Three faculty members from Assam Royal Global University (RGU) have secured funding under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Start-up Grant Scheme for 2024–25. The grants, sanctioned by the Department of Health Research (DHR), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and ICMR, are intended to support new researchers in biomedical and health sciences. Together, the three projects have received over Rs 1 crore in funding.
The awardees include Dr Chongtham Sovachandra Singh, Dr Anuj Kumar Borah, and Dr Pundarikaksha Das. All are affiliated with the Royal School of Biosciences and the Royal School of Life Sciences at RGU. Each of their projects includes collaboration with co-investigators from within and outside the university.
Dr Singh’s project, based in the Department of Biotechnology, focuses on tumour development linked to raw areca nut exposure and uses a mouse model to study molecular changes. He is working in collaboration with Professor Amlan Das of the Department of Microbiology. The project has received Rs 45.06 lakh in funding.
Dr Borah, also from the Department of Biotechnology, is investigating the use of phytosomes for regulating lipid metabolism. His co-investigators include Dr Biswajyoti Borah from the Department of Animal Biotechnology, CVSc, Khanapara, and Dr Manas Jyoti Kapil from the Royal School of Pharmacy. The sanctioned amount for this research is Rs 38.01 lakh.
The third project, led by Dr Das of the Department of Forensic Science, examines the use of molecular dynamics simulations to estimate post-mortem intervals. His work is being conducted in collaboration with Dr Dharmeswar Barhoi of the Department of Zoology. This project has been allocated Rs 20 lakh.
Vice Chancellor of RGU, Professor A.K. Buragohain, congratulated the faculty members and noted the significance of securing such funding. He encouraged the teams to carry forward their work with diligence and in alignment with their project goals. Dean of Research and Development, Professor Rama Ranjan Bhattacharjee, acknowledged the recognition from ICMR as a notable outcome for the university. Associate Dean of R&D, Professor Amlan Das, also commended the researchers and expressed appreciation for the support provided by the university’s research facilities.
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