IIT Madras inks pact with National Institute of Siddha

The Indian Institute of Technology - Madras (IIT-M) and the National Institute of Siddha (NIS) are partnering for the development of new collaborative teaching programmes and research in the Siddha system of medicine.

The Indian Institute of Technology - Madras (IIT-M) and National Institute of Siddha (NIS), a centre of excellence for research and higher education in the Siddha system of medicine, have signed an MoU for the development of new collaborative teaching programmes and research in areas of clinical research, molecular biology and in-vitro cell line studies and health system research.

The MoU was signed by IIT Madras director V Kamakoti and Dr R Meenakumari, director of NIS. Under this agreement, both institutes will jointly organize workshops, seminars, conferences, webinars, continuing education programmes (including Continuing Medical Education (CME)] and develop academic programmes.

They will also promote the exchange of students, postdoctoral scholars, PhD, and faculty for teaching/training programmes.

“Siddha is a very important school of Indian Medicine. This collaboration will focus on establishing a scientific basis that explains the efficacy of Siddha medicines,” said Kamakoti.

“National Institute of Siddha is glad to sign MoU with IITM, a premium institute of the nation. We hope that the collaboration will open new avenues for knowledge sharing about the tremendous therapeutic potential of available Siddha medicine and the application of cutting-edge technology of IITM in scientific validation of Siddha formulations, and identification of its bioactive molecule and mechanism of action,” said Meenakumari, as reported by TOI.

"Through modern technological advances, the MoU hopes to conduct advanced joint research initiatives in Siddha medicine. The new study will aid in the separation of bioactive compounds in Siddha medicine used for various diseases, as well as the investigation of mechanistic processes of Siddha formulations. The institutions have committed to conduct research that will result in joint Intellectual Property Rights to preserve the traditional practices and procedures used in Siddha system of medical treatment procedures," reads a statement on the Ministry of Ayush government portal https://ayushnext.ayush.gov.in/.

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