Pune rheumatologist among five Ayush Distinguished Scientist Chairs

This is for the first time that such appointments of research scientists from various related disciplines, including modern medicine, have been made to boost clinical research in Ayurveda, Yoga, and other related Ayush disciplines, They will work as Professor Chairs in the five selected and specific domains.

Rheumatologist and Director of the Centre for Rheumatic Diseases, Dr. Arvind Chopra,

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Pune rheumatologist among five Ayush Distinguished Scientist Chairs

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Pune’s noted rheumatologist and Director of the Centre for Rheumatic Diseases, Dr. Arvind Chopra, has been appointed as Ayush Distinguished Chair for Public Health and Epidemiology. He along with four other eminent scientists has been selected by the Ministry of Ayush as distinguished scientific chair to strengthen interdisciplinary culture, research capacity, and the ecosystem for multi-institutional collaborations.

This is for the first time that such appointments of research scientists from various related disciplines, including modern medicine, have been made to boost clinical research in Ayurveda, Yoga, and other related Ayush disciplines, They will work as Professor Chairs in the five selected and specific domains.

Chopra is also the national clinical coordinator of the Central Council of Research in Ayurvedic Sciences – Council for Scientific and Industrial Research project for Covid 19 drug trials. Chopra told The Indian Express that the establishment of the chairs was an important step towards futuristic ‘Integrative medicine’ that is currently an important agenda item of NITI Aayog.

The Ministry of Ayush coordinates interdisciplinary research and evidence-based translation. It is wth this purpose that it has identified five domains for setting up of Ayush Distinguished Scientist Chairs: Interdisciplinary Clinical Research,. Public health and Epidemiology, Ayurveda biology and Basic sciences, Pharmaceutical Drug Development, and Consciousness and Cognitive Sciences.

The Ayush Distinguished Scientist Chairs would provide guidance to Research councils and National institutes under the Ministry in research, education and healthcare services, according to an official statement.

They would also engage in promoting research, development and innovation in strategic areas of interest to facilitate conceptualization and preparation of research proposals for funding from external agencies. Besides, they would design and execute short-term capacity-building programs for research Staff/ academicians of Research councils /National institutes under MoA focusing on the discipline of the Chair.

The others who have been appointed are renowned experts, too.

The Ayush Distinguished Chair for Interdisciplinary Clinical Research, Dr. Nandini. K. Kumar is the former Deputy Director General Senior Grade of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and pioneered bioethics education in India.

Dr. Sharmila Mande is the Ayush Distinguished Chair for Ayurveda biology and Basic sciences while Dr Madhu Dikshit a noted scientist is the Ayush Distinguished Chair, for the domain of Pharmaceutical Drug Development.