Aizawl: The Regional Institute of Paramedical and Nursing Sciences (RIPANS), Aizawl, concluded a three-day national academic programme on scientific writing, immunology, infectious diseases and translational research on Thursday.
The programme comprised a two-day Department of Health Research (DHR)-ICMR-sponsored national workshop on “From Research Question to Publication: Scientific Writing and Science Communication for Evidence-Based Allied Healthcare Practice” held on August 12 and 13, followed by a one-day National CME on “Emerging Trends in Immunology, Infectious Diseases, Molecular Diagnostics and Translational Research” on August 14.
The workshop provided credit hours in accordance with Indian Nursing Council regulations, while CME participants received four credit points from the Mizoram State Medical Council. The CME was jointly organised by RIPANS’ departments of Medical Laboratory Science and Physiotherapy in association with the Indian Immunology Society.
The inaugural session was attended by Dr Vishwa Mohan Katoch, President of the Tuberculosis Association of India and former Secretary, Department of Health Research, and former Director-General of ICMR, as chief guest.
Dr Soumya Swaminathan, FRS, Chairperson of the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, former Chief Scientist of the World Health Organization and former Director-General of ICMR, joined virtually as guest of honour, while Prof M. Ejaz Hussain, Advisor (Research & Academics), SGT University, participated virtually as special invitee.
The two-day workshop covered research foundations, scientific thinking, artificial intelligence in healthcare research, research questions and hypotheses, study designs, data analysis, scientific writing, biostatistics, manuscript preparation, reference management, systematic reviews and meta-analysis.
The sessions were conducted by researchers and experts from institutions including ICMR-RMRC Gorakhpur, IISER Bhopal, PGIMER Chandigarh, NEIGRIHMS, DHR and RIPANS.
The concluding CME brought together experts in immunology, infectious diseases and clinical research from across the country. Sessions covered host-pathogen interactions, vaccination against vector-borne diseases, liquid biopsy technologies, T-cell immunity and radiation therapy in cancer treatment.
A total of 182 participants attended the programme, including 154 offline and 28 online participants.
A separate oral presentation session provided postgraduate and PhD students an opportunity to present their research before an expert panel. According to RIPANS, 39 presenters participated in the session, with 33 attending offline and four online. The presentations were evaluated by Dr Pragya of NEIGRIHMS and Dr Manoj Kumawat of IISER Bhopal.
The programme also featured a tree plantation drive on the RIPANS campus. Visiting speakers and chief guests joined Director Dr Sanjay D. Sawant, faculty members and staff in planting saplings as part of the institute’s campus greening and environmental sustainability initiative.
Speaking at the conclusion of the programme, Dr Sawant said the event reaffirmed RIPANS’ commitment to strengthening research capacity among allied healthcare professionals and promoting scientific temper and translational research relevant to Northeast India.
Organising Secretary Dr Muhammad Azharuddin, HoD, Department of Physiotherapy, said the participation of postgraduate and PhD scholars reflected a growing research culture among allied healthcare students in Mizoram and the Northeast.
Dr Sunil Kumar, Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, said the sessions had encouraged students, faculty members and allied healthcare professionals to develop a stronger research-oriented environment at RIPANS.
Established in 1995, RIPANS is an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, offering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in nursing and allied healthcare disciplines. The institute serves as a centre for healthcare education and research in Northeast India.