AIIMS to join hands with Michigan University for bio-med research

All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is collaborating with the University of Michigan in the US to strengthen research capabilities in bio-medical sciences.

The two institutions will work together in developing possible scientific collaboration in the areas of cancer research, trauma care and research in translational aspects of immunology, genetics and stem cell biology, professor N K Mehra, Dean of Research at AIIMS said.

The memorandum of understanding will be signed tomorrow by AIIMS Director M C Mishra and President of UM, Mary Sue Coleman in the presence of Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Union Health Secretary Keshav Desiraju.

A high-powered committee of 21 scientists and researchers including Joseph Kolas, Senior Associate Dean for Education and Global initiatives and Professor Raghuvendra Krishnan, Associate Professor of Surgery, UM Health Systems from the University of Michigan are in the city for the agreement.

"We have done brainstorming sessions with their faculty on developing possible scientific collaboration in the areas of cancer research, trauma care and research in translational aspects of immunology, genetics ans stem cell biology. We already had a collaboration with them at a minor scale, but now we want to expand it and have mutual cooperation in bio-medical research. After the MoU is signed, further detailed framework of the collaboration will be developed," Mehra said.

"The University of Michigan is one of the most reputed state university medical schools and mutual cooperation between these two prestigious institutions would definitely help fostering research capabilities," said Dr M C Mishra.

AIIMS recently also tied up with Australia's Alfred Health and Monash University to strengthen trauma-care systems across the country.

The Australian and Indian Governments are investing over 2.6 million dollars through their Australia-India Strategic Research Fund Grand Challenge Scheme, to find the best ways of delivering needed care to injured people.

PTI