Hyderabad based Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), a constituent laboratory of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and University of Ladakh have decided to work jointly on extraction and isolation of high-altitude medicinal plants.
A Memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the collaborative research was signed between the institutions, last Tuesday. During the MoU signing ceremony professor SK Mehta, Vice Chancellor, University of Ladakh, Professor Ashok Sharma, Registrar, and Dr Riyaz MK Khan, Senior Faculty from the University were present.
Prof Mehta outlined a few of the critical areas of research in Ladakh. He emphasised the need for a joint study on climate change, energy, biodiversity, rare medicinal plants, and the introduction of green-house technologies, etc. Under the MoU, the students of Ladakh, especially from chemistry and other related departments, would undertake their project work at CSIR-IICT. Their exposure to state of the art analytical, R&D facilities, infrastructure, and other research environments at CSIR-IICT would enhance their skill sets and employability.
Under this MoU, students of the University of Ladakh will be visiting IICT, Hyderabad, for a short duration of 03 months based on the Government of India scheme for North-East, J&K and Ladakh regions.
“Our scientists would jointly work with University of Ladakh on deployable IICT technologies to improve the livelihood of local people of the region. Both teams would engage in collaborative work on several areas, including societal i.e. waste to wealth, green farming, nano-membrane based water purification technologies, etc. IICT is particularly interested in the extraction and isolation of bioactive compounds from the medicinal plants that grow in high-altitude zones of Ladakh,” said Dr. D. Srinivasa Reddy, Director, CSIR-IICT.
The University of Ladakh delegation visited essential facilities in CSIR-IICT, including National Mol Bank (NMB), Animal House, etc. NMB can store up to 1.6 million molecules in solid and liquid forms with storage and retrieval automated. (India Science Wire)