CRITERIA-III RESEARCH, CONSULTANCY & EXTENSION 0 III: RESEARCH, CONSULTANCY AND EXTENSION 3.1 Promotion of Research 3.1.1 Is there an Institutional Research Committee which monitors and addresses issues related to research? If yes, what is its composition? Mention a few recommendations which have been implemented and their impact. College has constituted an RPAC (Research Project Advisory Committee) which is a 5 member committee headed by a Chairperson and other faculty members who review all projects; PhD protocols or any other scientific study protocols that are being submitted for extramural grant. The RPAC meets quarterly or even frequently as per the number of projects submitted for funding. The RPAC has also laid down guidelines for sponsored research projects for all departments, as per University rules. The Intramural Research Committee is an Institutional Research Committee which monitors the intramural grants rewarded to postgraduate students & young faculty every year @ Rs.25,000/- for each protocol on competitive basis. The grant is generated under the IMRG research grant which is reviewed by the Research Cell Committee. Currently the amount is fixed to Rs.10 lakh /year. The committee members are appointed by the Principal as per Delhi University guidelines. Members review the scientific content (introduction; rationale; hypothesis methodology; implication etc.) of each protocol and seek clarifications by the PI’s/Co- PI’s so as to facilitate the program for early clearance. After obtaining clearance the proposals are forwarded to higher authority/institutional head for endorsement. A separate Research Cell headed by a nominated senior faculty member and administrative staff look after the projects sanctioned by funding agency. A unique code number is issued to each project and PI’s are guided to proceed from date of commencement which involves hiring of manpower, purchase committee constitution; survey committee; maintenance of ledger/ stock register etc till the completion and preparation of utilization certificate of the project. The research account are regularly monitored by controller auditor general (CAG) for all the funded projects. The College also has separate Ph.D Cell to oversee and monitor the academic progress of Ph.D students in the College. PI’s also submit a copy of reports to the RPAC annually and it also monitors the program report of these projects. Written protocol/guidelines for all funded projects is available at the college website for easy referral. The list of vendors on Rate Contract is displayed on the website for uniform & unbiased purchases of consumables etc. Workshops: Faculty development program is held on how to obtain funding for research. 1 SOP’s for easy referral are also available for PI’s to guide them to commence their projects. MEU conducts workshops for students & faculty members on writing protocol and projects. Our current status of research proposal funded by extramural agency is enclosed as Annexure-3.1 A Central Research Laboratory (CRL) facility has been created & inaugurated by DG ICMR for conducting projects on high throughput machines. The CRL Committee members meet quarterly to discuss the maintenance of equipments; procurement; fund allocation for consumables; guidance to the scientific and technical staff & monitor projects undertaken by CRL. Our institute has established Multidisciplinary Research Unit (MRU) under ICMR DHR scheme and committee constituted to facilitate proper uses of instruments and research. DHR has appointed 2 Scientist, 1 laboratory attendant, and has constituted an advisory committee to design the working protocol of the ICMR approved projects under this scheme. A list of equipment present in MRU and CRL is attached in Annexure 3.1a. The list of projects being conducted in MRU is attached in Annexure 3.1b. 3.1.2 Does the institution have an institutional ethics committee to monitor matters related to the ethics of inclusion of humans and animals in research? The Institute has an Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC) for Human Research headed by Chairperson & Member secretary & 3 internal & 3 external members & 1 advocate from High Court to scrutinize projects; thesis protocols quarterly and issue certification on clearance. IEC holds workshops for understanding the guidelines under the Medical Education Unit, for faculty members and students. (Human and Animal EC are separate). The copies of both committees are enclosed as Annexure-3.2. Institutional bio-safety committee is also constituted headed by Chairperson, member secretary, 2 faculty members and 1 DBT nominee. The committee sends report/proceedings to DBT annually. 3.1.3 What is the policy of the university to promote research in its affiliated / constituent colleges? The College’s primary mandate in medical education is promotion of research activities amongst students. The undergraduate students are encouraged to apply under STS, ICMR projects annually under the guidance of faculty members. Faculty members are encouraged to undertake advance collaborative projects with other research institutes for enhancing knowledge on translational and basic research in area of high priorities: cancer; autoimmunity; genomics; environmental pollutants & health hazards; diabetes etc. 2 A large number of PhD students are enrolled every year in pre/Para clinical discipline under Delhi university involved in clinical research with source of funding either having individual fellowships (NET, GATE, DBT, ICMR, CSIR) or from funded projects as JRFs/SRFs/ Project Assistants. Faculty of Medical Sciences, Delhi university conduct regular meeting of Doctoral Research Committee under the chairmanship of Dean for each department &to monitor the progression the course work of the students for a smooth implementation of PhD programme. Board of Research studies at DU meet annually to make amendments in research related activities to promote research in various fields. All post-graduate thesis protocols are presented by students before approval and submission to the university. 3.1.4 What are the proactive mechanisms adopted by the institution to facilitate the smooth implementation of research schemes/projects? Externally funded projects (both government and private agencies): Extramural Funded Projects: • Externally funded projects: Several faculty members of our College have received extramural grant on competitive basis from ICMR, DBT, DST, UGC, CSIR, Ayur, VYOME, Dabur, environmental ministry, DRDO, NACO for various scientific projects. • Guidelines for institutional research grant are laid down which are available with the Research Cell and uploaded on College website. The PIs are provided with the seed money and dispersed under various heads (Recurring/non recurring) as per the rules of the funding agency. • All procedures and purchases are followed as per the Govt. of India rules and details also available as a written document of Research guidelines for sponsored research projects, Delhi University. The list of vendors on Rate Contract is displayed on the website for uniform & unbiased purchases of consumables, etc. Ledger and stock registers are maintained for each project having a unique ID member by institute and PIs. • As per rules provided by the funding agency, the PI has the power to fully utilize percentage of the overhead money sanctioned for research activities. • The institute enables the timely release of the funds as soon as the sanctioned money is received by the institute. MOU is prepared with the funding agencies, on submission of the document, PI is allowed to utilize the fund. • All the funds utilized in each project are well scrutinized by the Accounts Section before the release of the Utilization Certificate for each project. The TOT for clearance of file is not more than 3 days. • Medical Education Unit has various training programmes held annually for students and faculty members. “How to write research proposal for funding agency” workshop has been undertaken by senior faculty members and invited scientist for DST, ICMR. The achievement of faculty members in the field of 3 research are highlighted in annual report, website and recommended to actively participate .b. Institution sponsored projects: Intramural projects Institute encourages all postgraduate students to apply to the Research Cell of the College under IMRG grant scheme for funding required necessary to conduct their thesis work. The research cell has separate funds which are dispersed every year to MD/MS students found eligible by the IMRG committee. This improves the quality of research and quest to understand science better. The grant under IMRG is evaluated by the institutes Research Cell every year as per the number of PG students enrolled in the MD/MS programme. * Proportion of funds dedicated for research in the annual budget. The Research Cell disburses an annual amount of Rs.10 lakh/ year for funding intramural projects which is reviewed every year taking into consideration the number of students enrolled in postgraduate course. * Availability of funding for research /training/resources. Available funds are utilized according to the demands prepared for consumables in each 5 year plan for research activity by each department for teaching, learning purpose of both under & postgraduate students * Availability of access to online data bases. Yes. 3.1.5 How is multidisciplinary / interdisciplinary / transdisciplinary research promoted within the institution? * between/among different departments / and * collaboration