SMVDU Katra, 27th Oct. 2018. Another feather in Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University’s cap as the university will be a multi-institutional centre for advance research in human reproductive health. Notably, the Indian Council of Medical Research established its nodal centre at SMVDU, including three collaborative universities, namely Uni. of Jammu (UoJ); Uni. of Kashmir (UoK); and Central Uni. of Jammu (CUJ) have been sanctioned a funding of INR 10 crores, as reported Dr. Rakesh Thusoo, the lead investigator and senior faculty, School of Biotechnology, SMVDU. Further, he informed, other eminent researchers & scientists associated with centre are: Prof.ManojDhar (VC, Jammu varsity); Prof. Raies Qadri (UoJ),Dr. Audesh Bhat (CUJ)and Dr. Swarkar Sharma (SMVDU). Dr. Thusoo, an alumnus of AIIMS & Washington University, emphasised that the centre would deal with issues, such as primary and secondary infertility-locally as well as globally.He reiterated, infertility impacts 25% of couples of childbearing ages globally; however,primary and secondary infertility figures in India is 3 & 8 percent respectively as per WHO. Dr. Thusoo expressed his gratitude to Dr. Sanjeev Jain, Vice-Chancellor, SMVDU for his vision for the multi-investigational project, and he expressed that it was not possible without his guidance, encouragement and administrative support-the J&K state would be indebted to him. Notably, SMVDU has excelled in all fields under Dr. Sanjeev Jain’s leadership. The centre would represent a perfect amalgamation of experienced and young minds as accomplished academicians as well as young scientists would work in collaboration. The Vice Chancellors of all four universities expressed their delight on the sanction of this centre and assured their support to collaborating scientists. The centre will be an important milestone in establishing strong collaborative research efforts in the state. Further,it is expected that the outcomes of the research will go a long way in improving human health in the state.
