SAMBALPUR: Two centres of excellence - Natural Products and Therapeutics, and Regional Development and Tribal Studies - will be established in the
Sambalpur University. The university has received a grant of Rs 5 core from the
World Bank for the establishment of the two centres, said a press release issued by the university.
The centre of excellence on Natural Products and Therapeutics will be instituted to develop potential natural products through extensive preclinical trials for therapeutic applications. This centre will receive a grant of Rs 4 crore over a period of five years. The centre will explore the indigenous medicinal plants based on the traditional knowledge from the Gandhamardan hills, the biodiversity hotspot of western Odisha, for development of potential natural products, said the release. "The centre will function in joint collaboration with the department of
biotechnology and
bioinformatics and school of chemistry of the university," said public relations officer and assistant professor of department of political science Rajat Kujur.
"Specifically, the centre will focus on the development of therapeutic products for treatment of malaria, filaria, tuberculosis, cancer and neuro-degenerative diseases," he added.
Similarly, the centre of excellence on Regional Development and Tribal Studies will be established to address the issues on livelihood and migration patterns. Further it will focus on documentation of indigenous knowledge system besides art, folklore, music and dance. It will promote regional and tribal development by providing valuable inputs for policy intervention, he said. This centre will receive a grant of Rs 1 crore over five years.
