SKUAST-K to lead India’s first Centre of Excellence on antimicrobial resistance

STC NEWS DESK
SRINAGAR, JULY 16 (STC): Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir has secured the Department of Science and Technology (GoI)-funded Centre of Excellence (CoE) for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) research under the One Health framework.

This will be India’s first Centre of Excellence for Exploring Challenges to Identify Antimicrobial Resistance Drivers and Potential Antimicrobial Alternatives in a One Health Approach (CoE-AMRDPAA), placing SKUAST-K at the forefront of one of the world’s most pressing scientific and public health priorities.

As a lead institution, SKUAST-K will function through a strategic partnership with some of India’s premier institutions, including Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, the Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Chandigarh, and the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Srinagar, integrating expertise in microbiology, genomics, biotechnology, engineering, artificial intelligence, clinical sciences and public health.

This recognition comes at a time when SKUAST-K has emerged as one of the country’s fastest-growing innovation-driven agricultural universities. During the past few years, the University has built a vibrant research ecosystem with 134 Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs), over 120 technology-based startups, internationally benchmarked laboratories in plant and animal biotechnology, genomics, molecular diagnostics, stem cell biology, precision agriculture and artificial intelligence. Several breakthrough technologies developed at the University, including novel diagnostics for lung health and rickettsial fever and regenerative stem-cell bandage technologies, have also advanced towards international patent protection, reflecting the University’s growing global research footprint.

The Centre will be led by Prof Syed Mudasir Andrabi, Professor and Head, Division of Animal Biotechnology, as the Principal Coordinator. Under his leadership, a multidisciplinary team of scientists from partnering institutions will undertake one of India’s most comprehensive research programmes on antimicrobial resistance.

The Centre will investigate the emergence, evolution and transmission of antimicrobial resistance across humans, animals, agriculture, food systems and the environment through nationwide surveillance, advanced genomics, metagenomics and molecular epidemiology. Leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning, the programme will develop predictive models, intelligent surveillance systems and evidence-based decision-support platforms to strengthen national preparedness against antimicrobial resistance.

An equally important focus of the Centre will be the discovery and development of next-generation alternatives to conventional antibiotics. Research will encompass antimicrobial peptides, phytochemicals, probiotics, biomaterials, nanotechnology-enabled therapeutics and other innovative interventions aimed at reducing dependence on antibiotics while improving human, animal and environmental health.

Welcoming the approval, Vice-Chancellor Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai described the Centre as a defining milestone in SKUAST-K’s journey towards becoming a globally recognised research and innovation university.

“This Centre of Excellence is a national recognition of the scientific capabilities that SKUAST-K has built over the past few years. It reflects our commitment to innovation-led research that addresses real-world challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration. Antimicrobial resistance is a silent pandemic threatening human, animal and environmental health alike.

Through this Centre, we aim to develop science-based, technology-driven and globally relevant solutions that contribute to India’s health security while reinforcing the One Health vision. The Centre will also nurture young scientists, strengthen national research networks and position SKUAST-K as a leading global hub for One Health research and innovation.”
(Straight Talk Communications I Inputs KNS)