PAU and DMCH Forge Strategic Partnership to Integrate Agricultural and Medical Sciences

Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), both based in Ludhiana, have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in an innovative effort to strengthen multidisciplinary research and educational collaboration. This five-year agreement marks a significant step towards merging agricultural and medical sciences to address critical health and nutrition issues.

The formal signing ceremony was held at the PAU campus, with PAU Vice-Chancellor Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal and DMCH Principal Dr. Gurpreet Wander spearheading the event. Noteworthy attendees from DMCH included Dr. Bishav Mohan (Medical Superintendent and HoD Cardiology), Dr. Sandeep Sharma (Medical Superintendent and HoD Urology), Dr. Sandeep Kaushal (Dean Academics and HoD Pharmacology), Dr. Shweta Batta (Dietary Department Incharge), Mr. Gurjeet Singh (Public Relations Officer), and Mr. Vijay Kumar (Secretary, Principal’s Office). PAU officials also attended the event.

Dr. S.S. Gosal highlighted the shared vision of integrating agricultural and medical sciences to address health and nutrition challenges. He emphasized that this partnership would enhance educational programs, stimulate collaborative research, and disseminate innovative technologies. Key research areas identified for collaboration include phytonutrient-rich produce, low glycemic index varieties, crop biofortification, bio-enzymes, and medicinal plants. Additionally, the collaboration aims to develop value-added foods from biofortified crops and validate their nutritional benefits, focusing on managing metabolic disorders through tailored diets.

Expressing enthusiasm about the partnership, Dr. Wander noted that the MoU would elevate research, improve educational experiences, and create impactful technologies. He underscored the importance of translating the agreement into tangible community benefits, including health check-ups, anemia alleviation initiatives, millet promotion, and the popularization of high-fiber and high-protein diets. He also mentioned the development of teaching modules, skill development programs, human resource management initiatives, clinical and practical student postings, and public engagement efforts as key areas of focus.

Dr. Rishi Pal Singh, PAU’s Registrar, proposed that detailed work plans be developed jointly by both institutions to ensure the practical implementation of the agreement. These plans could include academic interactions, faculty exchanges, and joint seminars, aligning with PAU’s strategic framework of community connection, inspired learning, and fostering a unique research culture.

Earlier, Dr. Kiran Bains, Dean of the College of Community Science, outlined the core objectives of the MoU, emphasizing the enhancement of educational programs in food, nutrition, and human health. She stressed the importance of collaborative research in environmental health and social sciences, technology transfer to the community, and the establishment of inter-institutional links. The agreement also includes provisions for mutually agreed financial arrangements for exchange programs and consultancy services.

Dr. Ajmer Singh Dhatt, PAU’s Director of Research, highlighted ongoing university research projects focused on nutritional security, such as zinc-fortified wheat and carotene-rich crops. He discussed PAU's adoption of new technologies, including genome editing and artificial intelligence. Dr. Makhan Singh Bhullar, PAU’s Director of Extension Education, detailed the university’s extensive outreach system, ensuring the prompt delivery of information and innovation to farmers.

Dr. Sandeep Sharma and Dr. Bishav Mohan shared insights into the research at DMCH, a 1625-bed tertiary care NABH-accredited teaching hospital in Ludhiana, renowned for its state-of-the-art facilities, exceptional patient care, and comprehensive training for students.

This collaboration builds on prior interactions, including Dr. Bishav Mohan’s recent visit to PAU to discuss the Hypertension Initiative, Mission Swasth Kavach. This initiative, led by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and executed in collaboration with DMCH and the World Health Organization (WHO), aims to involve the private sector in hypertension screening, diagnosis, management, and control. The groundwork for the MoU was laid during this visit.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks from Dr. Manav Indra Singh Gill, Dean Post Graduate Studies, PAU. The entire ceremony was coordinated by Dr. Vishal Bector, Associate Director (Institutional Relations), PAU.