AIIMS Bhubaneswar celebrated its second annual research day on Friday, emphasising the pivotal role of research as a cornerstone of its mission.

This year, the institution took a significant step forward by hosting its inaugural regional research conclave, uniting various regional institutes to foster collaboration in biomedical research.

Executive director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar Dr Ashutosh Biswas said: “With an impressive record of securing around ₹15 crore in research grants from national and international funding agencies and over 1,000 publications in high-impact journals annually, AIIMS Bhubaneswar is committed to advancing medical research.

“A state-of-the-art central research facility has been established at the institute, focusing on modern biotechnology and product development with translational applications. Faculty members have achieved significant milestones, including new patents in orthopaedic surgical applications and advancements in the diagnosis of visual disorders.”

The executive director added: “Collaborations with IIT Bhubaneswar have led to the initiation of multiple research projects in artificial intelligence, further expanding the institute’s innovative capabilities.”

Executive director of AIIMS Rishikesh Dr Meenu Singh emphasised the importance of value-based medicine in conjunction with evidence-based approaches to enhance quality of life and health economics.

The former director of communicable diseases at South East Asia Region (Sear), WHO, Dr Swarup Sarkar discussed how global health policies have successfully tackled issues such as HIV and tuberculosis.

With the decline in global health funding, Sarkar said: “India is uniquely positioned to lead in the development of new drugs, clinical trials and vaccinations.”

Director of neurotology at the Institute of Neurosciences Calcutta Dr Anirban Biswas said: “Research should focus on addressing common problems, ensuring that the man on the street benefits from our findings.”

Among others Dr Sanjeev Kumar Bhoi, professor and head of neurology, Dr P.R. Mohapatra (dean academic), Dr Satyajeet Misra (dean research), Dr Soubhagya Kumar Jena (dean examination) and Dr Bhagirathi Dwivedi (associate dean research), also spoke on the occasion.

The event was attended by prominent regional research institutes, including IIT Bhubaneswar, National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Institute of Life Sciences, ICMR-RMRC Bhubaneswar, KIIT-TBI Bioincubator, SOA University, SVNIRTAR, and Hi-Tech Medical College and Hospital.