Where traditional systems meet modern science—joint research for evidence-based AYUSH and integrative healthcare.
1. What Are Collaborative Research Programs?
Collaborative Research Programs are joint projects between the Ministry of AYUSH and national/international research bodies, medical institutions, and universities. These projects aim to scientifically validate AYUSH systems, study integrative approaches, and develop new evidence-based protocols for diseases and public health challenges.
In simple terms: AYUSH doctors and modern scientists work together to see how traditional and modern medicine can complement each other for better healthcare.
2. Objectives
| Goal | Description |
|---|---|
| 🧪 Scientific Validation | Generate evidence on the efficacy and safety of AYUSH medicines. |
| 🏥 Integrative Healthcare | Combine AYUSH with modern medicine in hospitals and research settings. |
| 🌱 Drug Discovery & Development | Explore new herbal leads and formulations. |
| 📊 Public Health Research | Study AYUSH interventions for lifestyle and chronic diseases. |
| 🤝 Global Collaboration | Work with international research councils, universities, and WHO. |
3. Key Focus Areas
| Focus | Research Topics |
|---|---|
| Lifestyle Disorders | Diabetes, hypertension, obesity, cardiovascular health |
| Mental Health | Anxiety, depression, stress management (Yoga & Ayurveda) |
| Infectious Diseases | COVID-19, viral fevers, respiratory disorders |
| Geriatric Health | Immunity, joint disorders, neurodegenerative diseases |
| Cancer & Immunology | Complementary role of AYUSH drugs in therapy |
| Women’s Health | Menstrual health, PCOD, maternal nutrition |
| Public Health Integration | Yoga and Ayurveda in NCD prevention programs |
| Pharmacology & Toxicology | Safety evaluation of classical formulations |
4. Major Collaborative Research Programs
View Major Programs
| Project Title | Partner Organization | Coordinating Body | Objective |
|---|---|---|---|
| AYUSH-ICMR Joint Research Program | Indian Council of Medical Research | Ministry of AYUSH | Clinical validation of AYUSH interventions for chronic diseases. |
| AYUSH-CSIR Phytopharmaceutical Program | CSIR Labs (Lucknow, Jammu, Hyderabad) | CCRAS | Discovery of new herbal molecules and formulations. |
| AYUSH-DBT Program on Systems Biology | Department of Biotechnology | CCRH | Understanding molecular mechanisms of Ayurvedic medicines. |
| AYUSH-AIIMS Collaborative Centre | AIIMS Delhi & AIIMS Jodhpur | AIIA | Integrative clinical trials and cross-referrals. |
| AYUSH-ICAR Project | Indian Council of Agricultural Research | CCRAS | Medicinal plant cultivation and standardization. |
| AYUSH-DRDO Nutraceutical Project | DRDO | CCRAS | Formulations for soldiers and high-altitude health. |
| AYUSH-WHO Collaboration | World Health Organization | Ministry of AYUSH | International standards for traditional medicine. |
| AYUSH-IIT Research Network | IIT Delhi, Kharagpur, BHU | NIA / AIIA | AI, data analytics, and technology integration in AYUSH research. |
5. Types of Collaborative Research
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Intra-Ministerial | Projects with ICMR, CSIR, DBT, DST, etc. |
| Inter-Ministerial | Collaborations with MoHFW, MoE, MoD, etc. |
| Institutional | AYUSH Institutes with IITs, AIIMS, and state universities. |
| International | WHO, NIH (USA), and global AYUSH Centres. |
| Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) | Joint studies with industry and start-ups for product innovation. |
6. Examples of Successful Collaborative Studies
| Study | Collaborators | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| AYUSH-64 for COVID-19 Management | CCRAS, CSIR, AIIMS, NIMHANS | Effective as an adjunct therapy for mild/moderate COVID-19. |
| Yoga & Diabetes (Niyantrit Madhumeh Bharat) | MDNIY, MoHFW, ICMR | Large-scale diabetes prevention through yoga. |
| Integrative Oncology Pilot | AIIMS, AIIA | Developed integrative cancer care models. |
| Immunomodulatory Herbal Formulation | CCRAS & DRDO | Herbal immunity booster for soldiers. |
| Swasthya Rakshan Program | CCRAS & NHM | Reduced morbidity in intervention areas. |
7. International Collaborations
| Partner Country / Organization | Purpose |
|---|---|
| World Health Organization (WHO) | Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (Jamnagar, India) |
| Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka | Siddha & Ayurveda cooperation |
| University of Turku, Finland | Herbal pharmacology research |
| Ministry of Health, Nepal & Bhutan | Cross-border training and documentation |
| NIH (USA) | Yoga and mind-body medicine studies |
| German Medical Universities | Homoeopathy and integrative health projects |
| ICCR & UNESCO | Promotion of AYUSH education abroad |
8. Who’s Who (Leadership & Coordination)
| Designation | Name | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH | Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha | Policy direction & approval of MoUs |
| Advisor (Research & Innovation) | Dr. Manoj Nesari | Program oversight and review |
| Director General, CCRAS | Dr. Rabinarayan Acharya | Ayurveda collaborative research |
| Director General, CCRH | Dr. Subhas Singh | Homoeopathy research coordination |
| Director General, CCRUM | Dr. Anil Khurana | Unani & pharmacological collaborations |
| Director General, CCRS | Dr. V. Rajasekaran | Siddha and phytochemical studies |
| Director, AIIA | Prof. (Dr.) Tanuja Nesari | Coordinating integrative medicine projects |
| WHO Collaborating Centre Coordinator | — | Global traditional medicine linkages |
Note: Names/titles can change; update periodically against official sources.
9. Funding & Administration
- Funding: IMR & EMR schemes of AYUSH; NAM innovation grants; joint funding from ICMR, CSIR, DBT, and WHO projects.
- Monitoring: CCRAS/CCRH/CCRS/CCRUM; Standing Research Advisory Committees (SRACs).
- Transparency: Data uploaded to the AYUSH Research Portal and CTRI.
10. Achievements
Show Achievements
- 400+ collaborative projects launched since 2016.
- 100+ joint publications in peer-reviewed journals.
- AYUSH-64 recognized globally for integrative COVID management.
- WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine established in India.
- AI-integrated AYUSH research with IITs and AIIMS.
- Strengthened evidence base for 150+ AYUSH formulations.
11. Contact & Grievance Redressal
Research & Innovation Division, Ministry of AYUSHAYUSH Bhawan, GPO Complex, INA, New Delhi – 110023
Email: research-ayush@gov.in / collaboration-ayush@gov.in
Helpline: 011-24651964 / 011-23340023
Website: ayush.gov.in
Grievances: pgportal.gov.in → Ministry of AYUSH → Collaborative Research Programs.
12. Useful Links
- AYUSH Research Portal: ayushportal.nic.in
- CTRI: ctri.nic.in
- CCRAS: ccras.nic.in
- ICMR: icmr.gov.in
- CSIR: csir.res.in
- WHO GCTM (Jamnagar): who.int/traditional-medicine-centre
13. How Institutions Can Participate
- Visit the AYUSH Research Portal to view active calls for proposals.
- Submit a joint research concept note (AYUSH + partner institute).
- Apply under EMR/IMR or NAM Innovation Scheme.
- Await evaluation by the Research Advisory Committee (RAC).
- On approval, sign MoU and begin project implementation.
Quick Start: Prepare your team (PI, Co-PIs, ethics approvals), define outcomes (clinical endpoints/publications), and align with national priorities (NCDs, integrative models, drug discovery).
14. Benefits of Collaboration
- Access to research grants & shared infrastructure.
- Joint publications and patents.
- Interdisciplinary research exposure.
- Contribution to national health policy development.
- Strengthened global credibility of AYUSH systems.
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