DHR plans online facility for promotion of biomedical research

With a view to strengthening the human resource base for health research, which is a permanent cause of concern in the country, the Department of Health Research (DHR) is planning to establish an online teaching and learning facility for the promotion of biomedical research, with components for supporting workshops.The Department has prepared a Cabinet note on the proposed steps to broad-base the human resources including the online facility and circulated for comments among the concerned agencies and departments, it is learnt.“Much of the biomedical research being carried out in the country today is confined to a few medical colleges/ institutions of the country. It is important that this research is encouraged in other parts of the country, especially rural and remote areas. One of the reasons for the limited reach has been the lack of knowledge and support for research. This programme will help prospective institutions and individuals to access resources- both financial and technical on research and promote research across the country,” according to the Department note.The Department plans to strengthen human resource base of the country by organizing focused training programmes within and outside India, for midcareer professionals in medical colleges and other academic establishments. About 3500 personnel are proposed to be trained (in five years) in various programmes.Improving the career path for young researchers, expanding the number of specialized researchers and then providing good initial support in the form of start up grants are planned as a part of this programme.Fellowships for training for researchers in identified advanced fields, scholarships at PG level for producing human resources in newer areas, young researcher programme to encourage young students for research, special training programmes in specified areas, mid-career research fellowships for faculty development for medical colleges and support to women scientists who have had break in career are among the different programmes.During the current year, it is planned to train over 700 mid-career/ other seniors and young investigators and provide start up grants for the faculty trained.An allocation of Rs.45 crore (plan) has been made in BE 2013-14 for the programmes, though the projected demand was to the tune of Rs.123 crore. BE 2012-13 allocation was Rs.44 crore which was drastically reduced to Rs.4.02 crore at the RE stage but the actual expenditure was nil due to the fact that the schemes could not take off for lack of necessary approvals.
Source:Pharmabiz