The University of Hyderabad (UoH) today inaugurated a high-profile Kick-off Meeting and Workshop for the ANRF-PAIR Project, signaling a new era of collaborative research under the theme “Innovations in Health and Medical Technologies: Sustainable Health for a Resilient Future.” The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) – Partnerships for Accelerated Innovation and Research (PAIR) grant is a flagship initiative designed to bridge the gap between premier research hubs and emerging institutions through a “Hub-and-Spoke” collaborative model. It aims to accelerate high-impact scientific research and foster a robust innovation ecosystem by pooling resources, expertise, and interdisciplinary perspectives to address national challenges. The inaugural event served as the official launchpad for the ANRF– PAIR project.
The ceremony commenced with the traditional lighting of the lamp, symbolizing the pursuit of knowledge in addressing global health challenges. Prof. Bramanandam Manavathi, Project Director, welcomed the delegates and outlined the ambitious vision behind the grant, emphasizing its role as a catalyst for academic excellence. In his keynote Inaugural Address, Prof. B. J. Rao, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of UoH, highlighted the critical need for sustainable innovation. He encouraged the gathered scientists to move beyond traditional silos to build a resilient healthcare future.
The session featured a comprehensive overview of the project’s strategic pillars. Prof. Sabat Samrat (Director, R&D) detailed the scientific impact inherent in the PAIR framework, while Prof. M. Ghanashyam Krishna (Director, IoE) elaborated on how the project integrates diverse fields to solve complex medical problems. For the vote of thanks, Prof. S. K. Udgata, expressed gratitude to the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) and the participating universities for their commitment to this collective mission.
A joint presentation by Prof. Manavathi and Prof. S. K. Udgata offered a comprehensive blueprint for the project, detailing how the “Hub-and-Spoke” model will translate academic research into high-impact healthcare technologies and detailed roadmap of the specific goals and technological outputs expected from the partnership.
The technical strength of the project was on full display during the afternoon session, which featured presentations from a network of six partner institutions across South India. The specialized research “spokes” were represented by distinguished faculty members, including Prof. M. Vijju Latha from Osmania University, Prof. M. Balaji from Sri Venkateswara University, and Prof. L. Subramanyam Sarma from Yogi Vemana University. The collaborative effort also extended to Kerala and Karnataka, with insights shared by Prof. E. K. Radha Krishnan of Mahatma Gandhi University, Prof. Anup Kumar Kesavan of Kannur University, and Prof. N. Satyanarayana from the Central University of Karnataka.