SRINAGAR: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar Friday remarked that there is a need to strengthen the interface between academicians, researchers, practitioners, industry and government to translate the research into products for the benefit of the society at large.
The Advisor made these comments while addressing the inaugural session of two-day International Conference on ‘Recent Advances in Biomedical Sciences and Regenerative Medicine (RABSRM 2022) at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) here.
The Conference is being organised by SKUAST-K in association with the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur and the University of Kashmir. The conference held as part of the Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC) programme, Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of India, that aims at improving the research ecosystem of India’s higher educational institutions in collaboration with Department of Science and Technology, GoI & World Bank-ICAR funded National Agricultural Higher Education Project for the institutional development of SKUAST-K.
Addressing the large gathering of researchers, post-doctoral fellows and other eminent scholars, Advisor Bhatnagar highlighted that the future lies in the research and development as well as science and technology and therefore it is imperative upon us to give more impetus to different aspects of research. He added that partnerships and collaborations between institutions are need of the hour to give wide dimensions to the research and thereby subsequent translation of that into the development of society.
Highlighting about the significance of the conference, Advisor Bhatnagar said that this conference will bring together experts, researchers, young scientists and academicians from around the world to disseminate knowledge from interdisciplinary backgrounds. He added that the knowledge provided by the eminent speakers and researchers will help to foster the research culture in the area of biomedical sciences and regenerative medicine at the universities of Jammu and Kashmir and around the country.
The Advisor further said that the conference will provide an opportunity to discuss recent developments in biomedical research in health and diseases and foster future directions in drug discovery and therapeutic interventions for the development and upgradation of medical technologies across the globe.
Lauding the role of SKUAST-K for its contribution in research, Advisor Bhatnagar said that it is gratifying to know about the excellent contribution of this university both nationally and internationally in terms of research and also the useful applications coming out of it. He also lauded the university for its immense contribution to agriculture sector as well as taking timely and great strides in the implementation of NEP-2020.
Remarking about the recent developments across J&K, Advisor Bhatnagar said that Jammu and Kashmir is on the accelerated path of growth and development. He highlighted that in recent years institutions of par excellence like IIT Jammu, IIM Jammu, AIIMS etc have been established in J&K which are significantly contributing to the development of education sector here.
The Advisor further said that in coming years J&K will emerge as one of the best destinations for higher education across the country.
VC SKUAST-K, Prof Nazir AhamdGanai. Prof Ganai, in his address, highlighted the importance of the conference in the present scientific era and hoped that it will provide an opportunity to discuss and deliberate on the issues shared across related fields concerning the improvement in life and working of mankind.
Prof. Ashok Kumar from IIT Kanpur who is also the convener of the conference, in his address, highlighted about the major contours of the conference and said that the main themes of the conference include Bioengineering, Regenerative Medicine, Cancer Biology, Drug Design and Delivery, Vaccine Biology, Tissue Engineering, Biomaterials, Molecular Therapeutics, Animal Biotechnology, Stem Cell Gene Therapy & Biomarkers.
Dean Academic Affairs, University of Kashmir, Prof. Farooq Ahmad Masoodi and Director, Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, D.K Reddy also spoke on the occasion.
Director SKIMS, Dr. Parvaiz Ahmad Koul; senior academicians and HoDs of Kashmir University and SKUAST-K, researchers and doctoral fellows from IIT Kanpur, Kashmir University and SKUAST-K, students and various other eminent personalities were also present on the occasion.