.   Medtronic and ASAP will also partner on deploying a series of insight-led webinars and guest lectures designed for the third year and final year engineering students. Key Medtronic leaders will interact with young minds through these interactive sessions with the goal of providing aspiring students with a peak into a career in the med-tech sector.   Under this programme, ASAP will continue to provide and implement skill development programmes for youth through its Advanced Skill Development Centres.   Simultaneously, through the Acquire Early Program, Medtronic will leverage this talent pool for its internship projects, which will see students benefit from mentorship support, constructive job experience and enhancement of their overall soft and employable skills.   In addition, final year students from Tier III and Tier IV institutes will undergo the Bridge Programme developed ASAP and upon successful completion, will be assessed for internship opportunities by Medtronic.       ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19426/nit-andhra-pradesh-encourages-research-in-drug-discovery.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19426/nit-andhra-pradesh-encourages-research-in-drug-discovery.html Tue, 24 Aug 2021 08:00:00 +0530 The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Andhra Pradesh is encouraging its faculty and researchers towards advancements in the field of drug development. Towards this, the institute is organizing a five-day online faculty development programme on ‘Drug Discovery: From lab to industry’ from 23rd to 27th August 2021. This programme aims to bring advancements in the field of biomedical, healthcare and drug discovery research. Addressing the inaugural event, Prof. C.S.P. Rao, Director, NIT Andhra Pradesh, said, “Research should be emphasised more on drug discovery and its delivery for recovering from various diseases by culminating science with modern technology. In addition, emphasised on bridging the gaps in development of novel drugs by computation-based approaches like high throughput virtual screening, structure-based drug designing, pharmacokinetics of lead molecules and application of recent technology in healthcare sector. Thus, this programme will encourage the participants especially research scholars, scientist, and faculty members for carrying out translational research using computational tools for bringing the drugs from lab to industry.” This programme is intended for faculties, scientists, research scholars and industry professionals working in drug discovery research as well as pharma sector, to impart advanced knowledge and cover the following core areas such as structure based drug designing; high throughput virtual screening of lead compounds; computational techniques to be used in drug development; pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of molecules; and role of technology in healthcare. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19304/niper-kolkata-increases-accessibility-of-its-published-research.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19304/niper-kolkata-increases-accessibility-of-its-published-research.html Thu, 05 Aug 2021 16:15:00 +0530 The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER-Kolkata) has launched its Open Access Publishing Hub with F1000, Taylor & Francis Group’s open research publishing arm. This will be hosted on the F1000Research site, adopting its pioneering approach to open science publishing.   NIPER-Kolkata will be adopting F1000’s open science practices to increase the reproducibility and accessibility of their published research. This means the research is free for anyone to read and will use the innovative F1000Research publishing model that combines the benefits of rapid publication with mechanisms to assure quality and transparency, thereby accelerating research impact.    The NIPER-Kolkata gateway provides a home for their conference-linked outputs, enabling their scientific outcomes to be published open access. This gateway welcomes submissions from the fields of, drug discovery, process chemistry, pharmacological studies, natural products, pharmaceutical formulation, computational studies, and medical devices, published in all forms, from traditional research articles to a protocol, registered report, data notes, case studies, and much more.   Dr V Ravichandiran, Director, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research said, “The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Science (NIPER), Kolkata, is pleased to partner with F1000 to make our open science aspirations a reality. We are excited to openly present our academic endeavours to the scientific community, to enable real-world impact with our research and look forward to seeing our researchers embrace this new way of publishing.”      ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19291/muhs-nashik-to-conduct-fellowship-course-in-regenerative-medicine.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19291/muhs-nashik-to-conduct-fellowship-course-in-regenerative-medicine.html Tue, 03 Aug 2021 16:10:00 +0530 Maharashtra University Of Health Sciences (MUHS), Nashik has been granted first affiliations to conduct a fellowship course in regenerative medicine and stem cell-based therapies on a research basis at Dr Mahajan’s Hospital & Stem Rx Bioscience Solution, Navi Mumbai. The move will address the education and training gaps in this new area of regenerative medicine. MD/MS/M.Ch,/DM/DNB qualified surgeons/physicians/super specialists from allopathy, undergraduate or postgraduate degrees equivalent to and recognised by the Medical Council of India are eligible for admission. Candidates should have six months of basic molecular biological background in basic research. The basic research in molecular biology of human body science is the first time in India to give research background to qualified physicians and surgeons to practice medicine.The two-year fellowship programme will have FDA regulations, ethics, emerging technologies in stem cell, pre-clinical studies, mesenchymal stem cell isolation and transplantation, etcDr Pradeep Mahajan, Regenerative Medicine Researcher, StemRx Bioscience Solutions, Navi Mumbai said,  “The fellowship course has been designed to ensure that qualified individuals get the required theoretical training as well as practical exposure to learn the intricacies of research in the field of RM. Candidates will be able to pursue their research in this field and contribute to the ever-increasing need for novel therapeutic technologies. It would improve the practice of regenerative and cellular medicine and hopefully obviate the need for regulatory action in some cases.” ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19255/teri-school-of-advanced-studies-new-delhi-starts-prog-in-m-sc-biotechnology.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19255/teri-school-of-advanced-studies-new-delhi-starts-prog-in-m-sc-biotechnology.html Thu, 29 Jul 2021 15:15:00 +0530 TERI School of Advanced Studies, New Delhi, (A Deemed to be University) has revised one of its programmes. The programme earlier known as M Sc (Plant Biotechnology) has now been revised to M Sc (Biotechnology). M Sc in Biotechnology (BT) is aimed at exploring sustainable solutions for agriculture, energy, environment and health sectors.   Specialisations are offered in plant biotechnology and microbial biotechnology. The eligibility criteria is a Bachelor’s degree in Sciences/Engineering/Technology.   Applications are invited from candidates through advertisements published on TERI SAS website (www.terisas.ac.in) and also in leading national newspapers and social media platforms. Admission to the M Sc Biotechnology Programme is made based on a combined entrance examination followed by an interview conducted by a faculty panel from the Department of Biotechnology, TERI SAS.   Apart from the classroom/online lectures, students will have access to laboratory practicals, case studies, classroom discussions, and guest lectures by experts. During the fourth semester, students are involved in full-time research for their major projects.   The M Sc Biotechnology programme is a two-year programme divided into four semesters. A student is required to complete 75 credits for the completion of the programme and the award of degree. The programme provides options for specialisation by completing a set of specialisation specific courses. The entire M Sc Biotechnology Programme consists of core courses (51 credits), elective courses (audit only but equivalent to minimum 4 credits), Specialisation specific courses (8 credits) and a Major Project (16 credits). In addition, two courses, Technical Writing and Communication Skills and Applied mathematics have been added as compulsory audit courses.   The specialisation specific courses will be offered during the second and third semesters. A student can opt for specialisation specific courses related to only one of the available specialisations. The elective courses are to be taken only as audit courses only and the grades in those courses will not be considered while calculating the CGPA. A minimum of four credits equivalent to elective courses needs to be completed during the programme. There is no upper limit for the number and credit equivalent for Elective courses. The elective courses may be taken in any semester when offered by the concerned department and provided it doesn’t conflict with any other course taken by the student.   At the start of Semester 2, the students will be required to choose any one of the two specialisations. A maximum of 60 per cent of the total number of students can be allotted a particular specialisation. Allotment of specialisation will be done based on a combination of merit (as per the Semester 1 grades) and preference. A strong component of Bioinformatics in the form of hands-on practical equivalent to 3 credits has been included in Semesters 2 and 3. This is in addition to the theoretical orientation on Bioinformatics of 2 credits that will be provided in Semester 1.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19182/mit-adt-university-introduces-pg-diploma-in-robotics-process-automation.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19182/mit-adt-university-introduces-pg-diploma-in-robotics-process-automation.html Mon, 19 Jul 2021 11:15:00 +0530 MIT Centre for Future Skills Excellence, MIT Art, Design & Technology University (ADT) Pune has introduced a new post-graduate diploma in Robotics Process Automation (RPA) from August 2021 academic session. MIT-ADT University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Pune-based firms CiTiS Infotech & InnoWise Global to jointly offer a PG diploma programme in Robotics Process Automation. The main intention of this association is to build employable professionals to cater the demand of the ever-emerging global automation industry. The Curriculum for PG Diploma in RPA has been curated, designed, & developed in such a way that may help graduates and working professionals develop their talents with micro-credentials anticipated for future jobs. The adoption of RPA across multiple global industries such as healthcare, pharma, diagnostic, logistics, etc. is rising at a breakneck speed. A career in RPA is extremely beneficial and profitable. This new technology will undoubtedly provide a large number of job possibilities around the world.Any graduate with mathematics at Class XII or equivalent is eligible for the eleven-month programme, which is divided into three trimesters with unique internship opportunities for better exposure. The admission announcement with details is available on its official website.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19175/itra-signs-mou-with-gujarat-govt-to-strengthen-ayurveda-education.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19175/itra-signs-mou-with-gujarat-govt-to-strengthen-ayurveda-education.html Fri, 16 Jul 2021 12:05:00 +0530 An MoU has been signed between Jamnagar-based Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA) under the Ministry of Ayush and the Government of Gujarat in the presence of the Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat Nitinbhai Patel and Secretary, Ministry of Ayush Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha. Through this MoU, all the institutions functioning in the Ayurveda campus in Jamnagar have been brought under the umbrella of ITRA, the only institution under the Ministry of Ayush that has been accorded the status of Institute of National Importance (INI). Underlining the importance of the MoU, Nitinbhai said that this will pave the way for the strengthening of the education system in all branches of Ayurveda. The MoU was exchanged between the Director, ITRA, Prof Dr Anup Thakar and HP Jhala, I/C Registrar, Gujarat Ayurveda University.“This arrangement will result, in due course, in the opening of new doors in the fields of education, research and medicine,” said the Deputy CM on the occasion of the signing ceremony. It is hoped that in the field of Ayurveda, it will be easier to prepare new teaching, medical and research methods and the study-research process will be intensified, expanding the overall scope of Ayurveda education and research.Addressing the gathering, Kotecha said that in the field of Ayurveda, it will be easier to prepare new teaching, medical and research methods. He said that the study and research process can be made more in-depth and ITRA will be an exemplary institution for Ayurveda education and reshaping research institutes across the country. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19164/cabinet-approves-change-of-nomenclature-mandate-of-neifm.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19164/cabinet-approves-change-of-nomenclature-mandate-of-neifm.html Wed, 14 Jul 2021 18:15:00 +0530 The Union Cabinet has given its approval for changing the nomenclature and mandate of the North Eastern Institute of Folk Medicine (NEIFM) as the North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda & Folk Medicine Research (NEIAFMR).   Keeping in view the need, the proposal was made to change the nomenclature and mandate of North Eastern Institute of Folk Medicine (NEIFM) to North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda & Folk Medicine Research (NEIARMR) for imparting quality education and research in Ayurveda and folk medicine at Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh. The consequential changes will also be carried out in the Memorandum of Association & Rules and Regulations.    The inclusion of Ayurveda within the mandate of the institute will be highly beneficial for the people of the North East region for imparting quality education and research in Ayurveda and folk medicine. The institute will also provide opportunities for students of Ayurveda and Folk Medicine not only in India but also the neighbouring countries such as Tibet, Bhutan, Mongolia, Nepal, China and other Central Asian countries.   The NEIFM, Pasighat was established for systemic research, documentation and validation of traditional folk medicine and health practices of the region. The objectives for which the institute was established include to function as an apex research centre for all aspects of Folk Medicine, to create an interface between traditional healers and scientific research, survey, documentation and validation of Folk Medicine practices, remedies and therapies for possible usage in public healthcare and future research etc. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19096/tech-mahindra-and-wipro-ge-healthcare-to-upskill-allied-healthcare-paramedics.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19096/tech-mahindra-and-wipro-ge-healthcare-to-upskill-allied-healthcare-paramedics.html Tue, 06 Jul 2021 13:15:00 +0530 Tech Mahindra Foundation and Wipro GE Healthcare have partnered to offer skilling and upskilling courses to students and healthcare technicians. This partnership will upskill existing paramedics and students pursuing radiology technician, operation theatre technician, critical care technician and emergency care technician courses. The courses designed and developed by Wipro GE Healthcare will be delivered online, followed by interactive sessions with leading practising industry experts, along with exposure to immersive techniques and hands-on training on simulators/equipment. Tech Mahindra Foundation (TMF) will join hands in offering the training to beginners as well as working technicians. The partnership aims to provide gainful employment opportunities for the unemployed youth as well as career progression for working paramedics.  Rakesh Soni, CEO, Tech Mahindra Foundation, said, "At our Tech Mahindra SMART Academies for Healthcare, we believe in emphasising practical learning during the entire course along with the theoretical concepts. We are glad that this partnership will complement the practical learning of our students, alumnus, and also other allied Healthcare Technicians. It will additionally enable them to get exposure to simulator training on surgical equipment, and a high-end immersive experience." Shravan Subramanyam, MD, Wipro GE Healthcare, South Asia. “This training will be readying the students for the opportunities that the healthcare sector has for technicians in radiology, operation theatre technology, critical care and emergency care” he added.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19089/jain-partners-with-apollo-medskills-to-offer-skill-based-training-to-students.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19089/jain-partners-with-apollo-medskills-to-offer-skill-based-training-to-students.html Mon, 05 Jul 2021 12:40:00 +0530 JAIN (Deemed-to-be University) in collaboration with Apollo MedSkills (ASML) will offer training to students pursuing programmes at the University’s School of Allied Healthcare and Sciences.   This association will allow the students to explore and gain practical experience in the paramedical area through practical labs, on-the-job training/clinical internships across Apollo Group of Hospitals and other associated hospitals.   The training programme will be rolled out to the B Sc and M Sc courses including Medical Lab Technician (MLT), Operation Theatre Technician (OTT), and Dialysis Technician (DT).   The MoU accounts for significant progress in the growth of the university’s strategy to make education more accessible while inspiring young students to discover opportunities and meet the ever-growing demand and be a future-ready workforce.    Dr Chenraj Roychand, Chancellor, JAIN (Deemed-to-be University) quoted, “There is a huge scope for paramedical sciences, and we need professionals who can be part of a workforce that will not only support the medical fraternity but also serve the society. And this association with Apollo MedSkills will work towards this cause and prepare the aspiring youngsters who seek to create a huge impact.”   Dr Srinivasa Rao, CEO, Apollo MedSkills said, "Consistent with our vision of building future healthcare leaders for India, Jain University and Apollo MedSkills have collaborated to deliver programmes in Healthcare Management and Allied health."   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19068/amrita-school-of-biotechnology-partners-with-university-of-arizona.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19068/amrita-school-of-biotechnology-partners-with-university-of-arizona.html Thu, 01 Jul 2021 15:45:00 +0530 Coimbatore-based Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University’s Amrita School of Biotechnology has entered into a dual degree partnership with the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Arizona, US.    According to Dr Bipin Nair, Professor, Amrita School of Biotechnology and Dean, Faculty of Science, the strategic merger will provide aspiring students with an opportunity to tap into the expertise of the renowned and internationally recognised biomedical sciences faculty at the University of Arizona. At the same time, students will be able to harness the rich experience of the Master's programmes in biotechnology, Microbiology and Bioinformatics at the Amrita School of Biotechnology.    Besides being given the unique opportunity to receive two degrees - M.Sc. Biotechnology, Microbiology or Bioinformatics from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham and MS Cellular and Molecular Medicine, the students enrolling for this dual degree programme would benefit tremendously from this innovative approach of flexible one of its kind modular courses offered by the cellular and molecular medicine department at the University of Arizona as well as to research within the University of Arizona laboratories.   Carol C Gregorio, Head of the Department, Cellular and Molecular Medicine and Assistant Vice Provost of Global Health Sciences, University of Arizona, said, "We are honoured to have entered this dual degree partnership with Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University—one of the top research institutions in India. This opportunity allows us to push the boundaries in our university by tapping the expertise of our renowned and internationally recognised faculty. This exciting opportunity is part of our larger mission to expand access to Arizona Health Sciences education within the US and around the world."   Dr Maneesha Ramesh, Dean, International Programs, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham added that the dual degree arrangement with the University of Arizona is a strategically important step to ensure that our students receive the best possible training as a stepping stone to a bright future.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19043/saveetha-dental-college-introduces-dynamic-navigation-system-in-india.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19043/saveetha-dental-college-introduces-dynamic-navigation-system-in-india.html Tue, 29 Jun 2021 12:00:00 +0530 Saveetha Dental College (SDC), in Chennai, becomes the first dental institute in India to have a dynamic navigation system and signs a research MOU with the University of Glasgow, UK. Dr Kalanidhi Veeraswamy, MP digitally launched the dynamic navigation system in the presence of Dr N.M.Veeraiyan, Founder & Chancellor SIMATS (Saveetha Institute of Medical And Technical Sciences) and Dr. Deepak Nallaswamy, Director of Academics SIMATS. Dynamic navigation system forces the surgeon to plan the surgery and placement of a virtual implant in terms of angulation, depth, location, size and depth thus allowing for a well-planned surgery. Placement of implant using dynamic navigation is more accurate compared with implant placement with Free Hand approach. “The dynamic navigation system greatly decreases the complication rates of difficult procedures. The MOU with the University of Glasgow will begin with research centred towards dental implantology and will expand further into the other fields such as maxillofacial surgeries,” said Dr. N.M.Veeraiyan, Founder & Chancellor SIMATS.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19018/iit-roorkee-receives-rs-20-cr-grant-for-research-on-bipolar-disease.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/19018/iit-roorkee-receives-rs-20-cr-grant-for-research-on-bipolar-disease.html Fri, 25 Jun 2021 12:00:00 +0530 Ashok Soota promoted SKAN Medical research trust has announced a grant of Rs 20 Cr to IIT Roorkee towards sponsoring a Chair Professorship, three Faculty Fellowships, creation of a lab and funding of joint research projects. The grant of Rs 20 Cr will be utilized by IITR towards: Funding of an Institute Chair Professorship, two new faculty Fellowships and one Institute Research Fellowship. Establishment of a wet-lab in IITR. Funding of joint medical research projects. The first project under this agreement has already been identified and it is in the area of bipolar disease. IIT Roorkee (IITR) is engaged in teaching and research in Science, Engineering, Management, Humanities & Social Sciences and Architecture & Planning disciplines. In particular, IITR is engaged in research in the field of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering.  Prof Ajit K. Chaturvedi, Director, IIT Roorkee, said, "With one stroke, our alumnus Ashok Soota has made a beginning in several directions. After a long gap, we are seeing an India based IIT alumnus make such a generous grant to his/her IIT. I am delighted that this time the donor happens to be an alumnus of IIT Roorkee." ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/18906/iit-b-sets-up-first-of-its-kind-centre-for-digital-health-education.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/18906/iit-b-sets-up-first-of-its-kind-centre-for-digital-health-education.html Sat, 12 Jun 2021 12:00:00 +0530 IIT Bombay has set up the 'Koita Centre for Digital Health' (KCDH) with a generous contribution received from its alumni Rekha and Rizwan Koita, under the aegis of the Koita Foundation. KCDH will be the first of its kind in India, focused on driving academic programs, research and industry collaboration in Digital Health.  KCDH's academic and research focus areas include clinical applications (including electronic patient records and medical imaging), healthcare data management (including healthcare data privacy and security), healthcare analytics, healthcare AI /ML, consumer health, public health and public policy. It will offer minor, dual degree, Masters and PhD programs in Healthcare Informatics.  KCDH will conduct industry / outreach programs for healthcare and industry professionals in digital health and enable them to act as force-multipliers. KCDH will foster strong collaboration with Digital Health Partners - hospitals, medical research institutes, industry. KCDH and its Digital Health Partners will establish joint academic and research programs.  In addition, KCDH will actively collaborate with healthcare technology companies, healthcare NGOs and government organizations. KCDH is establishing a world-class advisory board consisting of experienced healthcare professionals, academics, healthcare technology and industry veterans.  The advisory board will provide overall vision and guidance to KCDH. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/18844/manipal-university-jaipur-to-organise-webinar-on-fungal-infections-post-covid.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/18844/manipal-university-jaipur-to-organise-webinar-on-fungal-infections-post-covid.html Fri, 04 Jun 2021 20:10:00 +0530 Department of Biosciences, Manipal University Jaipur, is organising an international online conference on 'Post COVID- 19 associated Black & White Fungal Infections' - an Awareness Initiative: Disease has no Color!” on June 14, 2021. The main objective of this conference is to bring together medical experts, researchers and practising clinicians, individuals working in academia to discuss the recent occurrence of Mucormycosis as a severe post-COVID secondary infection along with basic information about fungus.   During the webinar, the viewers will: Gain an understanding of the specific causative fungus, aetiology, pathogenesis, precautions and treatments strategies for Mucormycosis. Learn about efforts to overcome Mucormycosis by routine lab investigations.  Review the participating factors. Raise awareness regarding Mucormycosis (Black Fungus) Answer your questions live! There are no registration charges to attend the event and E-certificate will be provided to all attendees. Participants can use the link to register: https://forms.gle/6SttbH7qqVcSwvay9 ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/18792/nathealth-signs-mou-with-american-college-of-healthcare-executives.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/18792/nathealth-signs-mou-with-american-college-of-healthcare-executives.html Mon, 31 May 2021 12:30:00 +0530 NATHEALTH-Healthcare Federation of India signed an MoU with The American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). Under this agreement, both federations will mutually strengthen healthcare systems by developing and providing leadership education and development experiences that will help in preparing healthcare professionals to become clinical leaders and improve patient care. The collaboration will bring in educational opportunities through in-person interactions, such as the Annual Congress on Healthcare Leadership. The aim of this strategic partnership is to provide a knowledge-sharing platform that will enable different stakeholders to find solutions to the barriers of access to quality healthcare, ways to improve patient outcomes and attain executive positions in healthcare settings and national medical societies.  This path-breaking MoU between ACHE and NATHEALTH has the following objectives: · Build and lead effective teams and achieve high levels of interprofessional engagement · Create collaborative, participatory physician, clinical, and executive partnerships built on trust to improve patient care · Become transformational physicians and clinical leaders to attain executive positions in healthcare settings and national medical societies · Collaborate on educational opportunities through virtual delivery and as appropriate, in-person interactions, such as the Annual Congress on Healthcare Leadership programmes   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/18609/biocon-brings-first-of-its-kind-programme-in-global-regulatory-affairs.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/18609/biocon-brings-first-of-its-kind-programme-in-global-regulatory-affairs.html Tue, 11 May 2021 13:00:00 +0530 Biocon Academy, a CSR initiative of global biopharmaceutical company, Biocon, and a Center of Excellence for Advanced Learning in Biosciences, has introduced a new and unique programme in Global Regulatory Affairs (GRA) in collaboration with JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research (JSS AHER), Mysuru. The exclusive programme is designed to impart applied knowledge on various good regulatory practices, clinical development processes, documentation and submission of filings, regulations for drugs, biologics and medical devices and legislation in regulated and emerging markets through an intensive curriculum. Biocon JSSAHER Certificate programme in Global Regulatory Affairs is a one-of-its-kind 16-week programme for students of pharmacy and other allied sciences in India, offering domain specific skills taught by the renowned faculty from JSS AHER having experience of offering this content for the past 20 years at the postgraduate level and by Subject Matter Experts from Biocon Group of Companies. During the programme, students will undergo experiential learning at regulatory departments of Biocon and Biocon Biologics, case studies conducted by Subject Matter Experts, and hands-on training in making e-CTD, eSUGAM filings and 356h submission. Students will also get an opportunity to visit JSS Hospital to understand clinical trial proceedings. Lastly, they will be provided training in professional writing and speaking skills to augment their success in the regulatory space. The admissions are open now till 1st August 2021, and the course will commence from 30th August 2021, at Bengaluru. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/18555/chitkara-university-receives-4000-grant-for-pharma-toxicology-studies.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/18555/chitkara-university-receives-4000-grant-for-pharma-toxicology-studies.html Mon, 03 May 2021 14:10:00 +0530 In a major boost to Chitkara School of Pharmacy’s global initiative to create a safer and healthier world, the Society of Toxicology (SOT) has sanctioned a grant of $4,000 under SOT Global Initiative Funding 2021. SOT is a US based professional and scholarly organization of scientists dedicated to creating a safer and healthier world by advancing the science and increasing the impact of toxicology. The grant will help students of Chitkara School of Pharmacy to experiment activities consistent with the Society’s global priorities. SOT encourages proposals to represent collaborations between the Society, SOT Component Groups, SOT Committees, and other toxicology organizations. SOT serves the needs of the scientific discipline to enhance human, animal, and environmental health; life-long learning and intellectual scientific stimulation; diversity of representation in all activities of the society and integrity. “It is designed to provide assessment practices as well as in the latest methods in chemical, pharmaceuticals, pesticide, cosmetics and medical devices risk assessments. The participants will learn all aspects of risk assessment and will receive a certificate documenting their successful completion of the course,” said Dr. Ashok K Chitkara, Chancellor, Chitkara University, Punjab and Chitkara University, Himachal Pradesh.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/18535/academicians-call-to-improve-biomedical-engineering-education-in-india.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/18535/academicians-call-to-improve-biomedical-engineering-education-in-india.html Thu, 29 Apr 2021 14:00:00 +0530 Academics from top educational institutions in the country have come out with a whitepaper on Biomedical Engineering (BME) education for the first time in India. Titled ‘Future of Biomedical Engineering programs in India,’ the whitepaper aims to help improve the quality of BME programs in India by identifying and addressing many challenges and bringing together all the stakeholders. The Top recommendations of the whitepaper include:  Ø  Engineers to teach in medical colleges, doctors and industrialists to teach BME in engineering colleges. Every Biomedical Engineering college to partner with Medical colleges for AICTE accreditation and for developing medical devices Ø  Establish a ‘National BME Development Committee’ with representatives from the Medical Devices Industry. BME education  in India is to be revamped with outcome based education Ø  A ‘Medical Device Corridor,’ similar to the ‘Defence Corridor,’ to be designed for achieving self-reliance in medical devices Ø  Biomedical Engineers to be mandated in hospitals  for accreditation, and they  be qualified under the newly-introduced GATE (BME). Hospitals to provide internships to BME students. Ø  Develop BME of AYUSH using rigorous scientific methods, develop special programs and courses for Yoga Engineering and Technology, Siddha Engineering and Technology, and Ayurveda Science Engineering and Technology. Integrate exponential technologies such as AI/ML, Data Analytics, VR/AR/MR, Robotics, Drones, 3D printing with the prevention and wellness science and technology: AYUSH.   Writing the foreword for the whitepaper, Dr. Vinod K. Paul, Member, NITI Aayog, said, “I am glad to note that the challenges faced by the Biomedical Engineering community in India are well documented in this whitepaper along with the recommendations to solve these challenges. We will do our best to address those challenges in the future.” ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/18462/intuitive-india-aiims-delhi-develop-educational-programme-on-robotic-assisted-surgery.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/18462/intuitive-india-aiims-delhi-develop-educational-programme-on-robotic-assisted-surgery.html Mon, 19 Apr 2021 17:50:00 +0530 Intuitive India, the India arm of Intuitive Surgical has recently collaborated with top  government medical institutions in India as a part of their initiative to expose next generation surgeons to robotic-assisted surgery. Intuitive India together with AIIMS Delhi, has developed this educational programme called the Intuitive Robotic Onboarding Programme and Education (I-ROPE). Through this initiative, Intuitive aims to familiarise resident surgeons with robotic assisted surgery, its technology, clinical applications and its benefits. Currently, Intuitive is driving  this programme in renowned government medical institutions in the country, which includes the likes of AIIMS Delhi, AIIMS Bhubaneswar, Dr Ram Manohar Lohya Hospital- Delhi and Armed Forces Medical College Pune. Commenting on this initiative, Dr SVS Deo - Professor and Head, Department of Surgical Oncology, BRA-IRCH, AIIMS, Delhi, said,"Upskilling for medical fraternity is a continuous process. While I-ROPE is not a mandatory part of the surgical course, there has been an overwhelming response from the resident surgeons who look forward to taking up such surgical advances to contribute towards better patient outcomes." Commenting on this joint effort, Mandeep Singh Kumar, VP and General Manager, Intuitive India, said, "The execution of robotic-assisted surgery skill and education programmes is a key step towards nurturing early adopters of advanced surgical technologies. In this context, the Intutive Robotic Onboarding Programme and Education (I-ROPE) aims to support the country's surgical healthcare landscape's evolution towards producing better clinical outcomes." As a pilot, AIIMS Delhi ran this programme in their oncology divisions. Based on the surgical students' feedback, Intuitive extended this programme to other specialities and institutions across India. Currently, more than two hundred resident surgeons are going through this programme, across institutions. Currently, they have training centres at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre- Kochi, Yenepoya Training Centre - Mangaluru, and MS Ramaiah Memorial Hospital- Bengaluru. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/18434/atal-innovation-mission-dassault-systemes-seed-future-innovators.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/18434/atal-innovation-mission-dassault-systemes-seed-future-innovators.html Wed, 14 Apr 2021 17:00:00 +0530 Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog has signed an agreement with Dassault Systemes Fondation to jointly work towards providing a digitally rich ecosystem of Innovation in India and promoting STEM based innovation and entrepreneurship among aspiring young minds across the country. One of the flagship programs of AIM, the Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) has played a pivotal role in fostering creativity and imagination amongst school children. Dassault Systemes Fondation dedicated to transform the future of education and research in India with 3D technologies and virtual universes, is all set to contribute to the ATL program in three broad areas - project based, self-paced learning content, hackathons and challenges and inter-country academia collaborations. Dassault Systemes Fondation has designed and developed an initiative as part of its CSR objectives, initial set of ‘Ready to use’ well documented self-learning training cum instructional playbook, with appropriate videos for visual understanding which they would be sharing with the ATL students that they can access digitally. This playbook comes with instructional videos for teachers so that it can be implemented with minimal support from experts. This content shall be available for AIM to offer to all schools with ATLs and other schools as well as out of school children in India for use. Under this SoI, Dassault Systemes Fondation shall design and organise innovative challenges / hackathons for ATLs, promoting problem solving skills, scientific and technology based exploratory learning skills and innovation culture amongst students and teachers. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/18415/csir-spurs-stem-based-research-and-innovation-interest-in-students.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/18415/csir-spurs-stem-based-research-and-innovation-interest-in-students.html Mon, 12 Apr 2021 09:00:00 +0530 Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog’s flagship 295 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) have been officially adopted by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) across the country in an ambitious step towards inculcating scientific research and innovation culture among students. CSIR, with their 36 labs, have adopted 295 ATLs and their students across the country. This is going to be a path breaking opportunity for young innovators across India to learn from the best minds and scientists of the nation. The opportunity will enable innovative students to become living inspirations for their school, families, and local communities. CSIR will be nominating top research scholars and scientists who will mentor each of the ATLs and act as resource persons. AIM and CSIR will also conduct a series of webinars for students on various topics related to scientific and technological concepts, ideas or societal issues. Mission Director AIM, Additional Secy NITI Aayog R Ramanan while speaking during the virtual launch of this collaboration said that the pandemic has reinforced the critical importance of “Scientific and Industrial Research driven applied Innovations. Therefore, this partnership with CSIR is a crucial landmark achievement for Atal Innovation Mission spurring STEM research and innovation collaborations with public and private organizations playing a pivotal role. “This collaboration with CSIR will add great impetus to the opportunities provided by ATLs to young school students in the country by providing access to the latest technologies and scientific research through the CSIR labs, as it not only aligns with the vision of the NEP 2020 but also paves the way for an Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” he said. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/18377/hosmac-to-design-medical-school-at-iit-kanpur-campus.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/18377/hosmac-to-design-medical-school-at-iit-kanpur-campus.html Tue, 06 Apr 2021 12:00:00 +0530 The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur has appointed HOSMAC, Asia’s leading healthcare management and planning consultancy, to design the School of Medical Research and Technology (SMRT). SMRT, situated in the IIT Kanpur campus, will be a full-fledged Medical School comprising of Centres of Excellence (CoE) and a first-of-a-kind Super-Specialty Teaching Hospital. Combining medicine with engineering and encouraging cross-disciplinary learning, SMRT will provide an ecosystem that promotes the development of technology-based interventions for diagnosis, surveillance, management, mitigation, and prevention of diseases. The proposed hospital with a medical college will have a built up area of more than 1 million square feet. It will be India’s first-of-a-kind Super-Specialty Teaching Hospital with a Medical College Campus. The building forms, facade articulation, open spaces, vegetation strategy, water bodies and road networks have been designed to weave and merge into the 1000 acres masterplan of IIT Kanpur, conceptualised by the late Architect Padma Shri Achyut Kanvinde. HOSMAC was initially appointed by Tata Trusts to prepare a detailed business plan for IIT Kanpur to assess the feasibility of starting a medical school within its campus. HOSMAC is now appointed for preparing the master plan and to undertake detailed architecture and engineering design of the campus. In the first phase of the project, the institute will offer post-graduate courses such as Cardiology & Cardiothoracic Surgery, Urology & Nephrology, Medical & Surgical Gastroenterology, Neurology & Neurosurgery and Oncology. The idea is to encourage innovation and research development in these fields specifically, and also address the dearth of super-specialists in the country. It will be open for MBBS admissions in phase II of the project. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/18153/tata-strive-wipro-ge-healthcare-to-skill-youth-for-jobs-in-healthcare-sector.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/18153/tata-strive-wipro-ge-healthcare-to-skill-youth-for-jobs-in-healthcare-sector.html Wed, 24 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0530 Tata STRIVE and Wipro GE Healthcare have entered into a partnership to skill youth for jobs in the healthcare sector over a period of three years. The agreement aims to skill 6,200 candidates in various technical and operational areas of healthcare. As part of this partnership, Wipro GE Healthcare will design, develop and implement industry-relevant, hands-on training with a goal of achieving gainful employment for these students, many of whom belong to underprivileged sections of society. Tata STRIVE with the support of Tata Trusts will provide the candidates loan scholarships upon qualifying for the course. Tata STRIVE to enhance the programme delivery and efficacy by providing digital solutions for planning and managing batches, loan scholarships, attendance, assessments and tracking. Tata STRIVE to provide its industry relevant state-of-the-art content for the soft skills aligned to the healthcare sector requirements. This partnership is a significant step to address the increasing demand for Allied Healthcare Professionals (AHPs). Speaking at the announcement, Anita Rajan, CEO, Tata STRIVE said, “This partnership between Tata STRIVE and Wipro GE Healthcare, will build a cadre of technical professionals that will support the delivery of quality medical care to reduce this gap. The financial support towards training, provided by Tata’s will democratise the opportunity for youth especially women to aspire for a career in healthcare.” Speaking at the announcement, Shravan Subramanyam, Managing Director, Wipro GE Healthcare, South Asia said, “Building a strong pipeline of allied healthcare professionals can be a strategic intervention in the healthcare sector. This partnership focusses not only on employment but also focusses on bridging the skill gap prevalent in the healthcare sector along with upliftment of women in the society.” ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/18131/amrita-vishwa-vidyapeetham-partners-with-eus-human-brain-project.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/18131/amrita-vishwa-vidyapeetham-partners-with-eus-human-brain-project.html Fri, 19 Feb 2021 12:05:00 +0530 Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham has become the first Indian University to partner with European Union's Human Brain Project (HBP) that has 143 university institutes in Europe working together to better understand brain function and develop solutions to cure brain diseases. A MoU was signed between Amrita and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland for working together on the project, in collaboration with the University of Pavia in Italy and Aix-Marseille University in France. The development comes close on the heels of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham launching the Amrita Mind Brain Center (AMBC) at its Amritapuri campus in Kerala to strengthen fundamental research related to brain, cognition, computations and neuro-engineering. Led by Dr Shyam Diwakar, Associate Professor as its Director, the center will develop new technologies to investigate brain function, dysfunction, and therapy. Talking about the MoU, Dr Diwakar said, “In a project called BOLDsim, which is a part of Human Brain Project’s voucher grant, we will develop a new computational tool for modelling functional signals in the brain using cellular data-driven models.” The BOLDsim project will model special signals generated by brain activity, called the blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signals, using cellular-level data available with the HBP's Brain Simulation Platform as well as with the team of Prof Egidio D'Angelo of University of Pavia in Italy. This model will be made freely available to neuroscience researchers and to the whole-brain simulator called ‘The Virtual Brain’ that is being developed at Aix-Marseille University, France. The HBP project will run until 2023, although its first-level stage is expected to be completed by October 2021. Dr Venkat Rangan, Vice-Chancellor, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, said, “This MoU will add a new dimension to our university’s cutting-edge neuroscience research.”   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/18060/sancheti-healthcare-academy-announces-asias-1st-masters-programme-in-expressive-movement-therapy-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/18060/sancheti-healthcare-academy-announces-asias-1st-masters-programme-in-expressive-movement-therapy-.html Fri, 05 Feb 2021 18:25:00 +0530 Sancheti Healthcare Academy (SHA) announced the launch of Asia's 1st Masters Programme in Expressive Movement Therapy (dance therapy) fully approved by Pune University. This news comes after five years of relentless effort in building a strong foundation towards developing this course and the awareness about the use of creative art therapies in the healthcare sector.  The use of dance therapy has now widespread application in medical and mental healthcare system. It is also used widely for introducing creative tools in pedagogy and detecting issues in early childhood. Dance therapy becomes an adjunctive tool both for diagnosis and as well as treatment in non intimidating ways to children, adolescents, young professionals, senior citizens, special populations, patients suffering from chronic diseases and prolonged hospitalisation. It allows for effective ways to keep the individual or group motivated and mentally resilient to respond to medical care. Manisha Sanghvi, ED, Sancheti Group, Institutes, an avid art lover herself, strongly believes, “Our young generation needs much more than just an education and a career, such allied and alternative medical professions will help create stability and resilience in our youth.” This course offers highest quality education at extremely affordable prices to students. It also prepares India with the much needed army of healthcare professionals who understand holistic healthcare and work the beautiful balance of science and art. Dr Nikita Mittal, Founder, Life and Dance, and Co-Founder, Masters Programme said, “At SHA we are making it global standards yet affordable to students of our country.” This course is being conducted with support from Kinections, New York. Kinections is headed by Dr Danielle Fraenkel. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/18061/sancheti-healthcare-academy-announces-asias-1st-masters-programme-in-expressive-movement-therapy.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/18061/sancheti-healthcare-academy-announces-asias-1st-masters-programme-in-expressive-movement-therapy.html Fri, 05 Feb 2021 18:25:00 +0530 Sancheti Healthcare Academy (SHA) has announced the launch of Asia's 1st Masters Programme in Expressive Movement Therapy (dance therapy) fully approved by Pune University. This news comes after five years of relentless effort in building a strong foundation towards developing this course and the awareness about the use of creative art therapies in the healthcare sector.  The use of dance therapy has now widespread application in medical and mental healthcare system. It is also used widely for introducing creative tools in pedagogy and detecting issues in early childhood. Dance therapy becomes an adjunctive tool both for diagnosis and as well as treatment in non intimidating ways to children, adolescents, young professionals, senior citizens, special populations, patients suffering from chronic diseases and prolonged hospitalisation. It allows for effective ways to keep the individual or group motivated and mentally resilient to respond to medical care. Manisha Sanghvi, ED, Sancheti Group, Institutes, an avid art lover herself, strongly believes, “Our young generation needs much more than just an education and a career, such allied and alternative medical professions will help create stability and resilience in our youth.” This course offers highest quality education at extremely affordable prices to students. It also prepares India with the much needed army of healthcare professionals who understand holistic healthcare and work the beautiful balance of science and art. Dr Nikita Mittal, Founder, Life and Dance, and Co-Founder, Masters Programme said, “At SHA we are making it global standards yet affordable to students of our country.” This course is being conducted with support from Kinections, New York. Kinections is headed by Dr Danielle Fraenkel. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/18054/roche-diabetes-care-india-diwas-to-implement-educational-programme-on-cancer-for-healthcare-professionals.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/18054/roche-diabetes-care-india-diwas-to-implement-educational-programme-on-cancer-for-healthcare-professionals.html Fri, 05 Feb 2021 14:50:00 +0530 Roche Diabetes Care India, a pioneer in innovative technologies, has partnered with Diabetes in Women Awareness Strategies (DIWAS), a non-profit organization working for girls’ and women’s health, to implement an educational programme that equips diabetes care professional and general physicians to screen and prevent cancer. Dr Usha Sriram, Founder, DIWAS and Head, Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Voluntary Health Services, Chennai, said, “By empowering physicians, diabetologists and endocrinologists with the knowledge and the tools necessary to screen, detect, make appropriate referrals, we can help to prevent cancer and partner with oncologists in this endeavour. This synergy could contribute immensely to lowering the burden of cancer in people with diabetes.” “We are confident that our collaboration with DIWAS will help set up the integrated care for diabetes and cancer in India and help us get better clinical outcomes for cancer patients.” said Omar Sherief Mohammad, Managing Director and General Manager, RDC India. “Roche is pleased to support DIWAS in its noble educational initiative and integrated approach to bring much needed attention and awareness of cancer risk in patients with diabetes. The programme will focus on cancer screening and prevention to benefit patients with diabetes in prevention, early detection and disease monitoring,” said Narendra Varde, Managing Director, Roche Diagnostics India and Neighbouring Markets.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/18055/roche-diabetes-care-india-diwas-to-implement-educational-programme-on-cancer-for-healthcare-professionals.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/18055/roche-diabetes-care-india-diwas-to-implement-educational-programme-on-cancer-for-healthcare-professionals.html Fri, 05 Feb 2021 14:50:00 +0530 Roche Diabetes Care India, a pioneer in innovative technologies, has partnered with Diabetes in Women Awareness Strategies (DIWAS), a non-profit organization working for girls’ and women’s health, to implement an educational programme that equips diabetes care professional and general physicians to screen and prevent cancer. Dr Usha Sriram, Founder, DIWAS and Head, Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Voluntary Health Services, Chennai, said, “By empowering physicians, diabetologists and endocrinologists with the knowledge and the tools necessary to screen, detect, make appropriate referrals, we can help to prevent cancer and partner with oncologists in this endeavour. This synergy could contribute immensely to lowering the burden of cancer in people with diabetes.” “We are confident that our collaboration with DIWAS will help set up the integrated care for diabetes and cancer in India and help us get better clinical outcomes for cancer patients.” said Omar Sherief Mohammad, Managing Director and General Manager, RDC India. “Roche is pleased to support DIWAS in its noble educational initiative and integrated approach to bring much needed attention and awareness of cancer risk in patients with diabetes. The programme will focus on cancer screening and prevention to benefit patients with diabetes in prevention, early detection and disease monitoring,” said Narendra Varde, Managing Director, Roche Diagnostics India and Neighbouring Markets.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17867/bombay-college-of-pharmacy-announces-2nd-batch-of-data-analytics-in-healthcare-course-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17867/bombay-college-of-pharmacy-announces-2nd-batch-of-data-analytics-in-healthcare-course-.html Thu, 31 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0530 After the successful completion of its first batch, Bombay College of Pharmacy has announced the second batch of its live and Interactive online ‘Data Analytics in Healthcare’ course for the working healthcare professionals and pharmacy students from January 10, 2021. The curriculum of the three months, eight hours a week (96 hours) certificate course is designed by a leading analytics firm in the Pharma Industry -  Navigo Analytix LLP. “The course has been aimed to meet the growing demand for healthcare data scientists in the country,” said Dr Krishnapriya Mohanraj, I/c Principal, Bombay College of Pharmacy. “As there is a very limited supply of data scientists, it is also the most lucrative of the professions for pharmacists now and going forward,” said Ashish Babtiwale, Managing Director, Navigo Analytix. The ‘Data Analytics in Healthcare’ course enables the pharmacy fraternity to easily understand statistics, build algorithms and modelling using artificial intelligence with machine learning, learn a programming languages such as Python (used by 85% data scientists, the world over), master visualisation with tools like Tableau and Power Bi. The course is certified by Bombay College of Pharmacy, an autonomous institution, and Navigo Analytix. The fees charged for the course are Rs 25,000 for full-time students (pharmacy, engineering, life sciences, and allied branches) and Rs 34,000 for working professionals. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17829/iihmr-johns-hopkins-hold-vaccine-economics-course-for-covid-19.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17829/iihmr-johns-hopkins-hold-vaccine-economics-course-for-covid-19.html Wed, 23 Dec 2020 14:50:00 +0530 The Indian Institute of Health Management and Research (IIHMR) University, Jaipur and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, US collaborated on capacity building of health professionals to undertake research studies on Economics of COVID-19 vaccine for optimum use of scarce resources. The closing ceremony of the global online course on vaccine economics for COVID-19 that was conducted virtually on December 20, 2020 with an endeavour to provide an opportunity to the participants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Somalia. The IIHMR University, Jaipur and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, US jointly designed two new online courses for vaccine policymakers and programme managers to use the tools of economics to optimise vaccine coverage during the challenges of COVID-19. Prof PR Sodani, President (Officiating), IIHMR University, Jaipur, while addressing the participants said, “Various research proposals were discussed on cost analysis of COVID-19 vaccine, and factors affecting demand for COVID-19 vaccine. These research studies would be useful for government and other key stakeholders in the contexts of COVID-19. This time, globally, the programme received 400 applications, out of which 230 participants were shortlisted. For the India programme, there were 64 applications to join, of which 53 participants were selected to attend the programme. The participants in the programme were from countries like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Somalia. These participants work in different capacities in the field of immunisation and vaccine delivery.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17793/fujifilm-india-max-healthcare-provide-fellowships-in-breast-imaging.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17793/fujifilm-india-max-healthcare-provide-fellowships-in-breast-imaging.html Thu, 17 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0530 In line with their collaboration last year, Fujifilm India and Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket in New Delhi will be providing fellowships to train doctors in breast imaging and advance diagnostics. The brands organised a felicitation ceremony to celebrate the success of their pilot project and provide a certificate of completion to Dr Pragya Garg, MD, who has proficiently completed her fellowship in radio-diagnostics. With the triumph of imparting awareness and education around breast cancer to doctors who enrolled under this programme, the team under the guidance of Dr Bharat Aggarwal, Director - Radiology Services, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket and Dr Harit Chaturvedi, Chairman - Max Institute of Cancer Care will be taking this initiative forward and providing training to many other candidates in the field.  Doctors are being trained in breast mammography, breast MR, and breast ultrasound techniques for six months through the Max-Fujifilm Collaboration fellowship programme. The programme is training two select radiologists per year towards early detection of breast cancer. Commenting on the association, Haruto Iwata, MD, Fujifilm India said, “Our fellowship programme is a platform for better engagement, advocacy and dissemination of information to improve the effectiveness of independent and collaborative activities. In our partnership of over a year, we have developed educational resources and assisted doctors and health planners to identify bottlenecks in the delivery of breast healthcare and determine appropriate interventions.” Adding on the same, Chander Shekhar Sibal, Executive Vice President & Head of Medical Division at Fujifilm India said, “In line with our fellowship programme, we are making continuous efforts to raise awareness among women about breast cancer and impart training around diagnostic techniques.” Dr Harit Chaturvedi, Chairman, Max Institute of Cancer Care stated, “Such focused fellowships are critical blocks and help us strengthen quaternary care in our culture. It is obvious that such programmes, truly help our communities and patients and improve the scope of screening, early detection and better treatment plans for those getting treated.” ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17794/fujifilm-india-max-healthcare-providing-fellowships-to-train-doctors-in-breast-imaging-advance-diagnostics.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17794/fujifilm-india-max-healthcare-providing-fellowships-to-train-doctors-in-breast-imaging-advance-diagnostics.html Wed, 16 Dec 2020 18:30:00 +0530 In line with their collaboration last year, Fujifilm India Pvt Ltd, a leader in imaging innovations and healthcare technologies and Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket a leading hospital chain in North India will be providing fellowships to train doctors in breast imaging and advance diagnostics. The brands organised a felicitation ceremony to celebrate the success of their pilot project and provide a certificate of completion to Dr Pragya Garg, MD, who has proficiently completed her fellowship in radio-diagnostics. With the triumph of imparting awareness and education around breast cancer to doctors who enrolled under this programme, the team under the guidance of Dr Bharat Aggarwal, Director - Radiology Services, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket and Dr Harit Chaturvedi, Chairman - Max Institute of Cancer Care will be taking this initiative forward and providing training to many other candidates in the field.  Doctors are being trained in breast mammography, breast MR, and breast ultrasound techniques for six months through the Max-Fujifilm Collaboration fellowship programme. The programme is training two select radiologists per year towards early detection of breast cancer. Commenting on the association, Haruto Iwata, MD, Fujifilm India said, “Our fellowship programme is a platform for better engagement, advocacy and dissemination of information to improve the effectiveness of independent and collaborative activities. In our partnership of over a year, we have developed educational resources and assisted doctors and health planners to identify bottlenecks in the delivery of breast healthcare and determine appropriate interventions.” Adding on the same, Chander Shekhar Sibal, Executive Vice President & Head of Medical Division at Fujifilm India said, “In line with our fellowship programme, we are making continuous efforts to raise awareness among women about breast cancer and impart training around diagnostic techniques.” Dr Harit Chaturvedi, Chairman, Max Institute of Cancer Care stated, “Such focused fellowships are critical blocks and help us strengthen quaternary care in our culture. It is obvious that such programmes, truly help our communities and patients and improve the scope of screening, early detection and better treatment plans for those getting treated.” ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17751/wipro-ge-healthcare-partners-with-iit-madras.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17751/wipro-ge-healthcare-partners-with-iit-madras.html Fri, 11 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0530 Wipro GE Healthcare (WGE) has announced a fellowship partnership with Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM), Chennai, to provide increased opportunities for Research Scholars to build and further improve the innovation ecosystem. Under this programme, Wipro GE Healthcare will also provide financial aid and industrial expertise to chosen Masters (MS) in Research Scholars at IIT Madras. Speaking on the collaboration, Azim Premji, Chairman, Wipro GE Healthcare said, “Through this partnership with IITM, we wish to mentor the students and their ideas, and help them develop affordable healthcare solutions for those in need across the country.” Wipro GE Healthcare aims to develop an innovation mindset in students with engineering skills by providing industrial exposure in healthcare domain and other technology areas of the company through close collaboration with technical experts. Research Scholars of this MS programme shall also be offered nine-month long internship opportunity at WGE. The partnership will further evangelise the concept of local innovation in affordable Medical Technology and other related areas through activities such as student hackathons, guest lectures, product tear-downs and lecture demonstrations. Highlighting the opportunities from this collaboration, Prof Bhaskar Ramamurthi, Director, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, said, “This collaboration will provide a rich experience to research scholars of the programme as they will get a chance to work on diverse healthcare projects and get mentored by industry experts from Wipro GE Healthcare.” Nalinikanth Gollagunta, Global Chief Operating Officer, Digital, GE Healthcare said, “We are honoured to collaborate with IITM and tap into their vibrant pool of student community willing to be challenged to come out with breakthrough ideas in the healthcare sector. We believe in investing in talent early for building capacity not just for Wipro GE but also for the entire healthcare ecosystem.” Prof Mohanasankar Sivaprakasam, Head, IITM’s Healthcare Technology Innovation Centre and coordinator of this programme said, “We have had a very engaging and productive R&D collaboration with GE Healthcare during the past six years through various projects. This MS degree program takes our partnership to the next level by an explicit focus on developing talent and skills in this area through our research scholars.”   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17735/bmj-announces-latest-clinical-courses-for-healthcare-professionals-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17735/bmj-announces-latest-clinical-courses-for-healthcare-professionals-.html Wed, 09 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0530 British Medical Journal or BMJ have been at the forefront in curating holistic educational e-learning courses that are a complete learning package for clinicians who are keen to enhance their clinical practice and upgrade their knowledge, but face a paucity of time. BMJ India’s courses are aimed at helping healthcare professionals make better clinical decisions on a daily basis. Integrating the latest medical evidence into easily-accessible versions, the courses are a preferred choice among clinicians who wish to upskill in order to provide better care to their patients. Most importantly, the courses are a blessing for busy professionals since they can be accessed anytime, anywhere and on-the-go. They are also the right blend of high international editorial standards and Indian-subcontinent context and are a perfect fit for clinicians who are unsure whether the course content is evidence based and peer reviewed, unlike most of the other courses. Currently, BMJ India’s repertoire includes six courses. The organisation launched their first course in Diabetes in 2016 followed by courses in Chronic Kidney Disease, Palliative Care, Research to Publication, Acute Coronary Syndrome and Common Respiratory Conditions. Behind the success of these courses lies the trust and reputation of brands like BMJ, Fortis CDOC, Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC) and Royal College of Physicians, London. The courses have varied durations ranging from 3 months to 6 months and boast of multi-pronged features as they are authored by top doctors, are evidence-based, user friendly, and peer reviewed. They are suitable for MBBS doctors and General Physicians. Some of the courses are for researchers, other healthcare professionals, nurses, consultants, healthcare assistants, NGO workers, and volunteers as well. The paid courses involve online evaluation and then certification upon successful completion of the course. Speaking about the courses, Prashant Mishra, MD, BMJ India & South Asia said, “Our courses aim at empowering physicians and health workers to take charge of their own competency development and to enable them to play an important role as change agents in addressing the challenges we are facing. It is essential to disseminate information and knowledge to them on relevant issues to help them upskill and improve patient care.”  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17725/asu-nsdc-announce-course-in-pharma-sales-management.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17725/asu-nsdc-announce-course-in-pharma-sales-management.html Mon, 07 Dec 2020 18:25:00 +0530 Apeejay Stya University (ASU), based in Gurugram, and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) have announced a Certificate Course in Pharma Sales & Management. The course has been customised keeping in mind healthcare, pharmaceutical, and FMCG industry-specific dynamics. Objectives of the Course- To manage various activities, including advertising, sales promotion, marketing research, physical distribution, pricing, and product merchandising Develop skills required in planning, direction, and control of the personnel, selling activities of a business unit, including recruiting, selecting, training, assigning, rating, supervising, paying, and motivating. Develop skills for a long-term relationship with the customer and skills to manage their ‘territories’ as if they were running their own business. Students pursuing graduation in any discipline, preferably in Life Sciences / B Pharm/ M Pharm/ MBA and D Pharm can apply. Working professionals in the Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, and Medical Devices sector may also pursue this course for further career progression. Assessment will be done as per NSDF guidelines. Certification will be provided by National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Govt of India and Apeejay Stya University.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17707/iit-d-rcb-ink-research-collaboration.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17707/iit-d-rcb-ink-research-collaboration.html Thu, 03 Dec 2020 17:40:00 +0530 Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi and Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB) Faridabad have signed an MoU to establish ‘RCB-IITD Collaborative Platform’ for initiating wide-ranging collaborations involving academic, research, and human resource development, which will have a profound social and economic impact for the country. Under the MoU, both institutions will collaborate: To carry out joint research by submitting joint research proposals to external funding agencies. To make intramural funding for the projects in both IITD and RCB, to initiate the collaborative research among different biological and engineering disciplines of these two institutions. To jointly organise seminars, conferences, workshops, and short-term continuing education programmes on mutual interest topics with participation from faculty from both sides. To guide research candidates registered in either of the institutions for doctoral and post-graduate programmes with joint-supervision. To cooperate on any other activities that may be identified on a consensual basis as and when such an opportunity arises. To access the research facilities for each institution. Speaking of the MoU with IIT Delhi, Dr Sudhanshu Vrati, Executive Director, RCB Faridabad, said, “This should encourage multidisciplinary research at the two institutions with the expertise of RCB faculty in biotech sciences and IIT Delhi in engineering and sciences.” Welcoming the MoU with RCB, Prof V Ramgopal Rao, Director, IIT Delhi, said, “IIT Delhi has invested about Rs 300 crore in last 3-4 years to create Advance Central Research facilities on its main campus and Sonipat campus in Haryana. We continue to invest in creating high-end research facilities under which a state-of-art Cryo-EM facility will be installed very soon. We invite RCB scientists to come and utilise these facilities at IIT Delhi.” He also invited RCB Faridabad to utilise the incubation facilities available at IIT Delhi. The Collaborative Platform will connect the faculties, students, and researchers across different disciplines in the RCB and IIT Delhi. They can develop specialised groups for academic and research, leading to cutting-edge innovations with the fruitful translational outcome. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17672/iit-roorkee-wins-gold-at-international-igem-competition-2020.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17672/iit-roorkee-wins-gold-at-international-igem-competition-2020.html Fri, 27 Nov 2020 18:35:00 +0530 A team of 13 students at Department of Biotechnology, IIT Roorkee has won a Gold Medal at the International iGEM 2020 competition and it was also among the top five Indian teams that won the funding support from Department of Biotechnology, Govt of India for participation. iGEM having HQ in Massachusetts, US is the most extensive Synthetic Biology innovation programme and a launchpad for the industry's various successful leaders and companies. iGEM 2020 witnessed the participation of 249 teams from 36 countries. The team worked on the project titled ‘Pyomancer: Novel Antimicrobial Drugs against MDR Infections’ to tackle WHO’s topmost priority problem of Antimicrobial Resistance and approached it from a multidisciplinary perspective. This project focussed on designing new Antimicrobials, called Seekercins, to kill drug-resistant bacteria with a mechanism inspired by other natural molecules. “Synthetic Biology finds applications in medicine and several other areas. I would like to congratulate the winning team for winning the Gold Medal at this international competition and bringing laurels to our Institute and country” said Prof. Ajit K. Chaturvedi, Director, IIT Roorkee The Team Leader, Sanjeevani Marcha, a final year student, said:  "We believe that through our concept and protein design, we can focus on the priority pathogens and urge the pharmaceutical companies to change the ways antibiotics are conventionally developed.” iGEM began in January 2003 as an independent study course at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), US where students developed biological devices to make cells blink. This course became a summer competition with five teams in 2004 and continued to grow to 13 teams in 2005; it expanded to 353 teams in 2019, reaching 40+ countries and over 6,500 participants. The projects encompassed by the tracks aim to solve crucial global challenges in varied fields, viz. environmental bioremediation, new medical delivery systems, technological advances, and alternative energy sources using synthetic biology. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17666/rishihood-university-set-to-launch-school-of-healthcare.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17666/rishihood-university-set-to-launch-school-of-healthcare.html Fri, 27 Nov 2020 11:50:00 +0530 Rishihood University in Haryana has announced the upcoming launch of the Rishihood School of Healthcare. Considering the need, both at the national & international levels, the university is launching its state-of-the-art School of Healthcare for its first cohort, from the academic session 2021-22 onwards. The School of Healthcare will be offering various UG & PG degree programmes, such as BSc Cardiovascular Technology, Medical Laboratory Technology, MBA in Healthcare Management, amongst others, under the allied healthcare domain. Prof John Quelch, Vice Provost, University of Miami and former professor Harvard School of Public Health, will be delivering the inaugural lecture of ‘Building a Culture of Health’. The school of healthcare is a residential programme and will be housed in the state of the art 25-acre Rishihood University Campus in Sonipat. The university also plans to enter into strategic partnerships with leading hospitals, R&D labs and healthcare providers, to ensure ample training opportunities for students, as well as providing the necessary exposure to the latest healthcare technology. The programmes will focus upon some emerging areas in healthcare management such as blockchain, digital health, 3-D printing, AI, AR/VR, IoT, m-health, to name a few. Rishihood School of Healthcare will be exclusively dedicated to provide best in class education, aligned with industry best practices, to future healthcare professionals. The vision is to effectively aid Universal Health Coverage (UHC) 2030 goals planned by the Government of India. Speaking at the launch, Sahil Agarwal, Co-Founder and CEO, Rishihood University, said, “We are committed to offering best in class education and infrastructure for the students, to enable a healthier tomorrow.” The courses have been designed to help the students to develop a high level of expertise & technical skills with detailed learning. Prof Anil Kaul, Dean, School of Healthcare, Rishihood University, said, “Whether it is at the forefront of diagnostics, delivering care in a clinic, hospital or a nursing home, leading the change in healthcare or hospital management, we will help them unleash their potential and prepare them to be a next-generation healthcare leader.”   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17496/iimb-emphasizes-on-reimagining-indian-healthcare-system.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17496/iimb-emphasizes-on-reimagining-indian-healthcare-system.html Thu, 29 Oct 2020 16:30:00 +0530 The 47th Foundation Day of the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) was celebrated on October 28, 2020, with speeches, awards and more. For the first time ever, the event was held on the virtual mode from start to finish, due to the pandemic crisis. “There is no reason why we, in India, cannot chart a new path for the emerging world of healthcare. Despite the challenges and complexity, we must use our learning and synthesis to reimagine India’s healthcare system to lay out a path, that works with state and non-state actors, to provide a resilient healthcare system for comprehensive, accountable, accessible, inclusive and affordable quality healthcare to every Indian,” said Chief Guest Dr Gagandeep Kang, FRS, Professor of Microbiology, Division of Gastrointestinal Sciences, Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, while delivering the Foundation Day Lecture on ‘Reimagining the Indian Healthcare System.’ Apart from the lecture by the Chief Guest, there were addresses by Dr Devi Prasad Shetty, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIMB, and Professor Rishikesha T Krishnan, Director, IIMB, mostly about resetting ourselves in view of the current situation – in business and in health. Talking about the growing popularity of telemedicine Dr Prasad said: “What would have taken five years before, took just five weeks post-Covid. Telemedicine was illegal before Covid came, now it has been legalised.” He advised the students to always keep themselves motivated, especially at such crucial times. “The pandemic could make us disillusioned. But remember, if there is one country that will emerge as the winner in this crisis - it is India. That is because we have learnt to manage ourselves among adversities, we Indians are very adaptable. So, start working to build a new India which we all would be proud of”. Professor Krishnan described the efforts of the IIMB community in dealing with the effects of the pandemic, and had a special word of appreciation for NSRCEL – IIMB’s start-up hub – which has been collaborating with IISc and other top institutes to work with start-ups that are finding innovative solutions to COVID-19 challenges. He had a special word of thanks for the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in supporting IIMB, significantly.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17457/nipers-introduce-mtech-programme-in-medical-devices.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17457/nipers-introduce-mtech-programme-in-medical-devices.html Tue, 27 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +0530 Medical devices are an emerging field of science catering to the surging medical needs globally. To maintain the constant need, improvisation and development of new technologies, there is an increased demand for trained people in this upcoming field. To produce trained professionals, three NIPERs (National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research) viz., Guwahati, Hyderabad and S.A.S. Nagar (Mohali) have introduced a new M.Tech. programme in Medical Devices. The course is designed to contain topics related to biology, chemistry, mathematics, clinical science and engineering which are essential for developing Medical Devices. The course will also contain one-year project work aimed at developing prototypes of various Medical Devices. For getting admission into this programme, the minimum eligibility criteria for candidates will be B.Pharma/Pharm D/M.Sc/B.Tech/BE/M.B.B.S/BDS/B.V.Sc.  The batch size of the course will be 10 students per year in each offering NIPERs (NIPER-Hyderabad, NIPER-Guwahati and NIPER-S.A.S. Nagar). The programme offers students with an access to career options, such as research & development personnel in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and medical device industry and initiating start-up companies in various sectors of Medical Devices. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17424/iihmr-john-hopkins-initiate-vaccine-economics-course-for-covid-19.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17424/iihmr-john-hopkins-initiate-vaccine-economics-course-for-covid-19.html Tue, 20 Oct 2020 16:10:00 +0530 With COVID-19 dramatically altering vaccine decision making globally, the world is faced with new challenges on how to maintain routine vaccine coverage and plan the rapid deployment of a coming COVID-19 vaccine. To address questions associated with these emerging challenges, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA and IIHMR University, Jaipur has designed two new online courses for vaccine policy makers and programme managers. The online programmes are aimed at educating policymakers and programme managers on using the tools of economics to optimise vaccine coverage during the challenges of COVID-19. “Evidence on evaluating infectious disease and the economic impact of vaccination is critical in informing national decision-makers on the allocation of limited resources and in prioritising interventions in the health sector. COVID-19 has thrown up new challenges for managing existing immunisation programmes as well as preparing for the rapid deployment of the upcoming COVID vaccine. Our online courses aimed at helping immunisation managers optimise vaccine delivery in this challenging time,” said Prof PR Sodani, President (officiating), IIHMR University, Jaipur,  India Programme Lead. The online programme received an overwhelming response, attracting 400 applications out of which 230 participants from the field of immunisation and vaccine delivery have been shortlisted to attend the programme. The participants are from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Somalia. From India, 53 participants have been selected to attend the programme. Most of the participants are working on positions like Director, Deputy Director, Consultant, Technical Advisor, Medical officer, Project coordinator, Programme manager, and officer working in the field of immunisation and vaccine delivery. The participants are working in organisations like the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, State ministries, WHO, UNDP, UNICEF, Tata Trusts, Clinton Health Access Initiative and IIT Kharagpur.  The programme commenced on October 17, and will continue till December 13, 2020.     ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17401/dpsru-drsc-unveil-open-access-quadrimester-online-scientific-journal-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17401/dpsru-drsc-unveil-open-access-quadrimester-online-scientific-journal-.html Fri, 16 Oct 2020 18:50:00 +0530 Healthcare e-Compendium is the joint initiative of DPSRU (Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University), first Pharmacy University of India and DRSC (Doctors’ Resource and Science Centre for Continuing Education). It is an open-access Quadrimester online scientific journal - a source of the latest medical articles, case studies, food & nutrition updates, topics on manufacturing excellence and global brands. Eminent Doctors and HCPs from India and abroad have contributed their articles in the inaugural issue released in September 2020. DRSC is supported by Alniche Lifesciences under their scientific program to support medical fraternity. In the current situation, Digital technology in healthcare has a positive impact in terms of speed of giving information and a non-contact interaction with healthcare professionals. Almost all the information is exchanged digitally - Telemedicine, Artificial Intelligence (AI) - enabled medical devices for diagnosis, robotic surgery, health records are just a few examples of digital transformation in healthcare. This platform provides an opportunity to HCPs for sharing their clinical knowledge with their peers both in India and globally. The Healthcare e-compendium will be circulated to HCPs through emails, social media, WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. In addition, Alniche is conducting regular online CMEs/Webinars, sharing latest scientific articles through WebPosters/videos and advisory issued by ICMR/MoHFW, with an objective that HCPs remain updated to handle COVID-19 patients.   Image caption- (R-L): Vijay Chauhan - Head Business Development, Alniche Lifesciences, Prof. Harvinder Popli - M.Pharm, Ph.D, PGDBM (IMS), Postdoc (UK) Director Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University, Karan Arora - Director Marketing & International Business, Alniche Lifesciences, Nasharah Siddiquee - Manager Medico Marketing, Alniche Lifesciences ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17354/aiia-signs-mou-with-amity-university-for-ayurveda-research.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17354/aiia-signs-mou-with-amity-university-for-ayurveda-research.html Thu, 08 Oct 2020 02:10:00 +0530 Continuing with the policy of Ministry of AYUSH of forging partnerships for promoting and developing the AYUSH Systems of Healthcare, the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi under the Ministry has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Amity University. The MoU focuses on promoting research in Ayurvedic Sciences. The MoU by AIIA is with the Amity Institute of Indian System of Medicine, which was established in 2018 by the Amity University in recognition of the growing importance of the Indian System of Medicine. The MoU envisages collaboration Quality and standardization of Ayurvedic drugs as well as in Ph.D. programmes in natural product chemistry and pharmacy. Studies in Pharmaceutics, Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics have also been identified as potential areas of collaboration. The MoU will also lead to joint projects and publications. This partnership is expected to result in some cutting edge research in Ayurveda as well as in the promotion and spread of knowledge associated with Ayurvedic Sciences across the globe. It will integrate traditional knowledge with modern sciences and add new dimensions to research in Ayurveda. The two Institutions will work together for evolving knowledge and procedures which will be of use to the National Healthcare System and ultimately to Health solutions that will be of relevance at a population scale. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17319/iit-delhi-partners-with-ilbs-to-enhance-medical-research.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17319/iit-delhi-partners-with-ilbs-to-enhance-medical-research.html Fri, 02 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +0530 Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT-D) and Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS), Delhi have signed an MoU to establish ‘ILBS-IITD Collaborative Platform’ initiating wide-ranging collaborations involving academic, research, product, process and human resource development. The MoU was signed by Prof V. Ramgopal Rao, Director, IIT Delhi and Dr. SK Sarin, Director, ILBS, Delhi. The mission of the ILBS-IITD Collaborative Platform is to help in critical identification of the problems faced by the practicing doctors in metabolic and liver diseases, ranging from the primary health center to tertiary care super-specialty hospitals and to initiate the work jointly by the engineering and medical teams for sustainable solutions. The scope of collaboration focuses on liver diseases and encompasses (i) to make intramural funding for the projects in both IIT Delhi and ILBS, to initiate the collaborative research among different medical and engineering disciplines of these two institutions (ii) To allow registered Ph.D students of both institutions to attend lectures and courses relevant to their area of research in each other’s institutions and (iii) imitating joint Ph.D supervision and developing Technology Business Incubator (TBI). The thrust areas of collaboration include (i) Use of Artificial Intelligence in Liver & Biliary diseases(ii) Bio-sensor development (iii) Computational biology and Big Data (iv) Material Sciences, Liver Dialysis Membranes and Machines (iv) 3D Bio-printing, Bio-artificial Liver (v) Process such as regenerative tissue growth (vi) Use of nano-science in diagnosis and effective drug delivery (vii) Applied principles and design concepts of engineering to healthcare and (viii) Establishment of an Incubation Center at ILBS, with the help of Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer or FITT (IIT Delhi). ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17234/icmr-launches-prescribing-skills-course-for-medical-graduates.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17234/icmr-launches-prescribing-skills-course-for-medical-graduates.html Mon, 21 Sep 2020 01:05:00 +0530 Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has launched an online course on Prescribing Skills for Indian Medical Graduates (IMG) pursuing or completed internship. The course is meant for improving prescription practices among Indian Medical Graduates and will be run by National Institute of Epidemiology (ICMR-NIE), Chennai. Prof. Balram Bhargava, Secretary, DHR and Director General, ICMR while launching the course said “ICMR is committed to ensuring that the country’s medical graduates are at par with their international counterparts. The Council, through its institute ICMR-NIE has successfully completed a Basic Course in Biomedical Research. The course has now been made compulsory for postgraduates by theMedical Council of India. Building on the success, we will ensure that this digital course on Prescribing Skills for Indian Medical Graduates is effective”. The course constitutes 40 video lectures of 20 minutes to be taken online over 3 months at learners’ pace. The course involves a pre test to evaluate participants prior knowledge, MCQs to be answered after seeing the modules, evaluate a prescription for appropriateness, all this to assess if the course has improved the participants knowledge. A certificate of participation will be given on successful completion of the course. Interns are expected to register now, appear for pre test on October 4, 2020 or October 11, 2020. Then the IMG will have access to course from October 12, 2020 and it closes on December 30, 2020. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17216/india-brings-revolutionary-reforms-in-medical-education.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17216/india-brings-revolutionary-reforms-in-medical-education.html Wed, 16 Sep 2020 01:05:00 +0530 With the passage of two important bills of the Ministry of AYUSH by the Parliament, the country is all set to bring revolutionary reforms in the medical education of Indian System of Medicine and Homoeopathy. The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Bill, 2020 and the National Commission for Homoeopathy Bill 2020 were passed in Lok Sabha on 14th September 2020. These twin bills seek to replace the existing Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970 and the Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973. Rajya Sabha had already passed both the bills on 18th March, 2020. Getting the approval  of the Parliament for these bills is a landmark achievement in the history of AYUSH. The enactment of the said Bills will revamp the existing Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) and Central Council of Homoeopathy. It is expected that the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine and the National Commission for Homoeopathy shall aim at bringing reforms in the medical education of Indian System of Medicine and Homoeopathy respectively. The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Bill, 2019 and National Commission for Homoeopathy Bill, 2019 were introduced in Rajya Sabha on 7th January, 2019. Both the bills were subsequently referred to the Department related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare. The Committee examined the Bills and suggested certain amendments in alignment with the National Medical Commission Act, 2019. Accordingly, the Ministry considered the key suggestions and introduced Official amendments to the said Bills after which they were passed in Rajya Sabha on 18th March, 2020 as ‘the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine, Bill, 2020’ and ‘the National Commission for Homoeopathy Bill 2020’. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17210/gsk-india-rcb-mark-milestone-of-academia-industry-initiative.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17210/gsk-india-rcb-mark-milestone-of-academia-industry-initiative.html Tue, 15 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +0530 GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (GSK Pharmaceutical Ltd.) in collaboration with the Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB) has completed  the first year of its Trust in Science Program and is marking it by hosting a six part ‘Trust in Science’ webinar series. Like the program, these webinars are also an academia-industry collaboration in which experts from the private sector and scientific community will provide insights on trends in bioinformatics and biostatistics and the future outlook of this valuable skill set. The Trust in Science program offers full PhD courses in Biostatistics and Bioinformatics to equip Indian students for a career in a data and AI-driven pharma research ecosystem. Commenting on the progress of the program, Prof. Sudhanshu Vrati, Executive Director, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, said, “Biostatistics and bioinformatics are rapidly emerging fields in biology and are set to change the way we approach scientific R&D. In the first year of this program, we got a good response from aspiring PhD candidates eager to explore scientific careers in these fields. Now, through our webinar series, we hope to reach out to even more Indian students and faculty to make them aware of the potential that lies in these fields and to realize the value of the Trust in Science PhD program.” In the keynote address of the first webinar, HE Jan Thompson, Acting British High Commissioner to India, said that the Trust in Science initiative is a great example of public-private-partnership. She added, “It is my hope that the Trust in Science initiative will give young researchers an opportunity to explore high-end expertise in drug discovery and the program becomes a spring-board for them to transition into a full-fledged pharma career in the future. The UK and Indian governments continue to work together in healthcare, exploring opportunities for some of the best UK companies to offer their products and services for improved healthcare delivery in India.” Dr. Renu Swarup, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India said, “It is great to see that this RCB-GSK collaboration is more than a research budget collaboration between academia and industry, but one that looks to create a human resource foundation for new technology. I would like to see this partnership scaled up, with more partners included so that it becomes a national network for the country. I believe this webinar series can reach out to more people and draw in more institutes to see the value of this partnership.”. Sridhar Venkatesh, Managing Director, GSK Pharmaceuticals Limited (India) said, “The ongoing pandemic has highlighted the value of biostatistics and bioinformatics tools and methodologies to significantly reduce the time taken for a medicine to be brought from lab to market. This is the future of pharmaceuticals research and we believe that the Trust in Science programme is contributing to prepare a workforce that is future ready. We hope the webinar series will help aspiring PhD students to get a primer on the likely future of pharma research.” The launch webinar concluded with a learning session by Prof Partha Mazumdar, Distinguished Professor, National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, who said, “A confluence of statistical science and data science is the enabler of rapid and robust inferences in biology and medicine.” He also spoke of the critical value of biostatistics and bioinformatics during the ongoing pandemic by referring to the study on the diversity and evolution of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 through the analysis of RNA sequences collected from 3636 infected patients across 55 countries. “This is an exciting time in modern biology and medicine,” he added, referring to the coming together of statics and big data analysis. GSK Pharmaceutical Ltd.’s “Trust in Science” initiative is a novel public-private partnership model to build R&D capacity for development and discovery in science. The pillars of this initiative are: scientific excellence, trust and talent development in line with GSK’s Science, Technology and Culture values. The initiative was launched in 2011 initially to engage with leading researchers and institutions in Latin America, focused on Brazil and Argentina. GSK Pharmaceutical Ltd. is pleased to expand this initiative beyond Latin America to other emerging markets such as India.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17155/iacp-acpe-to-advance-quality-of-pharmacy-education.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/17155/iacp-acpe-to-advance-quality-of-pharmacy-education.html Fri, 04 Sep 2020 01:05:00 +0530 The India Association of the Colleges of Pharmacy (IACP) is pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Educaon (ACPE) to build cooperation to advance the quality of pharmacy education internationally. The MoU was signed by Janet P. Engle, Execuve Director and Michael A. Mone, President, Board of Directors, of the ACPE and by Prof. B. Chinaswamy, President, and Dr. B. Jayakar, Secretary, of the IACP. The MoU marks the coming together of associations dedicated to realising combined goals of standardising pharmacy education and elevating the canons and importance of the role of pharmacists. Equipped with years of learning and experience in their respective markets, both IACP and ACPE are now poised to achieve their goals by focusing on upgrading education, upskilling, and employing the latest advancements in science and technology to the benefit of both students and praconers. The MoU coverage is focused on knowledge transfer in the areas including quality assurance standards, policies and procedures and tools and publications. Both associations are also enthusiastic about exchange visitor programs that will help them to observe in-depth each other's operating processes. The partnership entails no financial commitment on part of either association and is non-exclusive, thereby allowing both organisaons to successfully continue existing collaborations. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/views/68/17121/chitkara-university-offers-postgrad-course-on-pharmacovigilance.html https://biospectrumindia.com/views/68/17121/chitkara-university-offers-postgrad-course-on-pharmacovigilance.html Mon, 31 Aug 2020 00:00:00 +0530 Chitkara University in Chandigarh has announced the launch of a 2-year M.Sc Program in Pharmacovigilance & Clinical research, in collaboration with Parexel, a leading provider of solutions to accelerate the development and delivery of innovative new therapies to improve world health, from Clinical through Commercialization, The program is aimed at addressing the concern of talent crunch in the pharmacovigilance industry and contribute towards building the research and development capacity of India. The 2-year master’s degree program in Pharmacovigilance & Clinical research is designed to create skilled and competent professionals who can work effectively at different levels in Pharmacovigilance departments of leading Pharma companies and Clinical Research Organizations (CROs) in India as well as around the world. Parexel, a leading CRO, will provide industry and curriculum support from its Parexel Academy as a part of the collaboration. The students graduating from this program can find employment as Pharmacovigilance Scientists, Pharmacovigilance Quality Reviewers, Pharmacovigilance Quality Analysts, Pharmacovigilance Medical Safety Writers, Pharmacovigilance System Specialists, etc. The program will expose students to the internationally compliant pharmacovigilance training based on defined Pharmacovigilance Competency Frameworks (PCF) and help develop internationally accepted competencies, under the mentorship of industry leaders. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/16942/dr-harsh-vardhan-reveals-ebook-for-sud-and-behavioral-addictions.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/16942/dr-harsh-vardhan-reveals-ebook-for-sud-and-behavioral-addictions.html Thu, 30 Jul 2020 11:30:00 +0530 Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare recently released an e-book titled “Standard Treatment Guidelines for the Management of Substance Use Disorders (SUD) and Behavioural Addictions” that aims to tackle substance abuse and behavioral addiction in the country, through video conference, in the presence of Sh. Ashwini Kumar Choubey, MoS (HFW). On the importance of addressing challenges to addiction in the times of COVID-19, Dr. Harsh Vardhan cautioned that the World Drug Report 2020 suggests that “COVID-19 can have other fallouts just like earlier economic crises have caused – users seeking out cheaper synthetic substances; a shift to more injecting; economic downturn causing the poor and disadvantaged to turn to drug use and suffer its consequences.” Furthermore, he added, “emerging evidence that smoking increases the risk for COVID-19 as well as worsens the outcome in people who get infected with the virus. Alcohol intoxication can also increase the risk and the other effects including a reduction of immunity can increase the risk.” Recollecting his experience in implementing WHO’s essential drug policy as the Health Minister of NCT of Delhi, he underscored the relevance of having a set of standard guidelines to help health professionals in preventing as well as minimizing the harm from drug use. The National Mental Health Survey 1996 showed a treatment gap of 76-85% for substance use disorders mostly related to addiction to tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, and opioids. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/16936/bow-valley-college-initiates-healthcare-programme-with-chitkara-university.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/16936/bow-valley-college-initiates-healthcare-programme-with-chitkara-university.html Wed, 29 Jul 2020 14:00:00 +0530 Bow Valley College in Canada, is a publicly funded College that has announced a pathway programme with Chandigarh based Chitkara University, in the faculty of healthcare for students. Chitkara students who have graduated from any stream of healthcare programmes can now transfer to the Health & Human Services Management (HHSM) one-year post-diploma certificate at Bow Valley College through Chitkara University. Eligible candidates will be offered a letter of acceptance from Bow Valley College in Canada. The students will apply for their study permit and go through four weeks of orientation programmeing at Chitkara University, before coming to Canada.  Nursing and healthcare programmes are much sought after and completing them offers promising careers in Canada. Amid uncertain circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, this pathway ensures that students can continue to achieve their international study goals during this time. The first cohort under the HHSM post-diploma certificate arrangement is expected to start in January 2021, based on the easing of travel and other restrictions in Canada. An innovative healthcare programme, HHSM combines elements of business study and managing the Canadian Health system to prepare students for management positions in the Canadian healthcare sector. Students who will graduate from Bow Valley College will be eligible to apply for a post-graduate work permit in Canada or even pursue other diploma programmes from Bow Valley College or a degree with a public university pathway partner ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/16882/trivitron-pushes-digital-era-for-medical-education.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/16882/trivitron-pushes-digital-era-for-medical-education.html Thu, 23 Jul 2020 06:10:00 +0530 Chennai based health technology organization Trivitron Healthcare enters into collaboration with US based Anatomage Inc, a market leader in 3D medical virtualization technology, to distribute Virtual Anatomy Dissection Table for Medical education for scholars, researchers, medical & healthcare students in South and West Regions in India. Anatomage Virtual Anatomy Dissection Table offers strategic advantage when it comes to medical education and anatomical studies offering advanced and unique anatomy content to users for educational and training purposes. The Anatomage Table is the only fully segmented real human 3D anatomy system. Users can visualize anatomy exactly as they would on a fresh cadaver. Individual structures are reconstructed in accurate 3D, resulting in an unprecedented level of real accurate anatomy, dissectible in 3D. The Table allows for exploration and learning of human anatomy beyond what any cadaver could offer. Now that the world embraces for a digital era with educational systems utilizing technology for remote learning, Anatomage virtual anatomy dissection table shall act as a foundation stone for remote medical education. “Students have traditionally relied on books and cadavers for medical dissection and studies, which can put them at the risk of exposure to various contagious diseases at times” says Mr Sudip Bagchi, President-Critical Life Support Systems, Trivitron Healthcare and furthers his views “Now with AnatomageVirtual anatomy dissection table, medical education shall become more advanced, effective, and safe. Anatomage offers a number of possibilities, solving various issues of medical schools, educational institutions and various other institutions.” The Table allows students to interact with young and well preserved digital cadavers instead of aged and degenerated bodies. The accurate details and rich content draw students’ interest and attention leading to more effective educational outcomes. Anatomage dissection table adds visual learning to anatomy programs thus improve student satisfaction. In addition to this, students and researchers can, through Anatomagevirtual anatomy dissection table, can visualize real human content making use of the videos that accurately illustrate almost every region and system from the human body including moving organs like heart, lungs, etc. and other anatomically intricate structures-like blood vessels, nerves and etc.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/16837/ramaiah-announces-new-international-medical-pathway.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/16837/ramaiah-announces-new-international-medical-pathway.html Tue, 14 Jul 2020 10:10:00 +0530 Bengaluru based Ramaiah Group of Institutions in association with St George’s University with more than 21,000 graduates including physicians, veterinarians, scientists, and public health and business professionals across the world Grenada (SGU) is offering medical aspirants in India an innovative educational pathway to practice medicine in India, the US, or UK.  New frontiers are being opened up for Indian students with the association between Ramaiah Group of Institutions and St George’s University, who will be exposed to both Eastern and Western cultures and benefit from a truly global education.  The new pathway offers a superlative possibility for aspiring physicians to go into a global medical profession and begin to analyze closer to their MD diploma in September 2020.  Ramaiah will permit the candidates to begin their journey closer to turning into a health practitioner in an acquainted surroundings in which they can build strong  relationships with other students in their cohort before transferring abroad collectively as a near-knit institution inside the 2nd 12 months. To facilitate the aspirants’ transition to studying abroad, SGU will provide some of the visitor lectures at Ramaiah all through the first 12 months. The new pathway provides 10+2 graduates the opportunity to obtain a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree that is recognized by the Medical Council of India, through a 5-year pathway. Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree awarded by SGU with successful completion of the course and a Bachelor’s degree in Medical Sciences with Honors from Northumbria University on successfully completing their third year and meeting all eligibility criteria, and a Certificate in Higher Education in Medical Sciences from Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/16621/csir-to-organize-summer-research-training-programme.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/16621/csir-to-organize-summer-research-training-programme.html Mon, 08 Jun 2020 08:25:00 +0530 The North East Institute of Science and Technology (NEIST) is working towards ameliorating the stagnancy created in the academic scenario of the nation due to COVID-19 pandemic. Jorhat-based CSIR-NEIST got the mandate from DG, CSIR Dr Shekhar C. Mande to organize and coordinate a country-wide CSIR-Summer Research Training Programme (CSIR-SRTP-2020). An online programme (CSIR-SRTP-2020) is going to be discharged through the faculties and mentors from 38 CSIR laboratories spread across the length and breadth of the country. This was announced by the director of CSIR-NEIST Dr G Narahari Sastry. As a prelude to this online programme, a website http://www.neist.res.in/srtp2020/ has been launched where aspiring students can log on to avail the online application form and the detailed brochure of the programme.  The online programme has been designed for students pursuing such programmes as BSc, MSc, BTech/B.E., MCA, M.Tech, and M. Pharma and with excellent academic record throughout. The programme is also open to faculties from various colleges affiliated to UGC/AICTE/State/Central/Private Universities. The selection process will be purely based on the merit of project proposals submitted by the candidates. An applicant will be given the opportunity to select three CSIR labs/institutes with preference and certificates will be provided to all the candidates upon successful completion of the online programme. About 400 eminent scientists from CSIR laboratories will be engaged in this novel endeavor to deliver online lectures on various subjects such as chemistry, physics, mathematics, geoscience, pharmacy, data sciences, artificial intelligence and medicine. Financial grants will also be provided to 400-odd students participating in this programme. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/16594/takshashila-institution-launches-biotech-policy-course.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/16594/takshashila-institution-launches-biotech-policy-course.html Tue, 02 Jun 2020 14:00:00 +0530 Bengaluru based Takshashila Institution has launched a new course- Graduate Certificate in Public Policy with a focus on biotech policy. The Graduate Certificate in Public Policy (Biotech Policy) is for those who wish to understand the political economy of biotechnology and public health, particularly in the backdrop of a pandemic. Participants will be equipped to navigate the rapidly evolving biotechnology ecosystem so as to capitalise on the opportunities while managing the risks. They will also learn the basics of India’s public healthcare system, particularly the role of the government and also understand the public funding of fundamental research. The GCPP (BT) is largely delivered online allowing students to participate and learn from anywhere and while working in full-time positions. The course consists of weekly online webinars (typically held on Saturdays) spanning 12 weeks and two contact workshops (currently being conducted online, in view of the COVID-19 outbreak and containment measures).  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/16576/iisc-talentsprint-to-launch-multiple-executive-programs.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/16576/iisc-talentsprint-to-launch-multiple-executive-programs.html Mon, 01 Jun 2020 06:10:00 +0530 Bengaluru based Indian Institute of Science (IISc), India’s leading institution for advanced education and research in sciences and engineering, has signed a multi-year partnership with TalentSprint.  The Advanced Certification Program in Digital Health & Imaging is the first program to be launched under this partnership, starting July 2020. Targeted towards professionals keen to master cutting edge tech solutions in eHealth, personalized healthcare, biotech, medical devices, wearables and digital therapeutics, the six-month program will be offered in a hybrid format suitable for executive education. Applications are now open for the first cohort of select 50 candidates.  Speaking on the occasion, Professor Anurag Kumar, Director of IISc, said: “Our research and teaching with an emphasis on doctoral and post graduate programs are world renowned. The partnership with TalentSprint will allow us to open up executive education to individual learners. The debut program, Advanced Certification Program in Digital Health & Imaging, is at the intersection of data sciences and biomedical sciences. This field has been emerging over the last few years and has gathered serious momentum in the wake of Covid-19.” The Advanced Certification Program in Digital Health & Imaging will be led by Dr Phaneendra Yalavarthy, Associate Professor at the Department of Computational & Data Sciences, IISc. He will partner with a team of top-tier IISc faculty to teach this course in executive format, starting July 2020. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/16497/dbt-strengthens-components-of-star-college-scheme.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/16497/dbt-strengthens-components-of-star-college-scheme.html Thu, 21 May 2020 10:10:00 +0530 Department of Biotechnology (DBT) is inviting applications from colleges of all the states and Union Territories of India offering undergraduate education (UG) in sciences under ‘STAR COLLEGE’ Scheme to brand and nurture excellence in UG Science education. The  program emphasizes holistic improvement of science education at undergraduate level with special emphasis on practical training to students. The initiative provides support for (a) Improving knowledge and skills of teachers in basic Sciences and specialized techniques, (b) Access to specialized infrastructure to students, (c) Assurance of consumables, reagents and chemicals for students, (d) Substantial hands-on experience in  designing  and conducting practicals to ensure critical thinking, (e) and access to books and journals including e-journal facilities. The aim is to improve practical training in existing science courses like Botany, Zoology, Chemistry, Physics, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, Mathematics, Electronics, Computer Science etc. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/16063/sas-india-collaborates-with-da-iict-to-bring-data-science-courses.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/16063/sas-india-collaborates-with-da-iict-to-bring-data-science-courses.html Tue, 31 Mar 2020 05:00:00 +0530 SAS India, the leader in business analytics software and services announced its association with Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology (DA-IICT) for a two-year full time Master of Science in Data Science (M.Sc. Data Science). The programme is designed to address the new paradigm of fact-based decision making associated with the advent of Big Data. The program in Data Science starting July 2020, will not only include traditional data analysis skills but also incorporate other crucial skills to perform analysis on big data including data from multimedia sources.   The primary objective of the M.Sc. in Data Science program is to develop a skilled professional workforce that is prepared to address the increasing needs in the rapidly expanding area of big data analytics. The program aims to provide skills in quantitative data analysis, data mining, data modeling and prediction, data storage and management, big data processing, data visualization, programming and communication. SAS based courses/ training and many practical case studies have been integrated in the program to boost the learner confidence and market acceptability. The program also enables the students to obtain SAS global certification and the skills can be ratified and showcased through SAS international certification badges.   Bhuvan Nijhawan, Director, Education, SAS Asia Pacific said, “The demand for good data scientist is growing consistently. SAS along with DA-IICT has a firm belief that the future of data science is bright and promising. The newly launched program is a platform that will enable success in skill development, career development and evolution into a data scientist of the future.”   Prof. K. S. Dasgupta, Director, DA-IICT said, “The uniqueness of this postgraduate program - MSc in Data Science - is truly multidisciplinary as it is a confluence of disciplines like computer science, mathematical statistics, probability theory, machine learning, data processing and analysis, and visualization.”   Prof. Bhaskar Chaudhury, DA-IICT said, “Big Data Analytics will be a 200-billion-dollar market very soon. With enterprises already in the run to hire data scientists and over 10,000 budding AI start-ups, data scientists are in high demand. Organizations need talented individuals capable of solving complex big-data problems who can not only identify various pieces of data but also draw insights from them. There is a huge gap between demand and supply of data scientist, and this discrepancy has made data science a very lucrative career.”    The programme is divided into four terms. Throughout the course students will focus on learning optimization concepts, forecasting, AI & Machine Learning algorithms like neural network, deep learning, text analytics, image processing using languages like SAS, R, Python and various emerging technologies - all through problem solving with industry relevant data sets. The students shall thus be readied to take up industry assignments in a company during their summer internship. The programme is heavily premised on industry interface for which a novel concept of “Industry Associate” is implemented. Select companies/organizations which have been using analytics are associated with the programme as Industry associates. Their analytics experts will constantly interact with students in formal and informal ways and help ensure the programme remains well tuned with industry needs.   During these terms, students would be imparted in-depth management knowledge in Data Science area along with relevant analytics course. With this academic preparation, the students would be treated as industry-ready and required to do an internship on an industry project in one of the associate companies for the last term. Only after successful completion of it, they would earn their degrees.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15966/dsu-collaborates-with-niti-aayog-to-explore-innovation.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15966/dsu-collaborates-with-niti-aayog-to-explore-innovation.html Tue, 17 Mar 2020 10:40:00 +0530 To promote the culture of innovation and entrepreneurial spirit among students and researchers, Bangalore based Dayanand Sagar University in association with Atal Innovation Mission and NITI Aayog has established the Atal Incubation Centre-Dayanand Sagar University (AIC-DSU) Foundation recently. The AIC-DSU is primarily established to bring in a problem-solving culture among students as well as to foster innovation-incubation models. This culture coupled with the ecosystem that is supportive of innovation would enable ideas to flourish. Good and promising ideas are taken up for further nurturing and examined for its business potential; which then is adopted to be transformed into entrepreneurship. Ramanan Ramanathan, Mission Director Additional Secretary-NITI Aayog); Dr. H P Kincha, Evangelist, DSU and Prof. R. Janardhan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor-DSU were part of this collaboration. AIC-DSU Foundation - established by DSU is supported by Atal Innovation Mission which functions under the NITI Aayog and has its focus areas in: Healthcare, Mobility and Waste Management.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15942/asu-organises-pharmacy-career-fair-2020-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15942/asu-organises-pharmacy-career-fair-2020-.html Thu, 12 Mar 2020 12:10:00 +0530 School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Apeejay Stya University, recently organised the Pharmacy Career Fair 2020 in Gurugram. The event was attended by many students from ASU as well as Delhi NCR. In all, 21 companies visited the campus for selection of students pursuing D. Pharma, B. Pharma, and M. Pharma programmes. The event proved to be a roaring success wherein more than 50 students bagged offers from leading Pharmaceutical companies. The aim of the Pharmacy Career Fair was to bring together students looking for exciting career opportunities and companies searching for the best talent under one roof. Apart from Apeejay Stya University, students from other colleges like B.S. Anangpuria Institute of Technology & Management, MVN University, Ramgopal College of Pharmacy and Jamia Hamdard also attended the event. Some of the key recruiters that were present at the event were Apollo Hospital, Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India - Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), Systopic Laboratories Pvt. Ltd., Psychotropic India, ASG Biochem Pvt. Ltd., Bioinnovat Research, Adips Laboratories Ltd., Martin & Harris Pvt. Ltd., Nextgen Invitro Diagnostics Pvt. Ltd., Walter Bushnell Pvt. Ltd., Protech Biosystems Pvt. Ltd., Apollo Pharmacy, Lark Laboratories, etc. Among the visiting companies, Apollo Pharmacy was the top recruiter, having recruited 35 students who were offered attractive pay packages.     ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15931/ansal-university-hosts-respiratory-hygiene-workshop.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15931/ansal-university-hosts-respiratory-hygiene-workshop.html Mon, 09 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +0530 Sushant School of Health and Sciences and Healthcare Foundation of India conducted a workshop on Respiratory Hygiene at Ansal University recently. Dr K.K Aggarwal, President Health Care Foundation of India, spearheaded the session and discussed the precautionary measures one can take to protect themselves from the prominent risks and viruses, including CoronaVirus. With the growing concerns of Corona Virus and people being affected on a large scale, the University considered it their responsibility to conduct a workshop and create awareness in the society as a part of giving back to the world and educating them to prevent medical hazards. The workshop kick-started with a discussion on respiratory hygiene, entailed by a session on routes of transmission, various respiratory infections, air pollution and preventive measures to be taken in order to avoid being a victim of the viruses. Further educating the audience about the health laws and the procedure followed to cure the infection, including incubation, quarantine and isolation, the Padmashri speaker addressed the latest epidemics and helped calm the panic in the capital. Dr K.K Aggarwal said, "It is our duty to create awareness about an individual's health and the risks and infections associated with it, especially in the times of health crisis; where people need external support the most. Educating masses and calming the panic by discussing root causes and preventive measures, we are honoured to have an opportunity to give back to society." Dr Monica Chaudhary, Director, Sushant School of Health and Sciences, said, "Sushant School of Health and Sciences has always envisioned a healthy present and future for the society, and by this workshop, it is endeavouring to achieve that. Creating awareness of the nascent risks attached to the viruses, the session focused on discussion precautionary measures to cease people from falling victims to the infections. We, as a responsible educational institute, will keep striving to educate everyone and prevent health issues to the best of our abilities. Here at this workshop, we want to shed light on the growing concerns of this coronavirus, by preparing our students for future situations where they can support their patients not just with their medical skills but also their presence of mind and prevent panic in situations of epidemics.” The workshop served as a success with specialised media and renowned names gracing the event and disseminating essential information to control the present-day chaos and panic due to health risks. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15923/leadership-in-public-health-course-launched-at-mahe.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15923/leadership-in-public-health-course-launched-at-mahe.html Fri, 06 Mar 2020 16:45:00 +0530 Online certificate course on leadership in public health developed by the George Institute for Global Health, India and the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) was launched at the Manipal campus recently. Those present on the occasion included Dr H.S Ballal, Pro-Chancellor, Manipal Academy of Higher education; Prof Vivekanand Jha, Executive Director, George Institute for Global Health, India; Richard Mills, Director, Global Communications, George Institute for Global Health and Dr Ramakrishna Prasad from PCMH, Restore Health. This one-year certificate course blends management practices with technical inputs from the best minds drawn from all the collaborating institutions. Mentors from Maastricht University, The Netherlands, PCMH Restore Health and People Business are participating in the delivery of the course. It comprises two face-to-face sessions in February and September at the Manipal Academy of Higher Education; each session is for a week. Rest of the course will be delivered using an online platform. Wide ranging topics covering essential competencies in leadership, leadership models, personal development plans, communication in leadership, health program designs development and stakeholder engagement, peer mentoring, ethics, cost effectiveness etc. are being covered in the first week of face to face sessions currently on at Manipal University. This course is designed to prepare future leaders who will take an interdisciplinary approach to solve public health issues and take leadership in solving the most pressing  challenges facing our health systems, said Prof Vivekanand Jha, Executive Director, The George Institute. Dr H.S.Ballal hoped that the course would greatly benefit future leaders in the area of public health. “A leader leads from the front. They take the right decisions and work for a vision of excellence,” he said. Dr Sandeep Krishnan, Director HR at People Business, another partner involved in course delivery said, “The delta between good and great in any profession is about having the right leadership effectiveness. In the context of Public Health professionals, the ability to influence a wide range of stakeholders through the leadership skills can be an edge over the rest.” TGI and MAHE recently signed a MoU to promote public health research in India and to build the capacity of budding researchers to do cutting-edge research in the area. The partnership is focussed on addressing real-world health challenges through development and testing of innovative solutions that bridge the gap between research and policy. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15861/horiba-medical-india-to-enhance-technical-education-system.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15861/horiba-medical-india-to-enhance-technical-education-system.html Thu, 27 Feb 2020 11:00:00 +0530 Technical Education System in India has grown into a fairly the large-sized system, offering opportunities for education and training in a wide variety of trades and disciplines. And, adding more to the education scenario in India, Horiba Medical India has launched Horiba India technical Institute (HITI) in association with Healthcare Sector Skill Council (HSSC), a certifying body under the ministry of skill and excellence. The institute aims to provide various specialized professional courses, conceptual understanding of differed IVD technologies and best laboratory practices along with NLP trainings. The courses are conducted by pioneer clinical experts including pathologists, doctors and technology experts and are specially designed for MLT students, Technicians, administrators, phlebotomists, quality managers and doctors. Dr Rajeev Gautam, President, Horiba India said, “Science and Technology have influenced almost every section of the society that people can’t imagine their life without it. Nonetheless there are still areas especially in the healthcare sector which are not utilizing technology optimally. To bridge this existing gap technical education is required to enhance the skill and mindset to make right clinical decisions as well as improve patient safety. First time we have undertaken such an initiative and we believe that India is the perfect place to upskill people through technology. At the end of the day learning is a never ending process our institute will focus on collection of patient samples, better handling as well as better diagnostics that will augur well for both clinicians as well as patients. With this institute we are looking to form a touch base for the future of technology that will educate healthcare professional to use technology efficiently and effectively.” Arnaud Pradel, General Manager, Medical Segment leader and HORIBA Corporate Officer said, “We all know that academics are necessary but are you actually employable? Are you able to enter into a lab and be efficient?  This is when it becomes a different story. HITI focuses on training, skills, ability to answer relevant questions and prescribe effective treatments to students who will be the perfect fit for a job when they complete their education.” Besides providing a quality education, HITI also focuses on training, skills and providing maximum assistance in guiding the student’s in making their future choices.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15829/karnataka-signs-mou-with-queensland-to-promote-biotech-research.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15829/karnataka-signs-mou-with-queensland-to-promote-biotech-research.html Fri, 21 Feb 2020 14:00:00 +0530 Queensland, the Australian state home to a massive IT and biotech community has recently partnered with the Government of Karnataka’s K-tech hub. The Queensland Government, through Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ) and Study Queensland, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Karnataka’s Information Technology, Biotechnology and Science & Technology Department. This partnership enables university researchers and academics undertaking innovative work in the IT and biotech work in the north-east Australian state to share learnings and network with contemporaries in Bengaluru. The MoU was signed at K-Tech, 10,000 Startups, Bengaluru by Dr EV Ramana Reddy, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary to Govt of Karnataka, IT, BT and S&T and Toni Brownie, General Manager, International Operations, Trade and Investment, Queensland Office. Q-Pod - a Queensland-India hub for education, innovation and entrepreneurship - has been established by Study Queensland, a unit of TIQ that administers the Government’s International Education and Training Strategy to Advance Queensland. Queensland’s biotech and IT communities have played a pivotal role in addressing the state’s health, agriculture, energy challenges. The Queensland Government is a keen advocate of innovation. Government agency Advance Queensland hosts and supports start-ups at The Precinct building in inner-Brisbane. Trade and Investment Queensland has adopted a strategy to make business and trade relationships between Queensland and India easier.  The strategy aims to elevate the profile of the Queensland-India relationship build business capacity develop market intelligence foster relationships between businesses in Queensland and India facilitate collaborative projects   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15808/health-ministry-provides-new-avenues-for-medical-degree-holders.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15808/health-ministry-provides-new-avenues-for-medical-degree-holders.html Wed, 19 Feb 2020 11:55:00 +0530 Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in its latest gazette notification regarding Clinical Establishment (Central Government) Amendment Rules 2020 on 14/02/2020 made it official that, professionals with MSc degree in Medical Microbiology or Medical Biochemistry with three years of laboratory experience can become authorized signatory in diagnostic laboratory for tests respective to their specialization without recording any opinion or interpretation of lab results. As per the notification, “A PhD in Medical Microbiology or Medical Biochemistry shall be required for Medium & Advanced Laboratories.” This notification came after the Board of Governors in supersession of MCI gave its decision regarding the role of authorized signatory to the ministry. Dr. Sridhar Rao, President, National M.Sc Medical Teachers' Association welcomed this move of the ministry and said, "it was indeed a long battle to win back our rights. Signing authority was snatched from us and many of our members lost jobs or demoted at workplace and faced a lot of hardships.” He thanked the Board of Governors and the central Health Ministry for restoring the signatory rights by giving due consideration to the NMMTA’s detailed representations. “Clinical scientists signing laboratory reports is practiced all over the world, including the US, the UK, the European Union, Middle East countries, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Nepal etc. In fact, the West Bengal government had included the clinical scientists in its Clinical Establishments Act guidelines. With the Union government clearing the way, rest of the states must adopt these guidelines", he added. Arjun Maitra, Secretary, National M.Sc Medical Teachers' Association said, “We were waiting for this day for long. From 2014 we were fighting for our professional dignity and the opportunity to work in the field of our specialization. Appropriately trained clinical scientists will compensate the acute deficiency of doctors specializing in laboratory medicine.” Since the knowledge and skills regarding the techniques used in the laboratory tests are acquired in the postgraduate course (Medical MSc) itself and the fact that Ph.D doesn't confer any additional knowledge or skill in routine diagnostics, the requirement of Ph.D for medium and advanced laboratories may be omitted. NMMTA has always asked for the restoration of signatory authority based on the PG qualifications, with or without Ph.D. As of now we thank and welcome the decision of the ministry and all else who have supported us. National M.Sc Medical Teachers' Association (NMMTA) is a registered association of persons who have medical M.Sc postgraduate degree in Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology or Microbiology awarded under the faculty of medicine and conducted by any medical college/institution (recognized by the Medical Council of India).   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15804/mmhrc-signs-mou-with-hope-africa-university.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15804/mmhrc-signs-mou-with-hope-africa-university.html Tue, 18 Feb 2020 11:20:00 +0530 Meenakshi Mission Hospital & Research Centre (MMHRC), Madurai has signed an MoU with Hope Africa University, a higher educational institution in Burundi, Africa in the areas of telemedicine, education, training, cancer care as well as specialty consultation. The MoU was signed as a result of Dr. S. Gurushankar, Chairman, Meenakshi Mission Hospital & Research Centre and Dr. Victor Barantota, Rector, Hope Africa University meeting in Africa a few months ago. Basis their discussion on the cutting-edge technology, medical expertise and world-class treatment offered by MMHRC, Dr. Barantota expressed much interest in visiting MMHRC. The MOU was then signed between J Adel, General Manager, Operations, MMHRC and Dr. Victor Barantota, in the presence of Dr. B. Kannan, Medical Administrator, MMHRC.  According to the MoU, Meenakshi Mission Hospital will help Hope Africa University in developing and delivering certain courses for medical and paramedical students and setting up medical labs. In addition to extending its support in education and training, the hospital would also provide telemedicine, cancer care, and specialty consultation, and conduct medical camps in Africa offering world class treatment at very affordable prices. Commenting on the MoU, Dr S. Gurushankar, Chairman, Meenakshi Mission Hospital & Research Centre said, “I believe this is a very good opportunity for cross cultural influence. It is wonderful to find a partner who believes in the same ideology of providing world class healthcare facilities at affordable range. We regard the opportunity to work with Hope Africa University mutually beneficial. In the globalised environment where pandemics are frequent, having exposure to health practices in other parts of the world is an asset for medical professionals.” Dr. Yamuremye Fulgence, Director, The Van Norman Clinic, Bujumbura, a Senior Board member of the University said, “We are inspired by the infrastructure and services provided at Meenakshi Mission Hospital. We want to emulate this model.  In the coming months and years, our university will fully make use of the knowledge sharing arrangement for the benefit of our students and the patients we serve.” Hope Africa University offers bachelor’s degree through its various departments including Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Department of Ophthalmology, Department of Midwives, Department of Nursing, Department of Physiotherapy, Department of Public Health and Health Services Management, and Department of General Medicine.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15774/govt-releases-curriculum-for-school-health-ambassador-initiative.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15774/govt-releases-curriculum-for-school-health-ambassador-initiative.html Thu, 13 Feb 2020 10:40:00 +0530 Ramesh Pokhriyal, Union Minister of Human Resource Development & Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare jointly released curriculum for School Health Ambassador Initiative under Ayushman Bharat in New Delhi recently. Ashwini Kumar Choubey, MoS, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare was also present at the occasion. Speaking on the occasion Pokhriyal said, “The goal of ed­ucation is not only to increase the knowledge, but also to inculcate be­havior which promotes consciousness about good health. He said that the teachers are the best mentors for the children and now they will also act as “Health and Wellness Ambassadors” and will disseminate various key information by organising culturally sensitive activity based sessions for one hour per week for 24 weeks in a year to promote joyful learning. The first phase of implementation will be in all the public upper primary, secondary and senior secondary schools of aspirational districts. Subsequently, remaining districts will be taken up in the second year.” Pokhriyal informed that the School Health Programme (SHP) under Ayushman Bharat was launched on April 14, 2018 by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh. This is a joint collaborative programme of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of Human Resource & Development, Department of School Education & Literacy. The initiative targets both Education and Health implementers and is envisaged to facilitate an integrated approach to health programming and more effective learning at the school level. Ministry of Human Resource & Development and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) along with NCERT has developed curriculum framework and training material for training of nodal teachers, in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG- 3). The Minister hoped that this initiative will help students to show good academic performance of the students as well keep them healthy and enhance skills/counter issues which they may come across throughout their life. Dr. Harsh Vardhan stated, “The efforts put in by National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) for developing 24-hour curriculum, training materials for training of nodal teachers, facilitators guide were developed in consultation with MoHFW. Growing up healthy, emotional wellbeing and mental health, interpersonal relationships, values and responsible citizenship, gender equality, nutrition, health and sanitation, promotion of healthy lifestyles, prevention and management of substance misuse, reproductive health and HIV prevention, safety and security against violence and injuries, and promotion of safe use of internet, media and social media are the 11 identified themes.” In this new initiative, health promotion and prevention activities program has been added in addition to ongoing health screening program through Rasthriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) teams and provision of services (IFA, Albendazole and sanitary napkins). While health screening and provision of services are ongoing activities, the newly added health promotion and prevention component will be implemented by two teachers identified in every school as “Health and Wellness Ambassador”. These ambassadors will be supported by class monitors as “Health and Wellness Messengers”, Dr. Harsh Vardhan elaborated. Dr Harsh Vardhan also stated, “A National Resource Group (NRG) of 40 members has already been constituted by NCERT who have sound training skills and experience in Adolescent Health. The NRG will train the State Resource Group which will comprise of 2 persons each from SCERT, SIHFW and DIET from each selected district at the 5 Regional Institute of Education (RIE) at Shillong, Mysore, Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar and Ajmer.” Preeti Sudan, Secretary, Health & Family Welfare; Dr. Rajiv Garg, DGHS; H Senapathy, Director NCERT; along with officials of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Ministry of Human Resource Development and representatives from the developmental partners such as Jhepeigo, UNFPA, USAID, UNICEF and WHO were also present during the inauguration ceremony.     ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15738/iit-d-inks-mou-with-uit-the-arctic-university-of-norway-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15738/iit-d-inks-mou-with-uit-the-arctic-university-of-norway-.html Mon, 10 Feb 2020 06:00:00 +0530 With an aim of recognising the mutual benefits to be gained through a cooperative programme promoting scholarly activities and international understanding, UiT The Arctic University of Norway and IIT Delhi signed an MoU recently. The MoU was signed by Prof. Arne. O. Smalås, Dean, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway and Prof. Sanjeev Sanghi, Dean, Alumni Affairs & International Programmes, IIT Delhi. Both the institutions have agreed to the development of collaborative research and educational projects; organise joint academic and scientific activities, such as courses, conferences, seminars, symposia or lectures; joint cultural and educational endeavours; field and laboratory work in the sphere of both partners’ interest. The two institutions also agreed to contribute to the development of the Universities curricula; exchange of research, teaching, technical and administrative staff; exchange of students and PhD candidate and the exchange of publications and other materials of common interest. Prof Joby Joseph, Dept. of Physics will be the Coordinator from IIT Delhi to manage the development and conduct of the joint activities under the MoU. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15696/stemrx-biosciences-joins-hands-with-amity-institute-of-biotech.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15696/stemrx-biosciences-joins-hands-with-amity-institute-of-biotech.html Mon, 03 Feb 2020 06:00:00 +0530 To help people get rid of various fatal diseases, StemRx Bioscience Solutions Pvt. Ltd., in association with Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Navi Mumbai, organized a one day International seminar on how technologies like Tissue Nanotransfection, bone marrow transplant, organ transplant, and umbilical cord blood transplantation can change the future course of various diseases like cancer. Along with Dr. Pradeep Mahajan, many other dignitaries like Dr. Chandan K. Sen, Director, Indian Center for Regenerative Medicine and Engineering , Indiana University, USA; Dr. M. Gopinath, Principal Scientist, CFTRI, Mysore; Dr. Satyandra Katewa, Head, Department of Paediatric Hematology-Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant, Jaipur; Dr. Sunali Khanna, Nair Hospital, Mumbai; Dr. Deepa Bhartiya, Senior Scientific Officer, NIRRH, Mumbai, and Dr. Neetin Desai, Director, Amity Institute Of Biotechnology were part of the workshop. Today, the Indian healthcare sector is growing at a brisk pace. With the help of advanced medical technologies, it is now possible to treat diseases with efficacy. The technological advancements are changing the very face of medicine. Thus, to help people tackle a number of ailments StemRx Biosciences Solutions Pvt. Ltd tied up with Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Navi Mumbai.  Dr. Pradeep Mahajan, Regenerative Medicine Researcher, Mumbai explained, “The seminar highlighted how technologies like Tissue Nanotransfection, bone marrow, transplant, organ transplant, and umbilical cord blood transplantation can help treat various diseases like cancer, and infertility. I conducted a session on how new age medicine, regenerative medicine, and cell-based therapy can be a good option for people to tackle cancer, autoimmune diseases, urinary problems, neurological disorders, spinal cord injuries, and weak immune systems. Cell-based therapy can solve the majority of diseases without having conflicts. The newest technology Tissue Nanotransfection is going to create a revolution in cell-based therapy. I am honored, proud, and will look forward to many more associations with Amity in the near future.”   More than 300 participants including the students, gynecologists, and government authorities were present for the seminar. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15673/thsti-to-hold-basic-course-on-immunology-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15673/thsti-to-hold-basic-course-on-immunology-.html Thu, 30 Jan 2020 06:00:00 +0530 Faridabad-based Translational Health Science and Technology Institute will be conducting the third edition of its basic course in Immunology from March 16 to 18. Dr. Shiv Pillai, Professor, Harvard Medical School, Boston along with Dr. Dipankar Nandi from the Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru will be covering the various topics of this domain. The target audience for this course are Masters and PhD students, research associates and post-doctoral fellows, early career investigators. However, the course is open to other investigators also who would like to update on the knowledge of Immunology. The last year’s course was attended by more than 250 participants comprising faculty members, research fellows and PhD students from institutes across the country. Researchers at Banaras Hindu University, AIIMS Delhi, PGIMER Chandigarh, SRM Sonipat, Tezpur University and others could attend by joining a live streaming session.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15633/iit-d-to-work-with-mit-on-assistive-technology.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15633/iit-d-to-work-with-mit-on-assistive-technology.html Fri, 24 Jan 2020 10:00:00 +0530 An 8-member team of students from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US led by their faculty Dr Kyle Keane visited the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi for a two-day exchange program on Assistive Technology on 20th and 21st January, 2020. They had joint class with 7 students of IIT Delhi as a part of exchange program. The MIT-IITD students interacted with students, project staff and entrepreneurs working in the space of assistive technology at IIT Delhi. The students from both the institutes visited Indian Association for the Blind and had discussion with students and special educators to get first had experience of needs and opportunities in the space of assistive technology. Three student teams each of which consisting of MIT and IIT Delhi students worked on unmet needs and came up with solutions as a part of joint studio work. All three teams made their presentation pitches to faculty, experts and to other students. Prof. P.V.M. Rao, coordinator of this programme from IIT Delhi, felt that overall the exchange program was a good experience for students from both the institutes and students had an exciting time working together. Some areas of work for long time collaboration were identified during this exchange program. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15605/csir-imtech-conducts-workshop-on-fermentation-process.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15605/csir-imtech-conducts-workshop-on-fermentation-process.html Wed, 22 Jan 2020 06:00:00 +0530 The CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH) conducted a five-day workshop on the fundamentals of Fermentation Process Development. The workshop helped participants acquire fundamental understanding of the relationship between process design and product quality in fermentation. Twenty one participants from different academic and research institutes as well as from industry were part of this workshop, which started from January 13 and concluded on January 17. This workshop was intended to not only build the knowledge base of participants on the subject but to also help increase employability and entrepreneurial potential of the participants in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. The workshop was organized by the Biochemical Engineering Research and Process Development Centre (BERPDC) under its ‘Skill Development’ mandate with an aim to impart and upgrade skills of the young researchers and students in Fermentation Technology.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15567/himachal-pradesh-university-signs-mou-with-nbi-elemental-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15567/himachal-pradesh-university-signs-mou-with-nbi-elemental-.html Thu, 16 Jan 2020 14:20:00 +0530 Himachal Pradesh University has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with NBI Elemental, Gurugram, for research and development and business collaboration. The MoU was signed between Prof Sikander Kumar, VC, Himachal Pradesh University and Mr. Atul, MD, NBI Elemental, Gurugram with the hope that the areas of collaboration will be diversified in due course of time. The company had registered with the state government during investors’ meet at Dharamsala and also submitted a proposal. The university and company will work together initially with Biotechnology Incubation Centre (BIC-HPU) while working in specific areas of medicinal plant-based product development. The state government through Department of Industries, Ayurveda and Infrastructural Development Board, has also agreed to join hands together for this project which will be operated in the public-private partnership mode. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15533/ils-signs-mou-with-aiims-for-human-health-research.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15533/ils-signs-mou-with-aiims-for-human-health-research.html Mon, 13 Jan 2020 12:35:00 +0530 The Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), Bhubaneswar and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar have signed a collaborative agreement for undertaking advanced research in the area of human health and welfare. The agreement was signed by Dr Ajay Parida, ILS Director and Dr B Gitanjali, Director, AIIMS, Bhubaneswar in presence of Prof Subrat Acharya, President, AIIMS Bhubaneswar. The agreement aims at strengthening collaboration in research, education and outreach. Faculties, scientists and students of both institutions would have access to scientific infrastructure, and would be trained on areas of specialisation of both institutions. The ILS is involved in basic and translational research in the area of cancer biology and infectious diseases and would have beneficial partnership and inputs from the clinicians of AIIMS in designing and undertaking several research programmes. The agreement also envisages organising joint seminars and workshops as well as policy dialogues or better health and disease management. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15524/merck-imtech-unveil-high-tech-skill-development-center.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15524/merck-imtech-unveil-high-tech-skill-development-center.html Fri, 10 Jan 2020 12:35:00 +0530 Merck, a leading science and technology company, has announced the opening of new, non-profit center where Indian students and researchers can learn the latest genome-editing and single-molecule biomolecule biomarker detection technologies from Merck experts. “With the rapidly growing biopharmaceutical industry in India and demand for therapies, researchers who collaborate with us will benefit from our expertise to enhance their scientific competency and develop advanced technologies to accelerate development and production of new therapies,” said Sunil Punjabi, Country Speaker and Head of Research Solutions, Life Science, India. “They will gain hands-on experience and enhance their skills in areas such as cancer research and novel drug development, conducting real-time analysis on their samples as part of workshops here.” The center was developed by Merck in collaboration with CSIR-IMTECH, an institute of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, under the aegis of Ministry of Science and Technology. It focuses on research, development and training in new drug discovery, affordable healthcare, fast and accurate diagnostics as well as agriculture biotechnology. Located in Chandigarh, the center augments the Indian government’s initiative for life science skill-building in the country. Dr. Shekhar C. Mande, Director General CSIR & Secretary DSIR, said this collaboration would be a new benchmark for up scaling employability skills for graduates and post graduates who are interested in life science careers. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15495/grenada-brings-opportunities-for-aspiring-indian-doctors.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15495/grenada-brings-opportunities-for-aspiring-indian-doctors.html Wed, 08 Jan 2020 10:00:00 +0530 St. George’s University (SGU) in Grenada, the leading international medical school in the Caribbean, is offering Indian doctors of the future the chance to study for an MD amongst students and faculty from all over the world. The lack of spaces in Indian medical schools is well-documented, and is leading to many potential medical students looking abroad for the chance to qualify in their chosen field. St George’s University’s is now the second largest source of doctors for the entire US workforce and its 20,000 graduates comprise physicians, veterinarians, scientists, and public health and business professionals. An MD course at St George’s University provides ambitious students with the chance to study and work in multiple countries as part of their training and beyond.  In addition to the University campus in Grenada, SGU also allows its MD students to apply to complete up to 50% of their degree in the United Kingdom at Northumbria University in Newcastle. The academic program in the UK is identical to the program delivered in Grenada - with the same content, examinations, and schedule, while providing students on the 5-year Doctor of Medicine program the opportunity to spend part of their degree program in the UK. The University recognises the global challenges of physician shortages and offers a range of scholarships for UK and Commonwealth students, who can undertake clinical training in the US, UK, and Canada.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15482/iit-inks-mou-with-aiims-in-bhubaneswar-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15482/iit-inks-mou-with-aiims-in-bhubaneswar-.html Tue, 07 Jan 2020 06:30:00 +0530 The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) at Bhubaneswar for Collaborative research and academic interaction among the faculty and scientists of both the institutes in their core areas for improving the quality of health care through the application of technology. The Minister of HRD has been on a visit to Bhubaneswar for an interaction with the Directors of some Central Institutes and KVS officials invited on the occasion. Making use of this opportunity, the MoU was signed by Prof. R.V. Raja Kumar, Director, IIT Bhubaneswar and Prof. Gitanjali Batmanabane, Director, AIIMS Bhubaneswar and exchanged in the presence of Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, Minister for Human Resource Development (MHRD), Govt. of India, the dignitaries present, the faculty and senior officials of both the Institutes. The collaborative research in healthcare is a valuable mechanism for advancing knowledge and strengthening research capacity for smooth dovetailing of skills and expertise. This collaboration will make modern research tools available to both the institutions by providing a unique platform for interdisciplinary research for students and faculty with a goal to improve health care facilities in our country.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15431/kiit-to-host-training-on-downstream-bioprocess-development.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15431/kiit-to-host-training-on-downstream-bioprocess-development.html Fri, 27 Dec 2019 10:50:00 +0530 Sponsored by the National Biopharma Mission, hands-on training on bioprocess development is being organised at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) Technology Business Incubator in Bhubaneshwar from 20th to 24th January 2020. Advanced downstream processing involves design, optimization and trouble shooting of chromatographic processes. It also includes development of a scalable, economic and robust chromatographic process with purity, recovery and productivity suitable for manufacturing scale. The training session at KIIT will be executed by eminent experts from GE Healthcare and KIIT. It offers an excellent opportunity for interaction with leading stakeholders of the biopharma industry. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15400/docmode-introduces-many-more-e-courses.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15400/docmode-introduces-many-more-e-courses.html Tue, 24 Dec 2019 10:00:00 +0530 DocMode, a global online medical learning platform, in partnership with the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, has launched various e-learning courses.The courses are on the subjects of diabetes, critical care nutrition, heart failure, mechanical ventilation and critical thinking.  They will help doctors to efficiently diagnose and treat diabetes, gain an insight into a systematic approach to diagnosing heart failure and also develop the knowledge and acumen to encounter major events related to critical care. The critical thinking course would highly aid in sharpening one’s ability to make sound decisions—an element which is often not getting adequate attention.  DocMode’s partner in this undertaking, Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh is a medical royal college in Scotland. It is one of the three organisations that set the specialty training standards for physicians in the UK.  Professor Derek Bell, President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh said: “DocMode is an important e-learning tool, which enables clinicians to stay up-to-speed with new developments across a range of treatments and aspects of care.  “Under the mechanical ventilation course for example, the syllabus structure adopted is a case-based approach. This will enable multidimensional knowledge of all situations that a clinician is likely to encounter during mechanical ventilation, to manage critical care.”  Hans Lewis, Founder and CEO of DocMode said, “Our endeavour is to eliminate unbiased learning and transform medical education, besides bridging skill gaps amongst the healthcare professionals to address evolving needs of patients in the 21st Century. The course on diabetes requires a commitment of 9 weeks, 2 hours per week; six weeks, two hours per week for heart failure; 8 weeks, 2 hours per week for mechanical ventilation, critical thinking course requires 8 weeks, 2 hours per week and critical care nutrition course requires 6 week, 2 hours per week on the side of the participant.  Paulson Paul, Founder and COO, DocMode said, “We have been reaching out to health professionals for some time now. An advantage of continued learning is that it expands knowledge, capabilities and commitment of individuals involved or planning to be engaged in the healthcare sector.”  Keith McKellar, CEO, Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh, said: “Our association with DocMode will go a long way in broadening necessary education and training for physicians through online courses”.  On completion of the course (s), learners will receive a certificate. For further details, visit the DocMode website. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15329/tau-announces-scholarship-for-pg-medical-aspirants.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15329/tau-announces-scholarship-for-pg-medical-aspirants.html Sat, 14 Dec 2019 11:00:00 +0530 Texila American University (TAU) announces a scholarship program for post-graduation (PG) medical aspirants for the year 2020. Students can register for any TAU’s PG program on or before December 31, 2019, and avail 10% scholarship on their first-year tuition fees. TAU offers an opportunity for students to upgrade their qualifications without disturbing their clinical practice. The shortage of skilled doctors and specialists continues to be a pressing issue across the globe, especially in developing countries like India. An extreme shortage of specialist doctors in India poses a serious threat to the nation’s health sector. Shortage prevails in almost all disciplines. India demands 230,000 pediatricians, whereas it has only 23,000. Besides, we have only 650 specialists in endocrinology to treat 70 million diabetic patients. The demand for specialized doctors is growing at a faster pace, whereas the supply cannot meet the demand. Upon understanding the demand, TAU, in association with Universidad Central de Nicaragua (UCN), offers a range of PG fellowship, PG upgradation, and research programs for medical professionals. These programs will help students to upgrade their knowledge and skills in their respective fields. Following are a few PG programs that TAU offers for working professionals to get specialized in the area of interest without compromising clinical commitments: Fellowship (MMSc) – This MMSc fellowship is a unique program. It offers specializations ranging from Critical Care, Endocrinology, Diabetology, Preventive Cardiology, Family Medicine, Oncology, Nuclear Medicine, Cosmetology, to Reproductive Health. Master of Medicine/Master of Surgery – This upgradation program provides a premier learning experience, both in theoretical and clinical aspects. It enables to learn unique skills, get trained, and gain extensive knowledge. They can also upgrade on General Surgery, Orthopaedics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dermatology, Paediatrics, Internal Medicine, Anaesthesia, Pathology, ENT, and so on. Ph.D. in Medical Science – TAU’s Doctorate in Medical Science is for individuals who want to do extensive research on their specialized studies and enhance their academic career without leaving their job. The above programs are designed in a way to help doctors: ·         Pursue specializations with ease, ·         Get certified as specialists in between busy schedules, ·         Continue clinical duties while pursuing a PG program, ·         Study during free or convenient timings, ·         Present academic submission feasibly, ·         Complete the courses with 24/7 consultant support. This would be the right time for the students to take up a fellowship/upgradation/Ph.D. course, TAU’s Scholarship 2020 is an opportunity for them to get specialized in the area of their interest. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15327/university-of-arizona-inks-mou-with-amrita-university.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15327/university-of-arizona-inks-mou-with-amrita-university.html Fri, 13 Dec 2019 14:05:00 +0530 In their endeavor to offer globally relevant world-class programs across a broad spectrum of disciplines, Tamil Nadu based Amrita University and the US based University of Arizona are embarking on a multidisciplinary partnership in education and research. In one of the largest ever international university collaborations in India, a Letter of Intent (LoI) was signed by the Chancellor of Amrita University, Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, and Dr. Lisel Folks, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, University of Arizona. The LoI seeks to initiate multidisciplinary collaborations for the highest standard curriculums leading to integrated and dual-degree programs at the bachelor's and master's levels. The key disciplines include Engineering, Biotechnology, Nanotechnology, Social Sciences, Medicine, Public Health, and Agriculture. The program will enhance Amrita as the study-abroad site for the University of Arizona students and vice versa. This will engage more than 200 students annually for a minimum of one semester. Dr. Lisel Folks, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at the University of Arizona, said: "The University of Arizona shares Amrita's commitment to enriching life for all, its dedication to innovation, and its spirit of compassion. We look forward to working together across multiple disciplines to expand human potential and to care for the world around us."  The LoI will also lay the foundation for exchange programs for faculty and students - undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral; collaborative partnership and participation in Amrita's multidisciplinary experiential learning program in rural India, Live-in-Labs®; joint research projects; and joint research centers in strategic areas relevant to universities. This collaboration is intended to develop and implement an accessible and affordable platform for transformation of education from a rigid classroom-based delivery model to a restructured, adaptable student-centric one that will enhance student-faculty engagement and learning outcomes. Most importantly, it will create thinkers and innovators for solving societal problems. A major goal of the partnership will be to engage in translational research to develop solutions for global sustainability and humanitarian challenges. The key focus areas will include all Engineering disciplines, Biotechnology, Nanotechnology, Molecular Medicine, Social Sciences, Medicine, Nursing, Public Health, Pharmacy, Global Media Studies, Agriculture, and Sustainable Development. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15275/bombay-college-of-pharmacy-receives-ficci-award-for-excellence-in-research.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15275/bombay-college-of-pharmacy-receives-ficci-award-for-excellence-in-research.html Sat, 07 Dec 2019 12:50:00 +0530 Mumbai-based Bombay College of Pharmacy (BCP) has been awarded Special Jury Mention for ‘Excellence in Enabling Research Environment’ at the 6th FICCI Higher Education Excellence Awards 2019 recently. The award was received by Prof. Krishnapriya Mohanraj, in-charge Principal, from Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, among other dignitaries present on the occasion. “We are very proud to receive this honour from FICCI. The award is a testimony to the world-class industry-academia research taking place at BCP. The award is significant as it places a huge emphasis on scientific research within academic institutions.” said Prof. Krishnapriya Mohanraj. Numerous research projects are at forefront in BCP in domains impacting healthcare and society. BCP has been recognized for the award for the following representative research projects among many being conducted at the institute. Investigation on liver enzymes assessing drug metabolism, a research thrust under the leadership of Dr Krishna Iyer and partially funded by Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), represented the category on partially funded project by the industry. Dr. Mala Menon developed a targeted nanoliposomal platform for inhalation therapy of TB with complete internal financial support.  National Facility for Research and Training (NFRT) for testing of drugs, pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals has been established with an aid of INR 5.87 crore under Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Research Programme funded by Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. The facility is a state of art research and training center with high end sophisticated hyphenated mass spectrometry instruments. This facility is established with the grant awarded to Dr Vaishali Shirsat and Prof Krishnapriya Mohanraj. Development of nanotechnology platforms that can aid treatment of HIV to improve maternal health was undertaken by Prof. Mangal Nagarsenker, and involved collaboration between University of Helsinki (Finland), University of Jena (Germany) and University of Porto (Portugal). The project was a showcase in category of projects partially funded by an International Agency. Further, other faculty members have also undertaken efforts in advancing research in field of waste water management, veterinary medicines, herbal drug technology, green initiatives and waste disposal. Cumulative research efforts of faculty and students at BCP have culminated in 91 publications in various national and international journals of repute, 99 presentations at various conferences and 36 awards during the past three years. The college has received a funding of around nine crores through government and industry funding in the same period. “Some of the future initiatives of BCP include setting up of a pilot plant that would aid technology transfer, scale up research projects, and offer solutions for challenges faced by industry. We also plan to expand the existing Innovation Cell to involve and motivate students even at UG level to work upon novel ideas and offer solutions for unmet societal needs,” said Prof. Mohanraj. BCP has also conducted many technology development programs. External accolades like this on a national platform bear a testament to a vibrant research environment at BCP.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15282/pg-health-launches-panache-for-indias-gen-x-doctors.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15282/pg-health-launches-panache-for-indias-gen-x-doctors.html Fri, 06 Dec 2019 15:55:00 +0530 Procter & Gamble Health Limited (formerly known as Merck Limited) has announced the launch of PANACHE- platform to support India’s Gen X doctors in their medical education journey. India has over 65,000 medical students enrolled in 450 medical colleges, amongst whom 30,000 post graduate students will soon enter the professional world. Intended to supplement their core medical curriculum, PANACHE aims to assist students in honing crucial skills for holistic patient care viz medico–legal aspects, ethics, role of technology, emotional intelligence, decision making, good communication, teamwork, problem solving and leadership among others. More than 10,200 students have already enrolled for PANACHE nationwide. Speaking about the initiative, Milind Thatte - Managing Director, Procter & Gamble Health Limited stated, “As India increases access to healthcare, patient expectations of care are rising. Today’s doctors require multiple competencies for good practice. P&G Health’s PANACHE goes beyond sharing medical expertise for any therapy area, to help equip the doctors of tomorrow with holistic skills that encompass all aspects of clinical practice. We are very thankful to the renowned medical expert panel, who worked with us to design the PANACHE program to ensure it covers the most relevant skills and topics, and to the Heads of Medical colleges who are partnering with us to take this program to students across the length and breadth of India.” Underscoring the vital need for such a program in India, Dr. Neeta Shah Mehta, Honorary Neurophysician at Bhatia General Hospital, Mumbai and member of the expert-panel for PANACHE said, “Today, medical students have to develop a well-rounded personality with a sound grasp of both medical and general knowledge. Along with diagnosing and treating patients, good communication skills are essential, as is a sympathetic yet firm attitude as doctors help patients and caregivers manage both treatable and untreatable conditions. The skills and topics tested by PANACHE thus have immense practical value, and will help drive better care for patients.” Participants from more than 250 colleges across 130 cities will go through 2 rounds of online quiz assessments culminating in a live quiz for the final round at the Annual Conference of the Association of Physicians of India (APICON) 2020.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15212/icmr-inks-mou-with-amity-university.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15212/icmr-inks-mou-with-amity-university.html Wed, 27 Nov 2019 12:15:00 +0530 Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Amity University to develop academics links in the fields of medical sciences, healthcare, nutrition, life sciences and social sciences. The MoU has been sigend for a period of three years, and will be renewed therafter. The key objectives of the MoU are- To promote contacts among scholars, students and personnel of both institutions. To provide opportunities for faculty, students, staff, scientists through organising seminars, workshops, brainstorming sessions etc. To work jointly for the common research interest at national and international levels. This includes preparation of proposals and their implementation as per the National Health Priorities. As per the MoU, students working in ICMR or using ICMR facilities may be enrolled for Ph D programmes to be awarded by Amity University on the concession of 90% on their total fee. PhD students working at Amity may carry out a part of their research work in ICMR institutes or centers and vice-versa depending upon requirements. Also, scientists of ICMR may deliver lectures in areas of their specialisation students of AU as visiting faculty on days and timings pre- arranged on mutual consent. ICMR institutions or centers will aprovide regular short term project training to the students of Amity in their areas of specialisation and vice versa. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15112/csir-imtech-inks-mou-with-iit-b-for-collaborative-research.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/15112/csir-imtech-inks-mou-with-iit-b-for-collaborative-research.html Thu, 14 Nov 2019 11:20:00 +0530 CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Chandigarh has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay to promote collaborative research. The MoU will facilitate exchange of ideas, development of new knowledge and enhance high quality research acumen between the researchers and faculty of both the institutes. The objective of this collaboration is to carry out state of the art research in areas of healthcare especially in projects and mission where both the institutes can significantly complement each other. Both the institutes shall benefit immensely through this partnership as it will facilitate  exchange of faculty and students for the purpose of research, teaching, development and implementation of collaborative research projects, professional development programs, and capacity-building efforts. Prof. Milind Atrey, Dean R&D, IIT Bombay and Dr. Manoj Raje, Officiating Director CSIR-IMTECH signed the MoU on behalf of their respective institutes in presence of Dr. Shekhar C. Mande, Director General CSIR and Secretary DSIR. Welcoming the partnership, Dr. Shekhar C. Mande said, “As IIT Bombay is amongst the top ranked institutes of the country and IMTECH has its focus cut out on solving India’s unmet medical needs, this MoU shall promote collaborative research specifically in the area of healthcare.” This MoU is in line with the circular issued by MHRD in 2018 paving way for all IITs to sign MoUs with National Research Laboratories affiliated to CSIR to start new collaborations and to deepen, broaden interactions where such collaborations already exist. Subsequently, faculty from both the institutes will interact to collaborate specifically under different areas of this umbrella MOU.  On the sidelines of signing the MoU, Dr. Manoj Raje said, “Two of the best institutes in disciplines of engineering and science have formally come together and I believe students and faculty from both the institutes will work towards development and implementation of collaborative research projects, professional development programs, and capacity-building efforts.” ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/14853/jnu-icmr-ink-mou-for-education-research-collaboration-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/14853/jnu-icmr-ink-mou-for-education-research-collaboration-.html Wed, 09 Oct 2019 09:00:00 +0530 Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has signed a MoU with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for institutional collaboration in education and research. The main objectives of the MoU are to promote and enhance the interaction and collaboration between faculty, staff and students of JNU with ICMR institutions through visits and exchange programmes, joint academic and research programmes. MoU is aimed at enhancing the technological collaboration in the areas of national interest. The cooperation will focus on faculty and student exchange programmes, increasing the opportunities for interaction among members of faculty and students between Schools/Centres of JNU and ICMR institutions as well as creating Visiting/Adjunct Faculty positions and short visits. Prof. M. Jagadesh Kumar, VC, JNU, emphasized on priorities to undertake joint research projects in the areas of Bioinformatics, Genomics, Medical Informatics, Health economics, Chemoinformatics, Drug Discovery, Science Policy, Social Medicine and Community Health, Application of Machine Learning and other advance data analytics in medical research, Data Analytics Capacity, Image Analytics, developing and evaluating medical devices and technologies and other areas of mutual interest. He also said that establishing of the Joint Research Centre will be explored for the long term collaborations. He emphasized that both institutes will initiate a joint mentorship PhD program where mentors from both the institutions will guide the students to work on health-related problems originating from ICMR after due approval of both, the JNU and ICMR. To promote joint academic activities such as short-term courses, seminars, workshops and conferences based on mutual interests and available expertise in both the institutions will be formulated. Intellectual property developed under this MoU shall be shared jointly by JNU and ICMR. The activities envisaged under the MoU will be guided and monitored by ICMR-JNU joint Steering Committee headed by Prof. (Dr.) Balram Bhargava, DG, ICMR and Secretary, DHR, and Prof. M. Jagadesh Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, JNU. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/14821/iit-d-jnu-ink-mou-for-academic-cooperation.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/14821/iit-d-jnu-ink-mou-for-academic-cooperation.html Thu, 03 Oct 2019 11:15:00 +0530 Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT D) and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for academic cooperation. The MoU intends to further the academic objectives of each institution and to promote better understanding between the faculty and students of IITD and JNU. IITD and JNU recognise their strengths in research and education in one or more disciplines of science, engineering, management and social sciences, and their mutual interest in engaging themselves in academic cooperation. Under this MoU, the two institutions will focus on: Enabling postgraduate, including PhD students, to enroll for courses at the other institution Joint research activities Participation in seminars and academics meetings Exchange of academic materials and others information Courses offered jointly with faculty from the two institutions IITD and JNU will support jointly-supervised PhD students through the School of Interdisciplinary Research (SIRe) at IIT Delhi. These students can be supported through funding from outside agencies obtained through IITD and / or JNU. The two Institutions will also let their faculty and students use each other’s research facilities. JNU has Advanced Instrumentation Research Facility (AIRF) and IITD has Central Research Facilities (CRF). According to the MoU, JNU may explore availability of a suitable space for a Joint Research Park and IITD will raise overall financial support to build the Park after getting all internal approvals required in both the Institutions. The two institutions will organise two seminars (one at IITD and one at JNU) in each semester by faculty/ scientist on general interest to broad or non-specialist audience. Similarly, two workshops will be organised per academic year (one in IITD and one in JNU). The host institutions will contribute/ raise resources for the workshop. IIT Delhi and JNU have also agreed to work in the area of providing access to library for faculty and students who have registered for courses or engaged in joint research. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/14609/dst-provides-rs-125-cr-to-set-up-new-facility-at-iit-d.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/14609/dst-provides-rs-125-cr-to-set-up-new-facility-at-iit-d.html Thu, 05 Sep 2019 12:05:00 +0530 A high level Expert Committee constituted by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India, has selected IIT Delhi for setting up a shared, professionally managed, Science and Technology infrastructure facility, which can readily be accessible to academia, start-ups, manufacturing units, industries and R&D labs. To be known as ‘Sophisticated Analytical and Technical Help Institute’ (SATHI), this Centre has been provided to IIT Delhi in recognition of outstanding performance of the institute in the area of research and development, managerial/ administrative capability, infrastructure availability etc. To set up SATHI, DST will provide Rs 125 Crore, mostly non-recurring grants, to IIT Delhi in next three financial years starting from 2019-2020. Prof V Ramgopal Rao, Director, IIT Delhi, while thanking the Department of Science and Technology for showing faith in the capabilities of the institute, said: “IIT Delhi is honored to shoulder this responsibility for the benefit of the nation. We have an excellent track record of not only setting up high end research facilities but also in their management and utilization. The facilities being created as part of this activity will be made available to the researchers on a round the clock basis with minimum downtime”. Prof Rao added, “In addition to the facilities being created as part of SATHI, IIT Delhi has also made a commitment to DST to make available other high end research facilities available in the institute as part of this project. SATHI is a game changing preposition from Govt. of India for taking experimental research in the country to the next level and IIT Delhi shall assist DST in all possible ways for the success of this programme.” The aim behind setting up the facility is to provide professionally managed services with efficiency, accessibility and transparency of highest order under one roof to service the demands of industry, start-ups and academia. The SATHI facility, to be set up in the Sonepat campus (Haryana) of IIT Delhi, will be equipped with major analytical instrument and advanced manufacturing tools, which are usually not available at institutes/ organizations. Prof B.R. Mehta, Dean, R&D, IIT Delhi said, “SATHI is much more than a sophisticated equipment centre as IIT Delhi faculty and researchers will assist the students, scientists and entrepreneurs in solving the scientific and technological problems/ difficulties being faced by them. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/14561/government-to-establish-75-new-medical-colleges.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/14561/government-to-establish-75-new-medical-colleges.html Mon, 02 Sep 2019 13:00:00 +0530 The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for establishment of 75 additional Government   Medical   Colleges by 2021-22 attached with existing district/referral hospitals under Phase-III of the ongoing Centrally Sponsored scheme. The Cabinet has also sanctioned an expenditure of Rs. 24,375 crore during the 15lh Finance Commission period i.e. up to 2021-22. The establishment   of new   Medical   Colleges   attached with   existing District/Referral Hospitals, would lead to an increase in the availability of qualified health professionals, improve tertiary care in Government sector, utilize existing infrastructure of districts hospitals and promote affordable medical education in the country. New medical colleges would be set up in under-served areas having no medical college; with at least 200 bedded District Hospital. Preference will be given to Aspirational Districts and District Hospital having 300 beds. The scheme on establishment of new medical colleges (58+24+75) would lead to addition of at least 15,700 MBBS seats in the country. Continuing   the   focus  on  creation   of  health care  infrastructure,  the Government  earlier  approved  to  establish  58  new Medical  Colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals under Phase-I and 24 under Phase-II.  Of this, 39 medical colleges under Phase-I, have already started functioning, while the remaining 19 would be made functional by 2020-21. Under Phase-II, 18 new medical colleges have been approved. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/14525/anjani-mashelkar-foundation-invites-applications-for-innovation-award-2019.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/14525/anjani-mashelkar-foundation-invites-applications-for-innovation-award-2019.html Mon, 26 Aug 2019 11:35:00 +0530 The Anjani Mashelkar Inclusive Innovation Award is an annual award of Rs 100,000 given to an individual or an organisation for a prototyped innovation or a commercialized product or service. The innovation must address the problems faced by the disadvantaged resource-poor people in India and offer an original and implementable solution. This award presents an opportunity to spur and fuel innovation for the benefit of the most disadvantaged sections of society in order to ‘include’ them into the mainstream. The awardees will preferably be those who believe not just in ‘best practices’, but in ‘next practices‘. Most importantly, it will value solutions that represent ‘affordable excellence‘, breaking the myth that ‘affordability’ and ‘excellence’ cannot go together. As the award grows in stature and gains national recognition, it will endeavour to leverage support for the innovator from various other private and public sector organizations. The deadline for submitting the applications is 30th august 2019. Criteria- Only Indian organizations or persons (of any age) of Indian origin are eligible to apply. Prototypes or proof of concepts which have the potential to be successful innovations are eligible. Raw ideas will not be considered. The prototypes, products, services or business models should be original and novel. They should provide highest quality affordable products and experiences to the resource poor people. Applications compliant to parameters of ASSURED framework would be preferred. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/14440/iit-d-aiims-conduct-workshop-on-biodesign-and-innovation.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/14440/iit-d-aiims-conduct-workshop-on-biodesign-and-innovation.html Tue, 13 Aug 2019 15:20:00 +0530 A month-long workshop on biodesign and innovation jointly conducted by IIT Delhi and AIIMS has developed several protyptes that can open new vistas in the medical domain. Besides faculty from the two institutions, the workshop, that concluded recently had mentors from School of International Biodesign, AIIMS, New Delhi. It brought together 15 students from IIT Delhi and 15 MBBS students from AIIMS on a common platform to identify important health care needs and invent technologies to address them. “The goal of the workshop was essentially to produce a prototype of an innovative medical device. This workshop was also designed to give insights into what innovators have to go through, to come out with viable business products,” says Neetu Singh, coordinator of the workshop. As many as 15 students from IITDelhi and 15 from the 3rd year MBBS program at AIIMS were selected for the workshop. The students worked in teams and identified the needs by extensive immersion process such as visiting AIIMS OPDs, meeting with various stakeholders and discussions with IIT faculty. “I got to know about various areas, which one goes through while designing a product/ service- how market works, design (prototype), business (elevator pitch, lean canvas),” Arti Yadav one of the participants says. Dittos Mudit Agarwal. “The best part about this workshop was the contacts and connections I built in IIT Delhi. It helped me delve into various areas of designing.” “This workshop has given me insights into what innovators have to go through to come out with viable business products,” maintains Keerthi Sagar. Clinical immersion, problem identification, creation of prototype, options of solutions and choice of solutions were some of the components of the workshop. The prototypes that were developed during the workshop included-- device for controlling Obstructive Sleep Apnea, a novel video-laryngoscope for reduced mouth opening, method for continuous measurement of ICP through a non-invasive way, method to reduce inter observer variability in jugular venous pressure measurement and a Broadcasting Stethoscope that can help in medical teaching. The workshop was conducted by Prof. PVM Rao, Prof. Neetu Singh and Dr. Avijit Bansal (School of International Biodesign, AIIMS). ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/14428/india-us-joint-research-grants-on-vaccine-adjuvant-development.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/14428/india-us-joint-research-grants-on-vaccine-adjuvant-development.html Mon, 12 Aug 2019 17:05:00 +0530 Vaccine research and development is a priority area in the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) supported through an important mission called the National Biopharma Mission (NBM). NBM is an Industry-Academia Collaborative Mission of Department of Biotechnology for Accelerating Early Development for Biopharmaceuticals; being implemented by Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), a Public Sector Undertaking of DBT aiming to create an ecosystem for innovative indigenous product development by researchers, startups and SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) to make Indian biotech industry globally competitive. Considering vaccine adjuvant research as an important area for vaccine development Department of Biotechnology in collaboration with National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)- National Institutes of Health (NIH) invites proposals for the discovery, development, and/or preclinical testing of vaccine adjuvants under the aegis of Indo US Vaccine Action Programme (VAP). VAP is one of the oldest bilateral programmes that supports a wide range of collaborative activities related to immunology, infectious disease biology and vaccine research. The aim of this call is to strengthen vaccine adjuvant research in India. This joint DBT & NBM-BIRAC call will leverage the funding expertise of both the organizations. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/14371/syngene-narayana-health-aif-launch-unique-initiative.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/14371/syngene-narayana-health-aif-launch-unique-initiative.html Mon, 05 Aug 2019 11:35:00 +0530 Syngene International Ltd, a leading global contract research organization, in association with Narayana Health, Agastya International Foundation (AIF) and Biocon Foundation (Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of Syngene), announced the launch of CHAMPS (Child Health Activists Mentoring & Promoting Heath in Society), a student mediated initiative focused on preventing and managing early onset of non – communicable diseases (NCDs). The initiative aims at educating and training high school students to be change agents towards improving health seeking behaviour in their communities at large. The inaugural event also saw the launch of a mobile science lab, that will tour various schools and is designed for students to practically experience the magic of science. Equipped with science models and specifically designed experiments, the mobile lab is intended to reach under-resourced schools in rural areas across the country. In India, 60% of all deaths are caused by NCDs such as type 2 diabetes, cancer, heart and respiratory diseases.  Studies conducted in various parts of India have reported high prevalence of hypertension with little to no awareness and control. The Fourth National Family Health Survey evaluated and reported hypertension in 207 million people (men 112 million, women 95 million) in India. The CHAMPS initiative shall address this public health issue of hypertension through 8th and 9th standard students who shall be trained to screen for these symptoms within their community. The initiative which is currently being rolled out as a five-month pilot, is intended to be a three-year long program focused on educating students in prevention and management of early onset of NCDs and promoting a healthier lifestyle among the members of the community. The combined synergies of Narayana Health as knowledge partner, Syngene and Biocon Foundation as funding partners and Agastya International as the implementation partner will ensure greater awareness in the involved communities. The training modules are tailored to comprehension levels of students who have enrolled and has been designed to create awareness on hypertension and training them in the use of the Blood Pressure apparatus. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Managing Director, Syngene International Ltd., in light of the initiative, said, “As indicated in the ‘Hypertension in India’ report by National Centre of Biotechnology and Information (NCBI), the number of deaths in India, due to hypertension, has risen and the states with greater urbanization, human and social development have greater incidence of hypertension. Through the CHAMPS initiative, we shall engage high school students as change agents within their communities, by training them to screen for symptoms, i.e. record blood pressure readings and share it with relevant authorities. This will enable monitoring of NCDs in the communities for corrective actions to be implemented.” “Most of the patients with high BP are not aware of the problem and the consequences. In the process large number of Indians develop heart failure, kidney failure or brain stroke due to uncontrolled high blood pressure. Our aim of launching the Champs program is twofold, first we would like to detect high BP at early stage. This should prevent future complications by appropriate treatment. By training high school students to record BP we are introducing passionate young kids to the exciting world of medical profession and change the way healthcare is delivered across the world,” said Dr. Devi Shetty, Chairman and Executive Director, Narayana Health Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ramji Raghavan, Founder Chairman of Agastya Foundation, added, “We are thrilled to partner with Syngene International, Biocon Foundation and Narayana Health on this unique program combining Science and health education. The fundamental idea of the CHAMPS initiative of developing children as change agents in raising awareness of one of the NCDs, namely hypertension, ties in well with Agastya’s philosophy of developing children as young instructor leaders, who are change agents imbibed with a scientific temper.  The mobile science van provides a means to support this initiative and gives children access to fun, engaging and interactive ways of learning science and sparks curiosity.” Extending his best wishes, Shri S. R Umashankar, IAS, Principal Secretary, Education Department, Government of Karnataka, said, "I am certain that this health awareness programme will be imperative in creating the much-required health awareness among the younger generation, giving them a sound body to harbour a sound mind. This will in return strengthen our nation and help in building a healthier future. I am elated that our department is a part of this innovative health awareness programme through school children and I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Dr. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Dr. Devi Shetty and Mr. Ramji Raghavan for the same."   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/14340/dbt-organises-biotech-industry-training-program.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/14340/dbt-organises-biotech-industry-training-program.html Wed, 31 Jul 2019 11:50:00 +0530 Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science & Technology, is inviting applications from biotechnology students for hands on training in biotech companies for a period of six months. The program provides excellent opportunities to biotech students to acquire practical skills and experience working on projects alongside industry experts as well as opportunities for industry to identify potential candidates for selection. The eligibility criteria for application is BE/ BTech/ MSc/ MTech/ MVSc/ MBA in biotechnology/ Bioinformatics from Indian recognized universities with minimum 50% marks or equivalent grades completed in 2018 or 2019. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/14262/karnataka-government-opens-registration-for-k-bat-under-bisep.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/14262/karnataka-government-opens-registration-for-k-bat-under-bisep.html Wed, 24 Jul 2019 09:00:00 +0530 The Department of Information Technology, Biotechnology and Science & Technology, (IT,BT and S&T), Government of Karnataka has announced that registration for Karnataka Biotechnology Aptitude Test (K-BAT) under Biotechnology Skill Enhancement Program (BiSEP) is open. Candidates who have appeared for the final semester/year qualifying degree examination are also eligible for taking online entrance test.  The last date to register online at www.bisep.karnataka.gov.in for K-BAT is July 31, 2019. Candidates can Whatsapp their query to 94484 70039. BiSEP was launched with a redesigned curriculum jointly by Dept. of IT, BT and S&T, Government of Karnataka and Department of Biotechnology, Government of India in collaboration with Life Science Sector Skill Development Council (LSSSDC), Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT) and Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE). Skill-sets acquired under BiSEP are assessed by Industry experts thus making it a unique Industry – Academic partnership program. Dr. Renu Swarup, Secretary Dept. of Biotechnology, Govt. of India  said “What we are trying to do through BiSEP is to give the candidates joining the program that extra bit of curriculum and understanding of what the industry needs so that they can begin contributing to the growth of the biotech sector from say one of their employment". Gaurav Gupta, Principal Secretary, Dept. of IT, BT and S&T, Government of Karnataka said "This is a first of its kind initiative, envisioned to bridge the gap between industry requirements and quality of students passing out of institutions. We provide students the experience of real-life industry-oriented experience where they work on problems which are not taught-in-depth in regular academic curriculum. With the Biotech Finishing School program, Karnataka became one of the first States in India to focus on skill development in biotechnology. Through BiSEP, we aim to continue to support the growth of the biotech sector and create a trained workforce supply which has quality skill-sets that are industry-ready by enabling collaboration between academia and industry". Prof. G. Padamanaban, Member of Vision Group for Biotechnology, Govt. of Karnataka feels "Biotechnology is a knowledge-based industry and requires highly skilled manpower and BiSEP has a major role to play to equip the candidates with adequate skills and provide for growth of biotech sector both in Karnataka and outside”.  Prashant Kumar Mishra, IAS, Managing Director, KITS said “BTFS/BiSEP is a novel initiative of Government of Karnataka through which we want to expose the students to specialised sub-domains of Biotechnology. This will bring about a seamless connect between academia and industry”. BiSEP, the modified 2nd phase of BTFS program launched in March 2018 has so far trained over 325 in two batches and placed all of them in industries for internship. Biotechnology Skill Enhancement Program (BiSEP) was sanctioned to eighteen institutes of higher education in the State with majority of them located in tier II & III cities to train students in various sub-domains of Biotechnology. These host institutes together have tie-ups with over 150 biotechnology industries that include Biocon, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Himalaya Drug Company, Anthem Biosciences, Bhat Biotech and also biotech start-ups like String Bio, Viravecs Labs, Seragen Biotherapeutics etc., to help them in imparting industry specific skills-sets and also provide internship. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/14236/nshm-knowledge-campus-puts-emphasis-on-healthcare-research.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/14236/nshm-knowledge-campus-puts-emphasis-on-healthcare-research.html Mon, 22 Jul 2019 11:15:00 +0530 NSHM Knowledge Campus, Kolkata has added a few more feathers of success to a plethora of their talented bunch of academic strength from the School of health sciences. The professors and the research scholars have already published three patents for invention of:  “Topical Liposomal Gel of Biochanin-A and Method of Preparation Thereof”, “Method of Synthesizing Chrysin Ruthenium Complex and Applications Thereof” and invention of “Novel Metallic – Oxicam Complexes and Method of Synthesizing the Same”. Dr. Subhabroto Mazumdar (Professor), Dr. Souvik Roy (Associate Professor), Miss. Puja Saha (PG Scholar), Mr. Anwesan Sil (PG Scholar), Dr. Ishita Sanyal (Assistant Professor), Miss. Rituparna Das (PG scholar), Dr. Balaram Ghosh (Associate Professor), Ms. Tania Chakraborty  (Jr. Research fellow), Ms. Torsha Ghosh (PG scholar) have been accorded credits for their extraordinary research in healthcare segment. NSHM Knowledge Campus has always highlighted the necessity of collaboration in modern day health sciences in its curriculum, so as to provide quality experience to patients at affordable costs. The organisation has produced many Research scholars and academicians, who have filed patents for their exceptional research contributing towards the welfare of the human being. The recent invention done by the Research scholars and academicians are also focussed towards various health issues. For example, Liposomal Gel is known to cure skin related diseases. The research investigated by Dr. Subhobrata Mazumdar involves preparation of Topical Liposomal gel of Biochanin –A, which will be helpful in curing deeper skin diseases. The Ruthenium metal is a rare transition metal and Oxicam is a class of Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDS). The invention by Dr. Souvik Roy involves synthesizing Ruthenium metal based Oxicam complexes which is a promising metal based anti-cancer drug. The researches and invention conducted by the dignitaries focus to improve the overall healthcare scenario of the country. The faculties at NSHM have always received opportunities to participate in technical workshops/seminars. NSHM has also provided a  platform to transform their innovative ideas into products and obtain patent rights. Such opportunities help in contributing overall growth of the individual and enhance the intellectual capital of the institution. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Cecil Antony, Chief Mentor & Managing Trustee, NSHM Knowledge Campus said, “We at NSHM believe that  the two most important and supporting pillars of an institution are its teachers and students. Hence, we always strive to explore opportunities where both the pillars can get multiple opportunities to strengthen themselves. Our objective is to increase the stature of the institute so that it can be a part of the global industry. We also look to collaborate for opportunities where both the teacher and a student can transform their innovative ideas into productive elements. It is an honour to have such extraordinary minds in our institution and we believe that going forward they will motivate others through their achievements and success.” ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/14228/drils-niper-conducting-industry-oriented-training-program.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/14228/drils-niper-conducting-industry-oriented-training-program.html Fri, 19 Jul 2019 11:05:00 +0530 National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Hyderabad and Dr. Reddy's Institute of Life Sciences (DRILS) are going to conduct “Industry-oriented Training program” with an aim to impart sound theoretical knowledge along with good hands on training on some of the advanced techniques and instruments. The course will also include sessions on personality development and grooming of soft skills to make the students ready for corporate world. The eligibility criteria- M.Sc. / M.Pharm. students with basic Chemistry knowledge & Fresh PhD Students  Benefits of the course- Training Goals: Fundamental Pharmaceutical Sciences -related knowledge and skills needed in the industry Trainers: Technical experts and research scientists from academia and industry Unique opportunity: Interaction with industry trainers and recruiters Industry Visits Certificate will be issued upon successful completion of the entire course work and after the evaluation. 60 seats available for the course. Applicants are required to pay a fees structure of Rs 20000 for the 4- weeks course. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/14135/phoremost-and-instem-enter-structural-biology-alliance.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/14135/phoremost-and-instem-enter-structural-biology-alliance.html Tue, 09 Jul 2019 09:00:00 +0530 PhoreMost, the UK-based biopharmaceutical company dedicated to drugging ‘undruggable’ disease targets, has announced it has entered into a structural biology focused collaboration with the Centre for Chemical Biology and Therapeutics (CCBT), Bangalore, India. The CCBT is funded by the Department of Biotechnology at the Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem). The aim of the collaboration is the structural visualisation of novel druggable sites across multiple targets, to rapidly advance new therapies. PhoreMost’s next-generation phenotypic screening platform SITESEEKER® probes the entire proteome in a live cell environment for novel druggable targets, enabling the systematic unmasking of cryptic druggable sites. PhoreMost has built a pipeline of novel targets and early drug discovery programmes using this platform, and the new collaboration will draw on CCBT’s structural and chemical biology expertise to progress selected targets within PhoreMost’s discovery portfolio. CCBT is a state-of-the-art multidisciplinary effort formed to pioneer innovative approaches to create chemical tools that modulate novel classes of targets. The Centre integrates biochemistry, genetics and cell biology with structural biology, computational chemistry and synthetic chemistry. Dr Chris Torrance CEO of PhoreMost, said: “Since its inception, PhoreMost’s model has been to forge a new approach to drug discovery, working collaboratively with partners in order to progress new medicines. We are delighted to announce this alliance with the CCBT and inStem, which represents an important milestone for PhoreMost and has enormous potential to rapidly advance new therapies.”   Professor Apurva Sarin, Director, inStem said: "We are very pleased with the partnership forged between Phoremost and the CCBT under Prof. Ashok Venkitaraman's leadership, and look forward to exciting outcomes from this effort." Professor Satyajit Mayor, Director, NCBS, and former Director, inStem, said: “We are very excited to announce this collaboration with PhoreMost. The ability of PhoreMost’s SITESEEKER platform to identify first-in-class drug targets together with functional peptide ligands is highly complementary to the structural biology capabilities at inStem and the CCBT. We look forward to supporting drug discovery against these targets to progress the next generation of therapeutics.”   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/14103/k-tech-invites-application-for-next-batch-under-bisep.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/14103/k-tech-invites-application-for-next-batch-under-bisep.html Fri, 05 Jul 2019 09:00:00 +0530 Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (formerly Karnataka Biotechnology and Information Technology Services), functioning under brand “K-tech”, Government of Karnataka, has issued notification for admission for next batch of students under DBT supported Phase-II Program entitled “Biotechnology Skill Enhancement Program (BiSEP)”.  The second phase of Biotech Finishing School (BTFS), renamed as Biotechnology Skill Enhancement Programme (BiSEP) aims to continue to educate and empower human resource to bridge gap between biotech industry and academia. Online applications are invited for admissions to job-oriented one year Post-Graduate Diploma course that provides for job-ready workforce to the Biotechnology Industry through BiSEP. Bioinformatics & Big Data Analytics, Biopharmaceutical Technology, Cellular & Molecular Diagnostics, Clinical Research & Data Management, Fermentation & Bioprocessing, Multi-OMICs Technology, Nutraceuticals & Food Processing, Plant Genetic Engineering and Protein Expression & Scale-up are the courses being offered. 50 per cent of the seats are reserved for Resident students of Karnataka. Reservations under OBCs/SC/ST/ and Hyderabad - Karnataka region are also provided. The eligibility requirements include M.Sc in Biotech/ Microbiology/ Biochemistry/ Bioinformatics or any other Life sciences related courses; or B.E/B.Tech (Biotech/ Bioinformatics) or B.Pharma/B.Sc (Agri)/ B.Vsc. or any 4 years degree courses in Life Science and subjects with minimum 50% marks in the qualifying degree examination (40% for students belonging to SC/ST categories). The candidates will be selected through an online entrance test - Karnataka Biotechnology Aptitude Test (K-BAT) followed by counselling. Last date for online registration is 31st July 2019. All other details are available at www.bisep.karnataka.gov.in. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/14073/ansal-university-collaborates-with-yuva-healthcare.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/14073/ansal-university-collaborates-with-yuva-healthcare.html Tue, 02 Jul 2019 11:45:00 +0530 Ansal University has launched a hi-tech Simulation laboratory for training of students of its Sushant School of Health Science. In association with Yuva Healthcare Institute, the launch took place at the University campus on July 1, which is also celebrated as Doctor’s Day.   YUVA Healthcare is an advanced skilling institute, which strives to elevate the quality of healthcare delivery. It provides requisite skills to the Nursing and Allied Health professionals in the state-of-the-art medical simulation center, and makes them ready for the work place. Dr. Dharminder Nagar, MD and CEO of Paras Hospitals was the Chief Guest for the event.  Applauding Ansal University for this unique initiative of providing its students with advanced Medicare technology and exposure, Dr. Nagar congratulated the faculty and students of Ansal University who will be able to work in the hi-tech laboratory. Other eminent personality present during the launch was Padamshree Dr. K K Agarwal, who is also the president of Heart Care Foundation of India. With the launch of simulators, Ansal University is on its way to transform teaching methodologies on smart robots which can simulate different health parameters of a human body. Such kind of advanced training will make the graduates employable all over the works making the programmes aspirational. This marks a bright future for healthcare education in India which is set to grow at exponential rate. Director, Sushant School of Health Sciences, Prof. Monica Chaudhry, said, “The technologists in the health Care system need to be well educated and trained to handle patients. Currently there is a huge gap in training them and bridging their theoretical and practical knowledge. They learn most of the skills in hospitals direct on the patients which is also unethical. The supervisors at hospitals are also busy enough to impart proper skill and knowledge to the young trainee. These simulators shall revolutionise the education system in health sector.” Establishing the simulators is gaining traction as institutions intend to expand their reach to enhance student-understanding, and provide a distinct kind of hands-on training for future doctors and medical professionals. Ansal University is bridging the gap between theoretical and practical learning in the safest possible way. VC - (Prof) Dr Raj Singh said “Simulators are enabling technologists to support the future doctors, creating an inter-dependent yet productive ambience in the industry. These labs focus on making efficient, skilled doctors who are competent enough to handle any and all obstacles that come their way. The students being nurtured in simulation environments are bound to be excellent professionals. We are looking forward to zealous efforts put in by Sushant School of Health Sciences and YUVA Healthcare Institute, enhancing the future of the Medicare industry.” The Simulators training laboratories are assisting technologists to be the very spine of the doctors and the medical system. The objective to be delivered via introducing the simulators is to make students confident and present them with exposure as well as the experience they require to excel in their field. Ansal University's initiative to prep up the professional industry of Health and Medicare is all about making the laboratory as realistic as possible.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/14011/gsk-rcb-to-develop-new-scientific-doctoral-programmes.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/14011/gsk-rcb-to-develop-new-scientific-doctoral-programmes.html Wed, 26 Jun 2019 17:35:00 +0530 The Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), an academic institution of national importance established by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, under the auspices of UNESCO, and GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (GSK Pharmaceutical Ltd.) have launched the Trust in Science Programme to develop doctoral programs (PhDs) in the fields of biostatistics and bioinformatics. The launch took place in the presence of Dr. Renu Swarup, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, Honourable Sir Dominic Asquith KCMG, British High Commissioner to India, Prof. Sudhanshu Vrati, Executive Director, RCB, and Mr. A Vaidheesh, Vice President, & MD, GSK Pharmaceutical Ltd.   Dr. Renu Swarup, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology said, “We would like to create more opportunities in India for post graduate doctoral education in science. The GSK – RCB collaboration allows us to do just that, specifically in two niche, high-valued fields: biostatistics and bioinformatics. The goal is to provide students with a specialized course that addresses current industry needs and opportunities. This, we believe, will help them better contribute to India’s biopharma and medical research needs.”   Under this initiative, the RCB will develop program content, manage logistics and oversee the running of the full-time programs. GSK Pharmaceutical Ltd. will provide funding and ensure all course content is shaped to address current industry needs and opportunities. Students with a master’s degree in biostatistics, maths, and bioinformatics are eligible for the PhD courses.   Honourable Sir Dominic Asquith KCMG said, “When it comes to medicine and healthcare, quality partnerships are already helping our nations move forward. Beyond government to government collaboration, partnerships between the private and the public sectors hold great potential for mutually beneficial breakthroughs, such as the one between RCB and GSK Pharmaceutical Ltd. I see this partnership as the next step in our ongoing story of innovation and partnership, which will also boost India’s growing strength in pharmaceuticals.”   With recent increase in health and pharmaceutical research, there is urgent need for trained biostatisticians and bioinformaticians in India.  Many young Indians want to pursue specialized bioinformatics and biostatistics courses, but do not find suitable options in the country. Moreover, current courses are not updated.   Prof. Sudhanshu Vrati said, “The interdisciplinary degree programs in Biostatistics and Bioinformatics are designed to promote academia-industry interaction where the doctoral students form the bridge between the two. Through these programs we hope to produce high-quality human resource capable of driving innovation in biopharma research.”   Mr. A Vaidheesh said, “While students are being trained at the graduate and post-graduate level, we recognize that there is a gap between the theoretical knowledge gained in the classroom and the practical hands-on understanding of how to apply these principles to real data. There is a need to widen India’s scientific community’s expertise in these subjects. One way to do this is to start young, and that is the primary goal of this MoU. We plan to work with budding scientists in the early stages of their research career and arm them with the necessary skill sets to navigate through big data and informatics successfully. We will also ensure that students who complete the course are better prepared for a career in the pharmaceutical industry.”     GSK Pharmaceutical Ltd.’s “Trust in Science” initiative is a novel public-private partnership model to build R&D capacity for development and discovery in science. The pillars of this initiative are: scientific excellence, trust and talent development in line with GSK’s Science, Technology and Culture values. The initiative was launched in 2011 initially to engage with leading researchers and institutions in Latin America, focused on Brazil and Argentina. GSK Pharmaceutical Ltd. is pleased to expand this initiative beyond Latin America to other emerging markets such as India.      ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/13918/mahe-signs-three-agreements-with-university-of-lille.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/13918/mahe-signs-three-agreements-with-university-of-lille.html Tue, 18 Jun 2019 09:00:00 +0530 Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal signed three agreements in France with Universite de Lille on June 7, 2019. MAHE Vice Chancellor, Dr H Vinod Bhat and Lille President, Prof. Jean-Christophe Camart, agreed to foster student exchange across all disciplines and bring about cooperation among the School of Medicine, ULille and the Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Manipal/Mangalore with the Inter University Cooperation Agreement. Under the Agreement, the two Universities will work together to achieve research, teaching programmes in common, staff exchanges, student exchanges, mobility of doctoral and postdoctoral students, promotion of seminars and colloquia. KMC Manipal/Mangalore and the School of Medicine at Lille agree towards exchange of medical students and staff, publishing joint publications, mobility of graduates and post graduates in the fields of healthcare, teaching and research. The Student Exchange Agreement covers student exchanges in widespread disciplines of mutual interest for a semester or two at the partner university. ULille and MAHE have agreed to exchange maximum of 10 students each university year covering first, second and third cycles of degree. The students will be selected for the exchange programme based on the respective guidelines as put forth in the Agreement and they will be exempted from paying admission, tuition and examination fees. Dr. Raghu Radhakrishnan, Director of International Relations, MAHE, Pr. Francois- Olivier Seys, Vice President for International Relations, Pr. Kathleen O’Connor, Vice President for International Development, Mrs Pauline Ravinet, and Vice President for European Affairs, Prof. Didier Gosset, Dean of Medicine, ULille and Mr. Philippe Cordonnier, Managing Director for International Relations were present. This association with one of the premier cultural, scientific and professional public institutions in France is to further MAHE’s ties with the European Academia and strengthen academic and research engagement of students and faculty between the two Universities.Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal signed three agreements in France with Universite de Lille on June 7, 2019. MAHE Vice Chancellor, Dr H Vinod Bhat and Lille President, Prof. Jean-Christophe Camart, agreed to foster student exchange across all disciplines and bring about cooperation among the School of Medicine, ULille and the Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Manipal/Mangalore with the Inter University Cooperation Agreement. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/13866/iit-h-researchers-examine-mercury-amount-in-human-hair.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/13866/iit-h-researchers-examine-mercury-amount-in-human-hair.html Tue, 11 Jun 2019 14:40:00 +0530 Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad Researchers have found that people living in a city with active coal-fired power plants and consuming local aquatic produce may have higher body levels of mercury. They arrived at this finding after analyzing the amounts of mercury in the hair of over 600 people in three cities in India. Their study has recently been reported in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology, a peer-reviewed a Public Health journal. Mercury is a neurotoxin that is distributed in the environment and present in many products encountered in daily life. It is used in industry and consumer products, exists as a natural impurity in ores, is non-degradable, and widely circulates within and between ecosystems. The Research Team was headed by Dr. Asif Qureshi, Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Hyderabad. The IIT Hyderabad Research team chose three cities for their analysis – Hyderabad, a city in the interior of the country with no specific local mercury source, Vasco da Gama, a city along the West Coast, with again, no specific mercury source but probably more fish-eaters, and Nellore, a coastal city in Andhra Pradesh with several coal-fired power plants. After collating information on demography, body mass index, dietary patterns, professions and other variables of more than 600 people in these cities, the research team proceeded to analyze the amount of mercury in their bodies. Human exposure to mercury is not new. Historically it has been used in medicines and cosmetics, during mining of gold and silver, and industrial mercury poisoning from fur-treatment has been known to result in the ‘mad hatter’ disease in Victorian England. Speaking about this Study, Dr. Asif Qureshi said, “In modern times, the non-occupational exposure of humans to mercury comes from food, especially fish, and rice grown in contaminated fields. Coal-fired power plants are estimated to be the largest emitters of mercury to the atmosphere. The total mercury emissions in India are estimated to become around 540 tons in 2020. In addition to neurotoxicity, mercury has also been implicated in adverse effects on lungs and kidneys, and heart diseases.  So, how much of mercury are Indians exposed to?  This is a question we attempt to answer.” “Hair is an excellent indicator of mercury in the body”, adds Dr. Qureshi.  Hair concentrates mercury and its sampling is non-invasive, making it easy to both measure and correlate to the amount of mercury in the body. Accordingly, strands of hair were cut from the occipital (back) region of the heads of participants and analyzed using a direct mercury analyzer equipment. Statistical analysis was carried out to correlate the amount of mercury found in the hair, with corresponding variables such as dietary pattern, occupation and location.  Dr. Qureshi’s survey showed that nearly 5.5% of the people tested had mercury levels above the current US-EPA reference. It was found that the women of child-bearing age surveyed in this study had generally lower hair mercury than the women of child-bearing age in the US or EU. “This could be because participants in our study consume smaller sized fishes and species that belong to lower trophic levels. In contrast, larger and higher trophic level species such as tuna and cod are among the most commonly consumed fish species in the US or EU”, the authors justify this observation, in their paper. The general understanding gleamed from Dr. Qureshi’s work is that people must take care of how much fish and which fish they eat. This is most easily done by issuing of consumption advisories by governmental bodies (as is done in the US for example), avoiding panic and helping consumers make informed decisions. Because, fish is also a good source of nutrition.  Power plants themselves must take more stringent measures to contain mercury release into the atmosphere. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/13859/iihmrs-5th-convocation-charged-up-its-graduate-students-for-their-bright-future.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/13859/iihmrs-5th-convocation-charged-up-its-graduate-students-for-their-bright-future.html Mon, 10 Jun 2019 17:10:00 +0530 With pomp, gaiety and practical life-lessons from the industry veterans, India's institute in hospital and health management, Indian Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR), felicitated students of its various degree courses including MBA Hospital and Health Management, MBA Pharmaceutical Management, MBA Rural Management and Master of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, USA & IIHMR University, INDIA (Cooperative Program) recently at their college campus. The 5th convocation ceremony saw the presence of dignitaries such as Atul Sobti Chairman & Managing Director, Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL) and Sudhir Bhandari, Principal and Controller, SMS Medical College, Jaipur. Bhandari, who graced the event as Chief Guest and Guest of Honour, said if the students want to excel in their lives they should never forget the sacrifices made by their parents and other family members. “A convocation is one of the milestones in life one never forgets and I am sure you will share the immense feeling of pride and happiness with us and all your family members, friends and colleagues. One should never forget the great sacrifices your family and faculty have made to give you the best possible education. It is now your responsibility to do your best possible to give back to society and make them all proud,” he said. His motivational speech was received well by the students, who gave a huge round of applause after he finished his address. Bhandari also expressed his sincere appreciation to all the faculty and staff of IIHMR for providing a holistic platform to the students. His address was followed by another inspirational speech from Atul Sobti, who guided students on how to become a true leader and at the same time a visionary. “I want each one of you to not just be charismatic leaders in what you do but also to be visionaries. Have a dream, a goal in life which will help make the society a better place to live in. And work for it, work hard, as there is no substitute for hard work. The basic difference between a leader and a visionary is that the vision continues to endure even when the visionary is not in charge, and the goal is fulfilled by the team, the organization, as each one will be believing in it,” Sobti said. Sobti, who has an illustrious career of four decades, also listed out some key points on how to become successful in life. “The first lesson is: Follow your passion and stay true to it. The second lesson is: Take pride in what you do. The third lesson is: Reason it out, but don’t let go. The fourth, most important, and my mantra for Success is focus on execution. The fifth and the perhaps the most appropriate lesson for you is: Balance your work and life from beginning—be healthy to make others healthy,” he concluded with Shri Mahatma Gandhi’s quote. “We are an exclusive and first-of-our-kind research and postgraduate university in the domains of public health, health and hospital administration, pharmaceutical management and rural development. IIHMR University excels in knowledge creation, storage, and dissemination of information in the health sector,” he added. Dr Pankaj Gupta, President, IIHMR University, Jaipur, thanked the dignitaries for their key notes and congratulated the students for their future endeavours.  He also highlighted how his institution in last 35 years contributed in policy and program management research in the health and hospital sectors throughout India and South East Asia.          ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/13856/iihmrs-5th-convocation-charged-up-its-graduate-students-for-their-bright-future.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/13856/iihmrs-5th-convocation-charged-up-its-graduate-students-for-their-bright-future.html Mon, 10 Jun 2019 16:40:00 +0530 With pomp, gaiety and practical life-lessons from the industry veterans, India's number one institute in hospital and health management, Indian Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR), felicitated students of its various degree courses including MBA Hospital and Health Management, MBA Pharmaceutical Management, MBA Rural Management and Master of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, USA & IIHMR University, INDIA (Cooperative Program) recently at their college campus. The 5th convocation ceremony saw the presence of dignitaries such as Shri. Atul Sobti Chairman & Managing Director, Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL) and Shri Sudhir Bhandari, Principal and Controller, SMS Medical College, Jaipur. Bhandari, who graced the event as Chief Guest and Guest of Honour, said if the students want to excel in their lives they should never forget the sacrifices made by their parents and other family members. “A convocation is one of the milestones in life one never forgets and I am sure you will share the immense feeling of pride and happiness with us and all your family members, friends and colleagues. One should never forget the great sacrifices your family and faculty have made to give you the best possible education. It is now your responsibility to do your best possible to give back to society and make them all proud,” he said. His motivational speech was received well by the students, who gave a huge round of applause after he finished his address. Bhandari also expressed his sincere appreciation to all the faculty and staff of IIHMR for providing a holistic platform to the students. His address was followed by another inspirational speech from Atul Sobti, who guided students on how to become a true leader and at the same time a visionary. “I want each one of you to not just be charismatic leaders in what you do but also to be visionaries. Have a dream, a goal in life which will help make the society a better place to live in. And work for it, work hard, as there is no substitute for hard work. The basic difference between a leader and a visionary is that the vision continues to endure even when the visionary is not in charge, and the goal is fulfilled by the team, the organization, as each one will be believing in it,” Sobti said. Sobti, who has an illustrious career of four decades, also listed out some key points on how to become successful in life. “The first lesson is: Follow your passion and stay true to it. The second lesson is: Take pride in what you do. The third lesson is: Reason it out, but don’t let go. The fourth, most important, and my mantra for Success is focus on execution. The fifth and the perhaps the most appropriate lesson for you is: Balance your work and life from beginning—be healthy to make others healthy,” he concluded with Shri Mahatma Gandhi’s quote. Dr Pankaj Gupta, President, IIHMR University, Jaipur, thanked the dignitaries for their key notes and congratulated the students for their future endeavours. He also highlighted how his institution in last 35 years contributed in policy and program management research in the health and hospital sectors throughout India and South East Asia. “We are an exclusive and first-of-our-kind research and postgraduate university in the domains of public health, health and hospital administration, pharmaceutical management and rural development. IIHMR University excels in knowledge creation, storage, and dissemination of information in the health sector,”he added. Established in 1984, IIHMR University is a leading knowledge institution of the country engaged in teaching, research and training in the domains of public health, health and hospital administration, pharmaceutical management and rural development. Over the past thirty years, IIHMR has carved a niche for itself among management institutions, both in India and abroad. The institute is the World Health Organization’s Collaborating Centre for strengthening Health Systems based on Primary Care and is termed as an ‘Institute of Excellence’ by the Government of India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. IIHMR has already conducted more than 600 research projects and studies on the health, social and developmental systems and policies in India and wider South-East Asian Region. Now stepping in the fourth decade, we strive to generate knowledge to help develop effective health, social and public systems and socially relevant health technologies ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/13794/iit-hyderabad-cfhe-fellow-wins-gates-foundation-funding-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/13794/iit-hyderabad-cfhe-fellow-wins-gates-foundation-funding-.html Tue, 04 Jun 2019 09:00:00 +0530 Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad - Center for Healthcare Entrepreneurship (CfHE) Fellow has won funding from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to implement an innovative Global Health and Development Research Project on increasing vaccinations coverage. The project envisages providing mobile vaccine service including a smartphone-based management application that provides customized vaccinations at homes and schools and at a lower cost to ensure children in all section of the society receive vaccinations. Jignesh Patel, a former Business Executive who joined the CfHE in 2018, is a winner of ‘Grand Challenges Explorations’ Grant and will take up his project titled ‘VaccineOnWheels.com’ under the firm Jivika Healthcare Private Limited. Thanks to the funding, he is working on increasing the demand for vaccination through convenience and will implement his unique and low-cost but high-on-convenience model in Pune as a pilot project. This service is high on unconventional and creative because of ‘VoW’ factors: Zero waiting time, flexibility to caregivers, reduced cost of availing service, ensures zero chance of missed vaccination opportunity, maintains transparency, focuses on infants and caregivers as primary stakeholders, certificate of vaccination to educate caregivers on purpose of respective vaccination and it will act as motivation as well. Speaking about this project, Dr. Renu John, Co-Head, CfHE and Head, Department of Biomedical Engineering, IIT Hyderabad, said, “The Biodesign Process thinking has helped in identifying the gaps in vaccination coverage in urban districts. Mr. Jignesh Patel has come up with a sustainable business model to fill these gaps while organically participating with the National Programs on Vaccination with a Beneficiary-Centric approach in Vaccination. He plans to develop a social mobilization as an easy adaptation of his model through digital campaigns. Once enrolled, this model will close the chance of missing out vaccinations to zero percentage.” The Grand Challenges Explorations (GCE) is a US$100 million initiative funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation that supports innovative thinkers worldwide to explore ideas that can break the mould in how we solve persistent global health and development challenges. Mr. Jignesh Patel’s project is one of approximately 50 Grand Challenges Explorations Round 22 grants announced by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. To receive the funding, Mr. Jignesh Patel demonstrated a bold idea in one of seven critical global heath and development topic outlined by the Gates Foundation. Highlighting the role of CfHE in his success, Jignesh Patel said, “The 1 Year Residential Healthcare Entrepreneurship Program at CfHE helped me to understand the gaps in vaccine delivery model from close quarters and identify various issues faced by diverse stakeholders primarily from infants/caregivers/parents in getting vaccinated.  The program helped me in understanding the on-ground bottlenecks of the Vaccination Delivery model in India (and also in various developing nations around the world). I envisage an organized and customized Vaccination Service for India as an answer to the issue.” Further, Jignesh Patel added, “Vaccination is a right for every child and parents as a child can be protected from many life-threatening Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPD). To increase the immunity of a child through vaccination instead of a child going to a clinic, the ecosystem should appreciate parents and child by taking the clinic to the child. It is time to transform the vaccination delivery system in India by following the maxim 'Customer is King' and treating the parents/infants as kings. This will help India in increasing immunisation coverage and keeping every child safe against all VPDs. To do so VaccineOnWheels.com will take appointment of caregivers to vaccinate their children and provide service with the mantra of ‘Anytime, Anywhere’ keeping in mind the overall cost of availing vaccination service far lower than existing facilities.” The Sanction Letter from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation states: “Mr. Jignesh Patel of the CfHE – IIT Hyderabad in India will increase vaccination coverage among low-income urban populations in India by designing a mobile vaccine service including a smartphone-based management application that provides customized vaccinations at homes and schools, and at a lower cost. Vaccination offers excellent protection against many diseases, however, coverage is low among low-income populations in urban centres: immunization at private clinics is unaffordable, and public clinics have longer wait times leading to lost wages. They will develop an affordable, convenient, in-home vaccination service, and a smartphone-based management application to schedule appointments, automate routes, record vaccination data and collect customer feedback. Under the brand name of VaccineOnWheels.com through Jivika Healthcare Pvt. Ltd. they will pilot test their approach among low-income populations in three cities by recruiting and training healthcare workers and drivers and evaluating its effect on vaccination coverage.” An IT Engineer and an MBA (Sales and Marketing) graduate, Jignesh Patel has over 11 years of leadership experience in Business Development, Channel Sales, Sales and Marketing Strategy. Even when his corporate career was going from strength to strength, his passion lay in becoming a social entrepreneur. In 2018, he left the corporate world to take up a Fellowship at CfHE, IIT Hyderabad.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/13787/shoolini-university-ph-d-student-wins-brussels-based-young-water-fellowship.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/13787/shoolini-university-ph-d-student-wins-brussels-based-young-water-fellowship.html Mon, 03 Jun 2019 13:15:00 +0530 Shoolini University Ph.D. student Ms. Amanpreet Kaur Virk has been selected for the Brussels-based Young Water Fellowship for her work on the Moringa-based water purification systems. Amanpreet is a student of Dr. Saurabh Kulshrestha, a professor of Biotechnology and Dean of Research & Development at Shoolini University. This is an international fellowship offered by Young Water Solutions, which is an international non-profit organisation that aims to develop and support the potential of young people to contribute to universal water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and water resources management. The 2019 edition of Young Water Fellowship is organized by Young Water Solutions and supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. A total of 375 researchers applied for the fellowship from across the globe and only 10 such applicants were selected. Ms. Amanpreet is the only student from India, who is selected for this fellowship in 2019. Amanpreet will get a chance to visit Belgium, Sweden, and Switzerland as part of this fellowship. She will also be attending a start-up training program in these countries for a period of 40 days. Her trip is fully-funded by Young Water Solutions. In addition, she will also be getting a grant of about Euro 15,000 for further research to run a pilot project in Himachal Pradesh to provide clean, potable drinking water to the rural community based on this water purification kit developed by her. Set up in 2009, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences is a research-driven private university with full-recognition from the UGC. A leading university of India, it is recognised for its focus on innovation, quality placements, and world-class faculty. Nestled in the lower Himalayas, the university has received accreditation from NAAC and it is ranked by the NIRF.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/13739/biocon-academy-organises-program-in-quality-control-analytical.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/13739/biocon-academy-organises-program-in-quality-control-analytical.html Thu, 30 May 2019 11:30:00 +0530 Biocon Academy, a CSR arm of Asia’s leading biotechnology company Biocon, has announced the introduction of a new 8-week full time certificate program in Quality Control Analytical (QCA) in collaboration with M S Ramaiah College of Arts, Science, and Commerce, Bangalore. This exclusive program is designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of aspiring Chemistry and Biochemistry postgraduates. This unique collaboration between Biocon and M S Ramaiah envisions to accelerate learning in the fast growing field of Quality Control Analytical & Regulatory Sciences in pharma and biopharma sector. The program offers experiential learning at Biocon in the areas of Quality Control and Quality Assurance at the state of the art Biocon labs using sophisticated Analytical instrumentation. The program will impart training on the working of analytical instruments combined with operational, application and regulatory know how related to QC and QA.  It will also provide practical experience into the basic principles of troubleshooting. The 8-week intensive program curriculum will be delivered by the faculty of M S Ramaiah and Biocon Academy. The program has an additional special module under which a weeklong residential Hands-on training will be provided to the students at the ‘Centre of Excellence’ established by Thermo Fisher at IIT Mumbai Campus. Key Highlights of the program- 8 weeks full time including 1 week residential training at Thermo Fisher Labs in IIT, Mumbai 100% PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE Biocon Scholarship 60% of the cost of the program to all selected students. Students Share - INR 30,000 + GST. Curriculum: Quality Management System, Analytical Instrumentation-Spectral and Electrometric methods, Analytical Instrumentation- Chromatographic methods, Hands on training at Thermo Fisher, Quality analysis, Stability testing.   Bindu Ajit, Program Director, shares more information- "Quality control employees sample and assay raw materials as well as the product during every phase of its manufacture. They utilize a wide variety of chemical and biological assays in addition to an array of analytical instrumentation. These personnel are responsible for conducting chemical and biological analyses of raw material, products, and the environment. As most of this work is conducted in a laboratory setting, a strong level of mastery in basic laboratory work, analytical instrumentation and methods is required, together with a general understanding of manufacturing methods. Postgraduate Chemistry/Biochemistry candidates do get jobs in industry /academia / research. However, there is a dearth of skilled, trained manpower in such critical unit like quality. This program covers that gap by giving the industrial exposure at Biocon and hands on training with Thermofisher. No other Industries are providing this kind of coverage and hence its unique. This is the first time Biocon Academy is entering into the chemistry field and the quality control area. The thought originated from our discussions with other company HR and business units during placements. They were mentioning about not able to hire the right people for QCA department as freshers did not have the right skills needed for this niche area. As we need to provide hands on training in a way that each student gets to work and learn we are looking at a small batch of 15-20 students."   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/13748/fortis-school-mental-health-organises-internship-programme.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/13748/fortis-school-mental-health-organises-internship-programme.html Thu, 30 May 2019 10:35:00 +0530 The Department of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences at Fortis Healthcare, under the aegis of Dr. Samir Parikh, is organising the psychology-based internship programme, ‘Fortis Summer School Internship Program, 2019.’ The 6-day internship programme is designed for students of Class XI & XII. Several leading schools of Bangalore like Inventure Academy, St. Joseph are participating along with other prominent schools from Mumbai, Kolkata, Mohali, Ludhiana, Jaipur, Delhi NCR and Chennai.   Involving a one on one interaction with a multidisciplinary team of experts, the internship is going to address topics including clinical disorders, psychological interviewing and the role of psychology in healthcare. A session on the applied areas of psychology will encourage students to learn about the scope and various upcoming super specialties in the field. At the same time, students participating in experiential arts-based activities to enhance self-awareness. A key aspect of this week-long internship was a social-media project on mental health that students were to prepare and showcase at the end of the week, which saw students writing poetry, vlogging, creating innovative posters and works of art. The objective of the internship is to expose students to psychology, to build their curiosity, and give them an opportunity reshape conversations around mental health. Speaking about the programme, Dr Samir Parikh said, “Mental health has always been stigmatized, with those suffering being at the receiving end of ridicule and discrimination. We thought it was time to build an alternative, more positive narrative around mental health, and that is how the idea of the summer internship was born. We realized that given the amount of time that children spent on social media, we could channelize it to be meaningful and be positive, so that the generations to come do not experience the kind of stigma that we did. And the response we got from students has been truly heartwarming.” One in four to five people in the world are affected by a mental illness at some point in their lives. Depression is the world’s largest illness, impacting 300 million people across the globe. Yet, conversations around mental health continue to remain taboo in society today. There is an 800% shortage of mental health experts in India today. Given the rising prevalence of mental health related problems, more and more students must take up the field of psychology to cope with the burden of the illness. This internship is a step in that direction – to expose students to psychology, to build their curiosity, and give them an opportunity reshape conversations around mental health. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/13732/iit-d-collaborates-with-leading-taiwan-university.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/13732/iit-d-collaborates-with-leading-taiwan-university.html Tue, 28 May 2019 11:55:00 +0530 Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT-D) and National Chiao Tung University (NCTU), Taiwan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish and offer a Joint Doctoral Degree Programme (JDP). The MoU has been jointly signed by Prof V. Ramgopal Rao, Director, IIT Delhi and Prof. Mau-Chung Frank Chang, President, National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan. Under the MoU, an academic and student exchange will be developed through the JDP whereby students who successfully completes all the requirements of the programme will be awarded a joint degree for the thesis by both institutions. Both institutions also seek to work together and carry out joint research & academic activities in a mutually beneficial way and to look for synergies across the doctoral programs of each other. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/13651/csir-imtech-signs-mou-with-ilbs-for-collaborative-research.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/13651/csir-imtech-signs-mou-with-ilbs-for-collaborative-research.html Fri, 17 May 2019 09:00:00 +0530 Chandigarh CSIR-IMTech has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS), New Delhi for collaborative research on "Development of Gut Microbiome Consortia for management of Severe Alcoholic Hepatitis (SAH)" The objective is to develop alternative microbial approaches to the currently used treatments for patients affected with Severe Alcoholic Hepatitis (SAH) liver ailments with human fecal matter transplant. The collaborative institutes intend to explore the possibility of formulating minimal microbial consortia from healthy human poop, which can be administered easily for treating the SAH and other liver-related ailments. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/13531/government-and-iit-delhi-to-set-up-a-centre-of-excellence-for-waste-to-wealth-technologies.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/13531/government-and-iit-delhi-to-set-up-a-centre-of-excellence-for-waste-to-wealth-technologies.html Fri, 03 May 2019 11:35:00 +0530 To commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India and Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) have come together to bring the best of science and technology to implement waste management in India. Principal Scientific Advisor to the Govt of India, Prof K. Vijay Raghavan and Director, IIT Delhi, Prof V. Ramgopal Rao signed a Memorandum of Understanding recently in New Delhi for setting up a Centre of Excellence for Waste to Wealth Technologies for implementation of sustainable, scientific and technological solutions for waste management, through validation and deployment of available technologies for transformation of waste to wealth. The waste to wealth mission project has been approved under the recently constituted Prime Minister’s Science Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC), which is an overarching body for assessment, creation and implementation of major scientific, technology and innovation interventions for India. The partnership will provide an effective platform for stakeholders to bring together integrated approaches for effective recycle, reuse and resource recovery of waste. Speaking about the MoU with the Office of the PSA, Prof V. Ramgopal Rao, Director, IIT Delhi said, “We have identified this as a focus area for the institute and many faculty members across the departments and centres at IIT Delhi are already working on a variety of projects related to waste management. The Idea is to consolidate all possible Waste to Wealth Technologies, learn from the best practices followed worldwide, and implement them on the ground for Indian cities.” IIT Delhi is already closely involved with the waste management aspects of Delhi and many faculty members are closely involved with the Delhi administration in addressing the waste management issues. The immediate objective is to implement technologies that are available with various national and international academias, industries, research laboratories and other agencies by way of setting up pilot projects on-site effectively and successfully, and demonstrating the proof of concept of the technology under Indian condition. This will be carried out by creating a strong collaborating network between IIT Delhi, and other national and international stakeholders through the aegis of the office of the PSA. The long-term goal is to create circular economic models for waste management, by leveraging big data analytics and frontier technologies to streamline waste in India. The overall outcomes would involve treating waste and generating different forms of energy, thereby making India a waste free nation, with zero greenhouse gas emission and no health hazard. Under the initiative, a waste to wealth programme management centre will also be set up at IIT Delhi.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/13449/indias-first-diy-bio-lab-bio-riidl-collaborates-with-mit.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/13449/indias-first-diy-bio-lab-bio-riidl-collaborates-with-mit.html Wed, 24 Apr 2019 13:30:00 +0530 The community bio initiative of MIT collaborates with RIIDL of Somaiya Vidyavihar (Research Innovation Incubation Design laboratory) for developing tools and technologies to enable the possible broadcast participation in biotechnology. Bio Riidl is India's first DIY bio lab and bio-incubator supported by BIRAC-DBT, the government of India that supports innovators and entrepreneurs. The main objective of this collaboration is organizing various research projects and activities. The initiative would focus on projects that include the creation of low-cost enabling hardware, infrastructure for sharing and new interfaces for artistic expression with biology. Gaurang Shetty, Chief innovation Catalyst, RiiDL said " The reason that this was made possible was, that we share the same vision, we work for the community, our goal is to promote biotechnology and DIY bio culture which gives access to citizens to learn science without prior knowledge and its application in solving real-world problems without any barriers or apprehensions. This development encourages our team to work harder and achieve more milestones in the future. Today we are the only community lab (DIY bio lab) in India. Biotechnology is going to be the future and India should not be left behind'. Somaiya BioRiiDL is an extension of RiiDL which encourages research and innovation in the biological sciences. It supports the growing Biotechnological, global socialmovement Do-It-Yourself Biology in which individuals, communities and small organizations study Biology and Life Sciences using the same methods as traditional research institutions. Somaiya BioRiiDL has setup India’s first and only Do-It-Yourself Biolab, and a Bio-Incubator, an incubation cell for Biotechnology start-ups; a space where Biologists can come, execute their ideas and innovate. Even after completion of their studies, they can come and work on their own projects. Students and faculty of Somaiya Vidyavihar, Biotechnology studentsof Mumbai University who have to work in industrial or R&D labs for their final thesis,as well as students who are working on their project in the college, and require specific equipment and conditions can work in the BioLab. Students have access to mentoring from scientists and investors as well as a chance to become a part of global discussion biologist group. BioRiiDL has received a grant from Department of Biotechnology-BIRAC, Government of India in December 2017.  Some of the projects being worked on in the 10,000 square feet BioRiidlcentre, include Modification and Performance Improvementof Sugarcane Harvester, Bio degumming of Silk, Touchscreen based medical vending machine, Text to speech conversion and Radiator grill for tractors. Start-ups in the pipeline for Bio Incubator include those working on projects in various stages of incubation from development stage to testing. Some of them include Diagnostic kit for TB, Nutritional foods, Nano materials and plasma products, Automatic irrigation system etc. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/13328/six-indian-institutes-establish-joint-doctoral-training-group-on-bio-big-data-science.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/13328/six-indian-institutes-establish-joint-doctoral-training-group-on-bio-big-data-science.html Wed, 10 Apr 2019 13:05:00 +0530 Six leading Indian Institutes of Higher Education are collaborating to establish up the first Joint Indian-German Research Training Group (RTG) on Bio Big Data Science to promote the use of big data methods in biological applications. The program aims towards educating the next generation of first class young researchers in this vibrant field of science. The Institutes include IIT Guwahati, IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras, University of Allahabad, University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University. They are partnering with Heidelberg University, Germany, and Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India. Speaking about this collaboration, Dr. Michael J. Winckler, Program Coordinator, Heidelberg University, said, “We hope to foster new and long lasting research collaborations with leading Indian institutions. The topics of this research training group are highly relevant for developing the biotechnology industry in both countries”. The Research Training Group will set up as many as 50 Ph.D. projects, which will be supervised by Research tandems consisting of leading Indian and German scientists. The first funding of the program will be between 2019 and 2025 with an investment of € 3 Million from each of the two organizing partners (Heidelberg University and DBT). Speaking about the expertise of IIT Madras in this field, Dr. Karthik Raman, Associate Professor and Co-ordinator, Initiative for Biological Systems Engineering, IIT Madras, said, “Given the rich expertise in data science at the Initiative for Biological Systems Engineering (IBSE) and Robert Bosch Centre for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (RBCDSAI) at IIT Madras, this initiative will be catalytic in developing strong collaborations with the University of Heidelberg in frontier areas of biological data analysis, and to train future leaders in these emerging areas.” The program organizes its first Summer School at Allahabad University, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, from 1st to 5th April 2019. Participating scientists will gather to train postgraduate students on topics ranging from bio-molecular modelling to visualization of large data frames. During this event, the partners will sign the bilateral MoUs, which will officially mark the beginning of the cooperation. Prof. Dieter W. Heermann, Vice Rector International Affairs, Heidelberg University, said, “Heidelberg University has a long tradition of academic cooperation with India. This program opens up new perspectives, specifically in mathematics and natural sciences.” Parallel to the summer school a networking workshop will be held to foster the formation of research tandems and the definition of new research projects.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/13326/ansys-announces-iit-b-phd-fellowship-programme.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/13326/ansys-announces-iit-b-phd-fellowship-programme.html Wed, 10 Apr 2019 11:05:00 +0530 ANSYS, a global leader in engineering simulation, and the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) will accelerate groundbreaking research across healthcare through a newly launched PhD fellowship program funded by ANSYS. Over five years, ANSYS will fund PhD fellowships to accelerate healthcare research with an underlying social impact. "ANSYS is supporting the next generation of inventors to sustain continuous growth and innovation in the healthcare sector," said Rafiq Somani, area vice president - India and South Asia Pacific, ANSYS. "Through this PhD fellowship program, we will provide students from IIT Bombay the resources they need to innovate and deliver cutting-edge advancements to India and the rest of the world." In addition, ANSYS will also fund PhD fellowships to accelerate environmental sustainability, conservation of resources and technology research. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/13285/iit-d-signs-mou-with-nii-for-academic-cooperation.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/13285/iit-d-signs-mou-with-nii-for-academic-cooperation.html Fri, 05 Apr 2019 09:00:00 +0530 Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT-D) and National Institute of Immunology (NII) Delhi have signed an MoU under which they have agreed to establish a programme for academic cooperation in areas of mutual interest like collaborative research activities, joint Ph.D. programs and exchange of students. Prof V Ramgopal Rao, Director, IIT Delhi and Prof Amulya K Panda, Director, NII Delhi signed the MoU in the presence of senior functionaries from both institutions. The MoU will remain valid initially for five years, and may be continued thereafter also after suitable review and agreement Under the MoU, IIT Delhi and NII Delhi have agreed to carry out joint research by submitting joint research proposals to external funding agencies. Research candidates registered in either of the institutions will be jointly guided for doctoral or post-graduate programmes with joint supervision. IIT Delhi and NII Delhi will also utilize each other’s research facilities. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/13120/mdrf-deakin-university-host-workshop-on-diabetes.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/13120/mdrf-deakin-university-host-workshop-on-diabetes.html Mon, 18 Mar 2019 08:00:00 +0530 Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF) and Deakin University, Australia recently organized a day long workshop on diabetes to explore opportunities of research and highlight the critical areas where urgent progress is required. Aptly titled “Diabetes Research – A Fertile Field with Numerous Opportunities” the workshop was also a celebration of 25 years of Deakin University’s engagement in India. Ms. Susan Grace, Australian Consul-General, Chennai; Professor Jane den Hollader AO, Vice-Chancellor & President, Deakin University; Professor David Austin, Associate Dean-International, Deakin University, Professor V. Mohan, President, MDRF and Professor S.P. Thyagarajan, Professor of Eminence & Dean (Research), SRM University, Chennai inaugurated the session. Commemorating 25 years of engagement with Deakin University, Australia and India (1994 to 2019), Deakin University, Australia is hosting a range of events in collaboration with The Australian Trade and Investment Commission and its India partners to explore future engagements in areas of strategic importance to India and Australia. As part of this initiative, Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialties Centre’s research wing Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF) and Deakin University, Australia organized a day long workshop to further research initiatives in diabetic treatment and care. Participating at the event were eminent faculty from Deakin University, Australia including Professor Jane den Hollander AO, Vice-Chancellor & President, Deakin University, Professor Julie Owens, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research), Professor Anna Peeters, Director, Institute for Health Transformation, Professor.Jon Watson, Dean, School of Medicine, ProfessorJo Williams, Associate Head of School (Research), Dr. Kathryn Aston-Mourney, Senior Lecturer in Human Biology, School of Medicine, Dr. Virginia Hagger, Lecturer in Nursing, School of Nursing and Professor Ken Walder, Chair in Metabolic Diseases. Commenting on the workshop, Professor V.Mohan, President, MDRF and Honorary Professor, Deakin University said, “We are happy to say that MDRF is collaborating with the Deakin University for over 5 years. Ph.Dprogrammes and Diabetes Nurse Educator’s course are being conducted at MDRF in collaboration with Deakin University. So far, three students have completed their PhD and three are currently pursuing their doctoral degree and 30 nurses have completed the 4-month diabetes nurse educator’s course at MDRF. Both these programmes are successful collaborative initiatives in India. MDRF is partnering with Deakin in organizing this workshop to brainstorm on the research opportunities, challenges and solutions with renowned medical professionals, scientists, physicians, young researchers, and students working in the field of diabetes to tackle the burden of diabetes in India.” Dr. R.M. Anjana, Vice President, MDRF states: “We are happy to celebrate over 5 years of engagement with Deakin University. We’ve collaborated with the university to offer medical students access to international Ph.D programmes and a specialized Diabetes Nurse Educator’s course. The workshop we’ve organized today is aimed at pushing the frontier of diabetic research through knowledge sharing and research cooperation among experts in this field. We hope to see partnerships and intensify research in critical areas of diabetic treatment” Professor Jane Den Hollander AO, Vice Chancellor & President, Deakin University said: “Deakin and MDRF partnership has been working hard on providing key interventions in Diabetes care. Diabetes is a critical health and development issue in India, with the second largest and most diverse population with diabetes in the country.  There are significant barriers in delivering diabetes care to this large number of people. Given this, the opportunities for diabetes research are potentially huge in India. The workshop today on diabetes provides a platform for expert, researches and medical professionals to put forward research ideas in preventing and combating diabetes in India. This conclave enables knowledge sharing and provides an excellent networking opportunity with a diverse group of medical and industry professionals.” ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/13046/biocon-academy-concludes-4th-edition-of-mcaddi-2019.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/13046/biocon-academy-concludes-4th-edition-of-mcaddi-2019.html Sat, 09 Mar 2019 16:15:00 +0530 Biocon Academy in association with American Chemical Society (ACS) Medicinal Chemistry Division and Pharma Innovation Sourcing Centre LLC USA, recently concluded the 4th edition of the Medicinal Chemistry, Drug Discovery & Development India 2019 (MCADDI 2019). This residential course in medicinal chemistry and drug discovery and Development was held from 4th- 9th March, 2019 at the Biocon Academy Campus in Bangalore, India. The five days programme was co-sponsored by the American Chemical Society Division of Medicinal Chemistry and the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). "We have a powerful technology pool around us. There are so many new technologies coming up such as gene therapies, cell therapies. We need accelerated models to take these technologies ahead and create a platform. We need to learn how to invest into technology and innovation. There is plenty of data lying in India in the form of crude oil. We have to convert it into refined oil. We need to focus on novel ways to change the paradigms to make this world a healthier to place", shared Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, CMD, Biocon.  MCADDI 2019 conducted several lectures on pharmaceutical development CMC topics including process optimization and development, bio-pharmaceutics and analytical sciences as well as integrated drug discovery and development case histories. The sessions were designed to be highly interactive, and included case studies to enhance the learning process. The highlight of the programme was the inclusion of pharmaceutical development with the discovery value chain. "India is traditionally very good in chemistry and generics but has shied away from discovery. Through this programme, we intend to tune the raw talent of the Indian chemists and biologists. There is so much potential in India which needs to be harnessed in the right manner. In the coming years, we do plan to incorporate more students into this programme. Also, we would be adding more content to the curriculum in the upcoming sessions", pointed out Dr Balu N Balasubramanian, MD, Pharma Innovation Sourcing Centre LLC USA.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/13042/elsevier-launches-new-assessment-capabilities-for-medical-education.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/13042/elsevier-launches-new-assessment-capabilities-for-medical-education.html Fri, 08 Mar 2019 16:05:00 +0530 Elsevier, the information analytics business specializing in science and health, has announced the launch of new assessment capabilities available on its refreshed and rebranded ClinicalKey Student platform (formerly ClinicalKey Medical Education). These new capabilities support medical faculty and students by enhancing the teaching and learning experience with tools tailored to develop and assess the knowledge of aspiring medical professionals. Building upon the platform's successful history of helping students to learn by giving them access to evidence-based medical content, the assessment capabilities enable faculty to easily build and assign assessments in a way that supplements their curriculum. It also helps them to identify topics their students are struggling with through detailed performance dashboards and cumulative data. Faculty has the freedom to select questions, building bespoke assessments based on the wide array of content and the needs of their class. In addition, students can supplement their learning by creating their own quizzes to address areas of weakness identified while using the platform or though standard examinations. To understand student and faculty needs, over 200 hours of user research were conducted globally to develop the new assessment capabilities, ensuring the platform delivers on the promise to the user and provides an experience that can be seamlessly integrated into their day-to-day learning. The new assessment capabilities on ClinicalKey Student will be available March 2019 in the following regions: Europe, the UK, Australia and New Zealand. Further launches are planned in the Middle East and Africa. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/13016/royal-society-of-chemistry-in-india-receives-funding-boost-of-rs-8-7-cr.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/13016/royal-society-of-chemistry-in-india-receives-funding-boost-of-rs-8-7-cr.html Thu, 07 Mar 2019 11:00:00 +0530 Renowned Indian business leader, scientist and philanthropist, Dr. Yusuf Hamied, has recently announced the launch of the new Inspirational Science Programme with a significant donation to the Royal Society of Chemistry in India. News of the funding comes as Dr. Hamied and the Royal Society of Chemistry celebrate the successful completion of the Yusuf Hamied Inspirational Chemistry Programme (YHICP), which has helped deliver more than 1,000 training workshops to over 23,000 teachers between 2014 and the end of 2018. More than 9,000 schools across the 26 states of India benefited. In addition, more than 1,600 students from 500 schools attended 26 Salters’ Chemistry camps across 16 states since 2015. The new four-year programme will pick up where the YHICP programme leaves off, aiming to: Expand provision of the Salters’ Chemistry Camps to reach a further 2,400 students from under-privileged backgrounds. Expand the provision of the Teacher Training workshops to reach 20,000 teachers by recruiting and training new Teacher Developers to cover most regions of India.  Rs. 8.7 crore has been committed to the programme.  Dr. Yusuf Hamied, chairperson of pharmaceuticals company Cipla and a pioneer of affordable medicines for patients in developing countries, said: “The first phase of this programme was a tremendous success, reaching three times more people than we had originally targeted. “The impact on education across the country cannot be underestimated. That’s why I am excited to announce the continuation of this programme with the Royal Society of Chemistry over the next four years, which I believe will deliver even greater results.” The overarching aim of the programme is to give Indian teachers new tools for delivering engaging and effective science lessons, and to encourage students to reach the necessary standards to study science at university. The next phase of the programme will reach more students and teachers over a wider geographical area, strengthen existing partnerships with leading Indian universities and will focus on tailoring our training to better equip teachers to educate and inspire the next generation of great Indian scientists. Dr. Robert Parker, Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Chemistry, said: “Dr Hamied’s generosity has led to the establishment of a programme that has already helped hundreds of thousands of students. We are delighted that he has felt strongly enough about the benefit of this programme to support its expansion and we are excited to continue to deliver a programme of real benefit to Indian science.” A key part of the new programme will be to explore the introduction of three new key enhancements; to translate teacher training content into selected local languages, to develop training modules to cover additional specific disciplines, and to explore how mobile access to the Royal Society of Chemistry’s teaching resources could complement the programme’s aims.   After an exploratory phase, implementation of any additional activities would commence from 2020 onwards. Dr. Yusuf Hamied added: “India’s next generation of chemists and scientists could play a significant role in shaping the world we live in and improving our day-to-day lives, which is why I am so passionate about this programme. We must make sure our teachers have the right tools and information to ensure students are excited and engaged by chemistry so we can nurture the next generation of talent. “The numbers we’ve seen over the past five years has been a fantastic indicator of the tremendous success of this partnership so far and long may that success continue.” The Royal Society of Chemistry has a large number of active and enthusiastic members all across India and they have been working hard to support education in India for many decades. Dr Parker was of the view that they could provide excellent opportunities for scientists to volunteer and get involved in supporting this programme.  The £800,000 Yusuf Hamied Inspiration Chemistry Programme in numbers: 23,000 science teachers trained - almost triple the initial 9,000 schools in 26 states 1,000 workshops were conducted 40 Teacher developers received master training 1,600 students attended chemistry camps at the leading universities (50% of them are female students) Camps conducted in 10 regional languages Over 150 Indian partners   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12967/ayush-to-lay-foundation-stone-for-nium-at-ghaziabad-tomorrow.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12967/ayush-to-lay-foundation-stone-for-nium-at-ghaziabad-tomorrow.html Fri, 01 Mar 2019 09:45:00 +0530 Shripad Yesso Naik, Union Minister of State (IC) for AYUSH will lay foundation stone for National Institute of Unani Medicine (NIUM) at Ghaziabad tomorrow in the presence of General V. K. Singh, Union Minister of State for External Affairs. The NIUM, Ghaziabad, an extension of the existing NIUM, Bangalore, would be developed in 10 acres with an approximate cost of Rs. 300.00 crore. Once established, the NIUM, Ghaziabad, with a 200 bedded hospital, would be one of the largest institutes of Unani Medicine in Northern India. Besides providing healthcare services, the NIUM would have facilities for quality research and education at postgraduate and PhD levels. The land for the establishment of the NIUM, Ghaziabad has been provided by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India. Anil Agrawal, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha); Vijay Pal Singh Tomar, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha); Dharam Singh Saini, State Minister (IC) for AYUSH, Government of Uttar Pradesh; Sunil Kumar Sharma, MLA Sahibabad; Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH along with otherministers will also be present on this occasion.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12943/dr-harsh-vardhan-inaugurates-new-instem-facility.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12943/dr-harsh-vardhan-inaugurates-new-instem-facility.html Tue, 26 Feb 2019 22:45:00 +0530 The new building of the Institute for Stem Cell Science & Regenerative Medicine (inStem) in Bengaluru was recently inaugurated by Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Hon'ble Union Minister for Science & Technology; Earth Sciences; Environment, Forest and Climate Change, in the presence of Dr. Renu Swarup, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology (DBT), GoI.   The Minister marked the occasion by planting a tree and naming the building, Atal Anusandhan Bhawan. The Minister accompanied by scientists from the three institutes of the Bangalore Life Sciences Cluster and visitors, toured the National CryoEM Laboratory Facility,  Stem Cell facility, and other inStem laboratories where students presented their posters to him. This was followed by an inaugural ceremony, beginning with a welcome address by Dr Apurva Sarin, Director inStem, who spoke about the vision and growth of the institute in the past 10 years.  Dr Renu Swarup, who spoke about the evolution of research at inStem, and Dr Harsh Vardhan offered a promise on the government's behalf toward furthering science, technology and the pursuit of knowledge. Dr Alka Sharma, Scientist G at the Department of Biotechnology ended the session with a vote of thanks.  This was followed by a  press conference where the minister along with Drs.  Swarup, Sarin and Sharma fielded questions about the role of biotechnology and stem cell science in India and abroad. inStem focuses on collaborative research with a cross-disciplinary, collaborative approach with a thematic focus. Research at inStem, encompasses a wide range of topics in stem cell biology: from questions about the fundamental mechanisms that control differentiation and renewal, to clinical studies on blood and brain disorders with a focus on mental illness and intellectual disorders ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12916/resmed-india-conducts-training-on-niv-in-lucknow.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12916/resmed-india-conducts-training-on-niv-in-lucknow.html Mon, 25 Feb 2019 11:35:00 +0530 ResMed Academy which is the clinical arm of ResMed in India conducted one-day workshop on the application of Non- invasive ventilation in hospital and homecare environment - where more than 30 renowned and eminent chest Physicians/ pulmonologists attended in Lucknow on Feb 24, 2019, at Hotel Radisson. Non- invasive Ventilation is a newer way of providing pulmonary ventilation to a patient without a need to perform any invasive procedure. The ventilation is provided to the patient through mask and an air tube connected to the ventilator. It is recommended in various Respiratory diseases. This workshop covered both theoretical and hands-on learning on the application of Non-invasive ventilation in various respiratory diseases including acute hypercapinc respiratory failure, acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, chronic respiratory failure. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a common, preventable and treatable disease that is characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation that is due to airway and/or alveolar abnormalities usually caused by significant exposure to noxious particles or gases. The chronic airflow limitation that is characteristic of COPD is caused by a mixture of small airways disease (e.g., obstructive bronchiolitis) and parenchymal destruction (emphysema), the relative contributions of which vary from person to person. It is one of the leading causes of deaths in India, especially during winters. A survey claimed 12 lac plus deaths in 2017-18 through both outdoor and indoor pollution. The most common causes and risk factors for COPD are smoking, passive smoking, fumes, chemical and dust in construction sites. Patients benefit from NIV as it provides pressure support and which assists patient’s breathing. This decreases their work of breathing (WOB) and improves quality of life. The symposium was started by a short welcome address by Dr Ashwini Mandanna, Clinical Specialist, ResMed Academy, followed by detailed discussion on role of NIV in acute respiratory failure by Dr. S. N Gupta, Director, Sanjeevani Lung center, Lucknow. The next topic NIV in home- when and how was taken by Dr B P Singh, Director, Midland Hospital and Research Center chaired by Dr Surya Kant, Head of Department, Respiratory Medicine, KGMU, Lucknow. Further, the guidelines, NIV device setting, monitoring and trouble shooting was taken by Dr Arunesh Kumar, Maharaj Agrasen, National Heart Institute, Dr Ashwini Mandanna, Dr Bhaskar Azad, Clinical Head, ResMed Academy, Dr A K Singh, Senior Pulmonologist, Apollo Medics Hospitals, Lucknow, the session was chaired by Dr Ved Prakash, Associate Professor, Respiratory and critical care medicine. On the occasion, Dr. A K Singh said, “I congratulate, ResMed Academy for conducting such educational workshop that sensitizes and improves the knowledge of upcoming doctors, hence increasing the adoption of NIV. NIV is widely used tool in acute care settings, which is widely used nowadays in treating both sleep apnea and respiratory disorders. Such symposium makes doctors more hands-on with the advancements in NIV innovations and treat patients in better way.” Dr B P Singh praised ResMed Academy’s effort and said, “NIV are one of the most promising and advanced innovation in treating respiratory disorders. It not only addresses the breathing problems, but touches the undiagnosed conditions like obesity, hypertension and sleep apnea.” "Such symposiums (ResTalk) not only benefits doctors but helps patients in advanced stage of respiratory dysfunctions. The future of healthcare such as telemedicine can be also benefited with NIV innovations”, he added. A non-conventional ventilator which people normally believe can be usually used with the mask, maintaining patient’s awake fullness, ability to communicate and eat and drink. This offers the major advantage, avoiding sedation, and patient comfort, ambulation movement), patient recovery, decreased cost to the patient, early discharge.       ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12904/iit-m-thsti-to-predict-pregnancy-outcomes-childhood-mortality.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12904/iit-m-thsti-to-predict-pregnancy-outcomes-childhood-mortality.html Fri, 22 Feb 2019 15:30:00 +0530 Indian Institute of Technology Madras is going to collaborate on applying advanced analytical approaches for predicting pregnancy outcomes with Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), an autonomous institute of the Department of Biotechnology, Union Ministry of Science and Technology in Faridabad, Haryana. The Research Collaboration Agreement was signed today (22nd February 2019) during the IITM-THSTI Conclave on ‘Transforming Maternal and Child Healthcare Using Data Science.’ It is being spearheaded from IIT Madras by Initiative for Biological Systems Engineering (IBSE), an interdisciplinary group dedicated to pioneering innovative approaches and algorithms that integrate multi-dimensional data across scales to understand, predict and manipulate complex biological systems. Highlighting the importance of this Research Collaboration, Prof. Gagandeep Kang, Executive Director, THSTI, said, “Our ability to understand, predict and manage human health and disease is changing rapidly with the application of new technologies that can identify changes at organism, organ system, cellular and molecular levels over time by careful study of patients and their outcomes. The analysis of the massive data sets generated by these studies is a critical need for which there has, so far, been limited capacity in India. We look forward to working with the IBSE to address problems in maternal and child health through deep engagement and integration.”   The broad objectives of this Collaboration include: Ø  Bringing physician-scientists, biologists, engineers and data scientists together to solve public health problems related to maternal and child health, Ø  Applying advanced analytical approaches for prediction of adverse pregnancy outcomes, childhood morbidity and mortality, Ø  Evaluating maternal and childhood consequences of exposure to environmental pollutants, Ø  Studying the role of maternal and childhood nutrition on pregnancy outcomes, immune response to vaccines and childhood morbidity and mortality, and Ø  Undertaking capacity building exercises for students and young researchers of either Party in the fields of public health research and data science by enabling student exchange programs and training courses. Addressing the IITM-THSTI Conclave, Prof Mahesh Panchagnula, Dean (International and Alumni Relations), IIT Madras, said, “The idea of making this conversation between who own the data and those who can use this data is still at its nascency. Going forward, every field is going to have a data-based decision maker. This conversation will define the way we make decisions and lead our life going forward.” THSTI will identify public health and clinical needs and research gaps in maternal, neonatal and child health, design observational studies, clinical and community trials to answer the defined research questions and also acquire clinical, epidemiological and biological data with well-defined experimental methods using standardised protocols under quality-controlled settings. Further, it will also participate in analysis and interpretation of clinical, epidemiological and biological data collected in and also work to obtain data or material advantageous for maternal, neonatal, and child health. IIT Madras will help acquire data that is complementary (such as pollution exposure data), to clinical, epidemiological and biological data that can generate novel insights for research questions of joint interest. The Institute will provide insights based on analyses of data for the design of observational studies, clinical and community trials to answer the identified research questions and to generate results that are generalizable to population/subjects that are not part of the study cohorts. Speaking about this collaboration, Dr. Himanshu Sinha, Associate Professor, Department of Biotechnology, IIT Madras, who coordinates the IBSE said, “We are very excited about this collaboration between THSTI and IITM as it will give us access to one of the most comprehensive and detailed Indian dataset on pregnancy outcomes being conducted by THSTI. We will analyse this dataset to develop India-specific models which could be deployed nationwide. Our ultimate goal is to create algorithms to help clinicians reduce maternal and child mortality rates in India.” ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12867/iit-hyderabad-find-antarctic-fungi-to-treat-leukemia.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12867/iit-hyderabad-find-antarctic-fungi-to-treat-leukemia.html Tue, 19 Feb 2019 15:10:00 +0530 Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad Researchers working with scientists from National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa, have isolated Antarctic fungi that contain L-Asparaginase, an enzyme-based chemotherapeutic agent used to treat Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. The isolation of L-asparaginase containing fungi from extreme environments could lead to development of new chemotherapeutic treatment methods that have fewer side effects than the existing methods. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is the most common type of childhood cancer. In ALL, the bone marrow produces an excess of immature lymphocytes, a form of white blood cells. One of the most frequently used chemotherapy drugs to treat ALL is the enzyme L-Asparaginase. L-Asparaginase reduces the supply of asparagine, an amino acid that is essential for the synthesis of protein, to cancer cells. This prevents the growth and proliferation of the malignant cells. The IIT Hyderabad Team includes Dr. Devarai Santhosh Kumar, Associate Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering and Dr. Asif Qureshi, Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, along with their research students Anup Ashok, Kruthi Doriya and Jyothi Vithal Rao. Speaking about the need to discover other sources of pure L-Asparaginase, Dr. Devarai who is the Principal investigator, said, “Extensive purification steps are necessary before L-Asparaginase derived from E. Coli and E. Chrysanthemi is used as a drug to treat ALL. This increases the cost of the drug.” The L-Asparaginase enzyme used for chemotherapy is currently derived from commonly found bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Erwinia chrysanthemi. These enzymes are always associated with two other enzymes, glutaminase and urease, both of which cause adverse side effects in patients such as pancreatitis, hemostasis abnormalities, central nervous system dysfunction and immunological reactions.  The Research team looked at psychrophiles as alternate sources of the enzyme. Psychrophiles are organisms that are capable of growth and reproduction in low temperatures in the range of −20 °C to +10 °C, such as those found in Antarctic regions. These organisms have modified life processes that help them adapt to the extreme conditions of living. For example, psychrophiles have ‘anti-freeze’ enzymes that are powerful enough to be able to work at the freezing temperatures of the poles, unlike mesophiles that live in more habitable zones of the earth.  The potency of these enzymes makes them promising as powerful drugs for diseases such as cancer. Industrial Bioprocess and BioProspecting Laboratory Research Team, seeking alternate sources of L-Asparaginase, screened and isolated fungi collected from the soil and mosses in Schirmacher Hills, Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica.  “Fungal species have the ability to mimic the properties of the human cells, as both are eukaryotic in nature, which makes it easier for their usage in treatment of ALL”, the researchers write in their Nature Scientific Reports paper. These fungi were found to have L-Asparaginase free of glutaminase and urease. The team isolated 55 samples of fungi, of which 30 isolates had pure L-Asparaginase. Maximum enzymatic activity was seen in a strain of fungus called Trichosporon asahii IBBLA1 and the enzyme activity was comparable to that of purified enzymes obtained from bacterial sources. The absence of glutaminase and urease would prevent the serious side-effects currently seen with the use of bacteria-derived L-Asparaginase.     ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12794/resmed-india-conducts-educational-training-on-niv.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12794/resmed-india-conducts-educational-training-on-niv.html Mon, 11 Feb 2019 16:30:00 +0530 ResMed Academy which is the clinical arm of ResMed in India, conducts educational workshops for medical experts throughout the year in the fields of NIV and Sleep for education and patient benefit. A one-day workshop on the application of Non- invasive ventilation in hospital and homecare environment was conducted by ResMed Academy on Feb 9, 2019, at Hotel ITC Sonar. It was attended by more than 30 chest Physicians/ pulmonologists. This workshop covered both theoretical and hands-on learning on the application of Non-invasive ventilation across a variety of patients in various types of respiratory failure including Hypoxemic failure, Chronic care, NIV Guidelines etc. Non- invasive ventilation is the airway support system through an interface such as full face mask which gives positive end-expiratory pressure and improves ventilation – and is very effective in managing various forms of respiratory failure, especially COPD. COPD is a collective term used to describe progressive lung emphysema, chronic bronchitis, refractory asthma and bronchiectasis leading to breathlessness. It is one of the leading causes of deaths in India, especially during winters. A survey claimed 12 lac plus deaths in 2017-18 through both outdoor and indoor pollution. The most common causes and risk factors for COPD are smoking, second-hand smoke, fumes, chemical and dust in construction sites. Patients benefit from NIV as it provides pressure support and which assists patient’s breathing to enable more volume to enter into their lungs in a shorter period of time. This decreases their work of breathing (WOB) which lowers their respiratory rate and allows more time to exhale. The symposium was kick started by Dr Arup Halder, Consultant Pulmonologist, The Woodlands Hospitals, followed by Dr Shuvankar Chatterjee, In charge critical care unit, The Calcutta heart clinic & Hospital, Dr Pawan Agarwal - Consultant Pulmonologist CK Birla Hospitals Kolkata, Dr Ajay Sarkar, Consultant Chest Physician, Peerles Hospitals & B K Roy Research Centre, Dr Susruta Bandapadhaya,  HOD critical care & Consultant AMRI Hospitals, Dr Dipankar Sarkar, Consultant & HOD ICU, Columbia Asia Hospitals Kolkata who are experts in the field of Non- Invasive ventilation.  Dr Halder spoke about the indications and Goals of NIV whereas Dr Chatterjee discussed its role in Hypoxemic respiratory failure. In order to spur this application, for the patient benefit or end users, training was followed by experiential learning on NIV application, monitoring and troubleshooting by Dr. Jaydeep Khalpada, Clinical Specialist, ResMed India The workshop offered all stakeholders in the healthcare system a platform to learn, share and connect. The workshop brings together a multi-disciplinary audience from across the healthcare spectrum to share their experiences, ideas and break the conventional silos that exist in this field. On the occasion, Dr. Chatterjee said, “I congratulate, ResMed Academy for conducting such educational workshop that sensitizes and improves the knowledge of upcoming doctors, hence increasing the adoption of NIV.  I look forward to more such initiatives by Resmed.” Dr Sushruta Bandapadhaya praised ResMed Academy’s effort and said, “Knowledge on NIV is necessary for Doctors in both primary and secondary care Hospitals. The discussion/ training will give hands-on experience on NIV to aspiring doctors and can be helpful in avoiding intubation, especially with the patients who can be managed with NIV.” “Such symposiums should be conducted as frequent as once in six months to continue the learning and hands-on experience”, he added. A non-conventional ventilator which people normally believe can be usually used with the mask, maintaining patient’s awake fullness, ability to communicate and eat and drink. This offers the major advantage, avoiding sedation, and patient comfort, ambulation movement), patient recovery, decreased cost to the patient, early discharge.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12769/institutes-setting-new-centres-of-ai.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12769/institutes-setting-new-centres-of-ai.html Fri, 08 Feb 2019 10:40:00 +0530 In view of increasing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology across the world, IIT Kharagpur, IIT-Madras, IIIT-Kancheepuram, NIT Silchar, and NIT Bhopal have set up centres for Artificial Intelligence.  Most of the Higher Educational Institutions viz., IITs, NITs, IIITs, etc. offer various AI related courses such as Deep Learning Foundations & Applications, Foundations of AI and Machine Learning, Reinforcement Learning, Probabilistic Reasoning in AI, Predictive & Prescriptive Data Analytics, Deep Learning, System Identification, Cyber Physical Security, Digital Image Processing, etc.  The Acts and Statutes governing these Institutions allow them to have academic and research collaboration with Institutions and Universities across the world in various fields. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12753/somaiya-vidyavihar-organizes-one-day-symposium-to-enlighten-students-on-stem-cells-and-cancer.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12753/somaiya-vidyavihar-organizes-one-day-symposium-to-enlighten-students-on-stem-cells-and-cancer.html Thu, 07 Feb 2019 09:35:00 +0530 One-day symposium on “Stem Cells & Cancer – India 2019” with theme of Detection and Therapeutic interventions of Stem cells in Cancer was organized by Sathgen Biotech A division of Godavari Biorefineries Limited, National Centre for Cell Sciences and Somaiya Vidyavihar. The symposium brought together renowned personalities in the field of cancer research including, Dr. Christopher J. Logothetis academicians, research students and industry delegates. Samir Somaiya, CMD, Godavari Biorefineries of which Sathgen Biotech is a division said, “Since its inception in 2007 Sathgen Biotech has been working on developing drugs, which could work to eliminate cancer stem cell population, drugs which will also work in combination with existing chemotherapies to eliminate cancer-related mortality. Stem cell therapy is a new targeted method being evaluated by various academic & research groups across the globe. This symposium is being organized to address the most updated research and information available in the area of cancer stem cell therapy. We believe that collaboration between Industry, Research Centres & Academic Institutions can work towards finding new and innovative methods to understand cancer & eventually circumvent it.” Dr. Christopher J. Logothetis, Department Chair and Professor of the Genitourinary Medical Oncology Division of Cancer Medicine at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, USA, said “Research is all about precision and how focused we are. In his journey, his research work experience in the hospital has helped him to upgrade his knowledge in healthcare. He further said that the future of science can be only improved if we work together.Former Director of Tata Memorial Centre Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer Dr. Chiplunkar said, she was also a student of Microbiology at Somaiya Vidyavihar. She further said, it is good to havea Research Centre and Hospital under one umbrella as the research can be enhanced and translated to clinical trails easily. She also spoke about importance of creating awareness about the causes of cancer, translation of all cancer related research for common man is needed. Governing Council Member of K J Somaiya College of Science and Commerce Dr.Mani Sendurai, Co-Director, Center for Stem Cell & Developmental Biology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX mentioned that, “prevention is the best medicine ever” Diet & pre diagnosis is what we need to focus. He also spoke about the biology of primary tumor growth as well as metastasis. He explained how more than 20,000 genes are affected by mutation and gene expression and how each one of them are co-relate with primary tumor. Since Dr Bapat was the first one to propose a report on the isolation and identification of cancer stem cells in ovarian cancer, she spoke about the difficulties that she faced while preparing them. She gave an idea about the advancements made in the field of ovarian cancer in India and around the world. The conference was organised at Somaiya Vidyavihar to enlighten students of Medical & Science College and other colleges about stem cells and cancer, pooling together the recent advances from the scientists and industry. Shruti Joshi a student of T.Y.B.Sc. Zoology Department also pursuing Cancer Course studying in K J Somaiya College of Science and Commerce said, “This symposium gave me a platform to truly understand the inner workings of cancer and how the scientists actually deal with it on a patient and the research perspective. Above all, I got to learn the very perspective with which all those scientists who study cancer approach it in varied ways from their points of views. It is interesting to know how they come up with the advances that they do. Also, I hope to one day be a part of this journey that they are already on. The beauty of all this is I get the exposure that otherwise is pretty hard to get. To meet so many people from different walks of life, having the same question and goal really fascinated me” Archana Unnikrishnan, a T.Y.B.Sc student of Chemistry said “The symposium helped me to understand the ongoing research in the field of cancer. It was a very great experience to know about the work from the experts. This year being a part of the symposium and getting the opportunity to personally interact with the speakers was a great experience. I think this symposium will help me in my future studies and research and will help me to understand where today’s research and technology has reached the field of cancer. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12710/ayush-minister-inaugurates-national-seminar-at-nih.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12710/ayush-minister-inaugurates-national-seminar-at-nih.html Mon, 04 Feb 2019 12:20:00 +0530 Shripad Naik, The Minister of State (IC) for AYUSH recently inaugurated the PG Courses and National Seminar at National Homoeopathy Research Institute in Mental Health in Kottayam. On this occasion he unveiled the Bronze Bust of Swami Athuradasji who was a founder of the Research institute. He said, “His Ministry had taken a decision to upgrade the Central Research Institute under the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy to that of National Homoeopathy Research Institute in Mental Health. He said that the main purpose was to integrate research with higher learning to fast track development of Homeopathy.” The Minister expressed his happiness over the decision of the Kerala Government to allot an additional 7.59 acres of land for further development of this Institute and added, “They shall provide state of art tertiary care on psychiatric illnesses and other conditions and impart outstanding teaching to its students in an interdisciplinary research environment.” He emphasized that the Ministry of AYUSH is committed to promote Homoeopathy. There is an increase in mental illness and depression. Incidence of substance abuse and alcoholism are becoming the root cause for several evils in the society.  Incidence of suicide, domestic violence and marital discords are increasing.  Therefore, there is an urgency to make strategic changes in the health care delivery system to address these issues. The other dignitaries present on the occasion were Dr .Raj. K. Manchanda, Director General, Central Council of Research in Homoeopathy; P. Gopalakrishnan Nair, President, Athurashram, Kurichy; Dr.R.Venugopal, Principal, ANSSHMC, Kurichy; Dr.N.Radha, Member, Governing Council, NHRIMH, Kottayam; Dr.Sunil Raj, Principal, Government Homoeopathic Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram; Dr Jaya Narayanan, State Programme Officer, National AYUSH Mission, Kerala; Dr.Kanwal Sethi, Advisor (Homoeopathy), Ministry of AYUSH. Training Programme was conducted for Medical Officers of Kottayam and Pathanamthitta Districts. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12689/inter-ministerial-committee-to-incentivise-research-quality.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12689/inter-ministerial-committee-to-incentivise-research-quality.html Fri, 01 Feb 2019 09:50:00 +0530 The government has announced that the fellowship of Ph.D students and other research personnel enrolled in any area of science and technology, including Physical and Chemical Sciences, Engineering, Mathematical Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, Life Sciences, Pharmacy etc.  has been enhanced with effect from January 1, 2019. Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi, Prof. Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary Department of Science &Technology (DST) said, “An Empowered Inter-Ministerial committee is to examine all the fellowship matters that have a bearing on enhancing the value, quality and experience of doctoral research, including the quantum of fellowship, which will not only widen the scope of training but also enhance the career prospects of research fellows.  The current hike announced yesterday will also be reviewed periodically, possibly annually, which is to be decided, by the empowered group that is being set up.” “There are various schemes to promote global exchange of researchers, including the Scheme called ‘VAJRA’-Visiting Advanced Joint Research Faculty Scheme. VAJRA is a dedicated program exclusively for overseas scientists and academicians with emphasis on Non-resident Indians (NRI) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) / Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) to work as adjunct / visiting faculty for a specific period of time in Indian Public funded academic and research institutions. The Scheme recognizes the value of collaborative research as a crucial element for information sharing among researchers for updating and acquiring knowledge and skills, and also to draw different perspectives to solve a shared problem”, he added. Joining him, Dr. Renu Swarup, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology and Dr. Shekhar C. Mande, Director General, CSIR and Secretary Department of Scientific & Industrial Research said, “The research fellowship is not a salary in career but is in the form of stipend while they are still in a career path which could lead to a great progress. They said there are several schemes now for researchers to go in for start-ups etc.” The hike in fellowship will directly benefit over 60,000 Research Fellows and also provide a template to the States to consider increase in their fellowship rates. Fellowship of the Junior Research Fellows in the first two years of Ph.D programme is increased from the current rate of Rs.25,000/- to Rs.31,000/- per month. Similarly, in the remaining tenure of Ph.D, Senior Research Fellow will get Rs. 35,000/- per month instead of the present Rs.28,000/- per month.    ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12677/government-to-hike-research-fellowship-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12677/government-to-hike-research-fellowship-.html Thu, 31 Jan 2019 11:35:00 +0530 With effect from January 1, 2019, Central Government has enhanced the fellowship of Ph.D.  students and other research personnel enrolled in any area of science and technology, including Physical and Chemical Sciences, Engineering, Mathematical Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, Life Sciences, Pharmacy etc.   Congratulating research scholars, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Science & Technology Minister said, “Ph.D scholars, working in science and technology, are the most significant contributors to the knowledge base of the country for its industrial competitiveness, academic vibrancy and technology led innovations. Improving the value of Ph.D. research cannot be a one-time exercise but requires constant input and efforts which the Government is fully committed to undertake”, he added. The hike in fellowship will directly benefit over 60,000 Research Fellows and also provide a template to the States to consider increase in their fellowship rates. Fellowship of the Junior Research Fellows in the first two years of Ph.D. programme is increased from the current rate of Rs.25,000/- to Rs.31,000/- per month. Similarly, in the remaining tenure of Ph.D, Senior Research Fellow will get Rs. 35,000/- per month instead of the present Rs.28,000/- per month.  Further, there is substantial 30-35% enhancement in the financial rewards for the scientists involved in the R&D projects as Research Associates. The top bracket of Research Associateship is fixed at Rs.54,000/- All the research fellows are also entitled to HRA as per Central Government norms.  For the first time, the Government has also recommended a set of strong financial and academic incentives to enhance and recognize the performance of our research fellows. This will be a performance based addition to the fellowship. An Empowered Inter-Ministerial Committee has been constituted to periodically examine all the fellowship matters that have a bearing on enhancing the value, quality and experience of doctoral research, including the quantum of fellowship. One of the recommendations is to involve Ph.D. students in undergraduate teaching and managing research infrastructure during their doctoral research. This will not only widen their scope of training but also enhance their career prospects.    ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12617/pm-lays-foundation-stone-for-aiims-at-madurai.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12617/pm-lays-foundation-stone-for-aiims-at-madurai.html Mon, 28 Jan 2019 09:40:00 +0530 In a major boost to healthcare facilities and services in Madurai and adjoining areas of Tamil Nadu, the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi recently laid foundation stone for AIIMS Madurai. The new AIIMS will come up at Thoppur in Madurai. It will provide leadership in advanced healthcare, medical education and research in the region. This location will primarily benefit people residing in the Southern backward districts of Tamil Nadu. Addressing a gathering in Madurai, PM said “In some ways, the laying of foundation stone of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences at Madurai reflects our vision of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat. AIIMS in Delhi has cultivated a brand name for itself in healthcare. With AIIMS in Madurai, we can say that this brand of healthcare has been taken to all corners of the country - from Kashmir to Madurai and from Guwahati to Gujarat. AIIMS at Madurai will benefit the entire population of Tamil Nadu.” Reiterating the emphasis of the Government on the health sector he said, “The idea is to ensure that everyone is healthy and health care is affordable. The speed and scale at which Mission Indra Dhanush is working is setting a new paradigm in preventive healthcare. Schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandhana Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan is making Safe pregnancy a mass movement. The number of UG medical seats have been increased by 30% in the last four and half years.” About Ayushman Bharat he said, “it is a big step to ensure achievement of universal health coverage for the people. Prime Minister expressed satisfaction that 1 Crore 57 lakhs people from Tamil Nadu are covered under this scheme. PM lauded that in just over 3 months, about 89000 beneficiaries have benefited under this scheme and an amount of more than Rs. 200 Crore has been authorized for admitted patients of Tamil Nadu. I am happy to learn that Tamil Nadu has already started 1320 health and wellness centers.” On disease control front, he said Government is committed to the elimination of Tuberculosis by 2025 and added, “We are providing technical and financial support to states. I am happy to learn that state government is upscaling the TB free Chennai initiative and seeking to eliminate TB in the state by 2023 itself.” Prime Minister also inaugurated the super speciality blocs of Rajaji Medical College, Madurai, Thanjavur Medical College and Tirunelveli Medical College, as a part of Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana, which aims to upgrade 73 medical colleges across the country.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12576/vp-hands-out-aicte-eci-iste-chhatra-vishwakarma-aicte-sagy-initiative-awards.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12576/vp-hands-out-aicte-eci-iste-chhatra-vishwakarma-aicte-sagy-initiative-awards.html Wed, 23 Jan 2019 15:35:00 +0530 Vice President of India, Venkaiah Naidu recently addressed the presentation ceremony of AICTE-ECI-ISTE Chhatra Vishwakarma Awards and AICTE- SAGY Initiative awards in New Delhi. While addressing the ceremony he said, “Awards would challenge young students to come up with novel ideas that have great potential to impact life in villages through technological interventions at the grass root level." Highlighting the importance of redeeming agriculture sector which is still the main stay of rural economy, the Vice President said that we have to constantly innovate and reinvent our agricultural practices to make farming much more rewarding, profitable and sustainable. Expressing his firm conviction that development and environmental conservation are not mutually exclusive goals but are complimentary, the Vice President urged young technocrats to consider the environmental cost of their innovations on a priority basis while calculating feasibility. ‘We can no longer afford to neglect our ecological footprint’, he warned.  Expressing his anguish at the dual challenges of malnutrition and hidden hunger on one hand and obesity and lifestyle diseases on the other, that India faces today, he urged young people to maintain a balanced diet and lead a healthy life style and said, “Only a healthy nation can be a wealthy nation.” Calling for balanced development, the Vice President said that our approach to development must have a dual focus, it must be comprehensive and must keep both urban and rural realities in view. “Our urban spaces were becoming increasingly congested and suggested that distress migration could be prevented by providing livelihood, connectivity, health services, infrastructure and avenues for recreation in rural areas”, he added. The Vice President said that 3 ‘D’s - Demography, Demand and Democracy are making the India of today outshine other countries in the world and added that he had full faith in the vision and capabilities of India’s youth who make up 65% of the country’s population. He congratulated the All India Council of Technical Education’s endeavour to catalyse rural development in association with the Engineering Council of India (ECI) and the Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE).      ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12565/iilm-university-hosts-dr-samir-parikh-for-an-expert-session-on-mental-health-and-positive-psychology.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12565/iilm-university-hosts-dr-samir-parikh-for-an-expert-session-on-mental-health-and-positive-psychology.html Tue, 22 Jan 2019 21:30:00 +0530 The Centre of Emotional Intelligence and Department of Psychology at IILM University Gurugram hosted Dr. Samir Parikh, an eminent Psychiatrist and the Director of Department of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences, Fortis Healthcare for a session on Mental Health and Positive Psychology. Dr. Parikh spoke about the how mobile technology has impacted the mental health of youngsters today. He encouraged the budding psychologist students in the audience to focus on strengths of people instead of weaknesses. Dr. Parikh threw light on how community interaction played a key role as an advocate and ambassador of mental health awareness and how every budding mental health expert needs to be ethical, a social activist and a role model even in their personal space.  Being the motivator that he is, Dr Parikh emphasized the importance of reading and being updated by the recent literature. He motivated the audience to gain as much knowledge as possible and study during their tenure as students. He focused on the genuine pursuit of knowledge to build a strong base in the life, which is so very essential for every aspiring psychologist. He shared statistics on the need for competent psychologists and counsellors due to the non-availability of qualified experts. He said that unqualified quacks are in huge numbers in our country. He explained how there is a 300% shortage of psychologists and mental health professionals in India, and this nature of deficit is a huge opportunity as well as a responsibility for psychology students. He also shared how young psychologists today are too focused on pen and paper inventories rather than actually communicating with their patients. According to him, the human component to psychology is very important. There is a need to explore and observe rather than being restricted to the boundaries of the classrooms and otherwise taught theoretical knowledge. Discussions and exchanges between students and professionals are important rather than working in isolation. The students got a lot of insight on what to do and expect as budding psychologists.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12501/somaiya-vidyavihar-gears-up-for-its-innovation-event-maker-mela-2019.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12501/somaiya-vidyavihar-gears-up-for-its-innovation-event-maker-mela-2019.html Wed, 16 Jan 2019 10:45:00 +0530 Somaiya riidl is hosting the 4th edition of its annual event, Maker Mela from January 17 to 19, 2019. Maker Mela is an initiative organised by riidl (Research Innovation Incubation Design Laboratory), to accelerate the Maker Movement in India and to create a community of Makers. It is a celebration of arts, crafts, engineering, biotechnology, mechanics, agriculture, scienc eand the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) mindset. This year’s Make Mela will host Makers from eight years to eighty-three years; from tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, hobbyists, engineers, artists, science clubs, students, authors, homesteaders, garage tinkerers to commercial exhibitors. The platform offers - connects to investors and makers community, speaker sessions, possible funding for building project prototypes and much more! Says Samir Somaiya, President Somaiya Vidyavihar “ Our focus has always been in encouraging innovation and knowledge sharing. We believe when you provide platforms for collaboration and innovation, the barriers of age, language, country melt away and the power of the ‘idea’ shines through. We have seen the initiative grow, with makers from across India and even countries like the USA and Sweden participating in this event. Our students and indeed the community get inspired by the Maker’s, and more ideas flourish. We are happy that we have been able to play a role as facilitators.” About Somaiya riidl (Research Innovation Incubation Design Laboratory): Research Innovation Incubation Design Laboratory (riidl) was set up in the year 2010 by Somaiya Vidyavihar on its Mumbai campus. It was created to drive innovation & entrepreneurship and currently facilitates 39,000 students and 1500 faculty in the campus. In, 2014 riidl was affiliated to the Centre for Bits and Atoms (MIT USA) as a Fablab (now a Fablab Node in India) and in 2016 with support from Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, riidl became a Technology Business Incubator. The incubator operates through an autonomous not-for-profit entity model. riidl is sector agnostic and comprises of Somaiya Vidyavihar faculty, alumni and partners with like-minded organisations to promote innovations in various areas and supports different startups as per their requirement. riidl also helps in setting up labs & innovation centres at other places. The incubator helps entrepreneurs to convert their ideas into becoming successful and profitable ventures by supporting them in business planning, mentoring, recruiting their top team, commercialising their technologies, developing their products, getting early engagement and customer validations from the market, getting early stage seed funding, help in forging partnership at the national and global level, advice on intellectual property, training and development and many other things. Inspirational Makers exhibiting include Veer (age 8), who has developed a low-cost complete home security device; Mukund Shah (age 83), who creates some exciting DIY products; Sohel (age 17), social innovator and developer of ultrasound-based Smart Blind Stick to make life easier for the blind; Prashant Gade, maker of India's first of its kind myoelectric prosthetic arm specially designed for people with low income source; Hridisha Podder (age 16) from Agartala, Tripura who has developed a waste collection and disposal model to maintain the cleanliness of railway coaches. Last year, the event showcased the oldest e-commerce founder, Amma from Amma ki Almaari who started a business at the age of 73. Added to the rich menu of exhibitions from Makers; talks from eminent personalities, demonstrations and performances are among the most sought-after favourites at the Maker Mela each year. Besides a YouTubers’ Panel Discussion, the speaker sessions at Maker Mela '19 promise excitement beginning with keynote speaker the much-loved humanoid robot, Robyn Inmoov - World’s first 3D printed Humanoid Robot. There will be talks from international and national speakers; experienced speakers as well as the fast and furious young maker Yashraj, who at age 18 years owns 36 Research Projects and 15 patent applications is recipient of Karmaveer Chakra Award 2016 and has also been named amongst top 10 young entrepreneurs of 2016 across the globe by success magazine. Captain Raghu Raman,Group President - Risk, Security, New Ventures, Reliance Industries Limited presented by YOUth Talks will be a part of Maker Mela. Maker Mela 2018 was a grand success with 50,000+ visitors over a period of 3 days, and 100 Makers facilitated. An initiative of Somaiya riidl and Somaiya Vidyavihar, Maker Mela is supported by Department of Science and Technology and Department of Biotechnology, Government of India and Maharashtra State Innovation Society. The event will take place at the Somaiya Vidyavihar campus at Vidyavihar, Mumbai. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12466/foreign-medical-aspirants-in-2018-upsurge-by-24.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12466/foreign-medical-aspirants-in-2018-upsurge-by-24.html Thu, 10 Jan 2019 15:05:00 +0530 As per a fresh RTI data, the Medical Council of India (MCI) issued 3,386 more eligibility certificates to foreign medical aspirants looking to enroll in an overseas medical university in the year 2018.  RTI registration number MEDCI/R/2018/51942 states that during the period 01/01/2018 to 31/12/2018, a total 17, 504 eligibility certificates have been issued by MCI. It is to be noted that there has been a constant increase in the number of students going abroad since 2015. As per the numbers available from RTI no. MCI- 201 (E-RTI)/ 2018- Eligi./, the number of students who applied for the mandatory eligibility certificate from MCI to study medicine abroad almost doubled in the year 2017-18 from 2016-17. Year 2018 saw a further hike in the numbers. “As per the recent data, nearly two lakh more candidates are going to take the NEET exam in 2019, a growth of 14.4% from last year. The entrance test for MBBS/ BDS aspirants saw registrations soar to a record 15.19 lakh candidates as against 13.26 lakh. The number of students has increased but the numbers of seats remain the same leading to tougher competition. It is for sure that students who will not secure a Government seat are likely to go to foreign medical colleges owing to lower fees, good quality education and better opportunities,” said the President & Founder of MCI recognized, Caribbean based medical college, Texila American University, Saju Bhaskar. As per the information provided in the previous RTI communication, MCI issued a total of 8,737 eligibility certificated in the year 2016-2017 while 14,118 eligibility certificates were issued in 2017-18. The number of eligibility certificates issued also includes pending of the previous years suggested the RTI reply. The mandate of getting an eligibility certificate to study medicine abroad came into force only from January 2014. The notification stated that Indian national/ overseas citizen of India who has taken admission in a medical university/ institution outside the country on or after January 4, 2015. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12441/ibab-takshashila-institution-launch-pgd-course-in-biopolicy.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12441/ibab-takshashila-institution-launch-pgd-course-in-biopolicy.html Tue, 08 Jan 2019 15:15:00 +0530 The Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology (IBAB) and the Takshashila Institution (TI) have announced a collaboration to introduce a one year Postgraduate Diploma in Bioscience Policy Research (BioPolicy PGD) programme. The classes for the programme will begin in July 2019, and will be primarily conducted at IBAB’s Bengaluru campus with parts of the course conducted through live interactive webinars, online lectures and a learning management system. The course is open to any graduate in any field of science/technology, including medicine. Graduates with work experience will be preferred. Those with higher degrees such as PhDs, or those with post-doctoral experience, are also welcome to apply. The BioPolicy PGD aims to provide science and technology graduates with inter-disciplinary education to tackle real-world problems in industry, academia, media and policy making. The BioPolicyPGDwill help students develop quantitative and data visualisation skills, policy analysis, economic reasoning and business and policy communication skills. “The best decisions are informed by evidence. It is important that policy decisions are informed by evidence and context, which leads to the most objective and rational decisions. Good education or training programmes in this area are of utmost importance. We are starting this course due to the huge unmet need for professionals with the requisite skills for evidence-informed policy making,” said Dr HS Subramanya, Director of IBAB. “The BioPolicy PGD will help scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs think about the larger impact of their work on society and help navigate through the increasingly complex global policy environment. We want to equip our best minds with new capabilities that can help transform India,” said Nitin Pai, Director of TI. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12372/cabinet-approves-setting-up-of-the-nch-bill-2018.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12372/cabinet-approves-setting-up-of-the-nch-bill-2018.html Mon, 31 Dec 2018 10:35:00 +0530 The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has approved the draft National Commission for Homoeopathy, Bill, 2018, which seeks to replace the existing regulator Central Council for Homoeopathy (CCH) with a new body to ensure transparency. The draft bill provides for the constitution of a National Commission with three autonomous boards entrusted with conducting overall education of Homoeopathy by Homoeopathy Education Board. The Board of assessment and rating to assess and grant permission to educational institutions of Homoeopathy and Board of ethics and registration of practitioners of Homoeopathy to maintain National Register and ethical issues relating to practice are under the National Commission for Homoeopathy. It also proposes a common entrance exam and an exit exam which all graduates will have to clear to get practicing licenses. Further, a teacher's eligibility test has been proposed to assess the standard of teachers before appointment and promotions. It further aims at bringing reforms in the medical education of Homoeopathy in lines with the National Medical Commission proposed for setting up for Allopathy system of medicine. The CCH had been earlier superseded by Board of Governors through an Ordinance and subsequent amendment of Act. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12340/president-inaugurates-centre-of-excellence-for-genetic-blood-disorders-in-karinagar.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12340/president-inaugurates-centre-of-excellence-for-genetic-blood-disorders-in-karinagar.html Mon, 24 Dec 2018 14:05:00 +0530 The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind recently inaugurated the Centre of Excellence for Sickle Cell Anaemia, Thalassemia and Other Genetic Blood Disorders at the Prathima Institute of Medical Sciences in Karimnagar, Telangana. Speaking on the occasion, the President said that, “Our country has made significant strides in the field of healthcare. Our doctors and paramedics are rated amongst the best in the world. Today, super-specialty hospitals are dotting the entire map of India. Many of our leading cities have emerged as preferred destinations for advanced medical treatment and medical tourism. Thanks to advancements in the medical field and improvement in standards of living, the average life expectancy in India has more than doubled since our independence.” “While these are laudable achievements, we still have a long way to go in evolving a holistic healthcare system, one which is uniformly affordable and accessible to our citizens both in rural and urban areas. Strengthening public hospitals, municipal hospitals, charitable hospitals and primary health and wellness clinics must receive priority. This apart, we need to spread awareness on healthcare issues especially in rural areas and amongst disadvantaged sections of the society. This will be useful for managing and mitigating genetic blood disorders, which are particularly prevalent in tribal communities.”, he added He also said that, “India has amongst the highest number of patients suffering from Sickle Cell Anaemia, Thalassemia and other genetic blood disorders. I am told that India has the largest number of children with Thalassemia major in the world. While around 1,50,000 children have Thalassemia major, there are millions of carriers who have the genetic trait for Thalassemia major.” ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12324/over-150-volunteers-from-ipca-initiate-swachh-bharat-drive-within-amity-campus.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12324/over-150-volunteers-from-ipca-initiate-swachh-bharat-drive-within-amity-campus.html Fri, 21 Dec 2018 10:10:00 +0530 Braving the cold weather outside, over 150 enthusiastic student volunteers of the Indian Pharmaceutical Congress Association (IPCA) took to streets and within Amity University campus on a Swachh Bharat cleanliness drive.  Armed by brooms and dust pans and stressing on the importance of hygiene and cleanliness through play card messages, the drive was conducted a day before the hosting of the largest congregation of pharmacists and pharmaceutical professional in India, as the 70th edition of the Indian Pharmaceutical Congress (IPC) will be held at the university from December 21st to 23rd.  B. R. Sikri, Chairman Local Organizing Committee, 70th IPC, and Dr. Ashok K Chauhan, Chief Patron, 70th IPC led the group of students who in a matter of few hours cleaned the campus and surrounding area.  “Cleanliness and hygiene factors are extremely important values for the pharmaceutical industry, given the fact that it is the high standards of hygiene that are a prerequisite for functioning in pharmaceutical lab and manufacturing. Therefore we have a much greater realization and appreciation for cleanliness. The students’ body that’s engaged with the activity is the Indian Pharmacy Graduates’ Association (IPGA) which is also the body hosting the event.”. said Mr. B. R. Sikri, Chairman Local Organizing Committee, 70th IPC. Held with the theme of Pharma Vision 2030: Indian Pharma Industry, a Global Leader, the 70th IPC will be inaugurated by the Vice-President of India, Shri Venkaiah Naidu, and presided by President of 70th IPC and Managing Director of Sun Pharma Dilip Shanghvi on December 21st. The congress will discuss various challenges on including need for implementation of standard international level quality and hygiene parameters along with Good Manufacturing Practices across the pharma industry over the next three days. The Indian pharmaceutical industry recorded registered sales of USD 36.7 billion in 2017, and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.4 per cent to reach USD 55 billion by 2020. The Indian Pharmaceutical Congress Association (IPCA) is a federation of five professional pharmaceutical bodies, namely, Indian Pharmacy Graduates’ Association (IPGA) Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA), Association of Pharmaceutical Teachers of India (APTI), Indian Hospital Pharmacists’ Association (IHPA) and All India Drugs Control Officers’ Confederation (AIDCOC). This will be IPCA’s 70th consecutive edition of Indian Pharmaceutical Congress.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12276/iiit-delhi-conducts-national-workshop-on-computation-for-biomedicine-and-healthcare-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12276/iiit-delhi-conducts-national-workshop-on-computation-for-biomedicine-and-healthcare-.html Mon, 17 Dec 2018 11:10:00 +0530 National Workshop on Computation for Biomedicine and Healthcare was recently organised by Department of Computational Biology, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi (IIIT-Delhi) at its campus. The four-day workshop held from 10thDecember to 14th Dec 2018 was aimed at bringing all the experts and participants working with Computational Biology on a wide range of problems together on a single platform to understand the progress and curb the challenges faced in the field. More than 30+ prominent speakers ranging from the fields of biology, medicine, drug discovery and healthcare discussed about major topics and themes including Structural Biology for Drug Discovery, Database and Prediction Methods, Techniques for Big Data Mining, Genomics for Healthcare, Future Prospects of Digital Health and much more.  Prof. GPS Raghava, HoD, Department of Computational Biology, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology (IIIT-Delhi) says, “Over the last two decades, exponential growth is witnessed in the field of computational biology, especially in the mining of big genomic data. Even now, not many are familiar with the technological penetration in biomedicine and healthcare, and even the familiar ones are not well-skilled to deal with it adequately. So, through National Workshop on Computation for Biomedicine and Healthcare, we aim to bring together the experts, students and working professional on a single platform to discuss, derive new knowledge and get onto solutions to curb the challenges faced in the field of computation of biology and work ahead for the further innovations and development of the industry.” Around 100+  students, faculty, researchers and industry professionals who are working or are interested in Computational Biology, Biomedicine, Health informatics, and allied areas, attended the workshop and gained great insight about the great opportunities to tap and the challenges to be aware of.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12223/tau-yashoda-hospital-tie-up-to-offer-non-invasive-cardiology-program.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12223/tau-yashoda-hospital-tie-up-to-offer-non-invasive-cardiology-program.html Mon, 10 Dec 2018 10:00:00 +0530 Texila American University (TAU), an overseas provider of medical education, ties-up with Yashoda Hospital &Research Centre, Ghaziabad to launch a fellowship program in non- invasive cardiology in India. Non-invasive cardiology focuses on the detection and treatment of heart disease, using external tests—rather than instruments inserted into the body—to evaluate and diagnose cardiac disorders. Speaking about the strategic tie-up, Founder & President of TAU, Saju Bhaskar said, “We are happy to associate with Yashoda hospital to introduce our fellowship program in non- invasive cardiology. We feel that there is a need to create more specialists in non-invasive cardiology. Common people today have become more conscious and watchful about their health, especially their heart which is vulnerable diseases owing to sedentary life- style, hectic work hours etc. According to recent statistics, on an average a non-invasive cardiologist receives about 25-30 patients per day. " Non- invasive cardiology is a much in demand specialization across the globe as heart related ailment have increased many- folds.  “We have been receiving a lot of requests from doctors to introduce fellowship programs, especially in non- invasive cardiology. This is the reason we thought to support the fellowship program. This is a two-year program where students after their successful completion and evaluation will receive a fellowship from TAU,” said Dr Gurjit Singh Gill, Associate Consultant (Cardiology) at Yashoda Hospital & Research Centre, Ghaziabad. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12192/conference-on-future-healthcare-in-india-concludes-with-promise-of-inclusive-delivery.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12192/conference-on-future-healthcare-in-india-concludes-with-promise-of-inclusive-delivery.html Wed, 05 Dec 2018 20:20:00 +0530 With the aim of providing a platform for educating and enabling open discourse on the state of tomorrow’s healthcare systems, leading health sector management University, IIHMR, concluded the 23rd edition of its flagship annual event, Pradanya 2018, with power-packed debates on breakthrough technologies, transformations, innovations and discoveries and their impact on current a future models of medical service delivery. Speeches were imparted by some of the most prominent minds in the sector including Dr Indu Bhushan, CEO, Ayushman Bharat: National Health Protection Mission, Shri Naveen Jain, Mission Director for the National Health Mission, Government of Rajasthan, Dr. Anil Agarwal, Health Specialist, UNICEF Rajasthan, Dr. Chandrakant Lahariya, Technical Officer, Health, Care & Access, WHO, India, Dr. Chirag Trivedi, Director and Head of Clinical Study Unit, Sanofi India and many other health industry leaders. The conference saw participation from executives and management officials from government, private, social and development sectors, healthcare providers, academia researchers as well as students of health, hospital, pharmaceutical and rural management. The theme for this year’s event was “Re-imagining Healthcare: Yesterday’s Dream, Tomorrow’s Reality”. A wide range of topics covering vital questions of inclusive health and equitable access in light of Ayushman Bharat, the country’s strides in achieving SDGs in rural development, drug and vaccine discovery and its role in reducing disease burdens, trends in patient centered care, the new wave of healthcare technologies that are predicted to change the face of medical practice and service delivery. Conferences play a major role in disseminating best practices and knowledge of cutting edge systems while broadening feedback loops in the churning of ideas and furthering social and economic progress. “Access to healthcare in India is marred by huge costs of Out-of-pocket expenditure which pushes 7% of India’s households into poverty every year. When the affected victim is the sole bread earner in the family the cost is even more debilitating. About 70% of India’s population resides in rural areas but the majority of tertiary healthcare services, which are the costliest, in terms of OOP expenses, are in urban areas. Poor people need more expensive health services than the top 40% income-bracket of society. The awareness levels, willingness to submit to clinical diagnosis at the primary healthcare level and access to secondary or tertiary healthcare services is lower among the most disadvantaged. Some states have been running very successful public healthcare programs of their own. Our aim is to amalgamate all these services into one but not force this model upon anyone. That is why we have been careful in choosing healthcare service providers that fit into the model, that are willing and prepared to serve. There is no rigidity in the model and we are open to feedback”, said Dr Indu Bhushan, CEO, Ayushman Bharat, Government of India. Singled out by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as an Institute of Excellence for Training and Capacity Building, IIHMR University specializes in healthcare management, research, education, training and institutional networking. It has many well-known alumni working in both the private and public sector, leading organizations and running programs. For its significant contribution to health and hospital management education, it has received several Leadership Awards. “While the Ayushman Bharat identifies 59 lakh beneficiaries in Rajasthan, we already serve 90 lakh beneficiaries. The Ayushman Bharat is a great scheme in concept but, as a responsible agent of change in Rajasthan, we have faced real issues in implementation including limitations in reaching out to the correct beneficiary and insurance fraud perpetrated by both the receiver and the provider of services. Nonetheless, insurance coverage to universalize healthcare access is a step in the right direction and we are grateful for the accommodation of visions that the PMJAY has provided us with. There remain challenges to costing and rate fixation for the 1350+ procedures covered among private hospitals and consideration of their specific infrastructure expenses.” Said Shri Naveen Jain, Managing Director, NHM. “This conference has been a source of great inspiration for people committed to the cause of providing inclusive healthcare for all and managing change in society. I am sure that our students are better prepared to face career challenges now than before. I thank Prof. S D Gupta, Dr. Indu Bhushan, Shri Naveen Jain and all the illustrious luminaries who have helped enrich this debate and motivated our future leaders”, said Dr. (Prof.) Pankaj Gupta, President, IIHMR University, Jaipur. IIHMR has become a major destination for training and capacity development in leadership and strategic management, hospital management, disaster management, quality management, project management, health management information systems, health economics and finance. “It has been my pleasure to bear witness to such an enlightening discussion by deeply committed personalities to the cause of healthcare service delivery in India. My personal experiences with Dr. Indu Bhushan and others have taught me to trust the government in making the right choices in leading transformative programs. I believe that the audience at this year’s conference and all stakeholders present will take back a rich template of practices from the discourse that took place at IIHMR today and in the past 3 days. I thank Shri Indu Bhushan Ji and all the other guests for enriching our experience with their words of wisdom”, said Dr. S D Gupta, Chairman, IIHMR University, Jaipur.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12179/canadas-ivey-business-school-publishes-case-study-on-vaidam-health.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12179/canadas-ivey-business-school-publishes-case-study-on-vaidam-health.html Wed, 05 Dec 2018 10:20:00 +0530 Gurugram-based start-up Vaidam Health, India’s premier online platform for medical tourists established by two IIM graduates has now become the subject of a case study by Ivey Business School, one of the oldest business schools in Canada whose MBA program is ranked among the world’s best.  The case study, meant to provide material for class discussion for MBA students at Ivey and other business schools worldwide, has been written by Prof. (Dr.) Anupama Prashar of Management Development Institute (MDI) Gurgaon, and published by Ivey Publishing, the publishing arm of Ivey Business School which is the most prolific and credible publisher of business case studies in the world after Harvard Business School.  Said Manish Chandra, Co-founder, Vaidam Health: “Though Ivey Business School publishes about 350 case studies each year focusing on businesses around the world, very few actually relate to India. We are therefore extremely delighted that this prestigious B school has chosen to publish a case study on Vaidam Health for study by MBA students worldwide, and our company may be taught as a part of their curriculum. This is a huge achievement and a vindication of our business model and future growth potential considering that we started our operations hardly three years ago.”  The Ivey case study, titled "Vaidam Health: Facilitating Medical Value Travel," notes that since its inception in January 2016, Vaidam has partnered with over 100 world-class healthcare facilities and more than 1,000 medical practitioners in India. As one of the pioneers in setting up web-based medical tourism services in India, Vaidam has been able gain the trust of overseas patients by offering personalized and customized care with complete transparency, it points out.  Vaidam Health, which raised angel funding in 2016 from Singapore-based 4CE Ventures, has been certified to ISO 9001 and 27001 standards as a web-based medical tourism facilitator. It is also India’s first and only online platform for medical tourists to get accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH). The portal (www.vaidam.com) is a healthcare facilitator connecting foreign patients with best-accredited healthcare specialists and hospitals in India for treatment at an affordable price.  Said Manish Chandra, Co-founder, Vaidam Health: “Though India's medical tourism market is growing at a CAGR of 15% and is expected to touch $8 billion by 2020, it is still largely unstructured, consisting of hundreds of small to medium-sized medical tourism facilitators. Our mission is to organize this market so that foreign patients can make an informed choice and get a hassle-free experience in coming to the country and getting world-class treatment at a fraction of the price back home.”  Ivey cases are highly prized by the academic community for meeting the rigorous demands of management education. They are real-world cases, typically field-based, involving actual interviews with businesses from around the world. Unlike Harvard, however, whose case studies are written by its own professors, authors of Ivey case studies can come from any business school in the world, making the works representative of what’s being used and selected by professors in the wider world.  Most business schools in the US, Canada and elsewhere have adopted the case method as their primary approach to teaching. Case studies produced by business schools like Ivey and Harvard are also used by B schools around the world for teaching their own students. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12130/csir-imtech-collaborates-with-merck.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12130/csir-imtech-collaborates-with-merck.html Wed, 28 Nov 2018 10:20:00 +0530 National Research Laboratory, CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (CSIR-IMTECH) has announced a new partnership with German science & Technology company Merck to establish a ‘High End Skill Development Centre’ in CSIR-IMTECH, Chandigarh. The centre will be equipped with the next generation technologies, like gene editing & single-molecule biomarker detection and will help accelerate healthcare research and train Indian students and researchers in latest life science technologies and make them industry ready. Under the Memorandum of Understanding, Merck in collaboration with CSIR-IMTECH will use their expertise in Life Science to build a centre which will help researchers and students develop advanced competencies and analytical skills required for life science research. This will be a first of its kind, Academia-Industry-led, ‘High End Skill Development Centre’ laboratory in Chandigarh that has been established to augment Government of India’s initiative for skilling India in the area of Life Science. This ‘High End Skill Development Centre’ will enrich skills by conducting workshops, trainings and seminar series on cutting edges life science processes, tools and techniques. The centre will also facilitate hands-on experience to learning and real time sample analysis. The proposed state of the art Centre will integrate Work-based and Research-based learning by providing next generation lab set-up for carrying out real time sample analysis and learning workshops for selected group of technologies in the domain of Life Sciences. Dr. Shekhar C. Mande, DG-CSIR who was present on the occasion said, “This collaboration resonates with the Government of India's mission of ‘Skill India’ and would be a new benchmark for up scaling employability skills for graduates and post graduates who are aspiring to make a career in the life science sector.” Expanding on the contours of this MoU, Dr. Anil Koul, Director of CSIR-IMTECH said, “Collaboration with leading companies like Merck will bring a paradigm shift in the way knowledge alliances like these are created in public-private partnership mode.” As far as curriculum is concerned, it will be skill development-oriented curriculum and real-time exposure to the cutting-edge technologies which will be further strengthened after assessing initial outcomes. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12108/cabinet-approves-setting-up-of-medical-college-at-silvassa-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12108/cabinet-approves-setting-up-of-medical-college-at-silvassa-.html Mon, 26 Nov 2018 11:00:00 +0530 With an aim of increasing the availability of doctors and address the issue of shortage of doctors, The Union Cabinet has approved the setting up of Medical College at Silvassa in the Union Territory (UT) of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. The project is expected to be completed by 2019-20 at a capital cost of Rs. 189 crore to be incurred in two years, 2018-19-Rs. 114 crore and 2019-20-Rs. 75 crore with yearly intake of 150 students. The construction and capital expenditure of this project will be incurred as per the norms of Medical Council of India (MCI) norms and extant guidelines of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. It will also result in optimal utilization of the existing infrastructure of district hospitals and improve tertiary care facilities for the people of the two UTs and adjoining areas. The Medical College will benefit the students, especially those of tribal and rural areas of the two UTs, which will promote social equity. Health equity will be promoted by provision of better services through improvement in the strength of doctors in the UTs.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12098/thsti-ivi-hold-joint-symposium-in-korea.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12098/thsti-ivi-hold-joint-symposium-in-korea.html Fri, 23 Nov 2018 12:25:00 +0530 The International Vaccine Institute (IVI) and the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) of India held a joint symposium at IVI headquarters in Seoul, Korea recently. More than ten speakers, including four from THSTI and other participants from the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI) and India’s Department of Biotechnology (DBT), took part in the one-day symposium to share an overview of current research and development projects at THSTI and IVI, as well as to discuss common interests while exploring collaboration opportunities. Participants included Prof. Gagandeep Kang, Executive Director of THSTI and senior scientists Dr. Guruprasad Medigeshi, Dr. Susmita Chaudhuri and Dr. Arup Banerjee from THSTI; and Dr. Jerome Kim, Director General, Dr. Manki Song, Head of Clinical Research Laboratory, Dr. Anh Wartel, Head of Clinical Development and Regulatory, Dr. Viliam Pavliak, Head of Vaccine Process Development Unit and other IVI scientists. They addressed laboratory research at IVI and THSTI, as well as translational and epidemiology research at IVI. The symposium was hosted jointly by IVI and THSTI, and supported by SK Bioscience, a leading vaccine manufacturer in Korea. The symposium comes after the government of India became a state funder of IVI following last year’s exchange of a trilateral memorandum of understanding between IVI and the Indian Council of Medical Research, and the Department of Health and Family Welfare of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The India-IVI partnership is building upon a long-standing and expanding collaboration including the development of the world’s first oral cholera vaccine ‘Shanchol’, based on IVI’s technology transfer to Shantha Biotechnics; as well as the establishment of an immuno-monitoring laboratory in India’s National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED). The joint symposium, which is the first cooperative program between THSTI and IVI, is expected to help accelerate research cooperation and broaden partnership between IVI and India, one of the world’s biggest producers and exporters of vaccines. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12037/amrita-vishwa-tigs-team-up-against-antibiotic-resistance.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12037/amrita-vishwa-tigs-team-up-against-antibiotic-resistance.html Fri, 16 Nov 2018 10:35:00 +0530 Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham’s School of Biotechnology has teamed up with Tata Institute of Genetics and Society (TIGS) under the aegis of University of California San Diego (UCSD) to conduct cutting-edge research in antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a rapidly-spreading phenomenon which threatens to make once-treatable bacterial infections deadly again and jeopardize the delivery of modern medicine. The collaboration between Amrita School of Biotechnology (ASBT) and TIGS will focus on developing new tools to reverse antibiotic resistance. The tie-up between the two institutions derives inspiration from earlier work done between ASBT and the University of California San Diego (UCSD) in establishing the mechanism of action of natural products like clove bud oil to inhibit quorum sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and attenuate virulence. In addition, funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India as well as Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) to Amrita School of Biotechnology has also resulted in new strategies deploying bacteriophages to counter the virulence of MDR bacterial pathogens. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12032/eppendorf-india-rec-sign-mou-for-training-biotech-students-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12032/eppendorf-india-rec-sign-mou-for-training-biotech-students-.html Thu, 15 Nov 2018 16:20:00 +0530 Eppendorf India and Rajalakshmi Engineering College, Chennai have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for training students of Biotechnology on various modules. Eppendorf is committed to skill development by offering tailor made training programs for those students. The Training facility at Ambattur, Chennai encompasses state-of-the-art laboratories with conference and classroom facility. A team of Eppendorf Experts handle these activities by offering training program for students on modules such as Good Liquid Handling Practices, Art of Spinning (Centrifugation), Quantify in a new light (Detection of Biomolecules), Advanced PCR and Cell Culture. This will enable the students to get hands-on experience on various techniques. The Memorandum of Understanding also aims at faculty development programs to keep them up to date with latest technologies. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12029/-iit-mandi-team-identifies-dark-regions-in-the-proteins-of-chikungunya-virus.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12029/-iit-mandi-team-identifies-dark-regions-in-the-proteins-of-chikungunya-virus.html Thu, 15 Nov 2018 12:20:00 +0530 Indian Institute of Technology Mandi researchers has identified dark regions in the proteins of Chikungunya Virus. The Study could help understand molecular basis of infection and has implications in designing drugs to treat Chikungunya. The research undertaken by Dr. Rajanish Giri, Assistant Professor of Biotechnology, School of Basic Sciences, IIT Mandi, is aimed at understanding the structure and action of the Chikungunya Virus (CHIKV) through computational studies. Assisted by his research scholars, Ankur Singh, Ankur Kumar and Rakhi Yadav, Dr. Giri collaborated with Dr. Vladimir Uversky from University of South Florida in unravelling the un-structural biology or the dark proteome of the virus through computational studies. Further the group has also identified the molecular recognition features of the virus (MoRF). These findings by Prof. Giri’s work has recently been published in the Scientific Reports (Nature Publishing Group) and the Royal Society of Chemistry’s open access journal, RSC Advances. Classical virology is built on isolation and culture of the virus itself, which is often difficult, given the prevalence and variety of viruses known. With the advent of the silicon revolution in the latter part of the Twentieth Century, the field of virology has come to be aided by computational studies and bioinformatics, the amalgamation resulting in a new area of research - computational virology/viroinformatics. Computer simulations are now being used in inter-disciplinary laboratories worldwide to probe the structure and chemical nature of virus. Such studies afford better understanding of the nature in which the virus infects hosts, which, in turn, provides handles for therapeutic design. Speaking about the importance of this Research, Dr. Giri said, “The pathogenic mechanism of arthropod-borne CHIKV is not fully understood as yet because of the sacristy of information about the structure and non-structure of the viral proteins. Our Research seeks to fill this gap in knowledge.” Further, he added, “We believe that the analysis of the MoRF-based interactions of CHIKV proteins could help in understanding the molecular mechanisms of the pathogenicity of this virus.” The team used multiple computational tools to identify the MoRFs in the proteins of the CHIKV. The team found that all CHIKV proteins have at least one MoRF crucial for signaling events during survival and pathogenesis of the virus. Dr. Giri is hopeful that once all the molecular mechanisms of CHIKV proteins are deciphered and protein-protein interactions are understood, there would be a better path towards design of specific drug molecules that can act against this virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that more than 1.5 million deaths worldwide are caused by viral infections every year. Given that there are 320,000 mammalian viruses that can potentially infect human beings, man’s hope of preventing and treating virus-borne diseases hinges on rigorous research enterprise. The understanding of viruses has come a long way since its description by the Dutch microbiologist Martinus Beijerinck as ‘contagium vivum fluidum’ (contagious living liquid) in the late Nineteenth Century. Scientists are now aware that viruses are infectious agents that cause a plethora of human illnesses. Chikungunya Virus is a mosquito-transmitted pathogen that has caused epidemic outbreaks in Africa, Asia, the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean and the Americas in recent years. Chikungunya, the word meaning ‘to become contorted’ in the Kimakonde language of Tanzania and northern Mozambique, causes severe joint and muscle pain (hence ‘to become contorted’), rashes, and fever. The Chikungunya virus is made of a shell of protein that envelopes a single stranded RNA. The RNA encodes for four non-structural and five structural proteins. Almost all these proteins interact with the proteins of the host that the virus infects and hence, it is important to understand their nature. CHIKV has higher percentage of dark proteome. The dark proteome defined as proteins not amenable to structure determination by conventional methods, such as x-ray crystallography and electron microscopy. Dark proteins break the rule of conventional proteins i.e., the function of a protein depends critically on its fixed three-dimensional structure; for example, protein binds to specific ligands because their shapes match perfectly, as stated in the ‘lock-and-key’ model proposed by chemist Emil Fischer in 1894. Most of the dark proteome are hybrid proteins containing ordered domains and Intrinsically Disordered Proteins Regions (IDPRs), which show specific functions without being folded into unique 3D structure under physiological conditions” explained by numbers of scientists world-wide. The team has analyzed the abundance and functionality of IDPs/IDPRs in CHIKV proteins, by using various computational tools. These proteins are involved in replication and maturation of CHIKV. The CHIKV proteins have been shown to contain variable levels of intrinsic disorder that can interact with many unrelated partners, and these interactions are frequently accompanied by a transition from a disordered to ordered state. The corresponding sub-regions of IDPRs are acknowledged as molecular recognition features (MoRFs). The focus of Dr. Giri’s team is the identification and analysis of the MoRFs in the viral proteins of this alpha-virus. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12003/nitc-joins-hands-with-mvr-cancer-centre.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/12003/nitc-joins-hands-with-mvr-cancer-centre.html Mon, 12 Nov 2018 14:55:00 +0530 National Institute of Technology, Calicut (NITC) and MVR Cancer Centre & Research Institute, Kerela have formalized their efforts in joint work in Cancer research by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by Dr. Sivaji Chakravorti, Director NIT Calicut and Dr. Narayanankutty Warrier, Medical Director, MVR Cancer Centre. This will carry forward joint research between the institutions in the areas of mutual interest such as Cancer Diagnosis using artificial intelligence, computational modeling and characterization of malignant tumors, classification of tumors using electrical measurements, and development and testing of novel therapies to treat cancer such as drug repositioning using data mining. There are currently eight different joint research projects between these two institutes in various stages of development. The MoU also envisages joint workshops and training programs, collaborative academic programs and internships. This partnership is expected to provide a major boost to biomedical engineering research in India. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11982/icmr-to-launch-nano-medicine-task-force.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11982/icmr-to-launch-nano-medicine-task-force.html Tue, 06 Nov 2018 12:40:00 +0530 Considering the rapid progress in international arena there is an urgent need to initiate a need based goal oriented research in India which can lead to nano-enabled product and process with tangible impact in management of communicable and non-communicable diseases. The goal of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Nanomedicine Task Force scheme would be to contribute to the benefit of patients and society by exploring and translating Nano-enabled technologies towards clinical application. The aim of the Task Force is to foster and encourage fruitful collaboration among the basic scientists, engineers and physicians for developing successful application of Nanotechnology. The task force would focus on exploratory research based on specific need for clinical application, defining the novelty and superiority over the current practice including cost effectiveness; research for translation on demonstrated proof of the concept with a plan for preclinical &/Clinical trial. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11902/dbt-holds-roundtable-in-berlin.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11902/dbt-holds-roundtable-in-berlin.html Wed, 24 Oct 2018 12:20:00 +0530 A roundtable meeting was held entitled "Innovate in India" in Berlin. Development partners, donors and representatives of multilateral organizations explored collaborations to innovate in India. According to a statement, the meeting was organized by the Program Management Unit of the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council. Government of India and was held on the sidelines of the Annual Grand Challenges Meeting 2018. The meeting saw participation from agencies/organizations such as Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), United State Agency for International Development (USAID), Wellcome Trust and Grand Challenges Canada among others. Dr. Renu Swarup, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology said "In the past two decades, we have made major advances in Science and Technology which have transformed the lives of millions in the country. As India aspires to become a global leader in research and development, it will be important to continue to foster collaborations between countries and interested donor agencies to achieve common goals, " reported UNI. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11859/bihar-govt-inks-pact-with-phfi-for-medical-courses.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11859/bihar-govt-inks-pact-with-phfi-for-medical-courses.html Tue, 16 Oct 2018 10:40:00 +0530 The Bihar government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), New Delhi, to carry out medical courses designed to provide expertise to MBBS degree holders. According to the MoU, the two medical courses, approved by Medical Council of India, which will be offered are CSP (College of Physicians & Surgeons of Mumbai) and DNB (Diplomate in National Board). The courses will be offered in four subjects namely anaesthesiology, child care, obstetrics and gynecology and bacteriology. PHFI will provide technical support and hand holding to the state government in carrying out these courses which will be initially started at three district hospitals of Saharsa, Purnea and Nalanda. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11852/nccs-to-act-as-bio-repository-for-infectious-bugs.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11852/nccs-to-act-as-bio-repository-for-infectious-bugs.html Sun, 14 Oct 2018 17:25:00 +0530 The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has authorised the National Centre for Microbial Resource (NCMR) at Pune-based National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS) to function as a bio-repository for multidrug-resistant microbes or infective agents. The bio-repository will receive, store, maintain¸ preserve and characterise these microbes. NCCS plans to study the samples collected at the repository to develop new antibiotics and anti-fungals and test the effectiveness of new drugs. Currently, there is currently large-scale research undertaken to study the presence and spread of different multidrug-resistant microbes. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11734/three-leading-indian-institutions-on-the-nature-index-2018.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11734/three-leading-indian-institutions-on-the-nature-index-2018.html Mon, 24 Sep 2018 12:15:00 +0530 The Nature Index 2018 Rising Stars supplement has been published with sections profiling 11 up-and-coming researchers in the natural sciences and telling stories of institutions, countries and regions that have exceeded expectations over the past three years in their contribution to the Nature Index. The supplement includes also a special highlight of young universities and the progress they achieved in the research world without the years of experience of established competitors. Referred to as ‘Green Shoots’ or ‘30 UNDER 30’, this section profiled six of the leading young institutions that have sprinted from the starting block. Established as universities after 1988, they have made significant progress in contributions to 82 high-quality journals over the past three years. The institutions include Homi Bhabha National Institute (HNBI) and Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER) from India, Institute of Science and Technology (IST Austria) from Austria, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) from Saudi Arabia, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) from South Korea and Southern University of Science and Technology from China (SUSTech). The latter has quadrupled its contribution to the Nature index, making it the leading institution under 30. India’s HBNI has increased its contribution to papers in the index by 68.2% since 2015, and is the top-ranked rising star in India in the physical sciences. Papers cover theoretical investigations into subatomic particles, from neutrinos to mesons. Researchers at the institution have also contributed to work on harnessing the Sun’s heat to halve the fossil-fuel consumption of existing coal-fired power plants, and the use of molecular assemblies to prevent amyloid build-up in the body, a hallmark of many diseases including Parkinson’s. The Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER) have collectively increased their contribution to science tracked by the index by 24% since 2015. The mandate to balance teaching with research has engaged undergraduates in research, some publishing results by completion of their master’s degree. Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) is the third name from India in the Rising Stars tables. The institutions collectively ranked 7th, and are the only non-Chinese institution in the top 10. Their contribution to papers in the index increased by 26.3% since 2015 to a fractional count of 214.66 in 2017. The same institutes ranked 41 in the Nature Index 2018 Annual Tables published earlier in June. Apart from India, the Nature Index 2018 Rising Stars supplement shows that Chinese institutions are leading the world in rapidly increasing high-quality research outputs with 51 of the top 100 most improved institutions across the globe from this scientific powerhouse and 28 of those showing growth above 50% since 2015. The United States is second, with 20 institutions in the top 100 despite many starting from a high base. Four institutions feature from Germany, and only two are from the United Kingdom. The supplement identifies the countries and institutions showing the most significant growth in high-quality research output using the power of the Nature Index, which tracks the research of more than 8,000 global institutions. It also profiles six countries that have experienced the highest growth in contributions to the Nature Index, so-called “Challenger states”. In addition to 11 up-and-coming researchers in the natural sciences who are highlighted based on their recent contributions to the 82 journals tracked by the Nature Index, and their standing in the League of Scholars Whole-of-Web ranking. David Swinbanks, Founder of the Nature Index, said “The emergence of three Indian institutions among the rising stars is noteworthy and reflects the rapidly rising quality of research from India. Although the IITs rank was impressive considering the tracked 8000+ institutions, the “under 30” institutes of HBNI and IISER achieved a combined fractional count (FC) equal to almost 70% of the IITs FC”. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11685/researchers-propose-new-approach-to-develop-orthopedic-implants.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11685/researchers-propose-new-approach-to-develop-orthopedic-implants.html Mon, 17 Sep 2018 13:10:00 +0530 Researchers from Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore have proposed a new approach for developing orthopedic implants with better ability to bond with the bone. Currently, orthopedic implants for knee and hip arthroplasty are made of metallic alloys that contain potentially toxic elements like aluminum, vanadium and nickel. They are also much stiffer than human bone and don’t bond well with the bone. The research team at IISc has developed a strategy to increase the bioactivity of titanium alloy consisting of non-toxic elements - titanium, niobium and tin, through surface severe plastic deformation (metal working techniques). This approach could help produce new titanium alloys that are less stiff compared to currently use. The researchers used a technique known as surface mechanical attrition treatment (SMAT) to boost bioactivity of alloy’s surface. In this technique, the metal alloy sheet is placed inside a chamber containing hard steel balls typically used in ball bearings. The chamber is vibrated using electromechanical means because of which the balls start to move randomly at high speed inside the chamber. “The SMAT treatment deforms surface of the metal sheet, which leads to increase in surface hardness, modification in surface roughness and surface wettability and its chemistry. These modifications are responsible for increasing biological activity of the metal,” explained Dr Kaushik Chatterjee, who led the research. SMAT can improve biomechanical properties like fatigue and wear resistance, added Dr Sumit Bahl, lead author of the study. The equipment used for the experiment was developed in collaboration with a Bengaluru company. The research team included Sai Rama Krishna Meka, Sumit Bahl, Satyam Suwas, and Kaushik Chatterjee. The study was supported by the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB).   (India Science Wire) ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11640/usp-education-hyderabad-training-conducts-inaugural-graduation-ceremony.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11640/usp-education-hyderabad-training-conducts-inaugural-graduation-ceremony.html Fri, 07 Sep 2018 17:45:00 +0530 USP Education - Hyderabad Training Institute, a new centre supporting manufacturers and recent university graduates in building capabilities to achieve world-class quality and excellence in pharmaceutical manufacturing, conducted its inaugural graduation ceremony. Graduates of the Institute’s Pharmaceutical Quality Practices: Quality Control course are employees of pharmaceutical companies in India, including Laurus Labs, Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Avik Pharmaceutical, Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Natco Pharma from India, as well as Incepta Pharmaceuticals from Bangladesh. The ceremony, attended by industry employers, institute instructors and senior USP leadership team, was held on 31 August 2018 at the Hyderabad Marriott Hotel & Convention Centre. The Quality control course is designed for new pharmaceutical professionals and recent graduates to help them shape the future of the pharmaceutical industry. The Institute, established in collaboration with the Government of Telangana, aims to provide application-driven and intensive hands-on training to students to help them contribute to a culture of quality in pharmaceutical sciences. “Our collaboration with USP is designed to help build skill and capability for the pharmaceutical industry in Telangana,” said Dr. Jayesh Ranjan, principal secretary of the Industries & Commerce and Information Technology Departments of the Telangana Government. “It is a key milestone in our plans to develop a world class ecosystem for pharmaceutical manufacturing in the state and consequently impacting the quality of medicines in India and globally.” Salah Kivlighn, Ph.D., USP senior vice president, congratulated the graduates for their commitment to medicines quality. “It is a very proud day for us and I would like to congratulate every student for having successfully completed this program,” said Dr. Kivlighn. “The passion with which they have undertaken the course showcases their commitment to contribute to the industry. It is truly a privilege for USP to work with these budding pharmaceutical professionals to help contribute to world-class quality and excellence in pharmaceutical manufacturing.” The training is developed by USP scientists, based on modern industry best practices, as well as current and relevant case studies.  It provides both theoretical and hands-on training designed to help students retain the content they’ve learned and apply it to practice. “This program helped me build my profile and increase my chances of employment substantially,” said Ms. Mridula Manikantadas, who is one of the graduates. She said the training “clarified my fundamentals, gave me opportunities to think critically, helped me understand the best practices and requirements in the industry. It also gave me an opportunity to connect with potential recruiters from my target companies and, most importantly, train on those methods that I am expected to perform when I start my job.” The Institute’s Quality Assurance course begins in October and its Analytical R&D course begins in January 2019. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11618/fortis-healthcare-collaborates-with-gd-goenka-university.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11618/fortis-healthcare-collaborates-with-gd-goenka-university.html Wed, 05 Sep 2018 11:55:00 +0530 Fortis Memorial Research Institute , Fortis Healthcare has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with GD Goenka University for academic collaboration for its programmes in areas of Psychology, Physiotherapy, Nutrition & Health, and Hospital & Healthcare Management to provide quality collaborative learning opportunities for its students and promote academic research. The MoU was signed by Bhavdeep Singh, Group CEO – Fortis Healthcare & Nipun Goenka, MD – GD Goenka Group. Both of them emphasized the need for more such collaboration between universities and industries for skill development (education and training), the generation, acquisition and adoption of knowledge (innovation and technology transfer), as well as the promotion and encouragement of entrepreneurship. “At GD Goenka University we have always strived to nurture and train the brightest brains who are not only equipped with hands on training and industry exposure but are also ready to bring in fresh perspective and energy to the industry. The MoU will bridge the gap between the industry and the academia by promoting and supporting teaching, research and community outreach and will be of primary importance in the fulfillment of their mission, goals, and objectives our university.” - Nipun Goenka, Managing Director, GD Goenka Group As per the agreement, students at GDGU will now have the opportunity to observe the relevant procedures, undergo an Internship and learn from the industry experts thereby contributing in the advancement of critical research and techno-economic development of the nation. Bhavdeep Singh, Group CEO, Fortis Healthcare  said “The benefits of academia-industry linkages are wide reaching and can help in coordinating research and development (R&D) agendas, avoid research duplications, stimulate additional private sector investment, exploit synergies and complementing science and technological capabilities. We are delighted to partner with GD Goenka University in taking forward this mission.” Recently GD Goenka University also signed a MoU with Medanta - The Medicity for clinical collaboration of Academic Programmes like B.Sc. Cardiovascular Technology, B.Sc. Healthcare& Clinical Research and Diploma in Pharmacy. These collaborations will be helpful for courses under School of Medical and Allied Sciences (SoMAS) and School of Humanities and Social Sciences (SoHSS). ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11605/gd-goenka-university-inks-pact-with-medanta.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11605/gd-goenka-university-inks-pact-with-medanta.html Tue, 04 Sep 2018 11:10:00 +0530 Gurugram based GD Goenka University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Medanta - The Medicity for clinical collaboration of Academic Programmes like B.Sc. Cardiovascular Technology, B.Sc. Healthcare, B.Sc. Clinical Research & Diploma in Pharmacy. Dr. Naresh Trehan, Chairman and Managing Director - Medanta Heart Institute, Nipun Goenka, Managing Director - GD Goenka Group, Rohit Gujral, Director - GD Goenka Group & Dr. Rohit Dutt, Associate Dean - GD Goenka School Of Medical & Allied Sciences were also present during the signing of MoU. Dr. Naresh Trehan will help the university in launching courses in Cardiovascular Technology, Healthcare & Clinical Research in collaboration with Medanta Hospital, Medicity. G D Goenka Students will spend 15 days in a month assisting top cardiologists & opportunity to get placed in Medanta. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11597/c-camp-to-accelerate-projects-for-amr.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11597/c-camp-to-accelerate-projects-for-amr.html Mon, 03 Sep 2018 10:45:00 +0530 The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP), a Department of Biotechnology initiative, has been selected as an Accelerator for projects funded by CARB-X. As part of this partnership, C-CAMP will provide business, technical and ancillary support to CARB-X funded projects as well potential grantees. CARB-X is the world's largest public-private partnership devoted to early development anti-bacterial R&D. CARB-X is currently funding 33 companies around the world and has a rapidly growing early development portfolio of antibiotics, diagnostics, vaccines and other life-saving products to address drug resistance. Antimicrobial resistance is a public health challenge that needs a thriving pipeline of new drugs, vaccines and diagnostics to effectively address this growing threat. C-CAMP through the CARB-X Accelerator program will play a crucial role in supporting the CARB-X funded programs. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11593/jiva-ayurvedagargi-college-to-launch-ayurveda-and-yoga-course.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11593/jiva-ayurvedagargi-college-to-launch-ayurveda-and-yoga-course.html Fri, 31 Aug 2018 14:55:00 +0530 The Department of Chemistry of Gargi College under Delhi University in association with Jiva Ayurveda has introduced an add-on course ‘Ayurveda and Yoga – The Science of Well-being’ for its students. The six months’ course will introduce students to several principles of Ayurveda and Yoga. The course will be covered under four sections – Basics of Ayurveda, Nutrition, Beauty and Fighting common health problems. During the course, the students will learn about different body types (Prakriti), principles of healthy living, concepts of nutrition, principles of Ayurvedic cooking, tips to prevent common diseases, how to attain healthy womanhood, home remedies for common gynaecological problems, Ayurvedic steps to enhance inner and external beauty, among others. Speaking on the launch of the course, Dr Partap Chauhan, Director, Jiva Ayurveda said, “Ayurveda is not only for aged people. With Ayurveda our youth can stay healthy and beautiful. Women, in their various roles as mother, daughter and sister – are very influential in a family, so when they learn Ayurveda, the entire family benefits from the knowledge. I congratulate the management of Gargi College and Principal Dr (Mrs) Promila Kumar on this initiative to teach Ayurveda to the next generation of young Indians.” The launch of the course in Gargi College is part of Jiva Ayurveda’s ongoing initiative to propagate the knowledge of Ayurveda across the world. At present, Jiva Ayurveda teaches Ayurveda in Japan, France and Poland in addition to conducting regular educational workshops across the world. Dr Geeta Saini and Dr Neha Sharma convened the course and the course material was developed by a team of senior doctors under the guidance of Dr Partap Chauhan.  The course will be taught by senior Jiva Ayurveda doctors.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11575/clemson-university-partners-with-iit-delhi.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11575/clemson-university-partners-with-iit-delhi.html Thu, 30 Aug 2018 11:45:00 +0530 Clemson University researchers has said that a new partnership with one of India’s top engineering universities will lead to new medical devices, sensors and startup companies while helping educate leaders and entrepreneurs for the global health care industry. Clemson is joining with the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi to create the Center for Innovative Medical Devices and Sensors. The long-term vision for the center includes exchanges of faculty members, students and post-doctoral researchers, and to eventually establish joint courses. Some of the first projects will focus on solutions for diabetes and other chronic health issues common to both countries. Researchers plan to focus on technology that is close to going from the lab to the marketplace, a concept that scholars call translational research. The devices that researchers develop could lead to biomedical startups — and the lucrative jobs that come with them — in South Carolina and India, they said. An advantage to cross-border research is that new technology will be designed to meet regulatory requirements in multiple countries, smoothing the transition to markets around the globe, said Delphine Dean, who is the Gregg-Graniteville Associate Professor of Bioengineering at Clemson. The collaboration is the latest in a growing number of links between South Carolina and India, a connection that could help build both economies, she said. “If a company wants to have a landing base to do FDA testing, South Carolina is a great area to do it in,” she said. “We have a lot of resources at the state level, and I think it will help drive economic development. When you go visit IIT Delhi, they know Clemson and they know South Carolina.” Dean is coordinating the center with Sandeep K. Jha, an assistant professor in the Centre for Biomedical Engineering at IIT Delhi. Jha said the joint center with Clemson will be a win-win for both institutions and that they will develop several vital technologies by working together. “The research and continual development in the field of medical sensors and devices is the need of the hour,” he said.  “Most of the conventional technology related to health care and diagnostics have gradually been shifted towards automation, miniaturization and cost-effectiveness. “In this regard, a research collaboration with Clemson University to develop cutting-edge medical technology would be beneficial for India, as it imports the majority of its medical devices and technologies. Medical devices and sensors could also help to meet several critical needs of South Carolina.” For Clemson students, the opportunity to visit labs and do research in India will encourage global-scale thinking. “If I were an undergrad, I’d think this was a great opportunity,” Dean said. “You go enjoy an experience in India and then you get your engineering degree. Then you’re a hot commodity for a job.” IIT Delhi students will be visiting Clemson primarily for research, graduate studies and specialized bioengineering programs. Those programs include the Master of Engineering program and Green MD, an initiative focused on medical device recycling and reprocessing. One of the attractions for IIT Delhi students is that they will have a chance to work with Clemson faculty who have extensive experience in translational research, said Brij Khorana, the chief scientific adviser for the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences at Clemson. “By working with these Clemson faculty members, they will have the opportunity to gain entrepreneurial skills and participate in startup businesses here, and then perhaps some of these students can go back to India and help with the health care industry there,” Khorana said. “Over time, this collaboration can just grow and grow.” Some of the students’ work will be on the main campus and some will be in Greenville at the Clemson University Biomedical Engineering Innovation Campus. The campus, called CUBEInC, is at Greenville Health System’s Patewood campus. Clemson’s close connection with clinicians at GHS and the Medical University of South Carolina will be appealing to IIT Delhi students, Dean said. Clinicians play a crucial role in guiding research, ensuring that it reflects what happens in real-world hospitals and clinics. Martine LaBerge, chair of the department of bioengineering at Clemson, said the new center will create a unique environment for health care education and research. “The Center for Innovative Medical Devices and Sensors sets the stage for integrative learning and inventing experiences,” LaBerge said. “Students will learn the leadership, entrepreneurial and technical skills they will need to support and enhance a knowledge-based economy.” The collaboration between Clemson and IIT Delhi brings together two institutions noted for their work in engineering and health care. IIT Delhi was the third highest-ranked Indian university in the latest QS World University Rankings. The institute also tied for No. 1 in engineering among Indian universities in the annual “Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers for World Universities” by National Taiwan University. Clemson is renowned as the birthplace of the field of biomaterials and was among the first universities in the United States to start a bioengineering program, awarding its first Ph.D. in 1963. The university played a central role in creating the Society for Biomaterials. Anand Gramopadhye, dean of Clemson’s College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences, said the center will enable transformative research and deepen the talent pool for the healthcare industry. “By coming together, Clemson and IIT Delhi will be able to accomplish much more than we could apart,” he said. “We are creating the conditions for a wider pipeline between academia and industry, as well as a healthier global society.”           ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11574/iit-d-aiims-to-come-up-with-economical-medical-solutions.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11574/iit-d-aiims-to-come-up-with-economical-medical-solutions.html Thu, 30 Aug 2018 09:30:00 +0530 All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) and Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi (IIT-D) are planning to come together for exchanging research proposals to develop technology driven health care solution. The programme targets to come out with technology driven low cost medical solutions along with developing new items and equipment which can be used for conducting diagnosis and other medical tests. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between the directors of the two institutes, Randeep Guleria of AIIMS and V. Ramgopal Rao of IIT-Delhi. The main aim of this collaboration is to promote joint research wherein the technological expertise of IIT-Delhi can be combined with the medical expertise to promote research in the field of academics, product development and human resource development. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11561/industry-academia-collaboration-may-strengthen-pharma-sector.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11561/industry-academia-collaboration-may-strengthen-pharma-sector.html Tue, 28 Aug 2018 13:00:00 +0530 NIPER-Pharma Industry meet, Synergy 2018, was held in Hyderabad which emphasized on Role of academia in strengthening of the Indian Pharma and Intellectual Property. While addressing researchers, GN Singh, Secretary-cum-Scientific Director, Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission said, “Big innovations come from simple ideas, not just infrastructure facilities”. Industry representatives felt that technology reproducibility was important in the Indian context. Multi-disciplinary research and studies should be encouraged and such research can be enhanced by having industrial collaborations. It is also important to maintain the purity and health of experimental animals, quality training programmes, good maintenance of labs and animal houses that can lead to and ensure good collaborative research. The Director of NIPER, Shashi Bala Singh, in her address said the institute was trying to drive basic and translational research by bringing together academia and industry on the same platform. Plans are to extend it to synergy with industries for production and process development. Rakesh Mishra, Director, CSIR-CCMB, said cell therapy and immunotherapy are ideas that can now replace existing small molecule therapy. The panellists felt that the industry could change tremendously with a strong influence of regulatory aspect on its growth. The Indian industry should rise to the expectations of the US FDA as far as manufacturing units were concerned, they said. Similarly, speakers felt that investment-oriented thinking of industries and basic research-oriented thinking of academics should resonate in the same frequency in order to bridge the gap and strengthen collaborations. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11544/iit-h-hosts-international-workshop-on-reframing-biological-clock.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11544/iit-h-hosts-international-workshop-on-reframing-biological-clock.html Fri, 24 Aug 2018 17:00:00 +0530 Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT-H) hosted an international workshop on ‘Reframing the Biological Clock’ as part of a project funded under Wellcome Foundation UK Small Projects Grant for 2018. Researchers from the Institute are working on a pilot research looking at the how age and ageing are conceptualized in assisted reproduction. Principal Investigator Dr. Anindita Majumdar, Assistant Professor, Department of Liberal Arts, IIT Hyderabad, is researching ageing and IVF (In vitro fertilization) in rural North India where she interviewed coupled above a certain age regarding their experiences with IVF and birthing children. The outcomes from the field research were presented at ‘Remaking Reproduction’ Conference at Reproductive Sociology Group, University of Cambridge, U.K., in June 2018, and European Conference on South Asian Studies, Paris, in July 2018. The Department of Liberal Arts, IIT Hyderabad, coordinated the workshop, held on 17th and 18th August 2018 and brought together a set of scholars exploring the dynamics of ageing and reproduction through the lens of egg freezing, menopause, male infertility and sex ratio deficit. Addressing the workshop, the chief Guest Prof. Ravinder Kaur, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Delhi, said, “This was a great conference, and extremely topical. Engaging with new reproductive technologies, this conference brought together papers that are looking at its relationship with kinship and the family. Some of the conversations here were futuristic, engaging with issues that are going to become relevant as we forge ahead, such as egg freezing. But, most importantly, this conference brought together voices from different parts of the world and from within India, giving us a comparative perspective on the issue of ageing and reproduction.” The outcomes from the workshop include: Proposed Journal Special issue bringing together ongoing and established research Proposed Joint research engagements with epidemiologists and social scientists on questions of environmental toxicity and bodily changes Conversations on the need to understand the linkages between ageing and a socio-cultural body clock Speaking later, Dr. Lucy van de Wiel, Reproductive Sociology Group, Department of Sociology, University of Cambridge, said, “I have met people from all over the world, with discussions on how reproduction is organized, and the kind of inequalities it carries in countries like Mexico, US, and the UK. I’m really glad that there is finally a conference on reproductive ageing. It is an important element and a major axis in social organization that has not been theorised as much as it should have been. It’s been a lovely experience, participating in such a well-organized conference.” The workshop brought to the fore the ways in which technology is both detrimental and beneficial in imagining new reproductive futures for different cultures and communities across the world, including Mexico, Japan, US, UK, Denmark, India, Bangladesh, amongst others. Scholars from Denmark, US, UK, India, Japan, Germany and Bangladesh presented their work on the idea of the biological clock to understand how reproduction impacts deeper anxieties about the family, kin and nationhood. Speaking later, Dr. Emily Wentzell, Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of Iowa, said, “I am grateful to have been asked to come here. The areas of study and interest are particularly important when seen from a holistic perspective. This has enriched our individual thinking and our perspectives on reproduction and ageing.” This workshop brought together a diverse set of scholars working in the fields of reproductive medicine, epidemiology, assisted reproduction, anthropology, sociology and demography. The question of the biological clock is becoming an important node to look at changing fertilities, and their large scale impact on demographic change across the world. At the workshop, discussions around egg freezing, erectile dysfunction, infertility, changing meaning and ages for menopause, sperm banking, changing paternal and maternal ages became important nodes of discussion and analysis. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11517/university-of-houston-signs-mou-with-indian-nursing-council.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11517/university-of-houston-signs-mou-with-indian-nursing-council.html Mon, 20 Aug 2018 15:25:00 +0530 The University of Houston College of Nursing and the Indian Nursing Council, a national regulatory body for nurses and nurse education in India, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), for developing opportunities for nursing education in India through academic and leadership exchange. The Nurse Practitioner Critical Care programmes in India will support hospitals to increase the number of higher educated nurses trained to care for critically ill patients. The nurse practitioners will work closely with physicians to provide treatment and care for patients in intensive care units. Graduates of the Nurse Practitioner Critical Care programme will be eligible to pursue the doctoral programme. The Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) programme is a professional graduate degree which focuses on the clinical aspects of a disease process and uses evidenced-based practice to improve patient outcomes. Nurses in India with a DNP will have completed the highest level of training in nursing practice. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11509/iit-mandi-collaborates-with-rxdatascience-to-create-ai-portal.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11509/iit-mandi-collaborates-with-rxdatascience-to-create-ai-portal.html Fri, 17 Aug 2018 18:05:00 +0530 Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi has tied up with RxDataScience Inc., a leading healthcare manufacturer in the US, to create a portal documentation of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Research in the Pharmaceutical Sector. Further, IIT Mandi team is also planning to work closely with RxDataScience Inc, to apply deep-learning methods and cognitive algorithms for discovering patterns among patient journeys and social ties among physicians. This is part of a long-term collaboration focused on performing machine-learning on healthcare datasets concerning patients and physicians and developing novel web-based visualizations. Explaining the importance of this collaboration, Prof. Varun Dutt, Assistant Professor, School of Computing and Electrical Engineering, IIT Mandi, said, “Data Sciences in India are at a very nascent stage yet but in the U.S, most healthcare and pharmaceutical companies have moved onto the consulting stage wherein live cases are debated online by the doctors and medical practitioners’ community.” India is at the helm of a healthcare boom given that the Government of India has hiked in health spending by 11 per cent with a gross budgetary allocation of Rs. 1,200 crores for opening more hospitals. Further, Prof Varun Dutt said, “State-of-the-art infrastructure on ground can help only when off ground data science evolves and put the registers and medical charts online up for discussion with other doctors. IIT Mandi is pleased to work with such a nodal agency in the healthcare sector the world over and this puts India on the world map of healthcare mapping online.” Expressing happiness at this collaboration, Mr. Larry Pickett, Chief Executive Officer, RxDataScience Inc., said, “The RxDataScience and IIT Mandi research collaboration has been extremely productive in generating innovative new algorithms and visualization tools using the latest AI and machine learning approaches applied to longitudinal patient data. Both patients and our biopharma clients benefit from insights generated using novel approaches with cognitive and decision sciences applied to patient finding, patient journey and other complex use cases. We are excited to continue our long-term partnership with Dr. Varun Dutt and the PhD and undergraduate students at IIT Mandi.” In a country such as India, data sciences can really revolutionize the way rural healthcare works further reducing the cost incurred by other primitive methods of healthcare used in rural areas. Integrating the medical service provider with wearable technology is one way to do this. Wearables can monitor a person’s habits and provide ongoing assessment of their lifestyle and activity levels. Internationally, many insurers are offering services based on the use of these devices. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11468/union-minister-inaugurates-niabs-new-campus-in-hyderabad-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11468/union-minister-inaugurates-niabs-new-campus-in-hyderabad-.html Mon, 13 Aug 2018 11:15:00 +0530 Union Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan has inaugurated the new campus of National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB). NIAB aims to harness novel and emerging biotechnologies and it has taken up research in the cutting areas for improving animal health and productivity. The institute focuses on research which would lead to to the development of novel vaccines, diagnostics and improved therapeutic molecules for farm animals, focusing broadly on infectious diseases, reproductive biotechnology, animal genetics and other areas with respect to livestock and poultry. "The animal biotechnology institute is working in taking care of the health of livestock, treating their diseases, researching to improve the output and productivity, working on how to develop new breeds with the help of animal genomics," said Harsh Vardhan. "I have told them that now the focus of research has to be more and more on people-centric, farmer-centric issues and ensure that we are able to fulfil the dream of the Prime Minister. He wants to double the income of farmers by 2022," he said. The research of NIAB would contribute towards increasing the income of farmers, he said. He appreciated NIAB's outreach programme for farmers -- MILAN (Meeting of Indian Livestock Farmers and Agriculturists with NIAB scientists). Earlier in his address, Harsh Vardhan said the scientific community needs to change the definition of impact factor. He said it should not be how many times a scientific paper is read by how many people and that it should be about how many millions would be benefited by a scientist's work. The approach should shift from a routine one to a pro-active and visionary approach with the aims and objectives put in a "dream-like situation", he said. "There should be a mechanism to put some sort of timeliness to what we want to achieve in how many years or in months or weeks," he said. He expressed confidence that the country would emerge as the third most promising nation for science in the world by 2030 with the rapid advancements made in the field. "I am sure that we will be able to realise the dream of being the probably the third most promising nation for science in the whole world by 2030," he said. The country is sixth in terms of scientific publications all over the world and the country's growth rate for scientific publications is 14 per cent, while the international growth rate is just about four per cent, he said. The country was caught unaware when the tsunami of 2004 occurred, but INCOIS (Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services) in Hyderabad is probably the number one in the world in terms of early tsunami warnings, he said. The country is number four in terms of capability for weather forecasting, cyclones, disasters, he said. "Can you imagine that in a list of over 1,200 institutions funded by the government, CSIR right now stands at ninth position in the whole world," he said. The country is well placed with regard to patents and speed, Harsh Vardhan said. There is good quality synergy now within various departments of the science and technology ministry and also within the scientific community and also with other scientific departments, he said.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11455/kokilaben-hospital-varian-medical-systems-unite-to-offer-school-for-stereotactic-radiotherapy.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11455/kokilaben-hospital-varian-medical-systems-unite-to-offer-school-for-stereotactic-radiotherapy.html Thu, 09 Aug 2018 17:25:00 +0530 With the onset of a growing number of cases related to cancer, Varian Technologies, in collaboration with Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, is offering Asia’s first Stereotactic Radio Surgery and Stereotactic Radiotherapy Clinical School.   While arming established medical practitioners with cutting-edge technology management training, the course will also enable radiation oncologists and physicists to offer better patient-centric treatment protocols.   As this is the first-of-its-kind training centre in Asia, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital will also host medical professionals from across Asia who wish to be part of the training. The aim of establishing this centre is to provide quality healthcare, which was previously available only in the West, across India and other Asian countries.   The Varian Training Centre for Radiation Technologists involves case-based learning with expert clinicians from some of the leading cancer centres in the country.   The present programme is designed to fortify the abilities of already trained candidates who are familiar with radiotherapy, but not competent with state-of-the-art technologies.   Professionals will be trained on the newest technologies available in the field of radiation oncology.   The candidates in this fellowship programme will be exposed to high-end treatment modalities, enabling them to work in independent radiation oncology departments on modern equipment.   Candidates who desire to learn new skills will get an edge in the field of radiation oncology medical practice, medical physics, and technology through this programme.   The course will also allow aspirants from the lower strata of society to be skilled in managing the equipment required for radiotherapy. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11407/k-j-somaiya-college-of-physiotherapy-launches-new-building-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11407/k-j-somaiya-college-of-physiotherapy-launches-new-building-.html Wed, 01 Aug 2018 18:10:00 +0530 K J Somaiya College of Physiotherapy has launched its new building for Physiotherapy Education and Treatment, which is now open to the public with full functions. The new building will enable the college to double the capacity of patients being treated in its clinical practice, from treating 150 patients per day they can now treat 400 patients per day. Inaugurating the facility, Prof Dr Deelip Mhaisekar, Hon’ble, Vice Chancellor, MUHS, Nasik said “ Physiotherapy plays a significant role in medical treatments. In the present times, with rising ailments related to lifestyle, and associated issues and rising accidents, there is a need for trained professionals as well as affordable quality treatment centres. I congratulate K J Somaiya College of Physiotherapy for taking this initiative to serve the city better”. “K J Somaiya College of Physiotherapy is a part of our ethos of providing holistic treatment to patients. The new building will enable us to better the quality of education in physiotherapy further. Care has been taken of every conceivable detail, from a healthy natural setting with an old world charm to state of the art treatment facilities" Shri Samir Somaiya, Chairman, K J Somaiya Medical Trust said. Spread over 40,000 square feet, the sprawling building has been designed to provide a harmonious and healing environment. The disabled friendly facility has a total of twenty-two rooms out of which ten rooms would be dedicated for teaching, and eight rooms would be used for treatment and four for administrative purposes. The clinical area of the facility will treat individuals with orthopaedic, neurological, and cardiovascular conditions. It will provide a range of therapy including musculoskeletal rehabilitation, adult and paediatric rehabilitation, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, sports rehabilitation, women's health, geriatric health and fitness, and industrial rehabilitation along with community outreach programs. Another highlight addition, is the dedicatedYoga Laboratory. K J Somaiya College of Physiotherapy offers courses for Bachelor of Physiotherapy ( B P Th), Master of Physiotherapy in Musculoskeletal Sciences (M P Th) and Master of Physiotherapy in Neuro Sciences (M P Th) and PhD in Physiotherapy. Shweta Manwadkar Principal K.J Somaiya College of Physiotherapy said “Over the years, our work in physiotherapy has been much appreciated, and has been in increasing demand. The new building for Physiotherapy has been built to address the growing needs of the city. When patients come for physiotherapy, they are often in a situation, where their bodies are facing several challenges. Rehabilitation needs the mind and body to work together. The facility has been designed to give the patients a place where they get motivated and in touch with nature. It is a matter of pride for us to be the largest and perhaps the most well-designed Physiotherapy institution in the city. We have always strived toward excellence, in education and continue to work towards raising the bar for health and knowledge, we are proud of the fact that we have experts in different areas of physiotherapy all under one roof, providing the treatments offered with be at incredibly affordable costs that can be easily accessible to everyone”. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11337/iit-k-aiims-sign-mou-to-promote-research-programmes.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11337/iit-k-aiims-sign-mou-to-promote-research-programmes.html Fri, 20 Jul 2018 16:10:00 +0530 All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (IIT-KGP) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in order to promote interaction and collaboration between the two institutions. The primary focus is to enhance research outreach programme and medical services amongst faculty members, scientists and students to carry out joint academic and research programmes, joint supervision of masters and doctoral students as well as collaborative research projects. Some other joint academic programmes to be initiated under the arrangement are conducting short modular courses designed for undergraduate and postgraduate students, exchange of faculty members, use of laboratory facilities and sharing of data, among others. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11317/iit-aiia-to-integrate-technology-with-ayurveda.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11317/iit-aiia-to-integrate-technology-with-ayurveda.html Tue, 17 Jul 2018 20:40:00 +0530 IIT Delhi and the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) have signed an agreement under which projects would be launched that would aim to give scientific validation to the ancient medical science and integrate it with technology. Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the faculties of IIT Delhi and AIIA will work together in the projects to look at ways to integrate technology with Ayurveda. The projects would be funded by the Ayush Ministry. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11313/park-systems-to-open-park-nanoscience-lab-at-iisc.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11313/park-systems-to-open-park-nanoscience-lab-at-iisc.html Tue, 17 Jul 2018 13:00:00 +0530 Park Systems, a world leader in Atomic Force Microscopes (AFM) announces the opening of the Park Nanoscience Lab at the prestigious Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore, India, which has been upgraded to the status of Institute of Eminence.    The official inauguration ceremony of the Park Nanoscience Lab in India will be held on Wednesday, July 25, 2018 at 10 AM featuring a talk by Dr. San Joon Cho of Park Systems Corporation, who will make an official presentation, declaring the Park NanoScience Lab, a national facility where researchers will have access to Park Systems cutting-edge Atomic Force Microscopes with high-resolution nanoscale imaging. The event will also include an AFM live demonstration and is open to the press and public. The Nanoscience Lab is equipped with Park NX20 AFM  at the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE) and will hold workshops and symposiums on the latest advancements in nanometrology and offer researchers a chance to experience the latest in AFM technology. It will showcase advanced AFM systems, demonstrate applications ranging from materials, to chemical and biological to semiconductor and devices, and provide hands on experience, training and service, year-round. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11288/ahmedabad-university-launches-pharma-management-programme.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11288/ahmedabad-university-launches-pharma-management-programme.html Wed, 11 Jul 2018 16:30:00 +0530 Ahmedabad University, in collaboration with the Rady School of Management at the University of California San Diego, has launched a Global Executive MBA Degree in Pharmaceutical Management to professionals employed in pharma and allied industries. The two-year management program is deeply rooted in the domains relevant to the Pharmaceutical, Biological and Life Sciences industry. Participants from Research & Development, Manufacturing, Operations, Sales and Marketing functions in the bio-pharma sectors will hone their leadership skills in this program, against the backdrop of prevailing regulatory landscape and emerging global trends in innovation and drug delivery. There is an industry need to redefine existing practices, introduce new technology and models and cultivate performance driven culture that delivers improved quality of access, care and solutions. Keeping in view this industry requirement, Ahmedabad University has forayed in the executive education space with the launch of this Global MBA in pharmaceutical management. The programme is led by distinguished faculty from India and abroad, who have deep expertise in leadership and management, digital and medical technology, biological and life sciences, and the pharma quality and audit systems. The participants in the programme will learn how to develop excellence in strategy and leadership; align R&D and technology with commercial operations; build organizational agility; and achieve comparative advantage through sustainable growth. The programme curriculum will be delivered through a combination of Master Classes, Case Studies, Simulations, Collaborative Workshops, One-on-One Coaching, and Capstone Projects. The first batch of the programme gets underway on September 29, 2018. Details about the programme are available on the Ahmedabad University website. Professor Pankaj Chandra, Vice Chancellor, Ahmedabad University, said, “Leadership entails building a culture of authenticity; assessing risk and addressing it; inspiring innovation in products, processes and practices; and understanding the expectations of stakeholders. Organizations need to train their employees to build such a breadth of capabilities, sometimes through experience and sometimes through formal programmes. The Global Executive MBA programme that we are offering will enable working professionals in the pharmaceutical sector to develop the next generation of action-oriented leaders, who understand the ethical expectations that societies have of them. The programme weaves an understanding of science, technology, and social impact, within a managerial framework.” Professor Pradeep Khosla, Chancellor, University of California, San Diego, said, “In science- and technology-driven industries such as pharma, life-sciences and healthcare, the vantage points of competitive advantage are always dynamic and evolving. Companies are pursuing innovation and R&D with renewed rigor to reduce the lab-to-market journey in timely and effective ways. Astute leaders often make all the difference between success and failure for products, services, and companies. As India becomes a global pharma hub, it is imperative that the leaders, managers, and employees of companies in the sector sharpen their technological, scientific, and management acumen. Focused training programs like ours can help organizations build high-performing teams that will help them achieve global market leadership.” ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11262/sartorius-science-to-award-prize-for-regenerative-medicine-and-cell-therapy.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11262/sartorius-science-to-award-prize-for-regenerative-medicine-and-cell-therapy.html Mon, 09 Jul 2018 11:40:00 +0530 The Sartorius & Science Prize for Regenerative Medicine & Cell Therapy is an annual prize aimed at supporting and encouraging scientists focused on basic or translational research that advances medical progress in regenerative medicine and cell therapy. Established in 2017, the prize is awarded for outstanding research performed by the applicant and as a mutual endeavor to raise awareness for the field and its fundamental significance for our future. The winner of the Sartorius & Science Prize for Regenerative Medicine & Cell Therapy is awarded US$25,000 and a publication of his or her essay in Science (print & online). This Grand Prize essay and those of up to three runners-up are also published on Science Online. Also, up to three runners-up will be selected and awarded with the US $ 5000 per runner-up and a publication in Science (online). The winner and the runners-up will be invited to attend the formal award ceremony. Furthermore, a 5-year AAAS membership and online subscription to Science, accompanied by other perks and benefits from Sartorius, are awarded! This prestigious annual award is geared towards exceptional scientists who focus on achieving advancements in basic or translational research in these areas. All scientists who have earned a Ph.D. or an M.D. within the past ten years may submit an essay on regenerative medicine, cell therapy, gene therapy or immunotherapy, as well as on materials or tissue engineering. Applicants need to submit a 1,000-word essay describing their research and implications for regenerative medicine and cell immunotherapy as well as supporting documents. The application deadline is October 1, 2018. The awards ceremony will be held in 2018 in Goettingen, Germany. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11252/zydus-cadila-signs-pact-with-imtech.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11252/zydus-cadila-signs-pact-with-imtech.html Thu, 05 Jul 2018 16:05:00 +0530 Zydus Cadila has inked an agreement with Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) - Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH) to identify new drug candidates for treatment of drug resistant infections. The collaborative research agreement will see scientists from both organisations working together on microbiology and genomics to identify new lead candidate as novel anti-tuberculosis compound. For this project, scientists at IMTECH will utilise their expertise and scientific knowledge in microbiology while Zydus Cadila will provide expertise in medicinal chemistry and pharmaceutical drug development to develop new drug combinations against drug-resistant pathogens which causes severe diseases in India and across the world. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11246/iit-m-collaborates-with-health-technology-firms.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11246/iit-m-collaborates-with-health-technology-firms.html Wed, 04 Jul 2018 17:45:00 +0530 Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) is initiating an alliance called 'Digital Wellbeing Alliance' to deploy digital technologies with the objective of making Chennai the 'Digital Wellbeing Capital' of the World. The Institute will use its expertise in Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, IoT and Motion Capture Technology to work for the wellbeing of the community, specifically the young workforce and weaker sections of the Society. The Alliance was inaugurated recently at IIT Madras by Dr. Ram D. Sriram, a renowned AI and healthcare expert and is currently the chief of the Software and Systems Division, Information Technology Laboratory, at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), US federal government. Speaking about the importance of this workshop, Prof M. Manivannan, Biomedical Engineering Group, Department of Applied Mechanics, IIT Madras, who organized this alliance, said, “There are many issues that only an alliance can solve. We will brainstorm to identify those issues in this workshop. This Alliance is spearheaded by several passionate people, apart from me, including Prof. D. Janakiram of IIT Madras, Mr. Sridharan Sivan of S10 Health Solutions, Ms. Sharmila Devadas of MedioTek Health Systems, Mr. Subbarao of Chola MS Risk, again emphasizing alliance of people rather than individuals.” The stakeholders of this Alliance would be Academic Institutions such as all the IITs, Health technology companies, medical device makers, digital health players, medical institutions, corporate firms, Government bodies such as NITI Aayog and Certifying/Regulating Agencies. The ‘Global Alliance’ is an initiative of IIT Madras along with Industrial partners, hospitals, and global thought leaders. This Alliance is intended to improve quality of life for healthcare providers and seekers; and to leverage India’s strength to enhance global health and wellness care. The Alliance has its own blockchain which is a decentralised platform that enables secure, fast and transparent exchange and usage of medical data with smart contracts. With the blockchain technology, the community end user is at the centre of the digital transformation of healthcare and is empowered with the right of his/her own data. The Wellbeing Paradigm will determine India's Gross domestic product (GDP) in the future. Wellbeing of a community, beyond eating healthy food and exercises, will be determined by many other factors. This Alliance would work to foster market-driven innovation, to enhance skill development, to protect intellectual property and develop best-in-class manufacturing infrastructure, spawn new products and services around Industry 4.0. This alliance enables cooperation of all stakeholders through blockchain for setting policy, standards and regulatory framework. The focus would be on Culture of Wellbeing, Interoperability, Data privacy, Cyber security, Policy, Consumer engagement and Evidence and Evaluation. The Alliance will be a great platform to drive the global penetration for the thriving health tech start-up community. A workshop that followed the inaugural function included eminent speakers including Prof. Amar Gupta from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Dr. Julian Goldman from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Harvard Medical School, Dr. Amit Sheth from Wright State University, Dr.Soundar Kumara from Penn State University, and Prof.D.Janakiram, IIT Madras. A panel discussion in the workshop will be moderated by Dr.Vinod Abraham, professor and head of Community Health, CMC Vellore. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11241/deakin-university-partners-with-aiims-and-jipmer.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11241/deakin-university-partners-with-aiims-and-jipmer.html Wed, 04 Jul 2018 13:50:00 +0530 Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar witnessed the signing of partnerships between Australia's Deakin Universityand the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) respectively. Both partnerships are built on Deakin's continued commitment to research collaborations in India. The minister is on an official visit to Australia with a focus on enhancing education ties between India and Australia. He participated in a Roundtable on Online Education (Australia and India), held at Deakin Downtown, during which the signings took place. The purpose of the event was to explore online education, showcase Australia's experience and increase confidence in QA and qualifications recognition. AIIMS and Deakin University Partnership - The agreement formalises engagement between both institutes, providing opportunities for research collaboration, faculty and student exchange programs. Deakin University will engage with AIIMS to enhance the overall research collaboration between the two institutes, with a focus on key healthcare areas. Deakin will also seek to establish a joint PhD program, separate from internships/externships and faculty/student exchange in areas including molecular medicine, public health and psychiatry amongst others. JIPMER and Deakin University Partnership & cotutelle agreement - The two institutions joined hands towards collaboration and establishment of joint PhD programme from 2017. In addition, the areas of cooperation include Post Graduate programmes in neuro surgical skill training, head and neck radiation oncology, faculty exchange programme, study tours, exchange of knowledge through webinar, MBBS student exchange programme and organisation of a joint workshop with other healthcare partners of Deakin. Both partnerships will contribute towards enhanced future healthcare activities in India. Speaking at the signing, Deakin University Vice-Chancellor Professor Jane den Hollander AO, said: "Deakin is committed to benefiting the communities we serve, in Australia and internationally, and we look forward to sharing our research and teaching expertise to support the development of enhanced healthcare facilities. Through these new partnerships with two of India's premier medical institutes, we foresee a great potential for both India and Australia to benefit from a true exchange of healthcare ideas and learning."  Professor Randeep Guleria, AIIMS Director emphasised that: "Being one of the largest public healthcare facilities in India, the collaboration will enable exchange of knowledge between the two nations and it will in future produce better skilled healthcare providers through joint initiatives." Dr. S Vivekanandam, Interim Director, JIPMER, said: "There is an immense scope for enhancing research and work in areas of Neuro psychiatry/Neuro science, Nursing, Public Health/Rural Health, Cancer care in India. This agreement with Deakin will establish facilities and foster collaborative activities towards this very cause."   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11238/online-applications-invited-for-job-oriented-pg-diploma-courses-under-bisep-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11238/online-applications-invited-for-job-oriented-pg-diploma-courses-under-bisep-.html Tue, 03 Jul 2018 18:10:00 +0530 The 2nd phase of Biotech Finishing School (BTFS), renamed as Biotechnology Skill Enhancement Programme (BiSEP) is inviting online applications for admissions to job-oriented one year Post-Graduate Diploma courses that provide for job-ready workforce to the Biotechnology Industry. The courses offer a fellowship of Rs 10,000 per month. Bioinformatics & Big Data Analytics, Biopharmaceutical Technology, Cellular & Molecular Diagnostics, Clinical Research & Data Management, Fermentation & Bioprocessing, Multi-OMICs Technology, Nutraceuticals & Food Processing, Plant Genetic Engineering and Protein Expression & Scale-up are the courses being offered. 50 per cent of the seats are reserved for Resident students of Karnataka. Reservations under OBCs/SC/ST/ and Hyderabad - Karnataka region are also provided. The eligibility requirements include M.Sc in Biotech/ Microbiology/ Biochemistry/ Bioinformatics or any other Life sciences related courses; or B.E/B.Tech (Biotech/ Bioinformatics) or B.Pharma/B.Sc (Agri)/ B.Vsc. or any 4 years degree courses in Life Science and subjects with minimum 50% marks in the qualifying degree examination (40% for students belonging to SC/ST categories). The candidates will be selected through an online entrance test - Karnataka Biotechnology Aptitude Test (K-BAT) followed by counselling. All other details are available at www.bisep.karnataka.gov.in. Last date for online registration, at the above mentioned website, is 7th August 2018. The online test will be conducted on 10th & 11th August 2018. Announcement of Results- 16th/ 17th August 2018 Counselling & Seat Allotment Session- 6th & 7th September 2018 Orientation & Course Commencement- 1st October 2018 ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11225/nptel-nirt-to-train-doctors-for-tb-management.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11225/nptel-nirt-to-train-doctors-for-tb-management.html Mon, 02 Jul 2018 16:40:00 +0530 National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) has joined hands with National Institute of Research in Tuberculosis (NIRT) to offer 'Manage Tuberculosis – an online certification course for Doctors.' It is expected to impart a major boost to the 'End TB' Strategy & 'TB Free Chennai' initiative. This Eight-Week course was prepared in consultation with experts in the field of TB management and covered the epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control of TB as a public health problem. NPTEL has provided the support for recording and hosting on the portal, along with coordination for conduct of final exams. Speaking about the importance of this course, Prof. Andrew Thangaraj, NPTEL coordinator at IIT Madras, said, “We believe that this is the first course of this nature addressing a specific disease of public health importance in India. We hope that it will benefit doctors treating TB patients and help them to offer care of a higher order to their patients.” Prof. Andrew Thangaraj added that there was vast potential to develop online courses in a range of subjects and the NPTEL would welcome new proposals and coordinate the offering of the same. The 'Manage TB – an online course for Doctors' was developed by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) - NIRT in collaboration with the NPTEL. It is an initiative to address this felt need of sensitizing doctors both in the public and private sector to the standards of care and the new guidelines and developments in the modern management of TB. The course has been designed after extensive discussions with subject experts and has been planned keeping in mind the busy work schedule of doctors in practice. This 8-week course consists of video lectures, case discussion scenarios and video demonstrations of laboratory procedures. The course was launched recently by Shri. Madhusudhan Reddy IAS, Deputy Commissioner (Health), Greater Chennai Corporation, at ICMR-NIRT in the presence of Dr. Srikanth Tripathy, Director-in-Charge of NIRT. Expressing happiness with the move by NPTEL to enter the field of medicine, Mr. Madhusudhan Reddy said that a course like this was very much needed in view of the 'End TB' Strategy and the 'TB Free Chennai'initiative that have been rolled out recently. Mr. Madhusudhan Reddy said that he would urge all the doctors in the Chennai Corporation to enroll in the course. He also said that courses aimed at the paramedical staff involved in TB control would be very helpful. Dr. Sanjay Mehendale, former Additional Director General of the ICMR advised the organisers to explore the feasibility of awarding CME credit points for the course as that would encourage a larger participation among doctors. Tuberculosis continues to be a major public health problem in much of the developing world. India has nearly one-fourth of the global TB patients and an estimated 4.8 lakh lives are lost every year due to this illness. The End TB strategy of the World Health Organisation (WHO) seeks to achieve 95% reduction in TB mortality and 90% reduction in TB incidence by the year 2035. The National Strategic Plan of the Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) has a more ambitious target of working towards TB elimination by 2025. To achieve these goals it is important to build the capacity of Doctors to appropriately diagnose and treat TB. There have been major advances recently in the diagnosis and treatment of TB. There are also new national and international guidelines. NPTEL was initiated by seven Indian Institutes of Technology (Bombay, Delhi, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Madras, Guwahati and Roorkee) along with the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore in 2003. The online courses cover all disciplines of Engineering such as Biotechnology, Ocean Engineering and, Metallurgical Sciences apart from the popular courses such as Computer Science Engineering or Electrical Engineering.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11224/deakin-university-partners-with-aiims-and-jipmer.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11224/deakin-university-partners-with-aiims-and-jipmer.html Mon, 02 Jul 2018 13:10:00 +0530 Shri Prakash Javadekar, Honourable Minister of Human Resource Development, Government of India has signed a contract between Australia's Deakin University and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) respectively. Both partnerships are built on Deakin's continued commitment to research collaborations in India. The Minister is on an official visit to Australia with a focus on enhancing education ties between India and Australia. He participated in a Roundtable on Online Education (Australia and India), held at Deakin Downtown, during which the signings took place. The purpose of the event was to explore online education, showcase Australia's experience and increase confidence in QA and qualifications recognition. AIIMS and Deakin University Partnership - The agreement formalises engagement between both institutes, providing opportunities for research collaboration, faculty and student exchange programs. Deakin University will engage with AIIMS to enhance the overall research collaboration between the two institutes, with a focus on key healthcare areas. Deakin will also seek to establish a joint PhD program, separate from internships/externships and faculty/student exchange in areas including molecular medicine, public health and psychiatry amongst others. JIPMER and Deakin University joined hands towards collaboration and establishment of joint PhD programme from 2017. In addition, the areas of cooperation include Post Graduate programmes in neuro surgical skill training, head and neck radiation oncology, faculty exchange programme, study tours, exchange of knowledge through webinar, MBBS student exchange programme and organisation of a joint workshop with other healthcare partners of Deakin. Both partnerships will contribute towards enhanced future healthcare activities in India.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11192/skill-india-to-support-health-ministry-and-train-14-lakh-candidates-by-2025.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11192/skill-india-to-support-health-ministry-and-train-14-lakh-candidates-by-2025.html Wed, 27 Jun 2018 12:00:00 +0530 Skill India will support ‘Skill for Life, Save a Life’ initiative of the Health and Family Welfare Ministry and train 14 lakh candidates by 2025. Reiterating the strength and success of government’s One India Team and showcasing seamless convergence and cross organizational collaboration, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), jointly with the Ministries of Health and Human Resource Development (HRD), signed an MoU with the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), to make youth more employable in the healthcare sector and find opportunities of employment, with ease. The Health Ministry had identified various critical thematic areas for training and standardized course curriculum for 10 short term courses pertaining to health sector, which were formally released under the ‘Skill for Life, Save a Life’ initiative, jointly with the MSDE. The combined objective under this MoU is to scale up the health programmes, create trained personnel in health sector, especially in the preventive and tertiary care segment and set up a dedicated cell for developing, implementing and certifying the skill-based programmes at IGNOU. “Skill Development in India is moving with great speed and scale and this has only been possible with the support of our partner ministries. This is yet another milestone collaboration that we are witnessing today. It is a matter of great pride for us to enable this level of convergence and coordination, which will be able to translate partnerships into meaningful public good and opportunities for all,” said MSDE Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The vision of Prime minister of Ayushman Bharat will only be possible through the creation of a large qualified, skilled and competent healthcare workforce, he added. “These courses are mostly in preventive and tertiary care sector and need a lot of practical training along with individual compassion. Our courses under Skill India will ensure that our programmes have a defined curriculum, which will yield maximum quality benefit to candidates training in them. All the courses under this initiative will be aligned to the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF),” he stated. Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar said these were very specialized courses, which need special focus on quality training of the professionals. “With the increase in the average number of years a person is expected to live and increasing lifestyle diseases, our country needs more of such professionals, who can take care of the aged and the needy. This is not only an opportunity for the youth to explore opportunities of employment, but is a great service to the mankind,” he said. Addressing the gathering after the MoU signing ceremony, Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda said “Skill development will form the future roadmap of our nation’s growth and well-being.” “We have begun our pilot with 10 courses and we are certain that we will very soon align with the remaining job roles as well to the National Skill Qualification Framework under Skill India. We have a heavy focus on wellness, along with healthcare,” he added. A robust monitoring and assessment framework will be established under the MoU, to ensure that the Health Ministry standards are followed stringently and financial assistance is provided to IGNOU for establishing the structure and initiating the programmes, reported UNI.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11189/kiran-mazumdar-shaw-tells-iisc-students-to-inspire-society.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11189/kiran-mazumdar-shaw-tells-iisc-students-to-inspire-society.html Wed, 27 Jun 2018 10:40:00 +0530 India's biotechnology queen and Biocon Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw on Monday told the students of Indian Institute of Science (IISc) to step out of the laboratories and inspire society."As the country's iconic scientific academic institution, I urge you (students) to go out of your laboratories and connect with society. We need society to be inspired by scientific pursuit and scientific promise," she told a gathering of students during the institute's convocation ceremony.  Shaw urged IISc to work on outreach programmes in schools so as to encourage more students to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics, reported IANS.Calling science literacy an urgent issue for modern India, the Biocon chief said India would lose out its competitive edge among other countries if its science literacy remained low.Quoting renowned American astronomer Carl Sagan, she said "we live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology", and asked Indian scientists to come out of their "ivory towers" and humanise science.Scientists have the responsibility to support society in understanding science and issues like global warming, water shortage and plastic pollution among others, she said.  "Your scientific jobs do not end with discovery, but in communicating and inspiring people through impactful narratives. It's about educating society on decision science, which is based on data and facts rather than opinions and anecdotes."Thanks to (former Prime Minister Jawaharlal) Nehru's vision, India has been able to achieve a level of scientific and technological development that very few post-colonial nations have achieved."Even with India's space agency Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) having a budget one-tenth of American National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), it has propelled India as a leader in space research, Shaw said.A total of 856 students from IISc, including 50 medal winners, were awarded their degrees on Monday in various disciplines like aerospace engineering, telecommunication, microbiology and cell biology among others.Along with Shaw, IISc Director Anurag Kumar, IISc Council Chairman P. Ramarao and other faculty were at the event.    ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11182/health-ministry-ignou-to-promote-healthcare-courses.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11182/health-ministry-ignou-to-promote-healthcare-courses.html Tue, 26 Jun 2018 11:30:00 +0530 The Health Ministry has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) to scale-up short-term healthcare courses and produce over 14 lakh trained manpower by 2025. The signing ceremony of the MoU was presided over by Union Health Minister J P Nadda and Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar. Union Minister for Skill Development Dharmendra Pradhan was also present. The government has initiated universal screening of common non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and common cancers along with tuberculosis and leprosy. This will require trained manpower and the Health Ministry is taking all necessary steps to address this. A robust monitoring and assessment framework will be established under the MoU to ensure that Health Ministry standards are followed stringently. The ministry will provide for financial assistance to IGNOU for establishing the structure and initiating the programmes. The courses will be initiated in a phased manner across the country by IGNOU. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11175/anjani-mashelkar-foundation-invites-applications-for-innovation-award-2018.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11175/anjani-mashelkar-foundation-invites-applications-for-innovation-award-2018.html Mon, 25 Jun 2018 12:55:00 +0530 The Anjani Mashelkar Inclusive Innovation Award is an yearly award of Rs. 1 lakh given to an individual or an organisation to get a notion, model or a commercialized solution, service and company model. The invention must tackle the issues faced by the disadvantaged resource-poor people in India and supply an initial and implementable alternative. This award presents a chance to spur and gas creation to the sake of their most disadvantaged segments of society to be able to’incorporate’ them to the mainstream. Additionally, it has another equally important goal: to sensitize innovators concerning the issues confronted by such segments of society- like the resource poor older individuals. The deadline for submitting the applications is 20th august 2018. The awardees will rather be people who think in not only ’best practices’, but ’next practices’. Above all, it is going to value alternatives that signify ’cheap excellence’, breaking the myth that ’affordability’ and ’excellence’ can’t go together. Since the award grows in prestige and profits national recognition, it is going to endeavour to leverage assistance to the innovator from several other public and private sector organizations. Procedure: Each year a call for nominations is declared for this particular award. Pro team shortlists applicants depending on the aforementioned standards If more details are needed, subsequently shortlisted applicants will be contacted by a specialist staff The jury will choose the winner from a review. Criteria: Merely Indian organizations or individuals of Indian origin are eligible to apply. Innovators of all ages can apply. The nominations must be to get prototypes or proof of theories that have the capability to be powerful creations. Raw ideas won’t be considered. The prototypes, goods, services or business models must be original and book. They need to provide highest quality cheap products and adventures to the source poor men and women. The creations should considerably and positively influence the quality of life of the disadvantaged sections of societysuch as the resource poor older men and women. All programs must clearly explain the creation, the creativity of the thought, its own benefit, as well as impact. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11158/aiims-ink-mou-with-centre-to-develop-bhu-medical-college.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11158/aiims-ink-mou-with-centre-to-develop-bhu-medical-college.html Thu, 21 Jun 2018 15:00:00 +0530 The All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Centre to transform Banaras Hindu University’s Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS) into a ‘world class’ institute. “The MoU has been signed to upgrade the medical college. AIIMS will provide teleconference services to the faculty (embers) and mentor them, and aid in developing super-speciality services… so that they can become a world class institution,” said AIIMS director Randeep Guleria. The MoU was signed between the Union Human Resource Development Ministry, Union Ministry for Health and Family Welfare and the AIIMS, he said. The health ministry, officials said, will fund the project, which is expected to benefit 20 crore people from eastern Uttar Pradesh and neighboring states. While the MoU has no timeline, doctors at IMS said that the project is expected to start reaping rewards as early as August. “Of course it is a long, ongoing project, but the target that we have in mind for seeing positive results is August 15, 2018,” they said. Improving health care and establishment of an AIIMS in eastern Uttar Pradesh was a key poll promise by Modi in 2014. However, staff crisis has been plaguing several hospitals in Varanasi. Sir Sunderlal Hospital, affiliated to IMS-BHU, the largest tertiary referral hospital in eastern Uttar Pradesh that treats more than 15 lakh patients annually, faces shortage of doctors, technicians and nurses, while the 324-bed Trauma Centre, which was inaugurated by Modi in 2015, too is facing a similar problem, reported The Indian Express.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11147/trinity-has-received-worlds-largest-autism-grant.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11147/trinity-has-received-worlds-largest-autism-grant.html Wed, 20 Jun 2018 15:15:00 +0530 The largest research grant ever given for neurodevelopmental conditions has been awarded by the Innovative Medicines Initiative to an international consortium academically led by the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London. Trinity College Dublin forms part of the research consortium which includes 48 universities and research institutions, industry partners and autism charities.    The €115 million grant, titled Autism Innovative Medicine Studies-2-Trials (AIMS-2-Trials), will increase our understanding of autism and help develop new therapies to improve health outcomes and quality of life for autistic people.    AIMS-2-Trials brings together autistic people and their families, academic institutions, charities and pharmaceutical companies to study autism and provide an infrastructure for developing and testing new therapies. In line with the autism community’s priorities, the consortium will also focus on why some autistic people develop additional health problems that severely impact both quality and length of life.   All autistic people are different which makes identifying and testing new therapies challenging. AIMS-2-Trials will take a precision medicine approach aimed at tailoring therapies to a person’s biological profiles. Achieving this will require developing tests that can predict how a person’s autism may progress throughout development and their likelihood of developing additional mental health problems.   AIMS-2-Trials will create the first European clinical trials network for autism, as well as allowing for international collaborations with charities, government agencies and industry to rapidly determine if therapies are effective. Partnership with autistic people, their families and carers will be a crucial part of developing therapies that achieve the outcomes which matter most to autistic people.   Researchers at Trinity College Dublin will contribute to the advancement of personalised approaches to therapies for Autism Spectrum Disorder. This project builds on our ongoing research investigating rare genetic changes that are associated with autism symptoms. In AIMS-2- Trials, Trinity researchers will focus on investigating individuals who carry deletions in genes specifically related to the structure and function of brain synapses (or brain cells).   They aim to find biomarkers that can help identify specific biological pathways involved in brain development.  The researchers will be engaging in a pan-European clinical trials network to investigate new therapies specifically targeting disabling symptoms and improving quality of life while also retaining unique autistic strengths.   Through the Innovative Medicines Initiative, European Union funding matches in-kind contributions from autism charities and the pharmaceutical industry, with nearly €60 million provided by charities, and €2.5 million from the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA).   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11121/jdmc-zyego-create-awareness-on-mental-health.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11121/jdmc-zyego-create-awareness-on-mental-health.html Thu, 14 Jun 2018 16:20:00 +0530 With the increasing level of stress and other psychological problems amongst college students, Janki Devi Memorial college, one of the prominent women colleges of Delhi University, is giving mental health its due importance. For the first time they have introduced emotional counseling at the college campus. As a pioneering initiative, JDMC organized a 2 hour long interactive session on Exam Stress with participation of 60-70 college students. JDMC is one of the very few colleges in the campus which has taken up emotional counseling in a big way as part of the overall and holistic development of the students. During the session, one of the things the students had to do was fill out a questionnaire about the reasons behind their stress. This was done to understand the level of examination stress and anxiety felt by college students under Arts, Science and Commerce stream of education. At the end of the ‘survey’ what was most prominent was the reason behind this stress. Some of these were: lack of preparation lack of time low level of confidence peer pressure pressure from parents/social pressure lack of clarity of what to do in future   Dr. Swati Pal, The Principal of JDMC said, “We are introducing emotional counseling as it has been proven that women are more prone to emotional issues. Failure to recognize and address the risk factors could eventually lead to major psychological challenges in youth which can be very disturbing. So educational institutions like us should play a positive role by intervening and providing them a conducive environment in college premises.” She further added that They, as an institution, have taken up different issues each time and goes into them in great detail to help students understand the nuances and intricacies of the underlying issues. The entire effort is managed by the mentoring and counseling committee of the college. In the words of one of the participant, Neha, “It was a very useful session as they could give us the exact reasons why we were feeling stressed and then gave us tips to handle individual areas” According to Arindam Sen, Founder, Zyego, “Statistics suggest that India has one of the highest Suicide rate among people aged between 15 and 29. Although the reasons are myriad but failure in examination, unemployment, and depression are some of the main reasons” He further added “Instead of putting pressure on their children regarding their exams, Parents should be liberal. The success of someone lies in what they choose to do with their resources, the actions they take, and most importantly their passion towards a particular interest. Every parent should understand the inherent strength of the child and let him or her take a path of their own. If required, a child along with the parent can take an appointment with a psychologist to work through their fears and expectations.” Today, in this fast-paced world there is an urgent need of encouraging families, communities and educational institutions to be a part of the support system to strongly promote mental health. Adapting a stigma-free environment paves the way for a successful delivery of mental health services especially among the youth. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11095/innovative-seqfish-technique-can-image-above-10k-genes-at-once.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11095/innovative-seqfish-technique-can-image-above-10k-genes-at-once.html Mon, 11 Jun 2018 13:05:00 +0530 In a breakthrough, scientists have developed a new technique that enables them to image 10,421 genes at once within individual cells.   The technique, called intron seqFISH (sequential fluorescence in situ hybridisation), is a major advance in being able to identify what goes on across the genome in hundreds of different cells at once.   "This technique can be applied to any tissue," said Long Cai, research professor at California Institute of Technology in the US.   "Intron seqFISH can help identify cell types and also what the cells are going to do, in addition to giving us a look at the chromosome structure in the same cells," said Cai.   Previously, researchers could only image four to five genes at a time in cells with microscopy.   Scaling seqFISH up to a genomic level now enables the imaging of over 10,000 genes - about half of the total number of genes in mammals - within single cells, according to the research published in the journal Cell.   In order for genetic instructions to be turned into an actual functioning protein, a process called transcription must first occur. This process often occurs in pulses, or "bursts."   First, a gene will be read and copied into a precursor messenger RNA, or pre-mRNA, like jotting a quick, rough draft. This molecule then matures into a messenger RNA, or mRNA, akin to editing the rough draft.   During the "editing" process, certain regions called introns are cut out of the pre-mRNA.   The team chose to focus on labelling introns because they are produced so early in the transcription process, giving a picture of what a cell is doing at the precise moment of gene expression.   Using the newly developed intron seqFISH technique, each intron is labelled with a unique fluorescent barcode, enabling it to be seen with a microscope.   Seeing introns reveals which genes are currently turned on in individual cells, how strongly they are expressed, and where they are located. 10,421 introns - and therefore 10,421 genes - can be imaged at once.   Previous work that developed the barcoding technique focused on labelling mRNA itself, providing a measurement of how gene expression changed over several hours as the mRNA developed.   Looking at introns enabled the researchers to examine, for the first time, so-called nascent transcriptomes - newly synthesised gene expression.   This led them to discover that the transcription of genes oscillates globally across many genes on what Cai calls a "surprisingly short" timescale - only about two hours - compared to the time it takes for a cell to divide and replicate itself, which takes from 12 to 24 hours.   This means that over the course of a two-hour period, many genes within a cell will burst on and off. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11075/iisc-team-develops-organ-preservation-box.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/11075/iisc-team-develops-organ-preservation-box.html Wed, 06 Jun 2018 15:30:00 +0530 A team of researchers at Bengaluru's Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has developed an innovative, state-of-the-art organ preservation box called LifeBox. It is currently designed to preserve harvested hearts only, but work is on to encompass other organs. Its structure ensures temperature is maintained at around 4-8 degrees and metabolites are regulated to impede heart-metabolism. Additionally, fluids that would be constantly pumped would ensure the heart would keep beating, even when on the move. This invention comes at a time when scientists, hospitals and organisations across the country are exploring use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), popular as drones, to transport organs. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10999/bcp-partners-with-microsoft-to-enhance-productivity.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10999/bcp-partners-with-microsoft-to-enhance-productivity.html Wed, 23 May 2018 14:15:00 +0530 Bombay College of Pharmacy (BCP), a pioneering institution in Pharmaceutical education in India, has partnered with Microsoft to enhance faculty-student collaboration and data security, to in-turn enhance course curriculum delivery, research and partnerships with industry. BCP students and teachers had been using personal email addresses, set up on different domains, for communication. This was causing inefficiencies in document collaboration and frequent instances of data loss, apart from a diffused online identity for the college. With the partnership with Microsoft, the college has transformed its learning environment and operations, with anytime, anywhere access to coursework and research materials for faculty and students, secure access to these materials and automation of routine workflows. The solution implemented at BCP includes the following: Standardization of communication and identity: All emails were moved to Exchange Online, which is a part of Office 365 for Education. A hybrid active directory was simultaneously implemented that facilitates a single identity across all online experiences native to the institute – emails, network and internal sites. Enhanced productivity: Over 50 staff and 500 students were onboarded onto Windows 10 with Outlook 2016 that allowed them to store all their data securely on the cloud with OneDrive for business, and have a secure internal interface for document sharing with SharePoint Online. End-to-end security: With Windows Defender, in-built into Windows 10, the data stored natively is highly secure. Windows Intune, that also formed part of the solution, allows the institute to apply security controls across devices and manage permissions remotely. Speaking on the partnership, Nitin Maniar, Chairman, Governing Body, Bombay College of Pharmacy said, “Our vision is to be a leader in education, training and research in Pharmaceutical Sciences. With the implementation of Microsoft tools, our productivity has increased by 25%, and we are excited to see the role of technology in nurturing our vision.” Rajiv Sodhi, General Manager – Partner Ecosystem, Microsoft India said, “Our mission is to empower individuals and organizations to achieve more. BCP has been a pioneering educational institute and we are proud to partner BCP as its students and faculty collaborate to lead advances in Pharmaceutical Sciences.” This solution is implemented by Microsoft partner, Techgyan which is a leading cloud service provider. Techgyan conducted a detailed study and identified the critical areas of intervention and helped in modernizing BCP’s infrastructure to a highly secure end-to-end solution in Microsoft 365. Suresh Ramani, CEO, Techgyan added, “BCP had a large footprint of legacy systems. We took a strategic approach and looked at securing the core operations of BCP first and subsequently enhance collaboration among students and faculty by enabling Microsoft Teams, OneNote and Yammer. BCP is deploying its campus automation system on Azure, which will allow for further efficiencies.” The benefits to BCP have also included 75% reduction in data loss, 50% reduction in IT support calls, and 20% reduction in email support calls. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10963/haffkine-institute-to-develop-efficient-tb-diagnostic-kit-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10963/haffkine-institute-to-develop-efficient-tb-diagnostic-kit-.html Thu, 17 May 2018 14:35:00 +0530 As per the ongoing research by the Haffkine Institute, Parel, which is one of the oldest biomedical research institutes in the country, soon Tuberculosis will be diagnosed within an hour. A senior official said that for the first time the Biotechnology Department of the government has tied with them for the research and a budget of Rs 90 lakh has also been sanctioned by the government. “In order to reduce the time consumed, the medical research centre along with the biotechnology department have taken up the project to produce a diagnostic system which is more affordable and less time to consume,” added doctor. TB is a contagious disease, which usually attacks lungs of the people and also spreads to other parts of the body. As per statistics, every year more than a thousand people get diagnosed with TB across the state. A bacterium named as ‘Mycobacterium’ causes TB and due to its nature, it needs to be diagnosed early. According to the news reported by FreePressJournal, Dr Nishigandha R Naik, Director of Haffkine Institute, said that looking at the current scenario, the method of diagnosing TB is time-consuming and is very costly due to which people have to wait for three to four weeks for the reports. “It is essential for early and faster diagnosis of TB since diagnosis done through lab analysis takes around three weeks and the Genexpert which provides fast diagnosis is costly due to which poor patients cannot afford it. Hence, we have started research work to produce something that provides more accurate data within time,” added Dr Naik. The centre has named the process as ‘ASSURED’diagnosis. The research work is done in two phases out of which we are right now in the second phase which will be complete soon. “In the first phase, we did the research on patients with samples. Then in the second phase, samples have been collected from 15 TB patients. To complete the research, we need to collect samples from 100 patients. In our lab test, it has shown the positive result to identify TB bacteria among other organisms,” said Dr Naik. In order to reduce the time consumed, the Institute’s medical research centre and the biotechnology department have taken up the project to produce a diagnostic system which is more affordable and less time-consuming. The Centre has named the process as ‘ASSURED’ diagnosis. The research work is done in two phases. The institute is right now in the second phase, which will be completed soon. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10939/gbrc-researchers-to-develop-a-vaccine-for-leptospirosis.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10939/gbrc-researchers-to-develop-a-vaccine-for-leptospirosis.html Tue, 15 May 2018 10:40:00 +0530 Leptospirosis -caused by pathogenic bacteria, Leptospira-led to over one million infections globally in 2015. Availability of an appropriate vaccine could have prevented most of them. Scientists at the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC) have used sophisticated tools to identify important regions on the bacteria that could play an important role in developing a vaccine for Leptospirosis. Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease, meaning it spreads through animals. Farmers or veterinarians frequently exposed to animal urine or swimmers exposed to contaminated water are at high risk. People may get exposed to the bacteria during flooding as well. Vaccinating such high risk groups can protect them from Leptospirosis. The team at GBRC used high throughput computational tools to identify regions on pathogenic Leptospira, which could be criticalin designing an effective vaccine. Using, bioinformatics tools, researchers studied the whole set of proteins of bacteria cell (proteome) and its genome. As a protection mechanism from a pathogen, human body fights back by making antibodies or activating cells that kill other infected cells which scientists refer to as ‘immune response’. Vaccines prepare our bodies by eliciting such response even before one is infected bya pathogen. This way vaccine equip us to fight a pathogen or disease as soon as we are exposed to it. Researchers have identified certain peptides which could be further tested as potential vaccine candidates that can elicit a strong immune response. These peptides are part of an ‘outer membrane protein’ of the bacterium. This protein is conserved in 46 types of disease causing Leptospira, and if confirmed and further developed into a vaccine, it could provide immunity against all 46 types. “Identification of target sites is a key step in vaccine design. With the help of modern genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics tools we have analyzed the pathogenic proteome (3654 proteins) to predict the antigenicity (ability to elicit an immune response) and narrowed down to a single protein of high affinity with ability to bind to the antibody present on B-cells for inducing immune response,” explained Jayashankar Das, lead scientist, while speaking to India Science Wire. Since many different strains or types of Leptospiraare present in tropical regions, the team is carrying out more studies on different strains and also testing identified proteins in cells, added Das. “Since this disease is a major concern to farmers as well as livestock breeders, we are also involved in developing an onsite diagnostic kit for leptospirosis with support from the Department of Science and Technology,”he added. “These peptides represent a novel outcome of the study. They need to be studied further in for their effectiveness in animals and humans. If successful, it could become an important tool in fighting this disease worldwide,” commented Hardeep Vora, R&D Manager at Dia Sys Diagnostics India, while speaking to India Science Wire. The research results have been published in journal, Scientific Reports. The team included Kumari Snehkant Lata, Swapnil  Kumar, Vibhisha Vaghasia, Priyanka  Sharma, Shivarudrappa B. Bhairappanvar, Subhash  Soni  and Jayashankar Das. The research work was supported by the Gujarat State Biotechnology Mission. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10932/researchers-at-iiser-bhopal-decode-peacock-genome.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10932/researchers-at-iiser-bhopal-decode-peacock-genome.html Mon, 14 May 2018 12:15:00 +0530 Researchers at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal have sequenced the whole genome of Peacock for the first time to understand what gives peacock its ornamental plumage, long-train of tail feathers and disease-free long life. This the first time the complete genome of peacock has been sequenced. They found several adaptive changes in its genes compared with five other related birds which contribute to these traits. A preprint version of the study is now available on bioRxiv. Studying the complete set of genes gives crucial information regarding the development, physiology and evolution of the species. To carry out the sequencing, blood sample was drawn from a peacock from Van Vihar National park in Bhopal. The whole genome sequencing yielded 153.7 Gb (Gigabit) of sequence data and contains about 15,970 genes with a data size of 1.1 GB (Gigabyte). As a handy reference the size of human genome is 3.2 GB, and contains more than 20,000 genes. After sequencing, the researchers compared peacock genes with those of five other related birds — chicken, turkey, duck, flycatcher and zebra finch. Evolutionary analysis showed that peacock was a close relative of chicken. It also revealed that the bird had suffered two bottlenecks (sudden decline in population) around 4,000 million and 450,000 years ago. They also found a total of 99 genes that showed beneficial changes in peacock in comparison to other five birds. Functional analysis revealed that genes that played important roles in early development, cell proliferation and differentiation showed changes in their sequences. “This kind of adaptive evolution suggest that perhaps during the time of environmental changes, it was able to adapt its genes in order to evolve and survive,” explains Prof. Vineet Sharma from the Department of Biological Sciences, IISER Bhopal, and corresponding author of the paper. “The changes in the genes of the immune system explain the possible way the bird has become resistant to many diseases compared with other birds. Peacock is resistant to many pathogens including some viruses. Its relative, the chicken, lives only for seven–eight years, while the peacock can live for 10-25 years,” explains Shubham K. Jaiswal, Ph.D scholar at the institute and one of the first authors of the paper. Several genes that were involved in early development pathways that regulate the feather, bone and muscle development also showed adaptive changes. This adaptive evolution may have helped the bird diverge from the other birds and favour its survival. “We have further planned to analyse the sequence to understand in detail about the specific genes that give the unique traits to the bird. It will also help in devising better strategies for the conservation of the species. We also wish to create a database for all India specific indigenous species,” says Ankit Gupta, Ph.D scholar at the institute and one of the first authors of the paper. “Recently, genome sequencing has been used for the possible revival of New Zealand’s indigenous Moa bird. Similarly, the genomic data of peacock generated in this study will also help save our species in case it declines,” says Jaiswal. The genomic understanding of peacock will also help to develop better breeding and conservation programmes and may help tackle any pathogen attacks. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10914/iit-delhi-to-set-up-three-research-parks.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10914/iit-delhi-to-set-up-three-research-parks.html Thu, 10 May 2018 18:55:00 +0530 Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi is planning to set up three research parks in Delhi and Haryana. The research parks will help in design and development of advanced technology, incubate more start-ups and promote industry collaboration. The whole agenda to set up these Research Parks is to bring industry and budding entrepreneurs onto a single platform to facilitate innovation and research. The research parks will come up on IIT Delhi campus and in Sonepat and Jhajjar in Haryana and will be funded by college and managed by Foundation for innovation, and Technology Transfer (FIIT). The research parks will have research & development labs, set up by corporates jointly with IIT Delhi, incubators, Impact Lab for Path, a global health innovation hub, high-end central research facility and Centre of excellence in smart manufacturing. Additionally, the research parks will have training centres and convention facilities. The Phase-I of the Sonepat research park has been completed and can incubate around 15 start-ups. It also comprises residential facility, which the start-ups can use for a fee. Four start-ups have been incubated so far and around Rs. 175 crore has been invested in the Phase-I. The Phase-II will accommodate close to 100 start-ups. The research park coming up at IIT Delhi is awaiting environmental clearance (EC). Once the approval is obtained, the park will be operational in 18-24 months. It can also house 100 start-ups and close to Rs. 140 crore has been invested. The proposed third research park at Jhajjar is likely to take time due to delay in land deals. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10890/iit-madras-develops-a-wound-dressing-material-to-treat-diabetic-wounds.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10890/iit-madras-develops-a-wound-dressing-material-to-treat-diabetic-wounds.html Tue, 08 May 2018 10:10:00 +0530 Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology Madras have developed novel reduced graphene oxide loaded nanocomposite scaffolds for treating normal and diabetic wounds. Wounds in diabetic patients do not heal as rapidly as it would in a normal and healthy individual. This leads to chronic non-healing wounds that can result in serious complications like amputations. Treatment of such chronic non-healing wounds in diabetes is still a major clinical challenge. Although there are some wound dressings that are commercially available, they are very expensive. As the diabetic population in India keeps growing, treating these diabetic wounds is a major clinical and social challenge. The work of Prof. Vignesh Muthuvijayan, Assistant Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, IIT Madras, focuses on developing low-cost wound dressings that are effective in treating diabetic wounds. Dr. T Ponrasu, an Institute Postdoctoral Fellow, working under Prof. Vignesh Muthuvijayan’s mentorship has developed a new and rapid technique for preparing reduced graphene oxide from graphite powder. Speaking about his research, Prof. Vignesh Muthuvijayan, Assistant Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, IIT Madras, says, “We wanted to exploit graphene-based materials’ property of improving blood vessel formation at certain concentrations to prepare an inexpensive wound dressing. The psyllium-reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite that we prepared has shown exciting results in animal studies. We hope this is the first step towards developing inexpensive wound dressings using graphene-based materials for clinical use.” Researchers at IIT Madras used a convex lens to focus sunlight on graphene oxide to obtain reduced graphene oxide. Then, they load these reduced graphene oxide dispersions into a plant carbohydrate polymer (psyllium) solution to obtain wound dressing scaffolds. Fibroblast cells, responsible for wound healing are used to evaluate the toxicity and bioactivity of these scaffolds on the cell attachment, migration and proliferation. These newly developed scaffolds provide a suitable tissue-friendly environment for the cells and subsequently improve cell proliferation and attachment. The wound healing efficacy of these scaffolds was studied, and the results revealed that these scaffolds provided an ideal environment to wounds for the regrowth of damaged skin through proliferated fibroblast cells on the injured site. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry analyses showed that these scaffolds treatment enhanced new blood vessels formation, collagen synthesis and deposition in treated wounds. Overall, the research shows that these wound dressings could significantly accelerate healing of normal and diabetic wounds. The normal wounds treated with the dressings healed in 16 days compared to 23 days in untreated normal wounds. Similarly, the diabetic wounds treated with the dressings healed in 20 days compared to 26 days in untreated diabetic wounds. These scaffolds are easy to prepare, inexpensive, and show excellent healing properties. Thus, the material acts as a good wound dressing and helps in accelerated healing of normal and diabetic wounds.     ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10889/iit-roorkee-researchers-identify-new-enzyme-from-yak-cheese.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10889/iit-roorkee-researchers-identify-new-enzyme-from-yak-cheese.html Tue, 08 May 2018 10:00:00 +0530 Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee Researchers have identified a new enzyme from yak cheese that has the potential to improve the nutritional value of cereals by improving bioavailability of vital minerals. This will be of great benefit to India where deficiency of micronutrients such as phosphorous, iron, calcium and zinc is a major health issue particularly for vegetarians. In plants, phosphorous is stored mainly as organic phosphorous called ‘phytate,’ which is an anti-nutritional factor (ANF). Nuts, seeds, beans and whole grains are rich in phosphorous, while vegetables and fruits have lesser quantity. Despite this, people with vegetarian diets not only exhibit deficiency of phosphorous as well as other minerals. This is because humans lack an enzyme called phytase needed to convert phytate into free phosphorous for absorption by the body. The newly identified enzyme promises to address this problem. It has been found to effectively dephytinize the phytate and generate free phosphorous. Researchers have also shown that it also helps to increase bioavailability of iron, zinc, magnesium and calcium. Speaking about the importance of this project to the country, Dr. Naveen Kumar Navani, Associate Professor, Department of Biotechnology, IIT Roorkee, who led the research, said, "As per FAO reports, micronutrient deficiency (also regarded as Hidden Hunger) afflicts one in three people globally. This results in severe debilitation at mental and physical level specifically for children. Enzymes like Phytase have ability to reduce such burden of hidden huger by making non-available micronutrients available for the body" Elaborating on his research, he said that the Phytase enzyme was identified, cloned and characterised from a probiotic bacterium called 'Lactobacillus fermentum NKN51.’ The bacterium was isolated from ethnic cheese (called churpee) made from milk of Himalayan yak from Khardong village in Nubra valley, Leh. The enzyme has been named ‘phyLf.’ Dr. Navani and his team were now collaborating with Dr. AjitYadav of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) - Central Avian Research Institute, Izzatnagar, to apply this purified phytase enzyme along with other plant derived antimicrobials to see their efficacy on reducing the load of pathogenic bacteria like Salmonella and improving the growth performance of poultry. In the long term, this enzyme could be used in enhancing the micronutrient availability to infants, pregnant women and the elderly. Dr. Navani said that Nuts, Seeds, Beans and Whole Grains were rich in phosphorous while vegetables and fruits have lesser quantity. Dephytinisation of durum wheat and finger millet flour with the purified enzyme, followed by in-vitro model of gastric digestion showed increased levels of bio-accessibility and dialyzability of iron, zinc, magnesium and calcium contents. Conventionally, phytase enzymes are derived from fungi and are considered fit for use to improve nutritive values of poultry and other livestock feeds. Dr Navani said that his team was looking for a source that could be used to improve food items consumed by humans - a food grade bacterium. They tried samples of milk and other dairy products of cow, buffalo, sheep and goat from different parts of the country. The research was funded by the National Agricultural Science Fund of Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) and Uttarakhand Council of Science and Technology. The researchers have published results of their work in a recent issue of journal Bioresource Technology.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10882/researchers-develops-a-glue-to-fix-broken-bones-in-just-5-mins.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10882/researchers-develops-a-glue-to-fix-broken-bones-in-just-5-mins.html Mon, 07 May 2018 12:40:00 +0530 Researchers from the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden, have developed an adhesive that could help millions of patients with osteoporosis, a condition that makes them prone to fractures. Laboratory trials, on rat bones, showed that the adhesive would work in five minutes. Further studies are needed to confirm it works in humans, but experts at the KTH Royal Institute of are hopeful. Lead researcher Professor Michael Malkoch said that they have finally managed to identify a surgically realizable adhesive to fix bone fractures. The results of the experiment into using glue to fix the bones of several rats were published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials. Dentists have used glues to fix broken teeth for years. But, until now, scientists had stumbled across various obstacles in using it to mend bones. The new adhesive, yet to be named, is 55 per cent stronger than similar ones used already by dentists to fix broken teeth. The glue uses the same reliable 'bonding' technique used in dentistry, known as thiol-ene coupling, or TEC. The researchers’ adhesive technique is three-layered, much like a sandwich of biocompatible glue and fibre. First, a ‘priming’ layer of glue is laid out on the bone surface, so that the adhesive can begin to seep into the bone tissue. Then, a fibre patch is added, to reinforce the final strength at the adhesive. A final layer of glue is placed on top to complete this bond. Prof. Malkoch is convinced that the new adhesive and simple bonding technique developed by himself and his colleagues could address the problems of bone fracture recovery. Thus, he has already created a start-up initiative, Biomedical Bonding AB, which is set to start clinical trials as soon as possible. This method, the researchers note, could lead to fewer treatment costs for patients, and it would have a very short recovery period, allowing people to start physical exercise within a day or two from the procedure. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10867/nci-iit-b-tmc-sign-mou-for-cancer-research.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10867/nci-iit-b-tmc-sign-mou-for-cancer-research.html Thu, 03 May 2018 10:55:00 +0530 The National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Office of Cancer Clinical Proteomics Research, part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, along with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) and Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on clinical proteogenomics cancer research. The MoU between NCI, IITB, and Tata Memorial Centre represents the thirtieth and thirty-first institutions and the twelfth country to join the International Cancer Proteogenome Consortium (ICPC). The purpose of the MoU is to facilitate scientific and programmatic collaborations between NCI, IITB, and TMC in basic and clinical proteogenomic studies leading to patient care and public dissemination and information sharing to the research community. The scope of the collaboration requires NCI to assist IITB and TMC in adopting and implementing the Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium workflows as appropriate and to integrate innovative technologies in workflows based on commonly diagnosed cancers in India. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10863/iit-roorkee-students-develop-an-app-to-detect-the-risk-of-heart-failure.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10863/iit-roorkee-students-develop-an-app-to-detect-the-risk-of-heart-failure.html Wed, 02 May 2018 13:50:00 +0530 Scientists from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee have developed a mobile app that can remotely monitor patients at risk of heart failure and provide them with medical assistance. Developed by its Computational Biology group, the app can automatically send notifications to both the doctor and the patient, in case of any drastic changes in patient’s data indicating possibility of imminent heart failure. Led by Dr. Deepak Sharma, assistant professor, Department of Biotechnology, the app named “Dhadkan” is developed in collaboration with Sandeep Seth and Gopichandran form All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. It will be of tremendous benefit to the country as around 10 million patients are at a risk of heart failure. Dr. Sharma in a press statement said “Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee has developed a mobile app that can remotely monitor patients at risk of heart failure and provide them with medical assistance.” "Dhadkan app will be of immense help to patients who live in distant areas and cannot come at regular intervals to tertiary care hospitals," he further added. Somesh Chaturvedi (B Tech Biotechnology 4th year student) and Shreya Srivastava (PhD Biotechnology 1st year student) have developed and designed the app in such a way that it can easily be used by rural people as well. The app is freely available on Google Play Store for the use of doctors and patients and will be used for conducting a randomized control trial on 100 heart failure patients at AIIMS to validate its utility and to suggest any new/useful feature(s) that can be incorporated. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10846/iit-kharagpur-to-initiate-curriculum-to-bridge-biological-sciences-and-engineering.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10846/iit-kharagpur-to-initiate-curriculum-to-bridge-biological-sciences-and-engineering.html Sun, 29 Apr 2018 17:35:00 +0530 The School of Medical Science and Technology at IIT Kharagpuron Saturday said it will launch new academic programmes from the upcoming academic session, spanning the realms of biology, medicine and engineering. The new courses would include a 2-year M.Tech in Biomedical Engineering, primarily with a vision of giving a medically-oriented outlook to the students of other disciplines. Admission will be through GATE. The programmes will facilitate multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches in biomedical research. "The objective is to train students and researchers simultaneously on the principles of engineering and fundamentals of physical, chemical, mathematical and biological sciences, so as to facilitate solving outstanding problems in the medical domain," a statement said. The School also runs a 3-year Masters in Medical Science and Technology, a unique programme of this kind, with MBBS doctors being admitted for value addition in the domain of Medical Technology. Admission will be through a national level entrance exam. Joint MSc-PhD programmes with Tata Medical Center, Kolkata have been launched from the upcoming academic session in the areas of Molecular Medical Microbiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Physics. "These programmes will bridge the gap between medicine, biological sciences and engineering with a roadmap to develop world-class scientists and clinicians," said Suman Chakraborty, Head, School of Medical Science and Technology, IIT Kharagpur. IIT Kharagpur is in the process of launching a 400-bed super specialty hospital which is expected to be operational by 2019. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10803/merck-foundation-mahe-to-train-embryologists-from-africa-and-asia.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10803/merck-foundation-mahe-to-train-embryologists-from-africa-and-asia.html Thu, 19 Apr 2018 10:35:00 +0530 Merck Foundation and Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to partner in providing training programme for embryologists in Africa and Asia. Merck Foundation, in partnership with MAHE, has launched ‘Merck Embryology Training Programme’, a certificate course in assistive reproduction and embryology, through its ‘Merck More Than a Mother’ campaign. The training program will shoulder the responsibility of fine-tuning and honing the delicate skills of the embryologists in IVF Centres, and emphasize the importance of ethics while handling human sperm, eggs and embryos. The main objective is to provide hands-on practical training to develop embryologists’ platform in Africa and Asia. It is also intended to increase the number of standalone embryologists, and to improve the access to cost-effective fertility care in the developing countries, since the lack of trained and skilled health personnel is the main challenge in Africa and Asia.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10776/iit-m-research-shows-benefits-of-uhc-project-in-tamil-nadu.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10776/iit-m-research-shows-benefits-of-uhc-project-in-tamil-nadu.html Mon, 16 Apr 2018 11:00:00 +0530 An Indian Institute of Technology Madras Research has shown that Universal Health Care (UHC) Pilot Project in three rural blocks of Tamil Nadu brought about a “Significant Change” in improving access to primary care at sub-centre level. The study also showed that the UHC pilot brought about a dramatic fall in the overall dependence on private providers, particularly those seeking care from private hospitals. It also brought about a substantial fall in the out of pocket expenditure among those seeking OP care from both public and private providers. The study, titled 'Universal Health Coverage-Pilot in Tamil Nadu: Has it delivered what was expected?' - was undertaken by Centre for Technology and Policy, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Madras. It has been submitted to the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Tamil Nadu. The UHC-pilot was launched in early 2017 in Tamil Nadu in Shoolagiri Block (of Krishnagiri HUD), Viralimalai Block (of Pudukkottai HUD) and Veppur Block (of Perambalur HUD). Strengthening the primary health care service was the first step in the design and rolling out of UHC-pilot. As a result, Health Sub-Centres (HSCs), which are the closest delivery points to the community have logically become the building blocks of the UHC in Tamil Nadu. After the implementation of UHC Pilot, the HSCs now account for 17.8% of all OPs in Shoolagiri Block, 14.8% in Viralimalai Block, and 23.1% in Veppur Block, respectively; in all three blocks, HSCs accounted for less than 1% of all OPs during pre-UHC pilot. The share of private hospitals for OP (out-patient) care have dropped significantly during pre-UHC pilot period (2015-16) and post-UHC pilot period (Dec.2017): from 51% to 21% in Shoolagiri block; from 47.8% to 24.2% in Viralimalai Block; from 40.9% to 23.9% in Veppur Block; Speaking about the Research Project, Prof V.R. Muraleedharan, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Madras, said, “To the best of my knowledge about health sector in India, this is perhaps the first time we have a robust survey on both household health seeeking behaviour and facility based utilization before and after intervention any public health intervention”. This report attempted to answer the following two questions: To what extent the UHC pilot has effectively improved access to HSCs and reduced OOPE for primary care in the community; and To what extent and how well the UHC piloting in the State covers the scope of the proposed components/services of Health and Wellness Centres by GoI? Prof Muraleedharan said, "The report provides unambiguous evidence in support of increased access to HSCs, diversion of patients from higher level public facilities, diversion of patients from private hospitals, significant reduction in OOPE for patients seeking care from both public and private facilities, and significantly lower cost of provision of OP care per visit in pilot HSCs, than when they are provided at higher levels of public facilities.” The Report further states: "With careful nurturing (by way of good training programmes) without hurrying the VHNs to “perform” and “show” results, by allowing them to mature over time, along with careful efforts to “integrate HSCs with PHC/CHC” as is already happening with the “hub and spoke” model being used for laboratory tests (between PHCs and CHCs), and complementary human resources, with strict enforcement of population norms (in order that VHNs do not get overwhelmed with excessive load), the current VHN based UHC pilot for providing comprehensive primary care services as envisaged by GoI through Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) , is likely to become a reality. There are clear signs of commitment at all levels, bureaucratic and political. We need more time to pursue the pilot and also to scale progressively. Access and financial burden on the poor for primary care need immediate attention." “Evidently, it makes sense therefore to scale up this UHC pilot, as it is cost effecive, and makes public primary health care delivery system more efficient. The amount saved could well be spent on further strengthening public healthcare delivery system,” report adds. The Project Team Members are Prof V.R. Muraleedharan and Prof Umakant Dash, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Madras, S.D. Vaishnavi (SHReAs, Chennai), Rajesh M, R. Gopinath, M. Hariharan, R. Babu, P. Balamurgan, A. Emaya Varaman, S. Arul Kumar, A. Mariyan Devan and Contributors: Elna James Kattoor and Sudha Rani D.     ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10756/the-growing-menace-of-harassment-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10756/the-growing-menace-of-harassment-.html Wed, 11 Apr 2018 14:20:00 +0530 The School of Life Sciences (SLS) at the Jawaharlal Nehru University was established a year after JNU got set up in 1969. On the verge of completing 50 glorious years, the University is in the limelight for an althogether different reason. The recent trigger came in when Prof Atul Johri, School of Life Sciences was arrested  on charges of sexual harassment levelled against him by eight female students of JNU. The shocking part is that there are a total of 31 such pending cases of sexual harassment which have been assigned to a temporary Internal Complaint Committee (TICC) in the JNU. Students' Reactions- "My campus appears to be highly unsafe. In the present case #Prof.Patnaik #Prof.Lama happened the be Profs from my centre ie School-Of-International-StudiesI feel vulnerable." - Anima Sonkar, Research Scholar, SIS, JNU; Ex-VP, ABVP, JNU (on March 22, 2018, on Twitter) "Large-scale have taken place against Prof Johri, who is a supporter of the JNU VC M Jagadesh Kumar. But there is no mention of Prof Lama as well as Prof Karat and Prof Pathnayak who are shielding him. You can see the hypocrisy of the Left,” - Vinay Kumar, ABVP's JNU wing president (Reported to Catch). "The GSCASH was quashed by the JNU administration in 2017. But members have been 'voluntarily elected' to the Committee. Had the complaint against Johri been formally made to GSCASH, and had GSCASH existed in formal terms – the first step taken would have been to change the supervisor-  Shruti Simha, a member of the Gender Sensitisation Against Sexual Harassment, JNU (Reported to Quint)   The question arising in the minds of many is that if the environment in JNU is becoming so unsafe,  can students be assured safety in other institutes? ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10688/kiht-inks-mou-with-medikabazaar.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10688/kiht-inks-mou-with-medikabazaar.html Thu, 29 Mar 2018 14:50:00 +0530 Medikabazaar, an online marketplace for purchase of medical products and medical supplies by hospitals and medical establishments has announced that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the prestigious Kalam Institute of Health Technology (KIHT) based in Vishakhapatnam, India. The MoU states that Medikabazaar will showcase innovative technologies ready to be purchased for industrial manufacturing by medical products manufacturers. This will be the first ever e-auction where medical technology can be bought or auctioned. This partnership will help support MedTech transfers and facilitate rapid industrial promotion. Kalam Institute of Health Technology has collaborated with Medikabazaar for the e-auction of technologies related to medical devices developed by members of the cluster. In a major knowledge transfer boost, KIHT will assist members of Medikabazaar with appropriate information on important domain expertise and available facilities for focused R&D on medical devices. Medikabazaar will work with KIHT towards technology transfers and improving technology market access, production and competitiveness from their members. It will also actively promote the e-auction portal of KIHT on its website for enabling medical product manufacturers to participate in the online bidding of technology transfer. Mr. Vivek Tiwari, Founder and CEO of Medikabazaar stated, "I am proud to be associated with Kalam Institute of Health Technology and would like to announce that we are the first portal in healthcare space to facilitate e-auction for technology transfer. Now anyone looking at buying or bidding for innovative medical technology in medical devices can do so simply through the website ." Dr. Jitendar Sharma, Managing Director & CEO, Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone, stated, "Partnership between Medikabazaar and KIHT brings the academia one step closer to the medical industry. Medikabazaar has an impressive list of medical devices manufacturers on-board and they can explore acquiring these innovative medical technologies developed in research labs funded by Government of India. By acquiring license of technologies, manufacturers can significantly save time on R&D and go-to-market." ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10665/scientists-back-students-protest-against-sexual-harassment.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10665/scientists-back-students-protest-against-sexual-harassment.html Tue, 27 Mar 2018 12:10:00 +0530 Very recently, another case of sexual harassment came into light when Prof Atul Johri, School of Life Sciences (SLS), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, was arrested after eight JNU students filed sexual harassment complaints against him. The protests started soon after Atul Johri was arrested and then granted bail by Delhi’s Patiala House court within 80 minutes of his arrest. As a result of this, the entire science community is being asked to come forward on support of the students who claimed to have been a victim of sexual assault by Johri. A joint statement has been signed by scientists from Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Raman Research Institute and other higher education and research institutions IISc professor Sandhya S Visweswariah; Ashmita Patil of AIIMS, Joyee Ghosh of IIT-Delhi Shobhana Narasimhan of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research; are among the 165 scientists who have issued the joint statement. Students have stalled the functioning of the SLS since the charges against Johri surfaced, demanding that the JNU administration sack him. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10659/iit-hyderabad-to-work-on-assisted-reproduction.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10659/iit-hyderabad-to-work-on-assisted-reproduction.html Mon, 26 Mar 2018 17:50:00 +0530 Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad is going to undertake a study on the ways in which ageing is conceptualized within In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) by researching on elderly couples conceiving and birthing children in North India with the help of in-vitro fertilization (IVF). The project has been sanctioned funding of Rs. 25 lakh under the Wellcome UK Small Projects Grant for 2018 and is titled: 'A Preliminary Study of Ageing and Assisted Reproduction in India.' The project will commence in April 2018 and includes fieldwork, a conference on 'Reframing the Biological Clock: Exploring Ethnographic Research on Ageing and Reproduction' in August 2018 with presentations from academics across the world. The Conference will focus on ongoing research on aspects of the ageing reproductive body and how technology and society imagine childbirth and families in such a context. Research from Europe, USA and Asia will be presented at the conference, which will be hosted by IIT Hyderabad. Wellcome UK is a global charitable organization that supports scientists and researchers take on big problems, fuel imaginations, and spark debate. It supports over 14,000 people in more than 70 countries and is one of the world’s biggest funders of biomedical research. Speaking about the project, Dr. Anindita Majumdar, Assistant Professor, Department of Liberal Arts, IIT Hyderabad who will be leading the Research said, "The aim of the research is to contribute conceptually and through field data to ongoing, and future research on assisted conception, infertility and reproduction in India. This would include publications emerging from research, and the development of a larger research project that will look at the impact that societal and environmental factors have on increasing fears of declining fertility in urban India." This research firmly embeds itself within emerging issues of the ‘biological clock’, and declining fertility which has long-term significance on demographic and population trends, as well as on the social care and responsibility of an ageing population. Thanking the Wellcome UK for the grant, Dr. Anindita Majumdar said that it would be used:  to fund preliminary fieldwork in North India amongst couples undergoing assisted reproduction to conceive host and organize an international conference at IIT Hyderabad on ‘Reframing the Biological Clock: Exploring Ageing and Reproduction in Contemporary Ethnographies’ in August 2018 with participants from universities in the U.S. and Europe   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10622/dst-introduces-new-scheme-for-women-in-st.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10622/dst-introduces-new-scheme-for-women-in-st.html Tue, 20 Mar 2018 11:35:00 +0530 The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has introduced a new scheme to promote participation of women in the field of science. DST and Indo-US Science & Technology Forum (IUSSTF) have jointly announced the Indo-US Fellowship for Women in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine).  According to the National Task Force on Women in Science report of the Department of Science and Technology, women form less than 25 percent of scientific faculty in various institutions and universities, except those under Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Department of Biotechnology (DBT), which are basically engaged in biological research. This program is designed to provide opportunities to Indian women scientists, engineers and technologists to undertake international collaborative research in premier institutions in the US to enhance their research capacities and capabilities. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10579/iit-m-thales-sign-pact-for-phd-programmes.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10579/iit-m-thales-sign-pact-for-phd-programmes.html Sat, 10 Mar 2018 19:40:00 +0530 French multinational company Thales group and the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create a jointly supervised Ph.D fellowship programme in coordination with the French scientific research agency CNRS. Thales and IIT-M look forward to strengthening Indo-French scientific collaboration, while contributing towards the development of highly specialised technical skills in India.The MoU was exchanged in the presence of Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar and Mr Frédérique Vidal, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, Government of France, at the Knowledge Summit.Thales already has similar agreements for jointly supervised PhDs with leading institutions like Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru, IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10543/4-iits-iisc-to-establish-research-parks.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10543/4-iits-iisc-to-establish-research-parks.html Tue, 06 Mar 2018 15:05:00 +0530 Department of Science & Technology (DST) has decided to set-up five new Research Parks at IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Kanpur, IIT Hyderabad, and IISc Bangalore at a total cost of Rs.75.00 crore each. This has been done based on the recommendations of the National Expert Advisory Committee (NEAC) constituted by the DST. According to the Ministry of Human Resource Development, the government has also approved continued funding of two Research Parks at IIT Bombay and IIT Kharagpur at a cost of Rs.100 crore each.The Research Park at IIT Gandhinagar at a total cost of Rs.90 crore is funded by the Department of Science & Technology.IIT Madras Research Park is fully functional with 43 R&D clients, 4 Incubators, 55 Startups, and 5 Centres of Excellence.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10507/uoh-to-set-up-bionest-for-biotech-entrepreneurs.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10507/uoh-to-set-up-bionest-for-biotech-entrepreneurs.html Thu, 01 Mar 2018 10:50:00 +0530 The University of Hyderabad (UoH) is all set to establish BioNEST (Bio-incubator Nurturing Entrepreneurship for Scaling Technologies), an incubation facility for encouraging entrepreneurs in the field of biology and biotechnology, at its premises in Hyderabad. The university authorities are soon planning to inaugurate a 2,000 square feet of bio-incubation facility with the support of Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and want to make this facility useful for the budding researchers to help them transform their ideas into entrepreneurial marvels. BioNEST will mainly nurture early stage start-ups and facilitate the translation of knowledge base into industry ready products and processes. This bio-incubation centre is aimed at focusing on new and emerging technologies that require multidisciplinary inputs in the areas of biology and biotechnology. The facility is expected to bring together high-quality researchers from the university and budding entrepreneurs who will work towards developing solutions in the field of life sciences, biotechnology, healthcare and allied areas. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10474/iit-b-team-designs-healthcare-sensor.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10474/iit-b-team-designs-healthcare-sensor.html Mon, 26 Feb 2018 11:30:00 +0530 A team of researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay has developed an inexpensive, flexible pressure sensor that can be used for a variety of healthcare applications. The piezoresistive pressure sensor could efficiently monitor even small-scale movements caused by low-pressure variations. The sensor could measure blood pulse rate in real time when placed on the wrist and neck. It had the same sensitivity and accuracy at both sites of the body. The sensor was also tested for its ability to monitor respiration. When placed on the throat, the sensor could detect changes in pressure when different words were pronounced. Interestingly, the fabricated sensor also showed good sensitivity in detecting large-scale motion monitoring, as in the case of bending and extension of fingers joints. The sensor is made using polyurethane foam coated with carbon nanomaterial-based ink. The ink is conductive due to the presence of large number of multiwalled nanotubes which are dispersed in reduced graphene oxide matrix. Conductive sheets were pasted on the top and bottom sides of the foam and electrical wires connected to the sheets for measurements. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10460/parshottam-rupala-inaugurates-international-conference-on-biotechnology-agriculture.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10460/parshottam-rupala-inaugurates-international-conference-on-biotechnology-agriculture.html Fri, 23 Feb 2018 11:55:00 +0530 The three-day International Conference on “Emerging Synergies in Agriculture, Food Processing and Biotechnology” was recently inaugurated by Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare; and Panchayati raj at Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore. The Conference organized by the School of Agriculture and Biosciences of the Deemed University has a participation of more than 500 delegates and 300 papers are being presented during the three days of the Conference. The Keynote addresses are being delivered by experts from India and abroad like Dr. Itamar Glazer, Director (Research) of Agricultural Research Organization; Prof. Itzhak Shmulevich of Technion, Israel; Dr. Yoram Oren, Zuckerberg Institute of Water Research Institute of Israel; Dr. Yafit Cohen of Volcani Institute; Prof. Hwang of PosTech University, Korea; Dr. Ravindra Kaur of IARI, New Delhi; Dr. K. P. Sudheer of IITM, Chennai; Dr. B.J. Pandian of TNAU, Coimbatore; Dr. G. S. V. Raghavan of  McGill University, Canada and Dr. C. Rajasekara Murthy of Environment (Inland Waters), Canada. Parshottam Rupala highlighted the synergies among water, food, health and energy and the key role of Agriculture in linking them up. He also highlighted the importance of application of modern technologies like GIS, GPS, IoT, cloud computing and electronic gadgets even wireless and mobile app for precision farming. The Minister pointed out the importance of agriculture in a country of 70% agrarian population. Shri. Rupala highlighted the schemes of Government of India aiming at farmer welfare such as Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. The minister also inaugurated the poly house, constructed by the Department of agriculture, KITS for research and development. He also mentioned that India is a big laboratory with arid, semi-arid, sem-humid, humid tropical regions within it. The Minister highlighted the need to get ready for facing climate change and also the importance of solar energy for agriculture purposes to reduce carbon emission. The minister mentioned about the establishment of 27 Centers of Excellence to be established in India as part of India – Israel Collaboration. Already 15 Centers are completed. He also appreciated Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences for establishing state-of-the-art laboratories for studies in the area of water and food technology. The polyhouse for high-tech horticulture was inaugurated by the Minister on the occasion. While appreciating Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences for its collaboration with Israel Universities like Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Technion University of Haifa, Ben-Gurion University of Beersheba, Israel, he stated that the Government of India and Indian Council for Agricultural Research would like to encourage the academic and research activities of KITS. The Minister also stated that he would like to have the recommendations of the conference for taking action at the Government of India level. During the Inaugural Session of the Conference Prof. Mannar Jawahar, Vice Chancellor; Dr. Ridling Margaret Waller, Pro Vice Chancellor; Dr. Elijah, Registrar, Dr. Elijah were also present. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10436/thsti-icmr-sign-mou-for-building-research-ecosystem.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10436/thsti-icmr-sign-mou-for-building-research-ecosystem.html Tue, 20 Feb 2018 11:15:00 +0530 Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), an autonomous institute of the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The main objective of this association is to build the basic, clinical, translational and implementation research ecosystem in India. The Executive Director, THSTI, Dr. Gagandeep Kang and the Additional DG, ICMR, Dr. Sanjay Mehendale signed the MoU aimed at establishing joint working groups towards upscaling research outcomes for the benefit of the society. On the occasion, the Director ICMR-NIMS, New Delhi, divisional heads of the ICMR headquarters and senior scientists from THSTI were also present. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10432/iit-m-to-create-cancer-genome-database-for-india.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10432/iit-m-to-create-cancer-genome-database-for-india.html Sun, 18 Feb 2018 15:00:00 +0530 Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras is working towards creating an India-specific cancer genome database aimed at early detection and development of better treatment strategy for the disease. The National Cancer Tissue Biobank (NCTB), a first of its kind community-based initiative in the country, is collecting cancer tissues from Indian patients. According to the scientists at IIT-M, creation of such a genome database would also help in developing a specific drug for India’s population.  Creation of such a pool with samples of different types of cancer and their study would give an indication on what is going on in the community regarding the disease. There could be differences in the way two persons affected with the same type of cancer respond to the treatment. Till now, the NCTB has samples collected from over 1,800 patients and it has tied up with nine medical and educational institutes in Chennai and Puducherry for this purpose. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10421/ccmb-researchers-to-work-on-personalised-medicine.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10421/ccmb-researchers-to-work-on-personalised-medicine.html Fri, 16 Feb 2018 11:25:00 +0530 The Hyderabad-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), a part of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), is in the process of setting up a facility to take the benefit of personalised medicine to common people.  CCMB is looking to engage with clinicians and the industry in a big way, with them participating right from the beginning stages of research. Recent studies have shown that scientists can now convert ordinary cells extracted from a patient’s body into what are called pluripotent stem cells and use these to develop a variety of organoids – multiple miniaturized and simplified versions of body organs. These can then be used to screen a variety of drugs for the ailment a person is suffering from and identify those that are best suited for him or her. 　 The research institute has recently started a programme to expose students in medical colleges in Telangana on various aspects of medical research. The aim of the program is to foster collaborations between scientists and medical professionals in medical research. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10372/govt-rolls-out-highly-paid-research-fellowship.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10372/govt-rolls-out-highly-paid-research-fellowship.html Sat, 10 Feb 2018 19:25:00 +0530 The Cabinet has cleared the PM Research Fellowships (PMRF) for students of higher education institutions like the IITs, IISERs and NITs, which will also be the country’s most lavish paid scholarships to date. The PMRF includes monthly scholarships of Rs 70,000 to Rs 80,000 and annual research grants of Rs 2 lakh for select scholars. The Centre has approved an allocation of Rs 1,650 crore for these fellows to be spent over three years. The minimum eligibility for aspirants will be a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 8.5. The minister said that the scheme will be rolled out from the 2018-19 academic session.Under the scheme, students who have completed or are in final year of B.Tech or integrated M.Tech or M.Sc in science and technology streams at IISc, IITs, NITs, IISERs, IIITs will be offered direct admissions in PhD programmes in IITs and IISc. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10369/iit-kgp-aiims-team-up-for-joint-academic-initiatives.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10369/iit-kgp-aiims-team-up-for-joint-academic-initiatives.html Fri, 09 Feb 2018 15:30:00 +0530 All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and IIT Kharagpur are exploring opportunities for unique joint initiatives in academics and research, including a super-speciality hospital. Senior professors of both the institutions are in discussion to take the initiatives forward. The institutions are looking forward to strengthen ongoing activities through collaborative education programmes, research and collaboration for management and analysis of hospital data. IIT Kharagpur and AIIMS would also work towards encouraging more medical practitioners in the research domain. According to professors of the two institutions, the collaborative initiatives would foster cross-migration of medical professionals to the research domain, and engineering researchers to work on outstanding clinical problems. With the super-speciality hospital at IIT Kharagpur expected to be operational by the end of this year, AIIMS will also collaborate for data processing, analytics and management of medical data in addition to digitised medical consultation, human resource support and advisory role in procurements. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10360/medgenome-and-srmc-collaborate-for-the-launch-of-genomic-centre.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10360/medgenome-and-srmc-collaborate-for-the-launch-of-genomic-centre.html Thu, 08 Feb 2018 16:55:00 +0530 Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute (SRMC &RI) in collaboration with MedGenome has announced the launch of a genomics centre and will be located at the University premises. The Centre was inaugurated by Dr. Sachdev Sidhu from the University of Toronto, Canada. The Centre brings together an outstanding collaboration between SRMC & MedGenome to provide an environment for researchers and doctors to translate cutting edge Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) based genomic solutions into new and actionable patient services. Additionally a Genetic Health Clinic will be setup to offer counselling to patients on hereditary cancers, pregnancy related matters, genetic and neurological disorders. Speaking on the partnership Prof. S P Thyagarajan, Dean of Research, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute said, “We are extremely pleased to be collaborating with MedGenome. This is an exciting step forward in our efforts to deliver the benefits of the latest technologies and research in genomics for better clinical care. The advanced genomic based diagnostic solutions offered by MedGenome will enable our Clinicians to identify the precise genetic causes for a disease and offer the best and most suitable treatments for the patients”. The Centre will give a significant boost to SRMC’s genomic capabilities. The focus of the facility will be to deliver the most up to date genomic based diagnostics for patients and also provide researchers a great opportunity to advance their understanding of the human biology. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10361/lvpei-develops-mini-human-eyes-with-the-help-of-stem-cells.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10361/lvpei-develops-mini-human-eyes-with-the-help-of-stem-cells.html Thu, 08 Feb 2018 16:15:00 +0530 Hyderabad-based LV Prasad Eye Institute has developed mini human eyes in test tube with the help of stem cells. The Institute has exclusive laboratory for developing human eye with stem cells and has been conducting research on stem cells to develop human eye for around fifteen years. It has now succeeded in developing complex 3D corneal organoids which are miniature versions of a larger organ developed in the test tube.  These organoids developed by the institute are capable of recapitulating steps of normal corneal development. Dr. Indumathi Mariappan, a research scientist at Sudhakar and Sreekanth Ravi Stem Cell Biology Laboratory at LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), is involved in basic and translational research towards addressing problems of retinal and corneal diseases using different sources of adult and pluripotent stem cells. Researchers from the LV Prasad Eye Institute for the first time  has showed that complex 3D corneal organoids can be generated from pluripotent stem cells and mini corneas undergo maturation in test tube (in vitro) and recapitulate steps of normal corneal development. "Availability of such mini corneas at 10 weeks of maturation circumvents the need for complicated cell enrichment protocols and offers a simpler method of establishing enriched cultures of corneal epithelial cell sheets for basic research and for regenerative applications," Dr Indumathi said in her presentation at the International Congress of Cell Biology- 2018. The research study said pluripotent stem cells are being explored as alternative stem cell sources to generate cell types of the body. Recent reports demonstrated the possibility of generating complex, three dimensional tissues in test tube. Researchers said "We generated three-dimensional retinal and corneal organoids from human pluripotent stem cells. Eye field primordial clusters that emerged from differentiating pluripotent stem cells developed into whole eye ball-like, self-organized, three-dimensional, miniature structures consisting of retinal primordia, corneal primordia, primitive eye lid-like outer covering and ciliary margin zone-like adnexal tissues in a step-wise maturation process within 15 weeks. These organoids recapitulate early developmental events in vitro and displayed similar anatomical features and marker expression profiles as that of adult tissues. They offer an alternative tissue source for regenerating different tissues of eye and eliminate the need for complicated cell enrichment procedures," reported Times of India.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10352/amity-university-collaborates-with-indian-fertility-society.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10352/amity-university-collaborates-with-indian-fertility-society.html Thu, 08 Feb 2018 11:00:00 +0530 Amity University Uttar Pradesh (AUUP) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Fertility Society (IFS) to foster close academic and research collaborations between AUUP and IFS in the areas of Assisted Reproduction Technology (ART) and Embryology. The MoU was signed to broaden the scope of the collaboration in research and other related areas between Amity University and Indian Fertility Society. The collaboration between the two Institutions of excellence started in July 2017 with the commencement of two Joint Post-Graduate Diploma Programs- Post-Graduate Diploma Program in Clinical Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and Post-Graduate Diploma Program in Clinical Embryology. Dr. Sohani Verma, President, IFS, asserted that there is a need for organized training for doctors working in the area of Assisted Reproduction Technology (ART) and Embryology and continuous research on new technologies coming up in these areas. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10341/iit-m-plans-collaboration-with-us-biotech-hub.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10341/iit-m-plans-collaboration-with-us-biotech-hub.html Wed, 07 Feb 2018 10:50:00 +0530 The city council of South San Francisco city represented by IIT-M alumnus Dr Pradeep Gupta has proposed a collaboration between the Healthcare Technology Innovation Centre (HTIC), a multidisciplinary research and development centre at IIT-M, and life sciences firms in South San Francisco involved in cutting edge research in disciplines ranging from oncology to neurodegenerative diseases. South San Francisco city is known as a global biotech hub that houses companies like Genentech, Merck and Johnson & Johnson. The collaboration would be between three categories of companies and the university — startups, mid-sized companies looking to outsource R&D projects and bigger companies which require a fresh a pipeline of drugs and technology. Dr. Pradeep Gupta, who served as the Mayor of South San Francisco city in 2017 is also keen for HTIC to sign MoUs with earlystage Google-funded startups like Verily and Calico, apart from traditional drug manufacturers looking to revive their product lines. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10336/a-symposium-on-stem-cells-and-cancer-india-2018-organized-at-somaiya-vidyavihar-witnesses-successful-participation.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10336/a-symposium-on-stem-cells-and-cancer-india-2018-organized-at-somaiya-vidyavihar-witnesses-successful-participation.html Tue, 06 Feb 2018 16:15:00 +0530 A one-day symposium on Stem Cells and Cancer- India 2018 was organized by Sathgen Biotech, National Centre for Cell Sciences and Somaiya Vidyavihar, on 5th Feb 2018. The symposium brought together renowned personalities in the field of cancer research including Dr Michael Clarke,  academicians, research students and industry delegates. Samir Somaiya, Godavari Biorefineries of which Sathgen Biotech is a division said, “Since its inception in 2007 Sathgen Biotech has been working on developing drugs, which could work to eliminate cancer stem cell population, drugs which will also work in combination with existing chemotherapies to eliminate cancer-related mortality. Stem cell therapy is a new targeted method being evaluated by various academic & research groups across the globe. This symposium is being organized to address the most updated research and information available in the area of cancer stem cell therapy. We believe that collaboration between Industry, Research Centres & Academic Institutions can work towards finding new and innovative methods to understand cancer & eventually circumvent it.” Dr Michael Clarke, Associate Director of Stanford Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine and a pioneer in stem cell therapy of cancer, explained the role of stem cells in the treatment of degenerative diseases. He further added “There is a need for advancing research in the area of Cancer.  Collaborations and discussions like these will bring in fresh new thinking and innovation.  New paradigms from analytical tools to a deeper understanding of risk factors; from biomarkers to drug resistance and tumour recurrence are some of the many perspectives that have to be studied. The increase in cancer worldwide and the younger age at which it is occurring needs a clarion call for to come together and find solutions.” Dr Vijay Joshi, Principal K J Somaiya College of Science and Commerce said, “The stem cells are mother cells of all cell type and are being used in various diseases to cure the anomaly. In a cancer tumour even after radiation and chemotherapy, a very small fraction of the cell remains alive and cause recurrence of cancer.We need to understand this complexity to have better therapeutic options in future. To explore this new avenue of science individual scientist from fundamental research arena need to come together with industry and academics”. The conference was organised at Somaiya Vidyavihar to enlighten students of Medical & Science College and other colleges about stem cells and cancer, pooling together the recent advances from the scientists and industry Said Kunal.D.Palan, M.Sc. 2nd year, Biochemistry, K J Somaiya College of Science and Commerce, said "Attending the symposium on stem cells and cancer was an extraordinary experience. There was a lot to learn from the lectures about recent advancements in cancer and stem cell technology. I got to learn a lot from the esteemeddignitariesspeaking atthe conference. I am inspired to work in this important area". Komal Padhariya, PhD Scholar, from NMIMS Mumbai, who attended the symposium said "I am delighted to be present at the symposium on stem cells and cancer. The conference enlightened many interesting topics in the field of stem cells and cancer for students to work in the future. I'm glad that I was a part of the conference and got to learn so much". Sathgen Biotech is a division of Godavari Biorefineries Ltd. and is actively involved in anti-cancer drug screening using novel methods. The laboratory has achieved some major breakthroughs in developing few anti-cancer stem cell molecules, which are showing better performance than the standard chemotherapeutic drugs.  Shortly, these molecules would be taken ahead for IND filings and further preclinical trials. One of these molecules has received Government of India (BIRAC) grant.  Speakers at the conference included renowned personalities in the field of cancer research: Dr Sharmila Bapat, Scientist F, National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS), Pune Prof Paturu Kondaiah, Professor, Molecular Reproduction, Development & Genetics, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru Dr Anjali Shiras, Scientist G, National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS), Pune Dr T R Santhosh Kumar, Scientist F, Cancer Biology, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram Dr AnnapoorniRangarajan, Associate Professor, Department of Molecular Reproduction, Institute of Science, Bengaluru Dr Vivek Tanavade, Associate Professor,  Division of Biological and Life Sciences, Ahmedabad University, Ahmedabad Dr Sandeep Singh, Assistant Professor, National Institute of Biomedical Genomics (NIBMG), Kalyani, West Bengal Dr Prashant Kumar, Faculty Scientist, DST – Ramanujan Fellow, Institute of Bioinformatics, Bengaluru Dr Sanjeev Waghmare, Principal Investigator, ACTREC, Navi Mumbai Dr Pritha Ray, Assistant Professor, Tata Memorial Centre (ACTREC), Navi Mumbai ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10328/icgeb-scientists-engineer-fungal-genome-to-enhance-biofuel-synthesis.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10328/icgeb-scientists-engineer-fungal-genome-to-enhance-biofuel-synthesis.html Tue, 06 Feb 2018 11:35:00 +0530 Scientists at New Delhi-based International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) have peered into a fungal genome to tweak its regulation for production of enzymes that break down cellulose into simple sugars. These ‘cellulolytic’ (cellulose breaking) enzymes obtained from a microbial source are in high demand in the biofuel production industry and are currently obtained from one industrial workhorse fungus. The new engineered fungal source Penicillium funiculosum could be a strong alternative in the industrial enzyme repertoire for biofuel production. Dr. Syed Shams Yazdani and his group from ICGEB’s microbial engineering department have found that P. funiculosum effectively produces the 5 times more active enzyme GH7 cellobiohydrolases (CBH1) – vital for the breakdown of cellulose – as compared to its fungal cousin Trichoderma reesei, which is mostly used in the industrial enzyme cocktails. In his further research he has altered the fungal genome to double the enzyme production in this industrial workhorse fungus by disrupting a catabolite repressor called Mig1. The scientists have published their work in the journal Biotechnology for Biofuels [A.  Randhawa. et al.] Disruption of zinc finger DNA binding domain in catabolite repressor Mig1 increases growth rate, hyphal branching, and cellulase expression in hypercellulolytic fungus Penicillium funiculosum NCIM1228. Biotechnology for Biofuels (2018) DOI: 10.1186/s13068-018-1011-5 The biological conversion of cellulosic biomass to produce environment friendly fuels and chemicals is in demand and the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to fermentable sugars is the most complex step. Enzymatic hydrolysis offers the potential for higher yield, higher selectivity, lower energy costs and milder operating conditions than chemical processes, the mechanism of enzymatic hydrolysis and the relationship between the substrate structure and function of components is not well known and limited success has been realized in maximizing sugar yields at very low cost. “Our novel innovation will provide detailed information for gene regulation and gene disruption method to get better growth, enhanced carbon source utilization and higher cellulase activity than parent strain” says Dr Syed Shams Yazdani, lead research scientist, also coordinator of the government-funded DBT-ICGEB Centre for Advanced Bioenergy Research (DICABeR). DBT-ICGEB Centre for Advanced Bioenergy Research (DICABeR) is an integrated centre for performing cutting-edge basic research and its translation. It is a platform for the synthetic biologists to work in diverse bioenergy areas such as microbial engineering, biochemical engineering, algal engineering and systems biology. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10315/karnataka-govt-revamps-the-biotech-academic-programme.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10315/karnataka-govt-revamps-the-biotech-academic-programme.html Fri, 02 Feb 2018 20:40:00 +0530 Karnataka government is now planning to expand the Biotechnology Finishing School (BTFS) programme to include 18 more institutions.  The BTFS programme has now been revamped as the Biotechnology Skill Enhancement Programme (BiSEP), and is presented in collaboration with the Life Science Sector Skill Development Council (LSSSDC) and the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT). The BTFS programme initiated in the year 2011 at 12 host institutions in Karnataka that gained popularity among the biotech & Life Science students across India. More than 730 students have completed the course with ~70 per cent job placement record following 100 per cent industry internship.  The modified 2ndphase of BTFS, now renamed as Biotechnology Skill Enhancement Programme – BiSEP, aims to continue to educate and empower human resource to bridge the gap between biotech industry and academia. The BiSEP programme is expected to feature an enhanced and enriched course curriculum that is aligned with the National Vocational Educational Quality Framework (NVEQF). The curriculum will be tailored to incorporate the latest industry trends and technological advances. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10308/three-icmr-institutes-merge-to-increase-efficiency.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10308/three-icmr-institutes-merge-to-increase-efficiency.html Fri, 02 Feb 2018 12:10:00 +0530 The Enterovirus Research Centre (ERC) at Mumbai, an accredited WHO global specialized laboratory for polio since 2000, has been merged with Pune-based National Institute of Virology (NIV) while Madurai based Centre for Research in Medical Entomology (CRME), a WHO collaborative research centre in filariasis and dengue, has now been fused with the Vector Control Research Centre (VCRC) at Pondicherry. These three laboratories under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) have been merged with sister institutes working in related or overlapping fields, as part of a restructuring exercise to bring in more efficiency. Likewise, ICMR’s virus unit at Kolkata will be merged with the National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata. There are plans to combine some other institutes as well. As part of ICMR’s strategic plan and agenda for 2030, the research focus will be in attaining the sustainable development goals and pursuance of the national health policy 2017. The ICMR will develop research collaborations with AYUSH agencies with a focus on scientific validation of traditional remedies. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10295/srmc-launches-new-centre-for-genomic-research.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10295/srmc-launches-new-centre-for-genomic-research.html Thu, 01 Feb 2018 10:10:00 +0530 In collaboration with MedGenome, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute (SRMC & RI) has launched a genomics centre within the University premises. The Centre was inaugurated today by Dr.Sachdev Sidhu from the University of Toronto, Canada. The centre is aimed at providing a significant boost to SRMC’s genomic capabilities. The focus of the facility will be to deliver the most up to date genomic based diagnostics for patients and also provide researchers a great opportunity to advance their understanding of the human biology. The genomics centre brings together an outstanding collaboration between SRMC & MedGenome to provide an environment for researchers and doctors to translate cutting edge Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) based genomic solutions into new and actionable patient services. Additionally a Genetic Health Clinic will be setup to offer counselling to patients on hereditary cancers, pregnancy related matters, genetic and neurological disorders. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10290/eisai-and-boston-team-up-to-study-the-effects-of-alzheimers-disease-associated-genetic-variants-on-brain.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10290/eisai-and-boston-team-up-to-study-the-effects-of-alzheimers-disease-associated-genetic-variants-on-brain.html Wed, 31 Jan 2018 11:30:00 +0530 Eisai Inc. and Boston University School of Medicine have formed a research collaboration to study the effects of Alzheimer's disease associated genetic variants on the behavior of brain cells, called microglia. Recent discoveries regarding the genetic foundations of Alzheimer's disease (AD), suggest that microglial cells are believed to play a key role in resistance to or susceptibility in developing AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.  Under the two-year agreement, Eisai's immuno-dementia discovery research team at its Andover innovative Medicines (AiM) Institute will work with principal investigator Tsuneya Ikezu, Professor of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics and Neurology at Boston University School of Medicine, to study the functional impact of AD-associated genetic variants on microglial biology. Dr. Ikezu's lab has extensive experience in the cell biology of microglia, and has studied how the innate aspect of the central nervous system (CNS) influences the pathology and progression of neurodegenerative disease. Eisai has extensive experience in the AD area, having spent over 33 years working on the development of potential treatments, including Donepezil. It found to show improvements on cognitive clinical scales, such as the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog) and Clinician's Interview-based Impression of Change with caregiver input (CIBIC+).  The company's current clinical pipeline, which includes a number of compounds targeting AD, can be found here.  AiM brings extensive expertise in innate immunity, complex synthetic chemistry, and an emphasis on integrated genomics and data science in its efforts to develop compounds targeting immune mechanisms in dementia.  The goal of the collaboration is to understand the mechanisms underlying known genetic drivers of microglial malfunction, which are believed to play a central role in the pathogenesis of AD dementia.  Utilizing information attained from the study, the parties hope to develop tools for understanding microglial biology and dissect the functional impact of microglially expressed proteins.  Such discoveries may accelerate innovative therapeutic drug development for AD. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10284/breakthrough-research-gene-mutation-stimulates-immune-disease-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10284/breakthrough-research-gene-mutation-stimulates-immune-disease-.html Tue, 30 Jan 2018 17:05:00 +0530 Scientists discovered how a gene mutation affects T cell function to promote immune disorders and then tested a treatment based on the discovery. It is done by successfully fixing donated immune cells from a 16-year-old boy with an abnormally low level of white blood cells called lymphopenia.  The discovery centers on mutation of the gene Gimap5, which is important to the healthy formation and function of CD4+ T cells, one of the immune system's super soldiers against infection and disease.  Gimap5, the protein associated with the Gimap5 gene, is important because it regulates a protein that inactivates an enzyme called GSK3b. If GSK3b isn't inactivated it causes DNA damage in T cells that are expanding, causing the cells to not survive or function correctly. In mice and human blood cells, the researchers tested drugs that inhibit GSK3b, improving immune system function in mice and restoring normal T cell function in the human cells.  Immune deficiency diseases decrease the body's ability to fight infection, while autoimmunity prompts the body to attack its own tissues. Both are common causes of illness and malfunctioning T cells are linked to both. Hoebe led the study together with Andrew Patterson, a PhD student in Hoebe's lab, and Jack Bleesing, MD, PhD in the Division of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Immune Deficiency. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10255/government-launches-four-schemes-for-young-researchers.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10255/government-launches-four-schemes-for-young-researchers.html Thu, 25 Jan 2018 13:55:00 +0530 Union Minister for Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan has recently announced four schemes for bright young scientists, including one that allows them to spend up to one year in a research lab abroad to hone their skills. The schemes, instituted by the Science Engineering Research Board (SERB) of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), are expected to come into force on February 1. The overseas doctoral fellowship programme would help doctoral students registered in Indian universities to spend six to 12 months in foreign universities and other institutions of repute with whom there is research collaboration. Another scheme, called Teacher Associateship for Research Excellence (TARE), is aimed at young faculty members working in a regular capacity in State universities and colleges and in private academic institutions, who have an orientation for research. The most prestigious one among the new schemes is a distinguished investigator award for a maximum of 35 brilliant young scientists who have excelled as principal investigators in research projects funded by SERB or DST.  The fourth one is meant for augmenting writing skills of Indian research scholars. PhD students and post-doctoral fellows will be encouraged to write at least one popular science article based on their research work and the best 100 entries by doctoral students and 20 by post-doctoral fellows will be rewarded respectively. The minister highlighted that this was an attempt to reward talented young scientists so that they sustain their interest in science. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10247/npl-researchers-engineer-virus-to-kill-bacteria.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10247/npl-researchers-engineer-virus-to-kill-bacteria.html Wed, 24 Jan 2018 12:15:00 +0530 The National Physical Laboratory (NPL), the UK's National Measurement Institute (NMI) and UCL (University College London) have engineered a brand new artificial virus that kills bacteria on first contact.  As a result, antibiotic discovery has fallen well behind its historical rate, with traditional discovery methods being exhausted. NPL is addressing technology and innovation challenges in response to this, including support for the implementation of synthetic / engineering biology.  In line with NPL's approach to addressing the global threat of antimicrobial resistance by helping to develop new antibiotics, a team of researchers from NPL and UCL have engineered a purely artificial virus, which has the ability to kill bacteria on contact.  This new virus is built using the same geometric principles that determine structures of naturally occurring viruses, known as polyhedral capsids. The resulting synthetic virus acts as a 20-nm spherical 'drone' that, upon recognising bacterial cells, attacks their cell walls with bullet speed and efficacy.   This provides an advantage over a traditional antibiotic, which must reach and hit its single target inside a bacterial cell to be effective. Furthermore, because such viruses leave human cells unaffected, but have the ability to infect them like viruses do, they hold promise for gene delivery and gene editing core capabilities for gene therapy and synthetic biology as well as for killing bacteria that hide inside human cells. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10233/breakthrough-research-an-isolation-of-infecting-organisms-after-joint-replacement.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10233/breakthrough-research-an-isolation-of-infecting-organisms-after-joint-replacement.html Mon, 22 Jan 2018 17:00:00 +0530 Joint replacement surgery carries the risk of developing an infection in the replaced joint, which can lead to a so-called revision or re-do of the joint replacement. Thomas Jefferson University researchers have found that genomic analysis using; can identify infecting organisms in over 80 percent of cases of infected joint replacement that had previously escaped detection. In order to test the ability to isolate infective organisms, Dr. Parvizi and colleagues prospectively enrolled patients undergoing a revision joint replacement over a 9-month period in 2016, and assessed for organisms identified using traditional method: culture, side by side with NGS.  The results showed that NGS identified organisms in 89 percent of infected cases versus 61 percent with culture. Furthermore, NGS was able to detect the pathogen in 81 percent of the cases that were negative for pathogens by the standard culture method, and which would have been missed otherwise. Dr. Parvizi has ownership interest in MicroGenDX, the laboratory that provided next generation sequencing of samples in this study. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10225/revolutionary-research-single-blood-test-can-detect-eight-kinds-of-cancer.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10225/revolutionary-research-single-blood-test-can-detect-eight-kinds-of-cancer.html Fri, 19 Jan 2018 12:20:00 +0530 Johns Hopkins Medicine (JHM), headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, is an $8 billion integrated global health enterprise and one of the leading academic health care systems in the United States. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center researchers developed a single blood test that screens for eight common cancer types and helps identify the location of the cancer.  The test, called CancerSEEK, is a unique noninvasive, multianalyte test that simultaneously evaluates levels of eight cancer proteins and the presence of cancer gene mutations from circulating DNA in the blood. The test is aimed at screening for eight common cancer types for which currently have no screening test.  The investigators initially explored several hundred genes and 40 protein markers, cutting the number down to segments of 16 genes and eight proteins. They point out that this molecular test is solely aimed at cancer screening and, therefore, is different from other molecular tests, which rely on analyzing large numbers of cancer-driving genes to identify therapeutically actionable targets.  The test was evaluated on 1,005 patients with nonmetastatic, stages I to III cancers of the ovary, liver, stomach, pancreas, esophagus, colorectum, lung or breast. Although the test was not able to pick up all early stage cancers, identifying 70 per cent, it had a very low false positive rate of less than 1 per cent.  To zero in on the analytes they included in their CancerSEEK test, the research team pulled data from more than three decades of cancer genetics research generated at their Ludwig Center at Johns Hopkins, where the first genetic blueprints for cancer were created, as well as data from many other institutions. To precisely determine the optimal number of DNA bases to assess in the CancerSEEK test, the researchers used a method based on diminishing returns, including the DNA markers that were useful to detecting the cancers and eliminating those that did not add benefit. The result was a relatively small panel of highly selective DNA markers. This blood screening would be advantageous for cancers that are not curable by surgery alone will respond better to systemic therapies after detecting at early stage. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10224/utkal-university-plans-collaboration-with-5-national-institutes.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10224/utkal-university-plans-collaboration-with-5-national-institutes.html Fri, 19 Jan 2018 10:50:00 +0530 The oldest university of Odisha, Utkal University is planning to collaborate with five national institutes to create academic linkages between them to focus on teaching, research, field work and sharing of ideas.  The national institutions like Regional Medical Research Centre, Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), Institute of Physics, Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology and National Institute of Science Education and Research will be collaborating with Utkal University to start a programme. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)- Bhubaneswar and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and other prestigious institutions have also been invited to participate in the programme. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be later signed to formalise the associations. The collaboration will not only help the students and scholars but also bring in a lot of fresh ideas to improve the academic environment of the university. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10215/dna-exposes-humans-as-main-culprit-of-faecal-pollution-in-danube.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10215/dna-exposes-humans-as-main-culprit-of-faecal-pollution-in-danube.html Wed, 17 Jan 2018 17:15:00 +0530 Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Technische Universitat Wien and the Medical University of Vienna present the findings of the largest water hygiene study of its kind.  Despite wastewater management and treatment plants, human waste remains the main source of microbial faecal pollution in the river Danube. The study used a new molecular genetics method which differentiates human microbial faecal pollution from that of animal origin. The currently published study was carried out with the major participation of the Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences under the supports of the Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water & Health in Austria.  A research team led by Professor Andreas Farnleitner from the Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences (KL) and the Technische Universitat Wien (TU Wien) has succeeded in demonstrating this for the river Danube.  A refined molecular genetics method, which enables the differentiation of human and animal faecal matter based on bacterial DNA. This method was developed jointly by Professor Farnleiter and his colleagues from the Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water & Health (ICC Water & Health), played a crucial role in the study. This would not have been possible using the standard methods available up to now and is a particularly important factor when it comes to identifying the source of acute water pollution. The method is based on the genetic markers of specific bacterial species (Bacteriodetes) found in human and animal excreta. Based on their typical DNA sequences, these markers enable conclusions to be drawn about whether faecal contamination originates from humans or animals The concentration of host-associated Bacteriodetes genetic faecal markers in the Danube is low, thus Professor Farnleiter’s team amplified it using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.  Samples were taken at over 70 locations on the Danube – from both the central reaches of the river and close to the banks. All samples were analysed using both the standard methods based on indicator bacteria and molecular biology methods for the detection of genetic markers. The further analysis of the 4,000-plus samples was carried out with the team from KL, which also made a major contribution to the evaluation and interpretation of the data in the context of the ICC Water & Health. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10207/mumbai-to-host-first-summit-dedicated-to-createch-in-india.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10207/mumbai-to-host-first-summit-dedicated-to-createch-in-india.html Tue, 16 Jan 2018 16:55:00 +0530 On 6 February 2018, the UK’s Department for International Trade (DIT) will hold the India – UK Createch Summit in Mumbai. This first-of- its-kind conference will celebrate and explore the convergence of creativity and technology – Createch – and the innovations produced by its application across a range of sectors. The day will also see the finale of the TECH Rocketship Awards 2017-2018, celebrating some of India’s best and brightest talent in technology scale-up companies. Baroness Fairhead, Minister of State at DIT will launch the conference and HRH The Prince Edward,Earl of Wessex, KG, GCVO will attend as a special guest. The day will consist of exclusive keynotes, panel sessions and workshops, bringing together thought-leaders from business and government to discuss the role technology and creativity can play in shaping the future of multiple industries; and how the UK and India are collaborating to develop technologies and innovations with global impact. The Summit will be the centrepiece of a month-long series of events promoting trade and partnership between the UK and India during January and February 2018. Each event will focus on how technology-driven innovation is enabling creative output and delivering new products and services. Createch month will connect over 100 visiting British companies from the film, music, healthcare, immersive technology, industrial design and sport sectors with Indian companies, investors, and central and state-level government officials who are interested in partnering with leading innovators in design and technology. Crispin Simon, British Deputy High Commissioner for Western India and the Director General of Department for International Trade, India and South Asia said: “We are extremely excited to host the Department for International Trade’s first conference in India dedicated to the creative application of some of the world’s most advanced technologies.”  “Increasingly, businesses must collaborate with each other in order to compete successfully in markets. That is getting disrupted by the advance of these pioneering new techniques. We hope that in convening Indian and UK businesses at the forefront of their sectors, we will create a unique opportunity for these leaders to partner and do business with like-minded firms with an appetite for innovation.” Trade missions from a diverse group of sectors will travel the breadth of the country during Createch month showcasing UK innovation and technology. Indian businesses keen to partner and hear from world-leading design and technology experts will also be able to meet them at The Football Movement Conference in Mumbai on 22-23 February and Auto Expo Component 2018 in Delhi on 8-11 February. Sir Malcolm Grant, Chairman, NHS England said: “I am delighted to lead the upcoming delegation to India featuring some of the leading innovators from within the NHS and its private sector suppliers and partners. In celebrating 70 years of the NHS, we must recognize some of the greatest innovations of the past, present and imminent future.” ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10143/cabinet-approves-setting-up-of-new-aiims-in-bilaspur-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10143/cabinet-approves-setting-up-of-new-aiims-in-bilaspur-.html Thu, 04 Jan 2018 12:55:00 +0530 The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister has given its approval for establishment of new AIIMS in Bilaspur (Himachal Pradesh) under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). The cost of the project is Rs.1351 crore. The new AIIMS will be completed in a period of 48 months with a pre-construction phase of 12 months, construction phase of 30 months and stabilization / commissioning phase of 6 months. Also, the Institution will consist of a hospital with a capacity of 750 beds and trauma center facilities and will have a Medical college with an intake of 100 MBBS students per year. It will also have the nursing college with an intake of 60 B.Sc. (Nursing) students per year and residential complexes and allied facilities/services, broadly on the pattern of AIIMS, New Delhi. The hospital will have 20 Speciality/Super-Speciality Departments including 15 Operation Theatres and an AYUSH department with 30 beds for providing treatment facilities in traditional system of medicine. The establishment of new AIIMS will serve the dual purpose of providing super speciality health care to the population while also help create a large pool of doctors and other health workers in this region that can be available for primary and secondary level institutions / facilities being created under National Health Mission (NHM). Under this scheme, AIIMS have been established in Bhubaneshwar, Bhopal, Raipur, Jodhpur, Rishikesh and Patna while work of AIIMS Rae Bareli is in progress. Also, three AIIMS in Nagpur (Maharashtra), Kalyani (West Bengal) and Mangalagiri in Guntur (Andhra Pradesh) have been sanctioned in 2015, two AIIMS have been sanctioned at Bathinda and Gorakhpur in 2016 and an AIIMS in Kamrup (Assam).   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10102/tmc-to-collaborate-with-iit-kgp-for-joint-programmes.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10102/tmc-to-collaborate-with-iit-kgp-for-joint-programmes.html Wed, 27 Dec 2017 11:25:00 +0530 Tata Medical Center, Kolkata will soon enter into an institutional collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur in education, research and outreach programmes in the field of interdisciplinary medical research and technology. The programmes which would be jointly developed by both institutions, will see participation from medical practitioners and involve students spending at least one semester in each institute with joint supervision by faculty and scientists of both institutions. The primary objective is to promote interaction and collaboration between faculty, medical professionals and students of the two institutions to carry out joint academic and research programmes, joint supervision of undergraduate, master's and doctoral students on a reciprocal basis, and collaborative research projects. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10095/diber-validates-the-medicinal-properties-of-wonder-herb.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10095/diber-validates-the-medicinal-properties-of-wonder-herb.html Tue, 26 Dec 2017 12:10:00 +0530 Defence Institute of Bio-Energy Research (DIBER), a unit of the DRDO, has scientifically corroborated the medicinal properties of the plant Kasani (cichorium intybus) which is believed to be helpful in treatment of diabetes, asthma, blood pressure, liver and kidney diseases. DIBER conducted the research after signing an MoU with Uttarakhand Research Circle (URC), a division of the state forest department, in June this year. During the research, it was found that Kasani is a rich source of carbohydrate and proteins besides having anti-diabetic and anti-oxidant properties. Uttarakhand government has decided to apply for intellectual property rights (IPR) of the wonder herb. Besides Kasani, DIBER is also conducting research on Vajradanti (potentilla fulgens) which is used to treat teeth- and gum-related problems. The project is being funded under collaborative research provision of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority. Forest department is facilitating manpower, field visits and traditional knowledge while DIBER is contributing by conducting scientific research. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10081/iit-k-brings-out-health-monitoring-device-for-elderly.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10081/iit-k-brings-out-health-monitoring-device-for-elderly.html Thu, 21 Dec 2017 12:15:00 +0530 IIT Kharagpur engineers have devised a unique old age health monitoring service for the elderly. The service called OASIS (Old Age Support Integrated Services) is an integrated system for the elderly providing 360 degree solutions to their health problems through fall sensors, heart rate sensors, infra-red sensors, motion sensor, radar sensor and pressure sensor. The sensor will be integrated to a Complete Sleep Monitoring System with Android App which can be monitored remotely. The health care monitoring services will be available in wearable forms like pedometer or fall sensor, in thermal sensory equipment or radar equipment or an attendance system. The device will monitor the elderly 24x7 and send health information in real-time through a cloud information system to the care giver or family member connected for the elderly person under monitoring. It is a comprehensive structure that would act as an information system on one hand and a health monitoring system on the other hand for the elderly. OASIS is currently looking for corporate partners in the area of CSR who could help subsidise the device. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10014/iit-k-students-develop-sleep-monitoring-device.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10014/iit-k-students-develop-sleep-monitoring-device.html Tue, 12 Dec 2017 10:50:00 +0530 Students from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT-K) have developed a wireless sleep assistant called Sleep Doc, which uses a wireless device to monitor sleep patterns. It also uses intelligent voice-interactive system to suggest changes to the user. It uses a live data monitoring system which tracks a user's heart and breathing rate and alerts the nearest doctor if there's any discrepancy in these parameters. The team showcased this device at the recently held Accenture Innovation Challenge and won the first prize. Other winners of the competition organised by global professional services Accenture were students from Dronacharya Group of Institution, Noida; Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram; IIT-Roorkee; Shri Vishnu Engineering College for Women, Bhimavaram and IIT-Madras. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10008/a-portable-digital-microscope-being-showcased-at-maker-mela-2018.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10008/a-portable-digital-microscope-being-showcased-at-maker-mela-2018.html Mon, 11 Dec 2017 16:50:00 +0530 Maker Mela,  a premier event for grassroot innovations in India, is a platform for like-minded people who bring life to diverse range of raw, unique and unconventional ideas. An initiative taken by Somaiya RiiDL (Research Innovation Incubation Design Laboratory), to accelerate the Maker Movement in India and to create a community of Makers, Maker Mela provides a platform for entrepreneurs to connect with other entrepreneurs, advisers, mentors, guides and incubators. One such innovative and interesting project which will be presented at the third edition of Maker Mela, 2018 is the making of Portable digital microscope made by a twenty-eight year old man Mr. Samrat. Named as Cilika, it comprises an indigenously designed optical system that provides magnifications of up to 1500X. A mobile phone or tablet is used to display the magnified image. As the image is in digital format, it can be stored, transferred or processed. This microscope has the ability to act as a substitute for conventional microscopes. Designed for portability and stability, this microscope has all the features and functionality of conventional microscopes and can be carried to sites easily.  This could be really helpful especially in rural areas, where the use of Cilika by health workers can reduce the cost and time of disease diagnosis. It can help enable remote diagnosis in which digital images can be transferred from rural areas to cities, which can then be assessed by a technician. Cilika can also prove to be a powerful educational tool and teaching aid in schools and medical colleges. Speaking about how this idea came, Mr. Samrat said “Very early on, we identified the potential of telemedicine in increasing the penetration of quality healthcare into rural areas. Although telemedicine is being implemented in terms of online consultations with physicians and vital parameter monitoring, equipment for remote analysis of diseases that requires microscopy (malaria, bacterial and fungal infections, cancer) is still lacking. Delayed diagnosis of diseases, increases the mortality rate and decreases the effect of the treatment. We decided to develop a product that can perform such tests remotely and at the point of care.” Pointing out the challenges, Mr. Samrat said “one of the major challenges that we face from the interactions with our potential customers and decision makers and any innovative medical device company is the resistance to change. Experienced professionals, inspite of being extremely supportive of entrepreneurs, are often used to doing work in a certain way and are reluctant to stray away from the way they have been working for years. However, younger professionals are open to try new technologies.” Spilling the secrets of his future plans, the twenty-eight year old entrepreneur tells “My future plans include completion of the ongoing validation studies, setting up of assembly-line for manufacturing of the device and to obtain necessary certifications such as ISO and CE.” “We have already started commercial sales”, he says before signing off. Gaurang Shetty, Founder and Chief Innovative Catalyst, said "I am excited to meet the super awesome 200+innovators from across the globe at Maker Mela 2018. Maker Mela is going to witness startup pitchsessions, super cool projects and the most innovative people from our country.” ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10005/sctimst-and-ksidc-sign-mou-for-setting-up-a-medical-devices-park.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/10005/sctimst-and-ksidc-sign-mou-for-setting-up-a-medical-devices-park.html Mon, 11 Dec 2017 11:45:00 +0530 With an aim of setting up a medical devices park on the premises of the Life Science Park being developed by the KSIDC at Thonnakal, The Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology (SCTIMST) and the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This park is Rs 180-crore project and expected to be set up with financial assistance from the State and the Centre. It will focus on the high-risk medical device sector involving medical implants and extracorporeal devices, a domain in which SCTIMST has expertise and experience The MoU was signed by Asha Kishore, Director, SCTIMST, and K.M. Beena, Managing Director, KSIDC Creating an environment for research and development of medical devices, testing and evaluation of medical devices and biomaterials, manufacturing support, technology innovation and knowledge dissemination is the main objective of the park.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9961/xith-annual-medtech-summit-of-biodesign-programme-organised-under-dbt.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9961/xith-annual-medtech-summit-of-biodesign-programme-organised-under-dbt.html Tue, 05 Dec 2017 12:25:00 +0530 With the aim to develop innovative and affordable medical devices as per unmet clinical needs of India and to train the next generation of medical technology innovators in India for bringing such impactful devices to the real world, the department of biotechnology has implemented Biodesign programme. This Program is implemented by Department of Biotechnology jointly at AIIMS and IIT Delhi in collaboration with International partners. The Department has authorized Biotech Consortium India Limited for management of its Intellectual Property and other techno-legal activities. Under this programme, XIth Annual MedTech Summit was recently organised in New Delhi.  While inaugurating the summit, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Minister of Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Environment, Forests & Climate Change emphasized upon the need and relevance of need based, socially relevant inventions for public good. He appreciated the efforts made by the stakeholders for developing innovative medical devices under this program. Prof. K. VijayRaghavan, Secretary, DBT and other dignitaries also shared their views regarding developments in Science &Technology and policy frameworks for promoting Medtech innovations in India.  Prof. R.Guleria, Director, AIIMS, emphasized on creating and embracing appropriate technologies and making affordable health care facilities, and more importantly, making them available and accessible to women in rural areas.  Prof. Marie Lall, Pro-vice, Provost, South Asia, University College of London, UK, spoke on forging international collaborations in health education and engineering.  During the event, Dr. Harsh Vardhan formally launched Noxeno- a nasal foreign body removal device developed by start-up InnAccel Technologies Private Limited, Bangalore, created by the Fellow trained under the Biodesign program. Noxeno is the first dedicated tool for anterior nasal foreign body (NFB) removal that allows doctors in any setting to quickly and safely remove objects that people (mostly children aged 2-10) put into their noses.  Noxeno has been 100% invented, designed, engineered and manufactured in India. Noxeno has an ergonomic handle along with a built-in light source and a hinge. This allows the user to slip behind the NFB and remove it in a matter of seconds by simply squeezing the trigger and pulling the device. The modular nature of the system allows for sterilization of the hinge through autoclaving it. This reusable device has a target price of around INR 5000, making it both easy to use and cost-effective. The start-up hopes to deploy this device across primary health care centers, community health care centers, clinics and smaller hospitals nationwide by 2020.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9949/kerela-to-get-an-advanced-virology-institute.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9949/kerela-to-get-an-advanced-virology-institute.html Mon, 04 Dec 2017 10:50:00 +0530 An advanced virology institute will soon be set up at the campus of Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) Life Science Park at Thonnakkal near Kerela. The institute is being established to address the frequent threats of infectious viral diseases, its early detection and rapid prevention besides carrying out research in the area. The Institute of Advance Virology (IAV) is envisioned as a virology institute of global standards with most modern laboratories complying with high end international bio-safety levels in order to research, diagnose and manage the emerging and re-emerging infectious viral diseases, focussing on the Kerala scenario. Subhash Vasudevan, National University of Singapore, M G Sargadharan, University of Maryland, USA, Navin Khanna, International Centre for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology (ICGBE), New Delhi and Devendra Maurya, National Institute of Virology, Pune are among the experts, expected to be a part of this initiative. Kerala Biotechnology Commission (KBC) and Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) have been entrusted with the task of spearheading the establishment of the institute. The IAV is expected to be a reality by July 2018. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9880/biotechnology-growing-at-20-per-cent-in-india-prahlad-joshi.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9880/biotechnology-growing-at-20-per-cent-in-india-prahlad-joshi.html Fri, 24 Nov 2017 13:15:00 +0530 Prahlad Joshi, chairman of the standing committee on petroleum and natural gas of Central Government recently inaugurated a three day international seminar on ‘‘Environmental Bio-Technology" (EBIO -2017) at Andhra University. While inaugurating the same he said, “Biotechnology sector in India is growing at a rate of 20 per cent a year.  It is expected to grow up to 11.6 billion US Dollars by the end of this current year. Currently, India’s biotech industry holds two per cent of the global market share and is the third largest in Asian Pacific region. The sector has immense potential to grow and provide plenty of opportunities to investors.” “In order to achieve self-sufficiency in the field of biotechnology ad make India one of the global leaders, the universities have to proactively consider this as a key challenge and responsibility, he noted. They should also facilitate research in the sunrise sector where the Government was investing substantially for creating human capital and infrastructure with special focus on research and development to develop India into a world class biomanufacturing hub”, he added. He also said that, “With regard to bio energy, he noted that as the global energy demand continued to rise, carbon dioxide emissions were expected to reach new record high, increasing from 31 GT in 2011 to approximately 37 GT in the year 2035. The need for climate change adaptation and the growing concerns over energy securities are the main drives behind the policies of many countries that encourage growth about 14 to 17 per cent of the total global energy consumption, in which bio-energy accounts for approximately 13 per cent.” ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9876/anupriya-patel-inaugurates-the-national-biomaterial-centre-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9876/anupriya-patel-inaugurates-the-national-biomaterial-centre-.html Thu, 23 Nov 2017 15:50:00 +0530 With an aim of filling up the gap between ‘demand’ and ‘supply’ as well as ‘quality assurance’ in the availability of various tissues, Anupriya Patel, Minister of State (HFW) recently inaugurated the National Biomaterial Centre (National Tissue Bank) at the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO). Dr. Jagdish Prasad, Director General Health Services, Dr Sudhir Kumar, Joint Secretary, MoHFW along with the other senior officers of the Health Ministry and NOTTO were also present. NOTTO is a National level organization set up under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and located in Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi. Speaking at the function, Anupriya Patel stated that, “it is important to understand that in India it is mainly the living donors who are donating organs and only about 23% of the organ transplant is being done with organs obtained from the cadavers. There is a need to promote cadaver or deceased organ donation rather than relying on living donors in order to avoid the risk of commercial trading of organs and also to avoid the inherent risk to the health of the living donor.” Addressing the participants, she further stated that, “ it’s high time we understand, and also spread awareness in the community at large, that a living person can save the life of only one person but a deceased or cadaver organ donor can save up to 9 lives by donating vital organs. Apart from promoting organ donation it is also important to improve the infrastructure and capacity of government hospitals to undertake transplantation so that the poor and needy could benefit.” Congratulating Safdarjung Hospital on this initiative, she stated that deriving inspiration from this more and more government hospitals should come forward and take up organ transplantation task to benefit the poor and needy patients of India. National level Tissue Bank will fulfill the demands of tissue transplantation including activities for procurement, storage and fulfill distribution of biomaterials. The centre will take care of the tissue allografts that includes bone and bone products e.g. deep frozen bone allograft, freeze dried bone allograft, dowel allograft, AAA Bone, duramater, facialata, fresh frozen human amniotic membrane, high temperature treated board cadaveric joints like knees, hips and shoulders, cadaveric cranium bone graft, loose bone fragment, different types of bovine allograft, used in orthodontics, skin graft, cornea, heart valves and vessels. The Centre will also add other tissues gradually. The activities of the Centre will include coordination for tissue procurement and distribution, donor tissue screening, removal of tissues and storage, preservations of tissue, laboratory screening of tissues, tissue tracking, sterilization, records maintenance, data protection and confidentiality, quality management in tissues, patient information on tissues, development of guidelines, protocols and standard operating procedures, trainings and assisting as per requirement in registration of other tissue banks.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9839/iit-roorkee-researchers-make-breakthrough-in-memory-device-technology.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9839/iit-roorkee-researchers-make-breakthrough-in-memory-device-technology.html Fri, 17 Nov 2017 15:20:00 +0530 A team of researchers from the Department of Physics and Centre for Nanotechnology at IIT Roorkee has developed a high-density, energy-efficient and four-logic state memory device named Magnetoelectric Random Access Memory (MeRAM). The device could provide a massive boost to overall computing processes and memory-intensive tasks like video and multimedia signal processing, pattern recognition, virtual reality, artificial intelligence and machine learning. Davinder Kaur Walia, a professor at the Department of Physics and Centre for Nanotechnology, said "MeRAM has immense potential to be used in future memory chips for almost all electronic applications, including smart phones, tablets, computers, microprocessors, and for large data storage.” The device was constructed in the Functional Nanomaterials Research Laboratory using magnetron sputtering technique. MeRAM's key advantage over existing technologies is that it combines extraordinary low energy with very high density, high-speed reading and writing times, and non-volatility--the ability to retain data when no power is applied”, she added. “The world is rapidly moving towards faster, smaller and quantum technologies which has created an ever-increasing demand for small and more efficient devices and technology. Our focus was to achieve a four-logic state as we knew that then we will be able to create a device which could probably usher in a new technological revolution.” Kaur Walia also said, “To achieve this, we used a new material called Ferromagnetic Shape Memory Alloys (FSMA) and the concept of composite barrier were chosen which helps us in achieving the goal of distinguishable memory logic states. The current ultimate memory cell has shown a tremendous improvement of nearly 140 per cent in the memory functions.” ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9822/niper-signs-mou-with-cdri-for-research.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9822/niper-signs-mou-with-cdri-for-research.html Thu, 16 Nov 2017 11:15:00 +0530 National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Mohali has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the CSIR-CDRI (Central Drug Research Institute), Lucknow, for research collaboration and development of pharmaceutical sciences. The objectives of the programme are to promote institutional linkage between the CSIR-CDRI and NIPER and provide cooperation through collaborative research programs in scientific fields of research.  Both institutions will jointly identify specific fields of research and faculty/scientist exchange programmes will be mutually conducted for scientific conferences, workshops symposia, meetings in the areas of drug discovery. National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Mohali is an Indian public Pharmacy research university, and a part of the seven schools, under India's Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9801/iit-delhi-signs-mou-with-indian-oil-corporation-ltd.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9801/iit-delhi-signs-mou-with-indian-oil-corporation-ltd.html Mon, 13 Nov 2017 13:10:00 +0530 IIT Delhi has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (R&D Centre). MoU aims to develop a long-term framework for research collaboration and advancement of technology. The main objective of the MoU will be for the two organizations to collaborate for promotion of education, research and innovation in the areas of mutual interest. A highlight of this MoU is that IOCL will offer additional 25% higher fellowship amounts to the IOCL-IITD research scholars having CSIR-NET JRF or any other equivalent fellowships and full fellowships to exceptional GATE qualified students. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9791/iit-roorkee-develops-a-technique-to-reverse-antibiotic-resistance.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9791/iit-roorkee-develops-a-technique-to-reverse-antibiotic-resistance.html Fri, 10 Nov 2017 13:05:00 +0530 Researchers from the Department of Biotechnology at Indian Institute of technology Roorkee have developed a technique which will reverse drug resistance and enable the existing antibiotics to effectively kill the bacteria. The study published in International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents. According to the study, the molecule developed to be effective against multi-drug resistant clinical strains of Acinetobacter baumannii, one of the most prevalent pathogens, which have developed strategies to counter the existing antibiotics especially fluoroquinolones. Drug Resistant Bacteria use a system called efflux pumps that act as tiny motors to expel out the antibiotic from the cellular interior, thereby preventing the drug from reaching its target and helping the bacteria to survive even in the presence of antibiotic. The team led by Dr. Ranjana Pathania of the Department of Biotechnology at IIT Roorkee have discovered a novel molecule which inhibits the efflux of antibiotics leading to effective build-up of antibiotic inside the cell and subsequent cell death. The molecule discovered by the team has been named ‘IITR08027’ and it disrupts the proton gradient that is responsible for energizing the pumps.  The team has shown that the molecule when used in combination with fluoroquinolones allows the antibiotic to kill the bacterial cells, thereby effectively tackling the antibiotic resistance problem. According to the team, this general mode of action of IITR08027 and the inhibition technique of efflux can be used against other bacteria which express efflux pumps and adopt a similar mechanism of expelling antibiotics from the cell. Elaborating about her research Dr Ranjana said, “Antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens has been one of the major issues that plagues the health care sector today. According to an estimate, about 1,900 people die every day due to antibiotic resistant infections, which amounts to about 70,000 deaths per year. Discovering a new antibiotic or drug, to counter the resistant bacteria will be a time taking process, due to which the team wanted to come up with a technique, which could restore the efficacy and effectiveness of the existing antibiotics and medications like ciprofloxacin or norfloxacin.” “Since this molecule rejuvenates the activity of fluoroquinolones against resistant bacterial pathogens, its clinical use of could be a medically as well as an economically beneficial move. Moreover, this molecule has a very low cell toxicity which makes it an ideal candidate to enter pre-clinical trial phase for toxicity and efficacy in animal models”, she added.           ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9789/ncl-and-iiser-win-excellence-awards.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9789/ncl-and-iiser-win-excellence-awards.html Thu, 09 Nov 2017 14:55:00 +0530 Two research institutes based in Pune recently won the India research excellence award at an event in New Delhi for their years of contribution in the field of Science. CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL), Pune was awarded with the Clarivate Analytics India Research Excellence Citation Award 2017 in the category of Natural Sciences. Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune was also honoured for ‘Institutions Established within 15 years’. The award to CSIR-NCL was presented to Darbha Srinivas, Chair, Catalysis and Inorganic Chemistry. Rajagopala Chidambaram, principal scientific advisor, Government of India along with Dr Anil Sahasrabudhe, Chairman, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), New Delhi, presented the honour to CSIR-NCL, Pune. This is the 6th edition of the Research Excellence–Awards by Clarivate Analytics which has been presented by them with an objective to recognise and honour research excellence in the country. Apart from CSIR- NCL and IISER, many other researchers and individuals from India received awards in various research areas. These awards have been instituted by Clarivate Analytics, to identify the most influential researchers and institutions in the country based upon their path-breaking and pioneering research contribution in the field of science with respect to the country’s development.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9733/vice-president-inaugurates-medical-camp-in-hyderabad.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9733/vice-president-inaugurates-medical-camp-in-hyderabad.html Fri, 27 Oct 2017 11:35:00 +0530 Venkaiah Naidu, The Vice President of India inaugurated a Medical Camp in association with Star and Rainbow Hospitals and two Skill Development facilities - CCTV Network Management and Optic Fiber Technician courses in association with L&T Smart World Communications Limited and GATI Drivers Training Institute in association with Gati-KWE Pvt. Ltd., at Swarna Bharat Trust, in Hyderabad recently. Mohammad Mahmood Ali, The Deputy Chief Minister of Telangana, T. Harish Rao, the Minister for Irrigation, Marketing & Legislative Affairs, Telangana, Kamineni Srinivas, the Minister for Health and Medical Education, Andhra Pradesh and other dignitaries were present on the occasion. While addressing the gathering he said, “Healthcare sector and Skill Development in youth crucial for India’s progress. The government’s expenditure not remaining commensurate with growing demands in the healthcare, the private sector has come to play a dominant role in both urban and rural areas. He further said that in urban areas, only 32 per cent of the patients visit public hospitals with the rest 68 per cent preferring private hospitals. In rural areas, 42 per cent patients visit public hospitals and the rest visit private ones.” "There is a definite need not only to expand the infrastructure in public health sector, but also increase the budget. He further said that the number of physicians available per 10,000 people, their number is grossly inadequate in India when compared to developed countries. While the number of physicians available is 20 per 10,000 people in developed countries, it is only six in India and the country needs 10.5 lakh doctors while we have only 6.5 lakh”, he added. The Vice President also said that to reach WHO norm of one doctor per 1,000, (there is one doctor per 1700 population in India) a high-level committee of NITI Aayog has recommended the setting up of 187 more medical colleges by 2022. Similarly, the number of hospital beds per 10,000 is 40 in developed countries while it is nine in India. “India is the youngest country with 65% of our population below 35 years of age. He further said that India must skill its young population not only for economic benefit but for social reasons too. India’s huge human capital has to be made more qualitative with focus on rapid growth of productive enterprises and jobs and growth and inclusion must go together”,he added.  “Specially designed training in tune with the market needs should become part of the educational system so that students who pass out find immediate employment and are not left out in the lurch. He further said that manufacturing currently contributes about 13% to the GDP of the country and Make In India seeks to increase it to 25 per cent in the coming years to give a major push to the economy. In China, the manufacturing sector contributes about 36 per cent to the GDP. The share of manufacturing in the GDP at 13% is amongst the lowest as compared to many rapidly developing economies.” He also commented that sector as a whole has been facing shortage of skilled manpower and the efforts of the government in skilling the youth should be supplemented by the corporate sector and the industries so that the target of 25 per cent contribution to the GDP is achieved faster. He further said that this is the time when Skill India, Digital India and Make in India can work in conjunction in one ecosystem and create a new resurgent India. We have to ensure that we scale up our efforts with greater speed and with proper ecosystem, India will become the world’s largest exporter of skilled manpower in the future.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9720/aiims-iit-d-develop-a-nasal-device-to-protect-lungs.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9720/aiims-iit-d-develop-a-nasal-device-to-protect-lungs.html Thu, 26 Oct 2017 11:15:00 +0530 All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has teamed up with a group of researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi to develop a nasal device that can restrict the entry of pollutants into lungs. According to a study published in the Lancet journal recently, pollution kills as many as 2.5 million people in the country. Most of these deaths are due to non-communicable diseases caused by pollution such as heart disease, stroke, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The wearable nasal device called 'Airlens' can trap pollutants and bring them to safe levels depending on the air quality outside. The use-and-throw device uses active molecular technology to filter air and has a feedback system via a mobile app that assesses the amount of protection achieved. A startup company PerSapien Innovations has applied for a patent along with the research team from IIT-D. It costs less than Rs 500 and can be procured by logging on to persapien.com. As of now, the device is available only for children but the team plans to launch it for adults as well. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9694/the-virology-institute-of-kerala-to-be-functional-in-july-2018.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9694/the-virology-institute-of-kerala-to-be-functional-in-july-2018.html Mon, 23 Oct 2017 11:35:00 +0530 The Virology Institute of Kerala which was proposed to be established by the Kerala Biotechnology Commission (KBC) will start functioning by July 2018. Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala will formally launch the project on December 4. The transit campus will be based at Life Science Park, Thonnakkal. The 500-crore project has the built-up area of 25,000 sq ft will come up on 25 acres in the park. The recruitment to key posts including Director, scientists and technicians to the institute is scheduled to be completed by June 2018 along with the purchase and instalment of equipment will be completed by July. The institute will also be equipped with latest technologies for high-end research to study viruses and viral infections along with bio-safety measures to handle high-risk viruses and facilities for the development of novel anti-viral drugs and vaccines and molecular diagnostic tools. According to the statement by some of the officials, “The earlier decision to locate the virology institute in north Kerala was changed to take advantage of the presence of allied research institutions like the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology and CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology in the capital city.”   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9682/pm-dedicates-all-india-institute-of-ayurveda-to-the-nation.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9682/pm-dedicates-all-india-institute-of-ayurveda-to-the-nation.html Tue, 17 Oct 2017 15:40:00 +0530 On the occasion of 2nd Ayurveda Day, Narendra Modi, The Prime Minister today dedicated the All India Institute of Ayurveda, in New Delhi, to the nation. Speaking on this occasion he congratulated the gathering on the celebration of Dhanvantari Jayanti as Ayurveda Divas and complimented the Ministry of AYUSH for the establishment of the All India Institute of Ayurveda.  He asserted that nations cannot progress unless they value and cherish their history and heritage. Those nations who leave their heritage behind, are destined to lose their identity, he added.  Modi said, “When India was not independent, its knowledge, and its traditions such as Yoga and Ayurveda were belittled. Attempts were even made to reduce the faith that Indians had on them, he added. He said that in the last three years, this situation has changed to quite an extent; and the faith of the people is being restored in the best of our heritage. The pride in our heritage is reflected in the way people gather for Ayurveda Day or Yoga Day.” “Ayurveda is not just a medical practice, but encompasses public health and environment health as well. That is why the Government has laid stress on integrating Ayurveda, Yoga and other AYUSH systems into the public healthcare system. The Government is working towards establishing an Ayurveda hospital in every district of the country. More than 65 AYUSH hospitals have been developed in the last three years.” The Prime Minister said that herbal and medicinal plants can be a significant source of income, globally, and India should leverage its capabilities in this regard. He said the Union Government has approved 100 percent FDI in healthcare systems.  He also highlighted that Companions, Ayurveda is not just a medical practice. Within its scope there are many topics like social health, public health, environmental health etc. Understanding this requirement, the government is focusing on the integration of Ayurveda, Yoga and other public healthcare systems of AYUSH systems. The government has kept AYUSH in its four priority areas. Along with forming a separate ministry, we have laid out comprehensive rules for the integration of health services and AYUSH systems and guidelines, while creating National Health Policy. He also said, “Yoga and Ayurveda are important for our security forces just like sports. Our young men protect the country in very difficult circumstances. Never posting on mountains, sometimes on desert, sometimes on the banks of the coast, sometimes in dense forests. Different seasons, different situations In such a way, yoga and Ayurveda can save them from many diseases. Yoga and Ayurveda can be very effective in removing mental stress, increasing concentration, strengthening the immune system of our soldiers.” Quality Ayurvedic education also requires a lot of attention. Rather it should be scaled up further. Like Panchkarma Therapist, Ayurvedic Dietician, Paralysis Analyst, Ayurveda Pharmacist, Ayurveda's full supporting chain should also be developed. Prime Minister also urged all the companies and private sector in the country to come forward as well as for allopathic based large hospitals, as well as for yoga and Ayurveda. Apply some of your corporate social responsibility, ie CSR fund to Ayurveda and Yoga.  "We have been practicing Ayurveda, we shall survive Ayurveda and we will have" to Ayurveda  The Government is focused on providing affordable healthcare for the poor. He said the stress has been on preventive healthcare, and improving affordability and access to treatment. Swachhata – or cleanliness – is a simple mechanism of preventive healthcare. The Prime Minister said, "New AIIMS are being established to help the people get better access to healthcare. He mentioned measures such as capping prices of stents and knee implants; and establishment of Jan Aushadhi Kendras for providing medicines at affordable prices."   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9670/pm-to-dedicate-first-ever-all-india-institute-of-ayurveda-on-ayurveda-day-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9670/pm-to-dedicate-first-ever-all-india-institute-of-ayurveda-on-ayurveda-day-.html Mon, 16 Oct 2017 11:55:00 +0530 India will get its first ever All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA)on Ayurveda Day on 17th October, 2017. This institute has been set up along the lines of AIIMS. This apex institute under the Ministry of AYUSH will bring synergy between the traditional wisdom of Ayurveda and modern diagnostic tools and technology. Shripad Yesso Naik at a press conferences in New Delhi said, “Within the short duration of its establishment, AIIA has gained a wide national and International recognition. It has started working to facilitate quality patient care, research and bridging the gaps in the scientific information about quality, safety and efficacy of Ayurveda products and developing benchmarks of Ayurvedic education, research and healthcare.” In the first phase, the AIIA has been set up within a total campus area of 10.015 acres with a budget of Rs.157 Crores. It has an NABH Accredited Hospital and an Academic Block. Out Patient Services are being provided in the hospital block of AIIA and medicines are given free of cost. Currently, the clinical specialties running in the hospital block are Neurological & Degenerative Disease Care Unit, Rheumatology & Musculoskeletal Care Unit, Diabetes & Metabolic/Allergic Disorders Care Unit, Yoga, Panchakarma Clinic, Kriya Kalpa, Diabetic Retinopathy Clinic, Kshara Evum Anushastra Karma and Infertility Clinic. It also has pathology, biochemistry, microbiology and Radiology laboratories/Diagonosis facilities. The indoor patient department has provision for 200 beds”, he added. Giving more details, the AYUSH Minister said that, “The Post Graduate programme (MD/MS) in Ayurveda at AIIA started from the academic session 2016-17 and the Ph.D courses started from the session 2017-18. The AIIA has been awarded with NABH Accreditation, therefore becoming the first medical institute under the Ministry of AYUSH to hold the coveted status provided for its clinical services. The AIIA has already signed MoU with NICPR- Noida (ICMR), AIIMS New Delhi, MDNIY and EAA (Germany). It has developed standard treatment guidelines for diabetes and SOP for various procedures.” This year, Second Ayurveda Day will be organised at the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), Sarita Vihar, New Delhi. The Prime Minister of India will be the chief Guest of the function and will dedicate the AIIA to the Nation. The “Ayurvedic Standard Treatment Guidelines” developed by the Ministry will also be released on this occasion.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9643/vice-president-releases-books-on-surgical-practice.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9643/vice-president-releases-books-on-surgical-practice.html Wed, 11 Oct 2017 14:40:00 +0530 Venkaiah Naidu, Vice President of India recently released two books titled ‘Minimally Invasive GI Cancer Surgery’ authored by renowned laparoscopic surgeon, Dr. C. Palanivelu and ‘Bariatric Surgical Practice Guide’ edited by Dr. P. Praveen Raj in Delhi. While addressing the gathering he advised the medical fraternity to treat their profession as a mission to provide healthcare to the masses at an affordable and reasonable cost. “Medical profession was a noble profession and keep that in mind and treat this as a mission. He further said that people consider a doctor to be next to God. He exhorted the medical fraternity to adopt a humanitarian approach while providing medical care to people. The doctors should educate and sensitize the people about the dangers of leading a sedentary lifestyle and eating junk food. He further said that health experts opine that the prevalence of non-communicable diseases, including cancers and cardiovascular diseases will increase while those of the communicable diseases will decrease in the coming years. Modern lifestyle, diet and genetic predisposition are believed to be among the major contributing factors for this trend”, he added.  He also said that among cancers, the GI cancers involving digestive organs such as esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, lungs, large intestine and rectum, constitute 60 per cent. He further said that the incidence of GI cancers is increasing alarmingly due to fast foods, smoking, alcohol and life style changes. He expressed concern that obesity was reaching alarming proportions and that youngsters were getting affected by GI cancers.  The Vice President congratulated Dr. Palanivelu for applying laparoscopic surgery for all types of surgeries, including cancer surgery and expressed the hope that the book written by him would go a long way in promoting minimally invasive surgery for GI cancers.    ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9635/iit-m-gets-a-new-biotechnology-block.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9635/iit-m-gets-a-new-biotechnology-block.html Tue, 10 Oct 2017 12:05:00 +0530 Indian Institute of Technology Madras’ Biotechnology Department has got new state-of-the-art research facilities with the inauguration of a new Block recently. The Block-2 of Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Department of Biotechnology, IIT Madras, was inaugurated by Ms. Jyoti Mehta in the presence of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi, Director, IIT Madras, Mr. Rahul Mehta, CEO, The Mehta Family Foundation, and other faculty. The Mehta Family Foundation, Houston, Texas has sponsored the Block-2, which will enable the expansion of Department of Biotechnology, IIT Madras, and accommodate special facilities such as an Animal House and a Cancer Tissue Bank. They had earlier sponsored construction of Block 1 of Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, and it now houses the Department of Biotechnology. The major additions in Block 2 are the National Cancer Tissue Biobank (NCTB) and the Animal House. The NCTB, a state-of-the-art non-profit community based tissue bank, is a joint initiative of Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt of India, and IIT Madras. It will collect cancer tissue samples with consent from patients diagnosed with cancer. Information about the previous medical history and treatment of the donors is also documented along with the tissue samples. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9616/prime-minister-lays-foundation-stone-for-aiims-at-bilaspur.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9616/prime-minister-lays-foundation-stone-for-aiims-at-bilaspur.html Wed, 04 Oct 2017 15:35:00 +0530 The Prime Minister recently laid the foundation stone for the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), at Bilaspur. This 750 bed hospital will be built at a cost of approximately Rs. 1350 crore. In addition to healthcare, it will also provide medical education at the under-graduate and post-graduate level, besides nursing. Prime Minister also unveiled a plaque to mark the launch of Digital Nerve Centres for primary healthcare.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9605/indias-first-genomics-laboratory-to-get-installed-at-iit-kharagpur.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9605/indias-first-genomics-laboratory-to-get-installed-at-iit-kharagpur.html Thu, 28 Sep 2017 16:20:00 +0530 IIT Kharagpur is going start a genomics laboratory facility for students from all the branches of engineering, a statement said. The primary objective of this laboratory will be to teach all the students at the second year the basic techniques of life sciences that will include microscopy-based observation, molecular biology, protein structure and function and lastly, bioinformatics. The third-year onwards they will be allowed to plan and execute experiments by their own under the mentorship of faculties from Biotechnology, Bioscience, Chemistry, Medical Science and Technology and Computer Science and Engineering. The lab will be running for 24x7 hours and equipped with all the essential equipment needed for cell and molecular biology, biochemistry, sequencing facility, microscopy facility, etc. Though there are few laboratories of similar nature abroad, this will the first time of its kind in India said Sudip K. Ghosh of the Biotechnology Department who will be heading this lab. In addition to the genomics laboratory, IIT Kharagpur also plans to collaborate with Tata Medical Centre in education, research and outreach programmes in the field of interdisciplinary medical research. The primary objective is to promote interaction and collaboration between faculty, medical professionals and students of the two institutions to carry out joint academic and research programmes, joint supervision of undergraduate, masters and doctoral students on a reciprocal basis, and collaborative research projects. The integrated M.Sc.-Ph.D. programme which has been planned will focus in its first phase on medical physics, nuclear medicine and molecular medical microbiology. The programme which would be jointly developed by both institutions, will involve students spending at least one semester in each institute with joint supervision by faculty and scientists of both institutions. The degree will be awarded by IIT Kharagpur. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9582/p-d-hinduja-hospital-mrc-celebrates-the-convocation-of-its-fifth-batch-of-allied-health-sciences-course.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9582/p-d-hinduja-hospital-mrc-celebrates-the-convocation-of-its-fifth-batch-of-allied-health-sciences-course.html Mon, 25 Sep 2017 18:40:00 +0530 P.D. Hinduja Hospital & MRC’s educational wing, celebrated the convocation of its 5thbatch of Allied Health Sciences Course comprising a total of 78 students and inducted the 6th batch of 2017-18 on September 25, 2017. As part of the course, students were placed within P.D. Hinduja Hospital & MRC and in leading and well-reputed city hospitals ranging from Kokilaben Hospital, Wockhardt Hospital, Global Hospital, Seven Hills Hospital, Asian Heart Institute, etc. Further, during the ceremony, 2 new courses - Endoscopy and Neurology were introduced for the upcoming batch of 2017-2018. Addressing the graduates Mr. Gautam Khanna, CEO, P. D. Hinduja Hospital & MRC said, “At P.D. Hinduja Hospital & MRC, we strive to provide the finest quality medical treatment to patients, and strongly believe that quality healthcare starts with well-educated healthcare professionals. The demand and supply gap for skilled professionals in the allied health sciences area is huge and we have always been at the forefront to help reduce this gap with the help of courses offered by our hospital. Today, I congratulate all the students for their success and wish the next batch all the very best.” Mr. Joy Chakraborty COO, P.D. Hinduja Hospital & MRC said, “I am extremely pleased that P.D. Hinduja Hospital is one of the few institutions devoted to creating and providing our Indian healthcare industry with talented and well-trained medical professionals. A strong foundation, supported and nourished with good education is the best way to create quality healthcare professionals. I congratulate our current batch of students and wish them successful careers in our ever-growing healthcare industry.” Mr. Chakraborty also welcomed the new batch looking to make a career in the medical field. In December 2013, P.D. Hinduja Hospital became the first hospital to initiate courses under the Star Scheme by the Government of India and also affiliated itself with the HSSC (Health Sector Skills Council) - a non-profit organization, registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. Through this affiliation, P.D. Hinduja Hospital & MRC, along with Lifesupporters Institute of Life Sciences (LIHS), conduct medical courses at the hospital. Dr. Ajay Desai, Director, LifeSupporters Institute of Health Sciences (LIHS) said, “I congratulate all the students for successfully completing their selected course after 1 year of intensive training. I believe that each one of you will excel in providing the highest level of quality care and become future role models to aspiring medical students. Most importantly, I thank each and every student for trusting and selecting P.D. Hinduja Hospital & LIHS as their preferred institute and supporting us in our journey to close the existing gap of 10,00,000 allied healthcare professionals in India.” Under Allied Health Sciences, the hospital provides courses covering Advanced Medical Laboratory Technician, Critical Care Technician, Dialysis Technician, Operation Theatre and Anesthesia Technician, Radiology Technician Certificate, etc. with an aim to close the growing gap of Allied Health professionals in the Indian industry. The duration of these Courses is one year and is open for H.Sc pass/ Graduates depending on the desired specialization. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9580/infosys-signs-mou-with-iisc.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9580/infosys-signs-mou-with-iisc.html Mon, 25 Sep 2017 14:05:00 +0530 Infosys Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Infosys, has signed a Rs 5 crore MoU with Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, to enhance infrastructure and broaden research activities at the Centre for Infectious Diseases Research (CIDR). With this MoU, Infosys Foundation aims to set milestones in the area of research of infectious diseases. The foundation will focus on motivating researchers to perform cutting-edge research, as well as train them to raise awareness about infectious diseases. Rs 5 crore grant will be used towards research, training and creating awareness, about infectious diseases, benefiting 25 faculty members and 250 students at IISc. IISc is a public university for research and higher education in all science and engineering disciplines. This association will facilitate an interdisciplinary approach, with a focus on research about infectious diseases, leading to the development of new drug targets, drug delivery systems and novel diagnostic tools.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9568/iit-ropar-researchers-working-on-a-low-cost-method-for-detection-of-early-skin-cancer.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9568/iit-ropar-researchers-working-on-a-low-cost-method-for-detection-of-early-skin-cancer.html Thu, 21 Sep 2017 13:00:00 +0530 Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Ropar are working on a new, personalized and cost-effective method for detection of early stage skin cancer. Led by Dr. Ramjee Repaka, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Ropar, the team has successfully managed to perform early stage cancer detection using Dynamic Thermal Imaging (DTI) in a simple clinical setting. The main concept behind this research is the fact that the thermal properties of cancer and blood are different due to which few features appear at the skin surface quickly than the other under the DTI setting. In this method, the surface of the skin is cooled with the help of cold gel pack for a short period of time post which the skin surface is allowed to recover from cold stress under a stabilized room condition. During this period, the changes in the temperature distribution is recorded as images and videos using a thermal camera. These recorded images and videos are then analyzed to identify the differential changes in the thermal contrast between healthy and cancerous regions. The study revealed that in a physiologically hot region, the early cancer/small size cancer can be detected within first few minutes of the recovery period featuring large thermal contrast. Moreover, the microcirculation of blood in the skin plays a vital role in many skin disorders including skin cancer. The microcirculation of blood in the subsurface region leads to temperature changes which can assist in detecting abnormal thermal texture. This abnormal texture is often regarded as early signs of cancer before the formation tumor/lump. Talking about the research, Prof. Ramjee Repaka, Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Ropar, said “Even today, it is challenging to detect early stage skin cancer due to no lump formation and unavailability of simple imaging systems. At present, we are using DTI for detection of small size mimicking tumor in the tissue phantom with subsurface vascular structures. Further plans are to extend to in vivo experiments for the determination of early skin cancer with possible collaboration with medical institutes.”   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9546/-14th-infectious-disease-certificate-course-organised-by-p-d-hinduja-hospital.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9546/-14th-infectious-disease-certificate-course-organised-by-p-d-hinduja-hospital.html Mon, 18 Sep 2017 12:45:00 +0530 P.D. Hinduja Hospital & MRC recently organised its 14th Infectious Disease Certificate Course (IDCC). The certification helps budding and established medical professionals analyse the latest information and developments associated with the diagnosis and management of various infectious diseases. The course began with basic programs, growing into more advanced programs and sessions, all within a span of 6 days.  Along with a focus on Diagnosis, Management & Prevention of Infectious Diseases, the course also focused on infectious diseases like Tuberculosis, HIV, Pneumonia, Hepatitis A to E, etc. and panel discussions with interactive sessions led by experts on topics ranging from ICU Infections, Infection Control, Adult Immunization and more. Dr. Rajeev Soman, Consultant Infectious Disease Physician, P. D. Hinduja Hospital said, “A multidisciplinary approach is needed to understand the requirements for infectious diseases control at a community level. P.D. Hinduja Hospital & MRC’s IDCC is designed to train post-graduate students in the principles and practice of infectious diseases & microbiology, including anti-microbial resistance and update them on the latest developments in the area of infection control.” Dr. Camilla Rodrigues, Consultant Microbiologist & Chairperson Infection Control Committee, P. D. Hinduja Hospital said, “Infectious diseases (ID) remain one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in India and across the world. The objective of our annual IDCC course is to provide comprehensive knowledge on basic microbiology, disease transmission process, principles of epidemiology, current evidence-based infection control principles & practices and enhance skills of post-graduates in both medical and microbiology.” More than 130 medical professionals from all over the country attended the course with lecturers from top medical professionals in the country. Other topics discussed include: Antibiotic based principles; Newer Antibiotics; Interpreting Susceptibility Tests, fungal infections, an interactive session on Antimicrobial prescribing in renal failure and challenging cases in tropical infections, transplant and other infectious diseases were also discussed over the six days of this course. All participants received a certificate for successful completion of the course from P.D. Hinduja Hospital & MRC. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9531/indias-first-advanced-homoeopathy-virology-lab-in-kolkata-inaugurated-by-ayush-minister.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9531/indias-first-advanced-homoeopathy-virology-lab-in-kolkata-inaugurated-by-ayush-minister.html Wed, 13 Sep 2017 15:20:00 +0530 India’s first State of art virology laboratory at Dr. Anjali Chatterjee Regional Research Institute for Homoeopathy in Kolkata was inaugurated by Shripad Yesso Naik , Union Minister of State for AYUSH. He said, “This laboratory has been established to develop new drugs and technologies in Homoeopathy to combat emerging challenges of viral diseases.” In this context the Minister expressed his satisfaction of recognising this laboratory by the Calcutta University to undertake research work of the PhD students in Homoeopathy. The laboratory, established at a cost of Rs. 8 crore is the only one in India for conducting basic and fundamental research in Homoeopathy for viral diseases like influenza, Japanese encephalitis, dengue, chickunguniya and swine flu. New drugs and technologies would also be developed here to combat emerging challenges of viral diseases. Dr. V.K. Gupta, Chairman Scientific Advisory Committee, CCRH, New Delhi, Prof. Ajoy Kumar Roy, Director, IIEST, Shibpur, Dr. Rathin  Chakravarty, Member, Scientific Advisory Committee, CCRH, New Delhi, Dr. Raj K. Manchanda, Director General, CCRH, New Delhi among eminent scientists were also present on the occasion. The AYUSH Minister also appreciated efforts of the National Institute of Homoeopathy (NIH), Kolkata which is imparting higher education and training in homoeopathy under the Ministry of AYUSH and urged that both the institutes could forge an active collaboration on practical training to the students and research scholars in virus research, both in laboratory and in the field jointly. He expressed happiness over Council’s initiatives of establishing a Centre of Excellence in Fundamental Research in Homoeopathy at IIEST, Howrah to undertake fundamental research studies in homoeopathy with an interdisciplinary approach. This institute has undertaken several clinical research studies like autism, psoriasis, vitiligo, breast cancer, hypertension, migraine etc along with proving of new drugs in homoeopathy with their clinical validations. About 400 patients are being treated daily through OPD services and AYUSH outreach services being provided in villages too.     ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9521/shripad-naik-inaugurates-regional-research-institute-of-homoeopathy-in-agartala-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9521/shripad-naik-inaugurates-regional-research-institute-of-homoeopathy-in-agartala-.html Tue, 12 Sep 2017 11:40:00 +0530 Regional Research Institute of Homeopathy (RRI) in Agartala, Tripura was recently inaugurated by the Union Minister of State for AYUSH, Shripad Naik. Inaugurating the institute, he urged Homeopathic researchers to contribute and help the Government in the management of epidemics like Dengue, Chikungunya, Malaria and Swine Flu as the contribution of Homeopathy in controlling epidemics is well known in the past. The strengthening of health services and propagation of AYUSH systems in North-Eastern states is one of the main priorities of AYUSH Ministry, he said.  He further elaborated that we should develop indigenous technologies and drugs that are scientific, efficacious and cost effective to tackle these diseases. The Minister also said that the Institute should focus on Malaria research with Homoeopathy as this disease is endemic in the region.  The Regional Research Institute (RRI) is one of the 9 institutes functioning under CCRH. Spread over an area of 2.05 acres, it has facility of general OPD, Research OPD, pathological investigations, 30 bedded IPD. More importantly the Institute has the facility of Yoga & Naturopathy and there is a scope of future expansion also. This is the 3rd Homoeopathic regional research institute in the North Eastern states and the first with own land and building.    ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9511/macquarie-university-inks-collaboration-with-apollo.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9511/macquarie-university-inks-collaboration-with-apollo.html Fri, 08 Sep 2017 17:25:00 +0530 Australia's Macquarie University announced the launch of a strategic collaboration with Apollo Hospitals to facilitate long-term academic exchanges between the two organisations. As part of this collaboration, students from Macquarie's four-year graduate-entry Doctor of Medicine program, the Macquarie MD, will complete five months of clinical learning at Apollo Hospitals in Hyderabad as part of their degree.   Macquarie University conferred an honorary doctorate to Apollo Hospitals joint MD Sangita Reddy in recognition of her work in Indian healthcare.   Commenting on the partnership, Apollo Hospitals chairman and founder Prathap C Reddy stated that the disease profiles of the two countries are completely different, providing students with an enriching learning experience.    Professor S Bruce Dowton, vice-chancellor,Macquarie University mentioned that Apollo's long-standing experience in the delivery of medical training, underpinned by its commitment to the achievement of excellence in clinical care, made it the perfect partner for the MD program.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9506/ccmb-to-hold-an-international-science-conference.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9506/ccmb-to-hold-an-international-science-conference.html Fri, 08 Sep 2017 10:25:00 +0530 Advanced cell biological solutions and developments will be debated and discussed by over 1,000 scientists coming from across the world at the International Congress of Cell Biology 2018 to be held in India for the first time from January 27 to 31 next year. The CSIR–Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) will host the conference with the theme “The Dynamic Cell: From Molecules and Networks to Form and Function.” Nobel Laureate Martin Chalfie will deliver the opening address. This major international meeting features the combined participation of three leading life science organisations, International Federation for Cell Biology (IFCB), Asian Pacific Organization for Cell Biology (APOCB) and Indian Society of Cell Biology (ISCB). A special synergy session between Industry heads and scientists engaging in translation will be held where Information Technology Minister K. T. Rama Rao will be the chief guest. A special session on “Supporting the Biological Sciences: International policy and opportunities” will highlight how enabling basic science is critical today more than ever, for translation as well as advancing the frontiers of knowledge.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9504/low-cost-method-for-treatment-of-osteoarthritis-developed-by-iit-roorkee-researchers-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9504/low-cost-method-for-treatment-of-osteoarthritis-developed-by-iit-roorkee-researchers-.html Thu, 07 Sep 2017 14:25:00 +0530 Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee have come up with a new, low-cost method for treating Osteoarthritis. The research published in the ‘Journal for Materials Science - Biomaterials’ talks about the use of implantable ferromagnetic nanoparticles with thermal properties for hyperthermia treatment of the afflicted knee joints. The team at IIT Roorkee developed a specific ferrite nanomaterial, which when embedded with Poly (vinylidene fluoride) is proposed as a biocompatible magnetic-dielectric composite to provide prolonged thermo-regulated treatment. These polymers based nanoparticles injected around the knee joint along with normal heat therapy will be able to provide long term heat therapy for the patient. Talking about the research, lead researcher Prof. K.L. Yadav, Professor and Head of Physics Department at IIT Roorkee said, “Currently, the treatment of Osteoarthritis is done using anti-inflammatory drugs and steroids, which have critical side effects on patients. Also, the treatment using such drugs cannot inhibit the natural progression of this degenerative disease. Other than these, techniques like knee replacement are also used, but are expensive and have a long recovery time. We wanted to develop a low cost, affordable, safe and simple therapeutic technique to inhibit the progression of the disease and enable the patient to recover faster.” “We developed magnetic polymer matrix composite using ferromagnetic nanoparticle structures insulated with Poly (vinylidene fluoride) polymer. It is proposed that the synthesized material in a liquid form may be injected into the affected knee joint. Once the liquid is inserted into the knee joint, the hyperthermia treatment through electromagnetic radiation can be given on the specific area at regular intervals. The heat generated during this process by the nanoparticles will spread over the afflicted area for a long duration without affecting the nearby cells or tissues. This will help us in getting a focussed treatment only in the area where the therapy is required”, he added. The team studied the effectiveness of the developed composite for the hyperthermia treatment using a model of Knee Patella in COMSOL Multiphysics software and preliminary biocompatibility studies were also undertaken to ensure safe biomedical application and use.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9503/jipmer-plans-investment-for-new-setups.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9503/jipmer-plans-investment-for-new-setups.html Thu, 07 Sep 2017 12:10:00 +0530 Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) has proposed to launch air ambulance services and to set up three new institutes at a separate campus at a cost of Rs 900 crore. The institute's governing body has given in principle approval to establish an institute of organ transplantation, an institute of trauma rehabilitation, an institute of microbial sciences and to launch air ambulance services. These projects will start at a separate campus of 60 to 80 acres in Puducherry, for which a request has been made to Puducherry government to provide land. The institute had filed nine patents since last year including one filed by an undergraduate medical student. The institute has proposed to set up a state of the art research centre with facilities for vaccine development and other studies in the present financial year. The Union finance ministry (department of revenue - central board of direct taxes) has approved 175 percent tax relief under the relevant sections of the Income Tax Act, 1961, for the donations made for research in JIPMER. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9486/bd-biosciences-commences-facs-e-learning-programme.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9486/bd-biosciences-commences-facs-e-learning-programme.html Tue, 05 Sep 2017 11:50:00 +0530 Five years ago, for the first time in the country, to train young scientists and researchers on flow cytometry, BD Life Sciences -Biosciences and Jamia Hamdard University started BD-JH FACS Academy at Jamia Hamdard in New Delhi, India. BD-JH FACS Academy is an Industry-Academia collaboration that aims at offering basic and advanced training courses, workshops and seminars in flow cytometry.  Having a deep expertise in bioscience and genomics, BD Biosciences has taken up a leadership role in evolving Flow Cytometry, one of the most advanced techniques in Biomedical Sciences, in the country. With programs like FACS eLEARN, BD Biosciences not only managed to bring industry and academia on one platform to develop capacity in Flow Cytometry but with the digital format, also is enabling professionals from across the country to have an easy access to advanced technologies. “We have always been committed to developing new solutions to empower research labs, and supporting academia, pharmaceutical and biotech companies to develop and advance their quality research works. Moving forward with same focus, we started BD-JH FACS Academy at Jamia Hamdard. This year, we have included new instruments like BD FACSMelody cell sorter and also an established platform BD FACSCantoII cell analyzer bringing latest technologies and instrument platform for researchers and clinicians to gets hands-on experience. We are hopeful that FACS eLearn program will enable professionals who are already in a job or a regular academic program to get a ready access and opportunity to learn basic and advanced Flow Cytometry at one’s own pace and convenience” said Murli Sundrani, Business Director, BD Life Sciences-Biosciences India. In the year 2012, BD and Jamia Hamdard established a flow cytometry training and education facility named BD-JH FACS Academy. In last five years, it has trained 750 users across the country and overseas. Encouraged by the overwhelming response, BD Biosciences designed the web based training program - FACS eLEARN, for professionals who are already in a job or a regular academic program and may not be available for regular contact time with the faculty. The web module and e-mail support program will be followed by a hands-on experience on Flow Cytometry instruments and applications at the Academy. The program will start from October 3rd, 2017 and is open for the registration. “I am glad that our relationship with BD continues to be a success story. This partnerships is an excellent example of academia-industry interaction. The educational program FACS eLearn has been a successful initiative jointly offered by BD and Jamia Hamdard. The feedback from candidates who obtained training and certification have been very positive. I am confident that academic programs under the FACS eLearn initiative will be contemporary, will have elements of latest development in the field and provide ample opportunity for hands-on exposure to the candidates” added Prof. (Dr). Seyed Ehtesham Hasnain, Vice Chancellor, Jamia Hamdard. Flow cytometry is a laser-based, biophysical technology employed in cell counting, cell sorting, biomarker detection and protein engineering, by suspending cells in a stream of fluid and passing them through an electronic detection apparatus.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9420/iit-k-to-start-genomics-laboratory-facility.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9420/iit-k-to-start-genomics-laboratory-facility.html Mon, 21 Aug 2017 14:10:00 +0530 IIT Kharagpur is going start a genomics laboratory facility for students from all the branches of engineering. The primary objective of this laboratory will be to teach all the students at the second year the basic techniques of life sciences that will include microscopy-based observation, molecular biology, protein structure and function and lastly, bioinformatics. The third year onwards, they will be allowed to plan and execute experiments by their own under the mentorship of faculties from Biotechnology, Bioscience, Chemistry, Medical Science and Technology and Computer Science and Engineering. The lab will be running 24x7 and be equipped with all the essential equipments needed for cell and molecular biology, biochemistry, sequencing facility, microscopy facility, etc. Though there are few laboratories of similar nature abroad, this will the first time of its kind in India. The lab will be headed by Sudip K. Ghosh of the Biotechnology Department at the institute. In addition to the genomics laboratory, IIT Kharagpur also plans to collaborate with Tata Medical Centre in education, research and outreach programmes in the field of interdisciplinary medical research. The primary objective is to promote interaction and collaboration between faculty, medical professionals and students of the two institutions to carry out joint academic and research programmes, joint supervision of undergraduate, masters and doctoral students on a reciprocal basis, and collaborative research projects. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9390/perkinelmer-india-opens-coe-at-iiser-pune.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9390/perkinelmer-india-opens-coe-at-iiser-pune.html Wed, 16 Aug 2017 14:00:00 +0530 PerkinElmer, Inc., a global leader committed to innovating for a healthier world, today announced PerkinElmer India’s opening of a Centre of Excellence at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune. As a cutting-edge instrumentation facility, PerkinElmer-IISER Pune Centre of Excellence will help educate the region’s current and future scientists on high-throughput analyses in life sciences. The facility will house instruments such as high content analysis and automated liquid handling workstations, plate readers, and those for multispectral imaging and DNA/RNA analysis. The Centre plans to hold annual workshops that will be open to scientists across India. Jayashree Thacker, President, PerkinElmer India said, “This collaboration is another step toward supporting the Skill India campaign, which helps researchers and students develop advanced competencies in  life  sciences  research.” “The opening of this new facility and our collaboration with IISER supports the expansion of PerkinElmer and our relationships with leading research organizations in India,  further positioning us to deliver innovative solutions for our customers”, she added. Speaking at the event, Prof K N Ganesh, Director IISER, Pune said, “This Centre is an example of an exemplary industry-academia collaboration. The advanced bio-analytical set up by Perkin Elmer will not only hone the analytical skills of undergraduate students’ but also elevate their understanding of interdisciplinary science and will  nurture the institute mandate of integrating teaching with state-of the-art research.”   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9368/new-admin-and-research-buildings-of-nabi-and-ciab-inaugurated-by-union-minister-dr-harsh-vardhan.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9368/new-admin-and-research-buildings-of-nabi-and-ciab-inaugurated-by-union-minister-dr-harsh-vardhan.html Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:10:00 +0530 Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Science & Technology & Earth Sciences, Environment, Forest & Climate Change inaugurated the new Administrative and Research Buildings of two national institutes under the administrative control of Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India namely National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI) and Center of Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing (CIAB) in Sector 81, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (Mohali), Punjab today. Dr. K. Vijay Raghavan, Secretary, DBT, Prof. Arun Kumar Grover, Vice Chancellor, Panjab University, Chandigarh, Dr. T.R. Sharma, Executive Director, NABI, Dr. Rajender Singh Sangwan, Chief Executive Officer, CIAB and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.  According to media reports, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister expressed his pleasure in dedicating both the institutes to the nation, and emphasized the need for quality research work and output with optimal utilization of state-of-art equipment and infrastructure that can reach common man in a form that can be easily perceived in proper perspective. He encouraged scientists/students to exploit the biotechnological tools to address the problems related to quality of food and malnutrition with full enthusiasm and zeal getting inspiration from the legacy and contributions of champions in the field of science and technology. He urged both the institutes to address the problems of hunger & malnutrition and to bring nutritional revolution in the country through biotechnology research and innovation for Food and Nutrition Security. Dr. Harsh Vardhan also said that young researchers and students should aim big and work hard to achieve their goals with sustained efforts.  Interacting with the faculty, Dr. Harsh Vardhan emphasized the need for doing new innovations that have an immediate societal impact with the common man as the target. He counseled researchers to shift from routine to out of the box thinking and to dream big to translate their efforts to greater innovations. He also said there should be a method for scientists to work to set timeframes to achieve their targets.  NABI is the first Agri-Food and Nutritional based Biotechnology Institute, which has been set up by the Dept. of Biotechnology in the Knowledge City, Sector 81, Mohali. CIAB has been set up adjacent to NABI and is the first institute dedicated to generation of secondary agriculture bio products through value addition to unutilized and underutilized biomass. Both the institutes area part of agro-food cluster in the Knowledge City, Mohali along with its neighboring institutes, like; IISER, ISB, INST and Biotech Park. The campus comprises of laboratory buildings, 15 acres of land for field experiments, a large glass house, transgenic net houses, office area, housing, guest house, research scholar hostel, utilities and other requisite services. Total entire area of the campus is 50 acres. The building complex of CIAB has a total floor space of 77000 square feet built at a cost of Rs Forty three crores whereas NABI has a total floor space of 3,17,500 square feet built at a cost of Rs one hundred and thirty five crores.  The institutes apart from providing quality research in the field of agricultural biotechnology and bio processing also provide innovative technologies in the field of food processing.. Under reach to community program NABI is playing an important role in conducting motivational course to the students of local schools to increase their awareness in life sciences. Their products of nutritionally rich crops and processing of crop residues in useful products will be provided to the local farming communities to increase their income. The industry ready specialized products like high anthocyanin have already been taken by local industries under specific MOU. They are acting as nodal agencies for local organization in the areas Agri food and nutritional biotechnology.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9365/karnataka-launches-biotech-skill-enhancement-programme.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9365/karnataka-launches-biotech-skill-enhancement-programme.html Tue, 08 Aug 2017 12:05:00 +0530 Biotechnology skill enhancement programme will be conducted in 18 institutions in Karnataka, according to Mittur N Jagadish, Head of the Bio-Tech Facilitation Cell of the Karnataka Biotechnology and Information Technology Services (KBITS). The Manipal-based School of Life Sciences (SoLS), which was one of the 12 host institutions selected all over the state, has successfully completed the first phase of the programme. In the second phase, the programme will be held in 18 institutions this year. Of them, seven will be in Bengaluru and the remaining 11 in other districts. Institutions from Ujire and Mangaluru in Dakshina Kannada district are also included in this list. Karnataka is one of the major investment destinations in the biotech industry. The state government has established Biotechnology Bio-Innovation Centre in Bengaluru. The theme-based biotech parks are at various stages of implementation in Bidar, Dharwad, Mangaluru and Mysuru. Giving details about the first phase, K Satyamoorthy, Director of SoLS, said the school provided opportunity in the field of cellular and molecular diagnostics domain. It trained students in advanced cellular and molecular biology, genetics, research and development, quality control, quality assurance, diagnostics approaches to infectious disease, cancer, cyto-genetic and various other disorders. H Vinod Bhat, Vice-Chancellor of Manipal University, said the university has been in the forefront of biotechnology education, training and research in the field of life sciences and engineering since 2004. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9331/ap-launches-scheme-for-training-biotech-pharma-students.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9331/ap-launches-scheme-for-training-biotech-pharma-students.html Mon, 31 Jul 2017 14:35:00 +0530 Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation has come up with a new programme to impart skills and knowledge to students of Biotechnology and Pharma wings across the State. The programme has been designed by senior advisors of Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) and Biotechnology department, Government of India, along with Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT). M Shankar Prasad, Convener of Task force committee on Biotechnology and Pharma Industry stated that AP has to become a destination hub for biotechnology and pharma industries in the coming three years. After a thorough research with senior advisors across the country, a decision has been made to form pharma and biotechnology clusters in the State to turn AP into a hot destination for those fields. For that, the focus will be on improving skills of the students to build highly qualified manpower. Similarly, academics and industry experts would also be focused upon. He further said that the industry requires 80,000 highly skilled professionals and 3 lakh semi-skilled labour in the next 3-5 years. The new programme which is being designed will create highly skilled professionals for the industry. In the first phase, around 400 selected people would be trained at IICT for six months. Industry experts will take 150 hrs theory classes and 120 hrs practical classes at IICT campus itself. Though the course costs over 1.25 lakh in the market, this programme is being offered at 40,000. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9298/cuj-iiim-collaborate-for-academics-research.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9298/cuj-iiim-collaborate-for-academics-research.html Mon, 24 Jul 2017 18:10:00 +0530 Central University of Jammu (CUJ) has signed a MoU with Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), a premier CSIR institute in Jammu, to cooperate in the diverse areas of biological and chemical science. The MoU was signed by the Director of IIIM, Dr. Ram Vishwakarma and CUJ Registrar Dr Ravi Kumar in the presence of CUJ Vice-chancellor Prof Ashok Aima, Dean Life Sciences, Prof N K Tripathi, Prof S K Khosa, Prof Lokash Verma, Dr Audesh Bhat, Dr Pawan Kumar and other dignitaries from both the institutes. The two institutions shall seek to promote academic and scientific collaboration for mutual benefit, interaction between the scientists and research fellow, research scholars, faculty members and students of both the organizations. This would be conducted through exchange of personnel, organization of joint conferences and seminars, practical training of CUJ students at CSIR-IIIM, joint Ph D program, sharing of research facilities by making provisions to share their respective R&D facilities/Lab facilities. It is being done in order to promote academic and research interaction in the areas of cooperation, exchange of software and other materials, technology and components developed in-house in the areas of cooperation, provide access to the library facilities to scientists, members of faculty and students as per the prevailing rules and norms in the respective institutes. On this occasion, Vice-chancellor Prof Ashok Aima and IIIM Director, Dr Ram Vishwakarma said that this MoU will contribute in promoting research activities between the two premier institutes. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9292/lupin-collaborates-with-american-academy-of-ophthalmology.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9292/lupin-collaborates-with-american-academy-of-ophthalmology.html Fri, 21 Jul 2017 16:30:00 +0530 The American Academy of Ophthalmology and Pharma major Lupin Limited recently announced an agreement that would seek to expand and enhance continuing ophthalmic education in India. The collaboration will provide ophthalmologists access to several clinical education tools including the Academy’s flagship clinical education resource, the Ophthalmic News and Education Network. The World’s largest online compendium of ophthalmic knowledge, the ONE Network is accessed by approximately 130,000 users every month. The Academy typically offers access to the ONE Network and its other educational resources as a benefit of Academy membership as well as to ophthalmologists in other countries through a special application. The collaboration provides a new channel for distributing this content in India.  The Academy also distributes its content in India to 16,000 members of the All India Ophthalmological Society. Through this partnership, over 3,000 ophthalmologists across the country will be provided online access to knowledge repository, which includes journals and videos to help practitioners stay abreast of the latest developments in the space. Jane Aguirre, Vice President for membership and alliances for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, said “The Academy’s mission is to advance clinical education to ensure ophthalmologists deliver highest-quality eye care to their patients. This relationship with Lupin will help extend these valuable resources to more ophthalmologists in India.” Rajeev Sibal, President, Indian Region Formulations, Lupin Limited, said “It gives me great pleasure to announce this collaborative program with the American Academy of Ophthalmology, which is a leading global authority in ophthalmic education. Lupin has always been at the forefront in disseminating the most sought and updated knowledge among Indian doctors in various fields through associations with many renowned academic institutions in the world. We are sure that this association will help quicken the pace with which ophthalmologists in India are able to obtain new clinical knowledge and training, thus bolstering the fight against preventable blindness in our country.”   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9251/creation-of-three-posts-of-directors-for-the-three-new-aiims-approved-by-cabinet.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9251/creation-of-three-posts-of-directors-for-the-three-new-aiims-approved-by-cabinet.html Thu, 13 Jul 2017 14:50:00 +0530 The union cabinet has approved the creation of three posts of directors in the pre-revised scale of Rs.80,000 (fixed) {plus NPA Ceiling limit 85000} for the three new AIIMS at Mangalagiri near Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, Kalyani in West Bengal and Nagpur in Maharashtra.  As per the AIIMS Act 1956 Amended vide AIIMS (Amendment) Act, 2012, there shall be a Chief Executive Officer of the Institute. He shall be designated as the Director of the Institute and shall be appointed by the Institute provided that the first Director of the Institute shall be appointed by the Central Government. The Director shall act as the Secretary to the Institute as well as the Governing Body and support proper functioning and governance of the three AIIMS.  The post will be immediately filled up following due procedures. The post of Director is in the pre-revised scale of Rs 80,000(fixed). The annual financial implication for each of the post of the Director will be around Rs.25 Lakhs, as per the 6th CPC.  The Union Finance Minister in his Budget speech for the Year 2014-15 had announced for setting up of four new AIIMS in Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. Cabinet had approved establishment of new AIIMS at Mangalagiri near Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, Kalyani in West Bengal and Nagpur in Maharashtra at a cost of Rs. 4949 Crore on 07.10.2015. The three AIIMS are being set up as a part of the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY).  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9232/iit-kharagpur-gets-four-mega-research-projects.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9232/iit-kharagpur-gets-four-mega-research-projects.html Tue, 11 Jul 2017 16:05:00 +0530 IIT Kharagpur has undertaken four mega research projects from the Ministry of Human Resource Development which are considered critical for the country's development and will give special focus to them. The 'Sustainable Food Security' project seeks to leverage technology for food production, processing and distribution logistics. The project is aligned with the requirements of technological interventions under the National Food Security Act. The 'Signals and Systems for Life Sciences' mega project focuses on technology for leveraging biometric signal processing for analysis, prognostics, diagnostics and affordable health care. The upcoming super-speciality hospital at IIT Kharagpur, for which construction work has started, makes it a fit case for the start of a platform that would harness all its energy to bring greater focus to its effort in this domain. The 'Future of Cities' project will aim to be a platform to identify and address the concerns related to the development of urban India. The 'Science and Heritage Interface', a science-culture initiative will use technology for preservation, archival, development and scientific exploration of the country's heritage, including a holistic project on Varanasi. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9224/president-praises-iisc-for-making-scientific-progress.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9224/president-praises-iisc-for-making-scientific-progress.html Mon, 10 Jul 2017 11:15:00 +0530 President Pranab Mukherjee lauded the alumni and faculty of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) for advancing research in science and technology. Mukherjee visited IISc at its annual convocation recently during which 625 students were given degrees and 52 awarded medals for their academic performance. He stated that alumni and faculty of IISc have played and continue to play a strong role in leading national science and technology institutions and in various advisory or administrative roles in the government. Noting that IISc maintained its reputation of being a premier institute of higher education and research, he said its academic stature as the country's best university was confirmed by the National Institutional Rankings Framework.  In a rather personal speech to graduating students and faculty of IISc, President said he was “deeply satisfied” that his last visit was to the institute that has made India proud. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9217/lvpei-centres-to-become-institutes-of-excellence.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9217/lvpei-centres-to-become-institutes-of-excellence.html Fri, 07 Jul 2017 14:40:00 +0530 L.V. Prasad Eye Institute will develop its centres in Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Hyderabad and Bhubaneswar as Institutes of Excellence (IoE). The Visakhapatnam campus at the Health City set up exactly 11 years ago will be developed as an Institute of Excellence in geriatric eye care. LVPEI has 16 rural secondary care centres and three more will be added in AP, Telangana and Odisha in next two years. At present it has 16 secondary care and 153 primary care centres. Every year 12 to 14 lakh outpatients are visiting the hospitals located in various States with door-to-door screening of another million. The number of surgeries conducted is estimated 1.2 to 1.3 lakh per year with over 50 per cent done free of cost. LVPEI is laying emphasis on education at all the centres by engaging 500 to 600 trainers across the world and publishing 250 to 270 scientific papers. The Hyderabad centre is the biggest in India and rated as top three in the world. The team at LVPEI are now combining their technological innovations by involving both engineers and doctors in research to develop various low-cost products for better eye care. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9211/student-scientist-connect-programme-jigyasa-launched-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9211/student-scientist-connect-programme-jigyasa-launched-.html Fri, 07 Jul 2017 11:30:00 +0530 Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has joined hands with Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) to launch a student-scientist connect programme “JIGYASA”. It will focus on connecting school students and scientists so as to extend student’s classroom learning with that of a very well planned research laboratory based learning. Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony was held in the presence of Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Minister of Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, Environment, Forests and Climate Change and Prakash Javadekar, Minister of Human Resource Development in Delhi recently. Addressing the gathering, Dr Harshvardhan said, “Jigyasa programme was inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a new India and “Scientific Social Responsibility (SSR)” of scientific community and institutions. It is a historic day when two ministries are collaborating on the Youth who are the future of the nation. The day also coincides with the birthday of Shri Shyama Prasad Mukherjee who is an inspirational figure and a role model for all Indians” Speaking on the occasion, Prakash Javadekar said, “To inculcate scientific temper among the students we have to make them aware about the impact of science on the society. Science has played a very important role in changing our lives. Access to these premier institutions is only the beginning. CSIR will also talent hunt among the visiting students for furthering the cause of scientific development. I will personally review the status periodically” The Programme is expected to connect 1151 Kendriya Vidyalayas with 38 national laboratories of CSIR targeting 100,000 students and nearly 1000 teachers annually. This will also enable the students and teachers to practically live the theoretical concepts taught in science by visiting CSIR laboratories and by participating in mini-science projects. Student Residential Programmes, scientists as teachers and teachers as scientists, lab specific activities / Onsite Experiments, visits of scientists to Schools/Outreach Programmes, science and maths Clubs, projects of National Children’s Science Congress and tinkering laboratories are some of the activities included under the programme.     ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9200/ccmb-hyderabad-to-host-10-crore-atal-incubation-centre.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9200/ccmb-hyderabad-to-host-10-crore-atal-incubation-centre.html Tue, 04 Jul 2017 16:50:00 +0530 Niti-Aayog has chosen the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) for hosting the ₹10-crore Atal Incubation Centre aimed at identifying promising start-ups, creating facilities and guiding them to success in the field of biotechnology. CCMB, a constituent laboratory of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), is among the 10 institutions across the country to be chosen for the facility and the only one in the Telugu States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, said Director Rakesh K. Mishra at a press conference. According to the news in a leading news daily, The Hindu, about 3,800 government and private institutions were vying to host the incubation centre with 230 applying from within Telangana alone, but CCMB got the nod and the new facility would come up on its campus at Uppal, said Dr. Mishra. The Central government has set up the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) under NITI Aayog for promoting a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the country as it felt the need for creating high-class incubation facilities with necessary infrastructure, he said. NITI Aayog’s support through the Mission would help catalyse the efforts of the start-ups in biotechnology to scale up as successful entrepreneurs, he said. Upcoming firms would also be engaged with issues like intellectual property agencies, regulators, seed funders, business developers, research institutions etc. The ongoing skill training programmes, research strength of the centre, biotechnology industry’s maturity here and the Telangana government’s support would serve as an ideal platform to take entrepreneurship in biotechnology to the next level, Dr. Mishra observed. His colleague N. Madhusudhan Rao said there was a lot of activity on developing point of care devices for various human and non-human diseases, to capture the shifting therapy from drugs to biologics, to engage in big data analysis for precision medicine and in the area of stem cell therapies. About Atal Innovation Mission Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) under NITI Aayog is aimed at promoting a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the country. It aims to create high-class incubation facilities with necessary infrastructure in terms of capital equipment and operating facilities, coupled with the availability of sectoral experts for mentoring the start-ups. The scheme is known as Atal Incubation Centre scheme.  The incubation centres would support and encourage start-ups in the sectors like manufacturing, transport, energy, health, education, agriculture, water and sanitation etc. The scheme focuses on the establishment of incubation centres in underserved and unserved areas to support inclusive growth. Under the scheme, Atal Incubation Centre can be established either in publicly funded institutions or Private sector funded institutions or in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9190/iimb-and-apollo-to-launch-2nd-edition-of-gmhe.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9190/iimb-and-apollo-to-launch-2nd-edition-of-gmhe.html Tue, 04 Jul 2017 10:55:00 +0530 Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) and Apollo Medskills will launch the second edition of the General Management Programme for Healthcare Executives (GMHE) on August 7, 2017 at the IIMB campus. The course allies IIMB’s academic expertise in management and Apollo’s healthcare competencies. This unique combination of managerial and technical expertise also represents a step forward in the understanding of healthcare markets. The programme will be delivered at the IIMB campus. The classes in Bangalore will be conducted in synchronous mode using two-way video and audio along with auxiliary technologies supporting rich interaction between the faculty in Bangalore and the participants across India. The programme also proposes field trips in every module to conduct live classes, and facilitate out-of-class interaction. The GMHE programme attracts a large number of applications from a competent pool of aspirants from various sections of the healthcare industry. A selection committee carries out a careful examination of each application. The committee keeps in mind the requirement to ensure an adequate batch diversity in terms of background as well as experience. Selection for the first batch of 35 participants was based on their profile and fit with the programme’s objectives. The average work experience of the participants was 10 years and they came from companies and hospital chains such as Narayana Health, Frost and Sullivan, Indegene Lifesystems Pvt. Ltd., MS Ramaiah Memorial Hospital, Apollo Hospitals, KG Hospitals, Philips Healthcare, KIMS, Cellworks Research India, etc. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9184/up-to-get-more-seats-for-next-mbbs-session.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9184/up-to-get-more-seats-for-next-mbbs-session.html Mon, 03 Jul 2017 12:50:00 +0530 With the state government deciding to upgrade five districts hospitals to medical colleges, 500 additional seats are likely to be created for MBBS aspirants from the next academic year (2018-19). After the addition, the number of seats will go up to 2,700. Hundred seats each will be created in five district hospitals in Basti, Faizabad, Firozabad, Shahjhanpur and Bahraich. The process is likely to be completed by early next year. Currently, there are 17 government medical colleges in the state which offer 2,199 MBBS seats. The government eventually plans to upgrade 12 districts hospitals and work on that will start after the current project is over. Rs 180 crore have been sanctioned by the government for upgrading each of the five district hospitals and 70 per cent of the amount will be paid by the central government. Also, construction of two new medical colleges in Badaun and Jaunpur is currently underway. Two new medical colleges are also proposed in Chandauli and Najibabad in Bijnor. All these colleges will have to seek affiliation from King George’s Medical University in Lucknow. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9181/all-aiims-may-have-one-governing-council-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9181/all-aiims-may-have-one-governing-council-.html Mon, 03 Jul 2017 12:05:00 +0530 In order to simplify governance procedures and bring uniformity in the rules, the government is now planning for a common governing council for all AIIMS in the country. The move comes after a high-powered committee headed by M K Bhan, former secretary in the Department of Biotechnology was constituted to look at the governance structure of all new AIIMS, recommended evolving an umbrella organisation for framing common policies in terms of HR, recruitment, equipment procurement guidelines and administration in all institutes. Six AIIMS in Bhubaneshwar, Bhopal, Jodhpur, Raipur, Patna and Rishikesh are functional, apart from AIIMS, New Delhi. Besides, the government recently announced setting up of 14 more AIIMS. According to the statement given by senior health ministry official, "As per norms, at least one or two institute body and two governing body meetings are to be held at each AIIMS, which means, the health minister being the president at every AIIMS will have to attend around 63 meetings in a year which is practically not possible. Setting up a single common governing council will keep the minister away from day-to-day affairs”   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9168/national-biopharma-mission-innovate-in-india-i3-to-be-launched-by-government.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9168/national-biopharma-mission-innovate-in-india-i3-to-be-launched-by-government.html Thu, 29 Jun 2017 12:20:00 +0530 In order to accelerate discovery research to early development for biopharmaceutical, Dr Harsh Vardhan, Cabinet Minister for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, Environment, Forests and Climate Change will launch the first ever industry-academia mission on 30th June 2017. Innovate in India (i3) will create an enabling ecosystem to promote entrepreneurship and indigenous manufacturing in the sector. It will witness an investment of USD 250 million with USD 125 million as a loan from world bank. India has been an active player in the pharmaceutical industry and has contributed globally towards making life saving drugs and low cost pharmaceutical products accessible and affordable for those in need.  Be it the Rotavirus vaccine, heart valve prosthesis or affordable insulin, India has been a forerunner in these and many more. Despite, these advances Indian biopharmaceutical industry is still 10-15 years behind their counterparts in the developed countries and faces stiff competition from China, Korea and others. The lacuna primarily exists due to disconnected centers of excellence, less focus on translational research and staggered funding. There was an immediate need felt to focus on consolidated efforts to promote product discovery, translational research and early stage manufacturing in the country to ensure inclusive innovation. i3 will address these gaps with a mission to make India a hub for design and development of novel, affordable and effective biopharmaceutical products and solutions. The aim of the Mission is to “Enable and nurture an ecosystem for preparing India’s technological and product development capabilities in biopharmaceuticals to a level that will be globally competitive over the next decade, and transform the health standards of India’s population through affordable product development” It is a flagship program of the Government of India in collaboration with World Bank, it promises to boost the growth curve for domestic biopharma in India by accelerating the translation of research concepts into viable products, supporting clinical validation, enabling sustainable networks for collaboration between industry and academia, and supporting entrepreneurial ecosystem amongst many others.  Innovate in India will be implemented by Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)     ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9157/muhs-launches-exclusive-pharma-course.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9157/muhs-launches-exclusive-pharma-course.html Tue, 27 Jun 2017 14:20:00 +0530 Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) has started a 2-year exclusive post graduate course MSc in Pharmaceutical Medicine, which will open a slew of opportunities for students. The course includes medical writing, coding, pharma-vigilance, regulatory affairs, medico marketing affairs, clinical research, data management and other subjects. The pharma sector is quite large throughout the world. Due to the current mode of living, changes in climate and increase in population, newer diseases are cropping up and require newer drugs. To cope with the challenges, the pharmaceutical sector is continuing its research into newer drugs to maintain the health of the people. This course will provide skilled personnel to the pharmaceutical industries and for students, it will create attractive opportunities in drug manufacturing, research, regulatory agencies, government etc. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9135/grow-fit-closes-series-a-funding-of-usd-4-5-million-from-manipal-education-and-medical-group.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9135/grow-fit-closes-series-a-funding-of-usd-4-5-million-from-manipal-education-and-medical-group.html Wed, 21 Jun 2017 17:50:00 +0530 Grow Fit announced USD $4.5 million in Series A funding led by MEMG (Manipal Education and Medical Group), the PE arm of the Manipal Group. With this, Dr. Ranjan Pai, the MD & CEO of MEMG will be joining the board of directors. With an aim of helping over 300 million Indians who are at risk of contracting lifestyle disease, Grow Fit offers a comprehensive approach combining expert coaching, health foods and behavioral insights through their scalable technology platform Jyotsna Pattabiraman, founder and CEO at Grow Fit said, “Grow Fit combines data science, medical science and behavioural insights to help people achieve their health goals and live their best lives. We are an outcome-oriented company and have always stressed a science-and-data approach. I am delighted that leading professionals from the Manipal Hospital have validated our approach. Grow Fit now has the backing of one of the top medical groups in the country and we are excited about the next phase of growth with this investment." K Ganesh, Partner, Growth Story, the entrepreneurship platform that promotes high-potential ventures including Grow Fit said: “Companies which have the right genes can always raise funding, even in a somewhat tight market. Grow Fit’s laser-like focus on customer outcomes sets it apart from others. It takes a unique dedication to go against the conventional wisdom of transactions and the team at Grow Fit has demonstrated this commitment time and again." Dr. Ranjan Pai, CEO and MD, MEMG said, “Grow Fit has the right approach to reach the millions of Indians who can benefit from better nutrition and coaching. I was impressed by their novel approach, their investment in R&D and their technology platform. Indians need to make drastic changes to their health habits and Grow Fit makes it effortless for them. This is a huge opportunity and we are looking forward to unlocking it." Kris Gopalakrishnan, Co-Founder, Infosys and an early investor in Grow Fit, commented, “Grow Fit has the ability to address both national and international markets. As prosperity increases globally, our nutritional habits have to compensate for our sedentary lifestyle and dependence on fast foods. Grow Fit has a relevant model that could address this gap and be effective anywhere in the world.” This investment comes at a time when countries the world over are grappling with healthcare costs. According to the World Economic Forum, in India alone, over six million lives are lost every year due to lifestyle diseases and the economic burden of lifestyle diseases has been estimated to be over $4.58 trillion by 2030.     ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9127/pm-to-visit-cdri-campus.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9127/pm-to-visit-cdri-campus.html Tue, 20 Jun 2017 17:20:00 +0530 The CSIR-Central Drugs Research Institute (CDRI) will brief Prime Minister Narendra Modi about three new drugs being developed by the Institute on his visit to the campus. Modi is also president of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and this will be his first visit to any of its labs in the country. The institute is also organising an exhibition to highlight CDRI's contribution in the drug discovery and development for PM. The three drugs that will be talked about are an anti-malarial, osteoporosis and a drug to treat a blood clot. Further, the institute recently held an inspection for Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) certification. The GLP certification will give institute's drugs an international acceptance. Phase 1 clinical trial for multiple doses of the anti-malarial drug has been done. It may prove to be an effective new way to treat malaria. For the osteoporosis drug which has national and international patent, the clinical trial for single dose have been done and it will help in speedy bone recovery. PM will be visiting the exhibition first and then move to the Molecular Structural Biology Laboratory and the Natural products chemistry laboratory having 85,000 compounds. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9111/lv-prasad-eye-institute-grows-miniature-eyes-using-stem-cells.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9111/lv-prasad-eye-institute-grows-miniature-eyes-using-stem-cells.html Mon, 19 Jun 2017 15:35:00 +0530 Hyderabad based LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) have successfully grown miniature eye like organs that closely resemble the developing eyes of an early-stage embryo using induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells Team of researchers led by Dr. Indumathi Mariappan was able to grow complex eye-like organs in the lab by allowing the cells to organise themselves in three dimensions. The miniature eye closely resembles the developing eyes of an early-stage embryo. Dr. Mariappan from the Centre for Ocular Regeneration at the LV Prasad Eye Institute and the corresponding author of the paper said, “It took about four–six weeks for the eye-like structure to form from iPS cells. We then removed the cornea-like structure for further study.” “All the three layers of the cornea were observed, indicating that the mini-cornea had developed correctly. The cornea initially forms as a simple bubble-like structure which is very delicate to handle. It later matures to form a thick cornea-like structure over a period of 10-15 weeks.”, she added The team is currently focusing on testing the usefulness of the corneal cells grown from iPS cells in restoring vision in animal models (rats). ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9110/president-laid-the-foundation-stone-for-super-speciality-hospital-in-udupi.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9110/president-laid-the-foundation-stone-for-super-speciality-hospital-in-udupi.html Mon, 19 Jun 2017 15:15:00 +0530 Pranab Mukherjee, president of India recently laid the foundation stone of super speciality hospital of BRS Health & Research Institute Speaking on the occasion, the President said, “While advances in modern medicine and investment in health infrastructure have made many diseases such as cholera, small pox, plague, tuberculosis etc. curable and eradicated others, yet there remains a huge gap in our country in terms of access to medicine and health care. This brings us to the larger and more serious question of the skewed nature of health care in India both in terms of infrastructure and personnel.” “Only healthy mind and healthy body can be the abode of God. He appreciated Dr. B. R. Shetty and his wife for their efforts in establishing this Hospital. He stated that providing accessible and affordable medical facilities should be the objective of healthcare in our country.”, he added He also emphasized that in case doctors are unable to save the lives of patients, attacks on doctors or any violence on the part of relatives of the patients should be avoided. He condemned this uncivilized behaviour and said that we should trust doctors who try their best to save lives and cure patients.  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9073/csir-signs-agreement-with-the-metal-industries-development-institute-ethiopia-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9073/csir-signs-agreement-with-the-metal-industries-development-institute-ethiopia-.html Tue, 13 Jun 2017 15:55:00 +0530 The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has entered into an agreement with the Metal Industries Development Institute (MIDI), Ethiopia to implement a twinning programme.  The same is aimed at R&D capacity building of MIDI. CSIR has clinched this multi-million US dollar assignment through a process where many international organisations were considered.  The twinning is one of the largest programs (in terms of contractual amount) between a CSIR institute and a foreign entity. It should also facilitate CSIR’s future collaborations with African Organisations. Dr. Girish Sahni, Director General, CSIR on the occasion said, “The knowledge base of CSIR in the identified areas could be of immense importance for leveraging the technology capacity of African countries.  He invited the industry to join hands with CSIR and its counterparts in respective African countries to deploy the technology for benefitting the masses in the region.” The agreement was signed by the Director of National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur (CSIR-NML) on behalf of the participating CSIR Laboratories, and the Director General of Metals Industry Development Institute (MIDI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. CSIR will enhance the capacity and capability of MIDI under the twinning arrangement and MIDI will be positioned to emerge as a globally competitive center of excellence in the field of Metals and Engineering, through the twinning programme. This agreement signing is the follow-up action of the execution of a Letter of Intent (LoI) between Metal Industry Development Institute (MIDI), Ethiopia and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9072/medical-talent-outreach-program-medengage-announced-by-metropolis-healthcare-ltd-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9072/medical-talent-outreach-program-medengage-announced-by-metropolis-healthcare-ltd-.html Tue, 13 Jun 2017 15:15:00 +0530 Metropolis Healthcare Ltd recently announced Medengage, the first of its kind Medical Talent Outreach Program that has been conceived to nurture upcoming medical talent across India. Metropolis Healthcare Ltd. in a pioneering move has announced the facilitation and empowerment of medical students for Laboratory training so as to support rapid advancement of medical research in India.  Development of medical talent in India by providing exclusive access to global standard of laboratory ecosystem, advanced industry practices/knowledge and necessary financial support is the main objective of the program. Dr. Sushil Shah, Chairman and Founder, Metropolis Healthcare Ltd. said, “We are happy to partner with medical students who essentially form the future of the healthcare acumen in India. We look forward to providing world-class laboratory assistance to raise the bar of academic research in this nation.  I fully believe that the exceptionally talented scientific team at Metropolis will provide support and mentorship to these young minds.” Dr Kirti Chaddha, Associate Vice President, Metropolis Healthcare Ltd added “Finding a fully equipped laboratory is an integral part of research and the accessibility of such advanced apparatus becomes a daunting task for medical students. Since we have an apt environment which will be useful for this purpose, our aim is to help budding professionals be active go-getters and globally renowned researchers. We, at Metropolis Healthcare, truly believe that healthcare organizations can provide young and talented medical professionals the right support and mentorship; and we will continue to play an active role in catalysing this radical change.” This initiative has begun from April 2017 and is open to under-graduate and/or post-graduate medical students across the country. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9045/biocon-academy-introduces-program-in-clinical-development-in-collaboration-with-keck-graduate-institute.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9045/biocon-academy-introduces-program-in-clinical-development-in-collaboration-with-keck-graduate-institute.html Thu, 08 Jun 2017 16:15:00 +0530 Subject matter experts from Biocon and KGI faculty to impart real world insights and hands on training in the State-of-the-Art Facilities of Syngene and R&D Labs of Biocon Biocon Academy has announced the introduction of a unique program in ‘Clinical Development’ in collaboration with Keck Graduate Institute (KGI) in Claremont, California. The exclusive program is designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of aspiring B. Pharm, M. Pharm, and Pharm D graduates & post graduates. The partnership will accelerate learning in the fast growing field of Clinical Development and enhance the employability prospects of students in biosciences. The new program is designed to offer experiential learning in the areas of Clinical trial design, Execution, Clinical data management, Statistical analysis, Interpretation and Presentation through an intensive curriculum delivered by renowned faculty of KGI and Biocon Academy. The program also aims to equip students with industry assignments and hands on training in Syngene and R&D Labs of Biocon. Commenting on the program, Bindu Ajit, Program Director of Biocon Academy said, “This program provides a golden opportunity for science students to upgrade their skill in the Clinical Development domain. To ensure holistic picture, we have also collaborated with Narayana Hrudayalaya in Bangalore to give the students an industry perspective associated with clinical development. This is our third program in partnership with Keck Graduate Institute, first two are program in Biosciences and Bioscience Management. We hope students make the best use of the expertise KGI offers.” Biocon KGI Certificate Program in Clinical Development is a 16 weeks full time program aimed to empower pharmacist with application know-how of the design, implementation and statistical knowledge.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9044/cabinet-approves-taking-over-of-dr-b-borooah-cancer-institute-guwahati-by-department-of-atomic-energy.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9044/cabinet-approves-taking-over-of-dr-b-borooah-cancer-institute-guwahati-by-department-of-atomic-energy.html Thu, 08 Jun 2017 14:05:00 +0530 Cabinet has approved the taking over of Borooah Cancer Institute which was established in 1974 in Guwahati with the aim and objective of investigation, diagnosis and treatment of cancer in the North Eastern region of India by a voluntary organization, Government of Assam by Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). Tata Memorial Centre will manage the administrative control of Tata Memorial Centre. The decision comes in the wake of the increasing instances of cancer, limited cancer treatment facilities and the need for a hospital support to carry out further research in North Eastern Region. 166 posts in medical, para medical and support positions will also be created. Borooah Cancer Institute is presently a 209 bedded hospital with 8 bedded ICU. The institute entered into a tripartite agreement with the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and North Eastern Council for management of the institute. Tata memorial hospital under DAE is well known for research and treatment in the field of cancer. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9041/iit-delhi-ranked-highest-among-indian-institute-in-qs-world-university-rankings.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9041/iit-delhi-ranked-highest-among-indian-institute-in-qs-world-university-rankings.html Thu, 08 Jun 2017 12:50:00 +0530 As per the latest ‘Quacquarelli Symonds (QC) World University Rankings’, Indian Institute of Delhi has been ranked highest among other three Indian Universities. As per the ranking, IIT-Bombay has jumped from 219 rank last year to 179 this time. On the other hand, IIT-Delhi has replaced IISc as the top ranked Indian institution.  IIT-Delhi has jumped from 185 rank last year to 172 this time. IISc is down by over 30 places from 152 to 190. For the first time, India is home to three of the top 200 universities globally. But the IISc is rated the sixth best institution across the globe in QS’s ‘citations per faculty’ metric. Other Indian institutes in the list of top 959 top universities are Jadavpur University (ranked in the 601-650 band), University of Hyderabad (601-650), Anna University (651-700), Manipal University (701-750), Aligarh Muslim University (800-1000) and Birla Institute of Technology and Science (800-1000). Delhi University has entered the top 500 group. It has moved up from the 501-550 category to the 481-490 category. IIT-Kharagpur has also improved its ranking from 313 to 308, and IIT-Kanpur surged from 302 to 293 rank. However, IIT-Madras has lost a few places ato slip from 249 to 264 rank. IIT-Guwahati moved from 481-490 band. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9034/skill-for-life-save-a-life-initiative-launched-by-j-p-nadda-to-promote-skill-development-in-the-health-sector-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9034/skill-for-life-save-a-life-initiative-launched-by-j-p-nadda-to-promote-skill-development-in-the-health-sector-.html Wed, 07 Jun 2017 16:30:00 +0530 ‘Skill for Life, Save a Life’ initiative was recently launched by J P Nadda, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare. Speaking on the occasion, Nadda said, “India enjoys a demographic dividend as more than 65% youth are below the age of 35 years and the Government is determined to seize this opportunity by providing adequate skills and employability to the youth for a strong foundation for continued and sustainable growth. ‘Skills for Life, Save a Life’ Initiative’ aims to upscale the quantity and quality of trained professionals in the healthcare system. Under this initiative various courses are planned to be initiated targeting specific competencies for healthcare professionals as well as for general public.” “Skilling the youth enhances the employability and skilled India will help the nation reap rich dividends. This shall reduce the gap between expectations of employment of the youth and the actual job they get. Skill enhances economy of the country, too by reducing the gap between demand and supply of trained and skilled manpower in every field. The potential for skilled healthcare workers and professionals is immense in the country. Such courses ensure that the health sector gets the adequate skilled health workers.”, he added The curriculum has been designed by National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (NIHFW) and AIIMS, Delhi. ‘Skill a Life, Save a Life’ program will be conducted in Central and State government training institutes from the next month across the country in each district, to empower every single citizen of the country to be the first person to provide first aid and initial care in case of an emergency. Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Minister of State (I/C) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship said, “Skill development provides platform for lakhs of youth in the country to get trained for employment. The Skill Development Ministry is providing several certified courses for skilling to provide manpower for various areas of work. This has provided employment to lakhs of young boys and girls, many of whom haven’t had the opportunity for formal education.” Faggan Singh Kulaste, Minister of State for Health and Family said, “The trained and skilled personnel, through this innovative training course, will be able to help save lives in the golden hour during an emergency situation.”     ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9005/science-city-to-be-developed-in-haryana.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/9005/science-city-to-be-developed-in-haryana.html Mon, 05 Jun 2017 15:10:00 +0530 Manohar Lal Khattar, chief minister of Haryana recently met Dr. Mahesh Sharma, minister of state for Culture and Tourism to discuss the proposed ‘Science City’ to be developed in Haryana by the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) under Ministry of Culture. Manohar Khattar suggested two sites for the project- either in Sonepat or in Gurugram.  Dr. Mahesh Sharma assured him that NCSM team will soon visit the suggested places to assess the feasibility of the project.  The proposed Science City in Haryana is expected to be bigger and more fabulous than the Science City in Kolkata. The total cost of the project is approx Rs 191 crores. Education, extension and research are three main pillars of this project. Its purpose is to popularize science among masses, especially among students and youths. It will consist of Thematic Galleries, Fun Science Gallery and High Voltage sport Theatre etc. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/8991/scientists-from-john-hopkins-university-find-what-causes-the-spread-of-cancer.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/8991/scientists-from-john-hopkins-university-find-what-causes-the-spread-of-cancer.html Fri, 02 Jun 2017 15:30:00 +0530 An international team led by scientists from John Hopkins University of the US has for the first time found what causes the spread of cancer and what could slow it down. 90% of cancer deaths are caused when cancer cells break off from the origin and start spreading elsewhere in the body. There are no existing drugs to stop the metastasis of cancer. Researchers found that when cancer cells get densely packed they secrete two proteins that deliver the message to other cancerous cells to go away. This causes the cancer cells to break off from the pack and float through the blood stream to other sites and start growing afresh. Lead author who hails from Sri Lanka said “It's like waiting for a table in a severely overcrowded restaurant and then getting a message that says you need to take your appetite elsewhere,” said to Nature Communications. Jayatilaka and her colleagues found a medication mix that kept this microscopic message from being delivered. The team members have tested the treatment in animal models, but not on human cancer patients. Nevertheless, they said the discovery contributes to a promising new focus for cancer research: disrupting the biochemical activity that prods cancer cells to spread through the body. “The pharmaceutical companies view metastasis as a by-product of tumor growth,” said Denis Wirtz, one of the study’s senior authors who is the Director of the Physical Sciences- Oncology Center of Johns Hopkins. “Our study looked more closely at the steps that actually initiate metastasis.  The team also found that two drugs Tocilizumab and Reparaxin prevented cancer cells from getting their marching orders. Tocilizumab is approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and is in trials for use in ovarian cancer cases. Reparaxin is being evaluated as a possible treatment of cancer. “In our eight-week experiment, when we used these two drugs together, the growth of the primary tumor itself was not stopped, but the spread of the cancer cells was significantly decreased,” Jayatilaka said. “We discovered a new signaling pathway that, when blocked, could potentially curb cancer's ability to metastasize.” ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/8985/first-india-sri-lanka-joint-research-symposium-held-at-colombo.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/8985/first-india-sri-lanka-joint-research-symposium-held-at-colombo.html Thu, 01 Jun 2017 18:10:00 +0530 First India-Sri Lanka joint research symposium was recently held at Colombo during 29-31 May 2017 The symposium was inaugurated by Prem Jayantha, Sri Lankan Minister for Research, Science & Technology and Taranjit Singh Sandhu, High Commissioner of India. Indian and Sri Lankan researchers, who have participated in joint R&D projects made presentations covering cooperation in the fields of Traditional Knowledge, Food technology, Indigenous Medicine, Chemical Technology and Earth Sciences. "During his address, Susil Premajayantha thanked India for its swift response to the Sri Lankan request for flood relief. He also appreciated India’s readiness to share meteorological data to improve disaster preparedness." "The High Commissioner of India noted that India is today well-positioned to make substantial contributions to the research and development (R&D) industry in the world. He added that India is committed to promoting ‘science with a human face’. He reiterated India’s commitment to sharing its expertise in S & T with Sri Lanka." ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/8984/csio-iit-ropar-sign-mou-for-advancement-in-science-and-technology.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/8984/csio-iit-ropar-sign-mou-for-advancement-in-science-and-technology.html Thu, 01 Jun 2017 17:50:00 +0530 The Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO) and Indian Institute of Technology Ropar (IIT Ropar) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for academics and advancement in science and technology. The MoU will facilitate exchange of staff and students towards co-supervision of undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD theses, participation in research thus promoting interaction among the scientists, professors and research scholars of both the organisations. MoU will also enable sharing of expertise, domain knowledge and available facilities in mutually agreed research areas for research and development. The areas include physics, photonics, optics, chemistry, biomedical, material science and engineering, nanoscience and nanotechnology, electronics, computation, mechanical engineering and any other areas of common interest in science and engineering. R K Sinha, director CSIR-CSIO and Sarit K Das, IIT-Ropar director signed the MoU ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/8968/iit-kharagpur-researchers-develop-new-technology-to-manufacture-biofuel.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/8968/iit-kharagpur-researchers-develop-new-technology-to-manufacture-biofuel.html Wed, 31 May 2017 16:30:00 +0530 Researchers at IIT Kharagpur have developed ‘soil-to-soil’ manufacturing technology which will change the way biofuels is manufactured by making the process cheaper, quicker and pollution-free. This new technology developed at the P.K. Sinha Centre for bio-energy at IIT-Kharagpur is in the process of being patented, an IIT-KGP spokesperson said on Wednesday. Dr. Rintu Banerjee, professor in Department of Agricultural and Food Engineering said, “2gm bioethanol can be produced from various naturally available ligno-cellulosic components. But to do so it needs to be treated chemically. Because of chemical treatment the process contributes to polluting the environment.” “We have replaced this chemical treatment with enzymes which degrade the lignin specifically there by making the manufacturing process pollution free. Lignin is a complex organic polymer deposited in the cell walls of many plants, making them woody. Unlike the chemical treatment here the waste product is pollution-free and hence utilising the residual biomass to organic fertilizer is possible.”, he added “It is soil-to-soil technology, an integrated process where we are using natural resources to extract gaseous and liquid biofuel and then converting the wastes into bio fertilizer. It is an unique integrated approach which we have developed in our lab,” Dr. Banerjee claimed.  “The technique that we are suggesting will ensure relatively quicker production of biofuel and that the process is completely green thereby not creating any secondary pollution. This, we feel can change the future of biofuel manufacturing in India and make it more cost effective,” Banerjee said. Presently the project is funded by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Department of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Human Resource Development.       ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/8943/lucknow-university-collaborates-with-ihat.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/8943/lucknow-university-collaborates-with-ihat.html Mon, 29 May 2017 15:25:00 +0530 Lucknow University, in collaboration with India Health Action Trust (IHAT), will study the vulnerability and the risk factors for severe pneumonia and diarrhoea among children under five years of age in Uttar Pradesh. The two diseases cause many deaths among children under five. For this, LU has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with IHAT. Together, they will conduct a study in three or four districts of UP. The purpose is to collaborate with LU’s department of anthropology as an academic and research resource institution for supporting the development and implementation of the child health program vulnerability study in UP. The study will explore health providers’ and households’ knowledge and perception of risk factors for severe pnemonia and diarrhoea in children under five years of age and understand the strategies in identifying and prioritizing vulnerable children. The project is funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/8930/pm-lays-foundation-stone-of-iari-at-gogamukh-in-assam.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/8930/pm-lays-foundation-stone-of-iari-at-gogamukh-in-assam.html Mon, 29 May 2017 11:25:00 +0530 The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi recently laid the foundation stone of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute at Gogamukh in Assam.  Addressing a large public meeting on the occasion, the Prime Minister congratulated the State Government in Assam and chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, for the work done by them in the State.  He said that, “agriculture needs to be developed in line with the requirements of the 21st century. He added that farmers must benefit from the changing technology.” He also stressed on the need of modern agriculture and technological interventions, keeping in mind the specific needs of the region.  The Prime Minister spoke of his vision of doubling farmers' incomes by 2022, the 75th anniversary of independence. The Prime Minister said the Union Government had taken a number of steps for farmers' welfare in the last three years. In this context he mentioned the soil health cards, the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, and the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. He spoke of the vast network of soil health laboratories being set up across the country, and the popularity of the Fasal Bima Yojana among farmers. The Prime Minister mentioned the "SAMPADA" Yojana, to boost value addition in agriculture.  The Prime Minister spoke of "Panch Tatva" - five elements to boost connectivity in the North-East: Railways, Highways, Airways, Waterways, and i-ways. He said his Government is working towards boosting prosperity and welfare of the people in the North-East through this "panch-tatva."   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/8909/dutch-students-unveil-the-worlds-first-bio-composite-car-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/8909/dutch-students-unveil-the-worlds-first-bio-composite-car-.html Thu, 25 May 2017 12:40:00 +0530 Students from Eindhoven University of Technology presented a car made of bio-composite. The chassis, bodywork and the interior of the car named ‘Lina’ are all made of natural materials. The team wants to show that the car is not only energy-efficient but has also been produced with a view to sustainability. The super-efficient consumption of the city car is down to its low weight of just 300 kilograms. The car is certified by the Netherlands Vehicle Authority as roadworthy and is suitable to carry four people. TU/ecomotive has used a combination of bio-composite and bio-plastic for the chassis. The honeycomb structure bio-plastic, or PLA, is used as the core material and is manufactured entirely from sugar beet. It is enveloped in bio-composite sheets that have been composed on the basis of flax, a plant that is also grown in the Netherlands. In terms of its strength-weight ratio, the bio-composite is comparable with the familiar fiberglass but manufactured in a sustainable way. The bodywork is also flax-based. According to the press release, the car is electric-powered, and its lightweight materials (only 300 kilograms) means it uses up energy more slowly. On the flip side, more energy is used to produce the car – a potential turn-off for car manufacturers. The next step for Lina and the design team is to try and obtain a license number for the car, which will enable her to be driven on public roads. In 2011, designers Kenneth Cobonpue and Albrecht Birkner presented The Phoenix, a roadster made of bamboo and rattan. Designed to last roughly five years, The Phoenix never made it into mass production. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/8903/cabinet-approves-setting-up-of-new-aiims-in-kamrup-assam-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/8903/cabinet-approves-setting-up-of-new-aiims-in-kamrup-assam-.html Thu, 25 May 2017 10:55:00 +0530 The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its approval for establishment of new AIIMS at Kamrup (North Guwahati Revenue circle). The cost of the project is Rs.1123 crore and it will be set up under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY).  The new AIIMS will be completed in a period of 48 months from the zero date (that is the date of the approval of Government of India), broadly comprising a pre-construction phase of 15 months, a construction phase of 30 months and stabilization / commissioning phase of three months.  The Institution will consist of a hospital with a capacity of 750 beds, trauma center facilities, medical college with an intake of 100 MBBS students per year, nursing college with an intake of 60 B.Sc. (Nursing) students per year, residential complexes and allied facilities / services, broadly on the pattern of AIIMS, New Delhi. The hospital will have 22 Speciality/Super-Speciality Departments including 16 Operation Theaters. It will also have an AYUSH department with 30 beds for providing treatment facilities in traditional system of medicine.  The establishment of new AIIMS will serve the dual purpose of providing super speciality health care to the population while also help create a large pool of doctors and other health workers in this region that can be available for primary and secondary level institutions / facilities being created under National Health Mission (NHM).  ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/8894/booklet-on-climate-change-now-in-braille.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/8894/booklet-on-climate-change-now-in-braille.html Wed, 24 May 2017 12:45:00 +0530 The Braille version of a booklet — Climate Action: We Must Not Delay — dedicated to environmental issues such as carbon footprint, groundwater scarcity and air pollution was recently launched in the capital. The booklet, which was launched by N S Kang, secretary and director general, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, is part of the Science Express Climate Action Special. The Science Express is a custom-built 16-coach AC train for the Department of Science and Technology by the Indian Railways and is currently in its ninth phase making its way across India with a mobile exhibition on the global crisis of climate change. Dr Vinod B Mathur, director, Wildlife Institute of India said, “With this, we want to initiate a dialogue about climate change and educate students about its impact, adaptation and mitigation solutions as well as policy approaches in a comprehensive manner.” “We are seeking to create an inclusive model and bring them into the mainstream. We are also working with five National Institute of Design graduates to create audio books for the visually impaired that visit the Science Express. It will also be available on our website. I was encouraged by the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, A N Jha, to approach the material in a way that takes into account our visually impaired students. So, we decided to produce a braille version of the booklet which is now available in 11 languages,” added Mathur. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/8875/scientists-create-membrane-that-can-filter-all-types-of-nanoparticles.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/8875/scientists-create-membrane-that-can-filter-all-types-of-nanoparticles.html Mon, 22 May 2017 18:30:00 +0530 Separation technology is at the heart of water purification, sewage treatment, and materials reclamation, as well as numerous basic industrial processes. Membranes are used to separate out the smallest nanoscale particles, and even molecules and metal ions. Prof. Boris Rybtchinski and his group of the Weizmann Institute of Science’s Department of Organic Chemistry have developed a new type of membrane that could extend the life of a separation system, lower its cost and, in some cases, increase its efficiency as well. The membranes Prof. Rybtchinski and his group have created may be produced in different ways, with different materials, and they come together in water and contain water as a major component (the membranes are akin to hydrogels). The group’s first-generation membranes were made of unique molecules that organize themselves into the membrane material. This property also enables the membrane to be easily recycled, and the particles trapped in the separation process to be reclaimed. The membranes can separate particles based on size, from one to several nanometers.  The second-generation membranes also contain a second self-assembled polymer layer, thus broadening the range of applications for this technology. These new membranes can sustain high pressures and are capable of purifying water from poisonous heavy metals and organic molecules, showing, for the first time, that self-assembled “aqua materials” can be used for demanding industrial application.  Unlike conventional materials, the self-assembled membranes can be easily disassembled; this is critical for fighting membrane fouling, which is the biggest challenge in membrane applications. The membrane fabrication process is simple, and their performance is excellent, making the technology inherently worthwhile – even before the ability to recycle and reuse them is taken into consideration. The latter is, of course, of enormous importance, as it renders the membranes sustainable. Indeed, the goal of creating sustainable nanomaterials is at the core of the research performed by Prof. Rybtchinski and his group. Yeda Research and Development Co., Ltd., which advances the industrial application of the Weizmann Institute’s research findings, is working to bring this innovative technology to market.   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/8853/cabinet-approved-the-proposal-for-setting-up-of-indian-agricultural-research-institute-iari-assam-.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/8853/cabinet-approved-the-proposal-for-setting-up-of-indian-agricultural-research-institute-iari-assam-.html Thu, 18 May 2017 11:45:00 +0530 The Cabinet has approved the proposal for setting up of Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) Assam on 587 acres of land provided by Assam Government with a 100% outlay. Radha Mohan Singh, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare said, "IARI-Assam will be a postgraduate institute of higher studies in agricultural education and will include farm crops, horticulture crops, agricultural forestry, animal husbandry, fishing, poultry farming, piggery farming, silk pest farming, honey production etc. They will recognize all the hallmarks including all areas of agriculture, which is in the IARI of New Delhi." "IARI develop quality human resources for the creation of the North East India Assam overall productivity and sustainable development of agriculture, quality and increase profitability, promote agro-based industries and employment opportunities, the farmer friendly Prudogikiyon research in its mission towards the creation of early education expansion programs For the coordination of all existing central and state government R & D institutions and enterprises in the private sector will work on agricultural challenges and complexities of Northeast India", he added              ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/8780/transdisciplinary-university-launches-new-academic-programs.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/8780/transdisciplinary-university-launches-new-academic-programs.html Mon, 08 May 2017 14:35:00 +0530 The Institute of Transdisciplinary Health Sciences and Technology, Transdisciplinary University (TDU) launched its new academic programs for the upcoming academic year (2017-18). Established with a mandate to formalize Trans and inter-disciplinary approaches in education and research, the institute has been in existence since 2013 under the Act of Legislature by the Karnataka government. Functioning through two schools - the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the School of Integrative Sciences, the institute launched five new courses in the bachelors and masters academic programs. Supported by the Ministry of Health and Family welfare as well as the ministry for IT, BT and Science and Technology, the institution focuses on free and fair learning opportunities irrespective of financial backgrounds of students. Renowned technocrat and serial inventor, popularly known as Sam Pitroda, telecom engineer, entrepreneur and policy maker is the founder and Chancellor of the institution. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/8726/58-new-medical-colleges-in-india-by-2018.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/8726/58-new-medical-colleges-in-india-by-2018.html Mon, 01 May 2017 17:45:00 +0530 J.P. Nadda, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare recently Stressing the need for rapid expansion of medical infrastructure in the country to cater to the growing demand, J.P. Nadda, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, said that 58 new medical colleges will be established across the country by 2018 at a cost of ₹11,000 crore. He said the same while delivering a video-address at the convocation of Khaja Banda Nawaz Institute of Medical Sciences recently. “We are trying to bring excellence in the field of medical education by bringing out Central schemes to set up new medical colleges across the country attached with existing doctors/ referral hospitals. Under this scheme, we would establish 58 new medical colleges by 2018 at a cost of ₹11,000 crore,” he said. "5,000 postgraduate medical seats had been approved by the Union government at various colleges and hospitals across the country for 2017-18 taking the total number of postgraduate seats to 35,117. In addition, super-specialty blocks are being set up in 70 medical colleges. Two National Cancer Institutes, 20 State Cancer Institutes and 50 Tertiary Cancer Care Centres are also coming up,” he added   ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/8700/cardiac-care-just-a-click-away.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/8700/cardiac-care-just-a-click-away.html Thu, 27 Apr 2017 17:50:00 +0530 Keeping rural and remote areas in mind, who do not have basic ECG machines, scientists of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre here have developed a credit card sized Tele-ECG machine. This portable, lightweight, pocket friendly, 12-channel device costs just Rs. 4,000 and uses the mobile technology that can transmit ECG over mobile phones. The Tele-ECG will have a battery inside it and will be chargeable with a mobile phone charger. Also, the accompanying app will ensure real-time sharing of a patient's ECG report with doctors. The time saved will be of critical importance in saving lives. According to a report by BARC, “The report is generated in form of an image that can be sent to the expert’s mobile through Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) or any other file sharing apps. The device is ideally suited for rural health care. In city hospitals, the machine can be operated through Laptop/Desktop and report can be shared on Local Area Network (LAN). ECG report in standard graphical format can be taken on a blank A4 size paper.” The concept of this 12 channel Tele-ECG is not new. The idea was first floated almost three decades ago. However this application was limited to communication between fixed locations equipped with conventional handsets. With the advent of GSM network and then the 3G network the concept received a crucial boost. The ECG image can be shared over any file sharing app, including WhatsApp. For a printed output link any printer for a A4 sized print out. Having successfully developed the low-cost prototype, BARC has begun issuing licenses to select R&D organizations and automation companies to manufacture and market the product. These firms are now modifying and readying the prototype for commercial launch. The machine currently works on an Android-platform and can be used in conjunction with any smartphone. ]]> https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/8677/university-of-glasgow-in-partnership-with-bbsrc.html https://biospectrumindia.com/news/68/8677/university-of-glasgow-in-partnership-with-bbsrc.html Thu, 27 Apr 2017 14:49:25 +0530 The University of Glasgow has formed a strategic partnership with the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. These type of arrangements are rare as only 11 other universities have entered into the same agreement with the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). The university currently receives more than £30m of BBSRC funding for research in fundamental biosciences. This helps researchers discover more about both human and animal disease as well as food security – the supply of food and individuals’ access to it. The University will work closely with the BBSRC on the government’s Industrial Strategy on ideas surrounding transforming researching into commercial entities. This new partnership will see more dialogue between the bioscience funding agency and senior management of the 12 universities. The increased dialogue is aiming to create a more efficient and joined up approach to investment. ]]>