Shillong, Aug 23: The Delhi-based Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS), in collaboration with the Research & Development Cell of North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), hosted a one-day outreach programme focusing on funding opportunities provided by the Life Sciences Research Group (LSRB) under the Specialist Panel on Soldier Health and Drug Development (SHDD) of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
The outreach event held on Thursday saw significant participation from across the region marking a pivotal moment in advancing collaborative research and development efforts.
The inaugural session of the programme was attended by distinguished guests, including NEHU Vice-Chancellor Prof PS Shukla, who served as the chief guest, and INMAS Director Dr Sudhir Chandna, who was the guest of honour. The event also featured notable attendees such as Prof SR Joshi, Director of R&D Cell at NEHU, Dr Gaurav Mittal, Secretary of LSRB, Dr Pooja Srivastava, Member Secretary of SHDD-LSRB, and prominent scientists from INMAS Delhi, including Dr Himanshu Ojha, Dr Vinod Kaushik, Dr Pradeep Goswami, Dr Sudip R Nayak, and Dr Suchi Bhagi.
Dr Sudhir Chandna opened the programme with a compelling address, emphasizing the critical role of INMAS and DRDO in the development of processes, products, technology, and devices essential for soldier welfare and national security.
He acknowledged the challenges faced during times of crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and urged scientists and faculty to propose innovative research projects with strong hypotheses and potential for practical outcomes. His call to action highlighted the importance of quality research proposals in securing funding and advancing scientific progress.
Prof PS Shukla appreciated the significant contributions of DRDO and reaffirmed NEHU'’s commitment to supporting initiatives that benefit society and the nation.
He offered robust support from the university to further collaborative efforts and programme execution.
Dr Gaurav Mittal and Dr Pooja Srivastava provided comprehensive insights into the funding guidelines and priority areas for research within DRDO. They encouraged participants to submit high-quality proposals throughout the year, emphasizing the continuous availability of research funding opportunities.
The programme concluded with an engaging session of interactive discussions between DRDO scientists and the attendees, which included over 130 faculty members and scientists from medical institutions, universities, ICAR, research institutions, and colleges across Northeast India. This dynamic interaction fostered a greater understanding of research funding mechanisms and explored collaborative opportunities for advancing soldier health and drug development.
The outreach programme underscored the collective effort to enhance research capabilities and strengthen the ties between academic institutions and defence research organizations. It marked a significant step toward addressing the evolving challenges in soldier health and drug development through collaborative innovation and research excellence.
