The first chapter of the National Biomedical Research Competition (NBRCOM-2018) was organised by All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, under the Aegis of Society of Young Biomedical Scientists on 15th of October, 2018 to commemorate the 87th birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. The young researchers from different fields of Biomedical Science, Namely Medical Science, Life science, Pharmacy, Nursing, and AYUSH, congregate under a single umbrella across the country. Competition in Oral & Poster Sessions was judged by eminent biomedical researchers and faculty from IIT, Roorkee; JNU, Delhi; BHU; PGIMER, Chandigarh; IMTECH, Chandigarh; IGIMS, Patna; AIIMS, New Delhi; AIIMS, Rishikesh; UAU, Uttarakhand.
The conference theme was "Biomedical Research: an insight into young researcher's scientific work". Young researcher awards were instituted for winners of each category. It was followed by awards and prize distribution to research scholars in various categories, including; Life Science, Medical Sciences, AYUSH and Innovative Ideas & Patents. Cash prizes of Rs 25000, Rs 15000, Rs 10000 and other amounts were awarded to winners in each category. Total 550 researchers Participated in this scientific competition, and among them, 305 presented their scientific research in different categories. The one-day research competition was enriched with various scientific presentations that extensively covered current topics of biomedical sciences.
Chief Guest of the ceremony was Prof Y K Gupta former Dean AIIMS, Delhi. Prof Gupta stressed that modern research should be integrated and multidisciplinary. He also commended the organisers for attracting a large number of participants in the competition.
Patron, Prof Ravi Kant (Director, AIIMS, Rishikesh), said that All India Institute of Medical Sciences is progressing in the direction of its original goals, which were envisioned during its establishment under PMSSY. Prof Ravi Kant said that the world is moving fast forward in healthcare field and it is very important for initiatives like this in our country, so that we would keep pace and contribute towards global development.
Chairperson of NBRCOM-2018, Prof Shailendra Handu, (HOD, Pharmacology) while welcoming the delegates and dignitaries, presented an overview of AIIMS as a medical education and research institution. Prof Handu said that Meaningful research needs nurturing, collaboration, cross-talk across disciplines and multidisciplinary inputs if there are genuine intentions to extend the frontiers of medicine.
Convener of NBRCOM-2018 Dr. Puneet Dhamija (AIIMS, Rishikesh) proposed vote of thanks and gave a massage to the researchers to promote more translational research and create competitive workforce as per global standards.
Organizing Secretary Rohitash Yadav (President SYBS-INDIA) worked tirelessly for months to make the program successful. Yadav believes that when there is the sincerity of purpose, good intentions and strong commitment then it is not difficult to overcome uphill tasks. The day the Young Indian Scientists bring laurels to the country, the Society will have succeeded in its mission. He sought the support of the youth to make a success of this scientific journey of society. Society will run on the ideals of the scientists like Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and will develop a research environment in the country.
Sawati Garg of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, was adjudged the first winner in the Oral category. Garg was awarded the Young Researcher Award for her research work, "Exploitation of Common Scaffold of Perforin like Protein of Plasmodium falciparum as a multistage drug target for combating malaria". While Aligarh Muslim University's Minibal Abadi was second, and Suman Bharti of Central Drug Research Institute got third place.
Mansi Baweja of AIIMS, Delhi, was adjudged the first winner in the Life science category in the poster presentation. Rupesh was awarded the Young Researcher Award for her research work, "AiP1: a novel protein isolated from the sea-star Astropecten indicus and its bioactive potential". While Abhishek Shivapp Agowdar of Shiv Nadar University, Uttar Pradesh, was second and Puja Kumari of PGI, Chandigarh, got third rank.
Rupesh S of AIIMS, Delhi, was adjudged first winner in the medical science category in the poster presentation. Rupesh was awarded the Young Researcher Award for his work, "Lower Gamma Band Power Generation in Limbic Cortex and Medial Temporal Lobe: A potential EEG Biomarker for Neurodegeneration in Glaucoma". While Vibha Taneja of All India Institute of Medical Sciences was second and Nidhi Sharma of Central University of Punjab got third rank.
Dr Athul S Puthalath of AIIMS, Rishikesh, was adjudged the first winner in the Innovative Idea & Patents category in the poster presentation. Dr Athul was awarded the Young Research Award for his research work, "An innovative tool in pterygium surgery - the pterygium shaver". While Ashutosh Tiwari of IIT, Delhi, was second, and Madhu Mohan R of AMCEC, Bangalore, got third rank.
Dr R Shailaja of Siddha Central Research Institute, Chennai, was adjudged the first winner in the AYUSH category in the poster presentation. Dr Shailaja was awarded the Young Researcher Award for her research work, "Preparation, Process optimization and Characterization of 'Sangu Parpam' - A Traditional Siddha drug of marine origin". While Dr Sadhna Aggarwal of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, was second and Neeladrisingha Das of IIT, Roorkee, got third rank.