The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : JNTU moots collaborative research with UHS

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 25, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

JNTU moots collaborative research with UHS

Staff Reporter

The idea is to pass on benefits to end users, says V-C

Kakinada: JNTU, Kakinada, is exploring the possibility of taking up collaborative research projects with N.T.R. University of Health Sciences (NTRUHS) in hospital management and bioinformatics by initially roping inRangaraya Medical College, which has done commendable work in its areas of specialisation.

JNTU Vice-Chancellor Allam Appa Rao had fruitful deliberations in this regard with Vice-Chancellor of NTRUHS A.V. Krishnam Raju during their interaction soon after the former assumed office last month.

Societal needs

The plan is to first concentrate on topical research and incorporate them as new courses in foreseeable future. For instance, a lot of research is being done on ‘bio-markers’, which help in predicting genetic disorders that cause various diseases but the research work is yet to reach end-users in full measure. It is in such areas that the kind of projects proposed to be undertaken by the two premier institutions will fulfil “societal needs.”

Speaking to The Hindu, Prof. Appa Rao said his idea was to translate the tremendous growth in trans-disciplinary research into tangible benefits as the days of “compartmentalised research” gave way to synergy of several disciplines.

Diversified courses

Therefore, he planned to introduce new “diversified courses” related to hydrocarbons, alternative energy systems, atomic energy, climate sciences, nano technology, health care and health care instrumentation in the initial stages of the evolution of JNTU Engineering College into a full-fledged university.

For this purpose, Prof. Appa Rao would invite captains of industry to discuss in what way they could have a mutually beneficial relationship with the JNTU with eight coastal districts under its purview. All this was a part of the JNTU’s vision to forge long-term Public Private Partnerships which transform these districts into a self-sustained prosperous region. Agriculture was another thrust area where Prof. Appa Rao would be seeking the expertise of M.V. Rao, former Vice-Chancellor of Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University and a recipient of the Borlaug Award.

The objective was to transfer research from laboratories to fields, and thereby enhance agricultural production and productivity.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh