Research project approvals double in a year at PGIMER, Chandigarh
The figures of last four years revealed that maximum number of research projects were cleared in 2017-18, doubling the number in a year. There has also been an increase in the amount of grants sanctioned.
The Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) has witnessed a considerable increase in the research projects sanctions in a year after the first dean (research) took charge.
As the institute had been lacking in research, Dr Jagat Ram, director of the institute, came up with a decision to create a separate post of dean (PGIMER). Last year, Dr D Behera was appointed as the first dean (research) of the institute.
The figures of last four years revealed that maximum number of research projects were cleared in 2017-18, doubling the number in a year. There has also been an increase in the amount of grants sanctioned.
In 2016-17, 42 new projects worth Rs 98 lakh were sanctioned, whereas in 2017-18, 92 projects worth Rs 2.83 crore were sanctioned.Dr D Behera said, “The increase is due to no time restraint as now doctors are free to submit their research project anytime of the year. Earlier, a doctor could submit one project a year.”
The dean has also introduced a programme, wherein a team of experts (senior researchers) or mentors will be readily available for supporting the researchers.
“Currently, we are running short of funds as we do not have enough budget, ” Behera said.
“The funds for research purpose are generated via administrative charge which is 3 % of the total administrative cost of the research grants issued to the doctors under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) or other grants,” said dean (research).
“We cannot support all the doctors due to lack of funds,” he said. He said, “The PGIMER is meant for research but there is no provision of budget here. The annual budget of the institute is around Rs 1,200 crore.”
He added, “The ministry does not provide us with funds for research. In a first, we have demanded a budget of Rs 10 crore from the main budget. We want to get the large research projects approved.”
He informed that there is no system of filing a patent in Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research. “I want the researchers to convert their clinical research to translate into practical utility of patients. There should be a bi-directional approach to it,” he said.