Scope for Mainstreaming Ayurveda Research in Teaching professionals

‘SMART’ (Scope for Mainstreaming Ayurveda Research in Teaching Professionals) program aims to boost scientific research in priority healthcare research areas through Ayurveda colleges and hospitals.

Implementation agencies

The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) and the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), the two prominent institutions under the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India for regulating medical education and conducting scientific research respectively.

Eligibility criteria

Eligibility criteria to take up collaborative research projects under SMART by an Ayurveda academic Institution/ Hospital

• Ayurveda academic institution with good track record of clinical research activities
• Ayurveda Hospital with good track record of clinical research activities
• Ayurveda academic institution with experience of PG/PhD/sponsored clinical studies
• Academic institution/ Ayurveda Hospital with good patient flow of OPD and IPD in the priority areas as per enclosed letter /reference  
• Colleges and their teaching hospitals with NAAC/NABH/NABL accreditations and DHR registration will be given priority.

Duration of Projects

Maximum of 2 years

How to apply

Ayurveda academic institutions fulfilling the eligibility criteria and interested to take up the collaborative research activities in the priority research areas listed in SMART scheme of CCRAS may submit Expression of Interest (EoI) in the prescribed format. The EoI shall reach to CCRAS through email (ccrassmart2.0@gmail.com) with a copy to NCISM (president.boa@ncismindia.org). The EoI is called for during January.  

SMART 1.0

The initiative is conceptualised with an objective to identify, support and promote innovative research ideas in healthcare research areas including Osteoarthritis, Iron Deficiency Anaemia, Chronic Bronchitis, Dyslipidemia, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Obesity, Diabetes Mellitus, Psoriasis, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Under the ‘SMART 1.0’, around 10 diseases were covered with the active participation of teaching professionals from 38 colleges.

SMART 2.0

Priority Research Areas:

• Bal Kasa: - Safety, tolerability and adherence to Ayurveda formulations
• Malnutrition: - Safety, tolerability and adherence to Ayurveda formulations
• Insufficient lactation: - Safety tolerability and adherence to Ayurveda interventions in Insufficient lactation
• Abnormal Uterine Bleeding: - Safety tolerability and adherence to Ayurveda interventions in Abnormal Uterine Bleeding
• Osteoporosis: - Safety, tolerability and adherence and improving disease outcomes in Osteoporosis in post menopausal women 
• DM II:- Safety, tolerability, adherence to Ayurveda interventions, improving disease outcomes and improving Quality of life in DM 

Source : CCRAS