Research opportunities in emerging diseases

“There are enormous research opportunities in emerging diseases for students, faculties and researchers” said Dr. Sindura Ganapathi, Fellow, office of the Principal Scientific Advisor of government of India while speaking at the national science week event at Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher education and Research here yesterday. The one health mission launched by the government to provide universal healthcare to people aims to protect the health of the plant including all living creatures whose survival is interlinked. Even while developing a vaccine for a particular disease we cannot work in silos. In one health mission government is focusing on surveillance, outbreak response, prevention and preparedness for emerging outbreaks and diseases. Data analysis of emerging diseases and disease modelling are green shoe area for researchers. Covid 19 was a big wake up call. Infection spread could be natural, accidental or intentional. We need security preparedness from the national defence perspective as well. Aadhaar and the digital payment interface technologies in which India has shown leadership can also be used for disease tracking through countrywide unified electronic medical records management. There are huge research opportunities in these areas, he added.

Dr. Sindura gave away prizes and certificates to winners of research presentations and quiz competitors, best research publications in impact journals and those who obtained substantial research grants from national and international organisations.

Speaking on the occasion the Vice Chancellor Dr. Uma Sekar said the university will provide assistance to students to show their passion for research, showcase their achievements in publications, get governmental grants for advanced research and incubate their ideas into products and procedures for a better healthcare of the nation. The highlight of the events is presentation of 34 papers by students who had published them in good impact journals, she added.

Dr. Kalpana Balakrishnan, Dean Research said there were over 150 poster presentations on 12 themes covering national health priorities by the 14 faculties of SRIHER. Concurrently there were workshops on these themes with lectures by eminent persons.