The Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, has officially approved a biomedical research project with a total allocation of ₹100 crore, in which Mahatma Gandhi University is a participating institution under the role of a Spoke.
This project is part of the Partnerships for Accelerated Innovation and Research (PAIR) initiative, launched by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) under the DST. The initiative is aligned with the Prime Minister’s vision to promote high-quality research in higher education institutions across the country.
Mahatma Gandhi University’s approved project, titled “AI-integrated Risk Factor Prediction, Biomarker Development, and Advanced Theragnostics for Fatty Liver and Diabetes,” was submitted under the PAIR program’s Hub-and-Spoke Model. The University of Hyderabad has been selected as the Hub institution, with MGU as one of the six Spoke institutions collaborating under the scheme.
Out of 32 project proposals submitted nationwide under different hubs, only seven were selected for full funding. According to the scheme’s guidelines, only institutions ranked top in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) could be considered for the role of Hub. The rest were considered for the Spoke category.
The University of Hyderabad will receive ₹30 crore, while the remaining ₹70 crore will be distributed among the six Spoke institutions. Mahatma Gandhi University, which had submitted a project proposal worth ₹13 crore, is set to receive more than ₹10 crore to implement its research components.
The project was assessed to be closely aligned with the goals of the PAIR initiative, which seeks to encourage collaborative, interdisciplinary, and translational research with direct societal relevance, particularly in critical areas such as public health.
Vice Chancellor Dr. C.T. Aravindakumar noted that the project brings together the combined academic and research strengths of various departments of the university, including the School of Biosciences, School of Environmental Sciences, School of Chemical Sciences, School of Pure and Applied Physics, School of Nanoscience, School of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, and the Inter-University Centre for Biomedical Research and Super Specialty Hospital.
The project is led by Dr. E.K. Radhakrishnan from the School of Biosciences as Principal Investigator. The research team also includes Dr. C.T. Aravindakumar, Prof. P.R. Biju, Prof. K. Jayachandran, Prof. V.R. Bindu, Dr. K.P. Mohankumar, Dr. Anas S., Dr. M.S. Sreekala, and Dr. Mahesh Mohan.
According to the Vice Chancellor, the university’s technical expertise, collaborative research ecosystem, and focus on societal impact were key factors in the success of the proposal. He added that this achievement would significantly enhance the university’s research landscape and open new avenues for innovation and academic advancement.
