Rajan Gandhi
Institute of Integrative Medicine(IIIM), Jammu is a premier institute of India renowned worldwide for its research work and products .Started in 1957 as a small Regional Drug laboratory which was subsequently taken over by CSIR in 1957 as Regional Research Laboratory(RRL) and Col.Sir Ram Nath Chopra , father of Modern Pharmocolgy in India , as its first Director. However in 2007 keeping in view the expertise developed in the area of natural products and revised mandate of the institute to explore and exploit natural, nature like and synthetic products with modern scientific tools to reduce the burden of disease, the institute became more focused towards integrative medicine hence was renamed as Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine in 2007 by the governing body of CSIR (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research).
Having significant expertise in the area of medicinal & aromatic plants, initially Col. Chopra started its related R&D activities such as collection of plants from north & north-west and study the chemistry and pharmacology of the plant extracts and the new molecules isolated from these plants. Thus the initial mandate of this laboratory was mainly focused on screening the flora of north India for new molecules and to study the biological activity of these molecules. Gradually the activities of the institute increased, many more disciplines were introduced, that were important for the exploitation of regional resources such as mineral technology division, paper & pulp, fur technology division, sericulture, food technology division and mycology division. The main stream department such as chemistry, botany and pharmacology were strengthened by the introduction of a small animal house, instrumentation and chemical engineering & design division. The activity of the
Institute gradually increased which showed up in its publications and technology developments. With the passage of time, the institute developed high quality expertise and infrastructure for working in the area of plant based products & drugs to explore new botanicals for new molecules and new activity. The institute specialized for working in the area of chemistry of natural products, synthesis of new & nature like molecules. These were studied for their use on various indication such as Oncology, hepatoprotection(liver protection), anti-bacterial, bio-enhancers, anti-diabetes, anti-inflammation, aphrodisiac, hypertension, immunomodulation ( immune response is altered to a desired level) , anti-oxidants, oral care and beauty care. Some of the areas which did not progress to the satisfaction level gradually became redundant and were dropped subsequently. Such is the expertise of the institute that a MoU was signed by IIIM, Jammu with Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Jammu on 8th March, 2005 wherein IIIM, Jammu will help the SMVDU to start B.Tech in Industrial Bio-Technology, the first such course to be taught anywhere in the country, thus creating a niche for IIIM Jammu at National level.
Under the agreement students of this course will have access to the state-of-the-art facilities available at IIIM, Jammu and also get an opportunity to interact with the scientists and visiting faculty from IIIM .In addition to this MoU was signed with SKUAST Srinagar regarding mutual scientific & technical cooperation for strengthening the R & D programs on cultivation of mushrooms, and some selected medicinal & aromatic plants, with Dharamarth Trust Jammu and Kashmir for gainful utilization of resources and land mass available with JKDT, an MoU signed between IIIM Jammu and M/S Prathista Industries Ltd., Secundrabad by which IIIM Jammu will develop technologies for the production of Gluconate salts of Cu(II) & Fe(II), glucono-delta lectone and Calcium lectobionate for the party and this MoU fetched IIIM Jammu the CSIR Technology Award . A Tripartite MoU has been signed between IIIM, Jammu, M/S Medley Pharmaceutical Ltd., Mumbai and Center for Liver Research and Diagnostics, Hyderabad and under this agreement the organizations would work in collaboration for generation of pharmacological data of a product of plant origin i.e. 97- M developed by IIIM for treatment of liver disorders. Under confidential disclosure agreement signed between IIIM, Jammu and M/S Bicon Ltd., Bangalore, IIIM will disclose Intellectual property in the area of herbal drugs to the party for entering into a joint venture for the development of herbal drugs or formulations there of. Under an MoU signed between IIIM, Jammu and M/S Genova Bio-techniques Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad,IIIM Jammu had to undertake “Up-scaling and standardizing the Process for the Production of the enriched extract of 1,25-dihydroxy Vitamin D3 , MoU has been signed between IIIM, Jammu and Flex Foods Ltd., Dehradun for undertaking Toxicity studies as per USFDA/OECD Guidelines and preclinical studies on a herbal formulation as a dietary / food supplement for sexual behavior changes. Agreement signed between DST, New Delhi, IIIM, Jammu, Ayurvedic Research Center-KEM Hospital, Mumbai, TN Medical College , Mumbai, M/S Dhootpapeshwar Ltd., Mumbai for the ” Development of herbomineral and plant based disease oriented immunomodulatory formulations”. Tripartite agreement signed between DST, New Delhi, IIIM, Jammu and Indian Medicines Pharmaceuticals Corp. Ltd., Mohan (Almora) for the “Standardization of Ayurvedic herbal formulations using modern techniques,with Lupin Ltd., Mumbai for developing anti-diabetic marketable products of plant origin, with Chitarangan National Cancer Institute, Calcutta for evaluation of in vitro cytotoxicity of certain compounds against human cancer cell lines, with M/s Shanta Biotech on 21st June, 2001 for development of recombinant homologue of IIIMY-15 enzyme as a commercial product directed to pharmaceutical Industry for resolution of racemic drug intermediates, MoU signed between IIIM and International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi for collaboration on identification of biologically important substances which are being produced by gall midge after infection in susceptible and resistant varieties of rice.
Thus IIIM Jammu has become one of the few institutes of the country where we have strong R&D interface in the areas of botanical sciences, natural product chemistry, pharmacology with a strong instrumentation support under the same roof. In addition, there is a multipurpose pilot plant for process development for the extraction of plant based materials, isolation of bioactive products and fermentation technology. Some of the industrial partners of this institute are multinational companies of repute such as Colgate Palmolive, USA; Procter & Gamble, USA; Sigma, USA; Chromodex, USA; Tropical Botanics, Malaysia; Nicholas Piramal, Mumbai; Ranbaxy Laboratories, Gurgaon; Lupin Limited, Pune; Bharat Biotech, Hyderabad; Prathista Industries, Secunderabad; Genova Biotechniques, Hyderabad and many others.Some of the plant varieties developed at IIIM includes Cymbopogons (lemon grass), lemongrass essential oil is used as aromatherapy to relieve muscle pain, externally to kill bacteria, ward off insects, and reduce body aches, and internally to help your digestive system. It can also be used for flavoring tea and soups, and it adds fragrance to cosmetics, soaps, and homemade deodorizers.Some varieties of lemongrass developed are KALAM for drought prone areas, Tawi Rosa which is used in high grade perfumery.Jamrosa,Ocimums,Mentha Longifolia . In addition to this Hops which is an essential raw material for manufacture of beer , Ashwagandha variety with 200% yield over the conventionally grown varieties, Dioscorea composite, the strain developed by IIIM, Jammu grows vigorously and contain 3.6 % diosgenin used for hormones and oral contraceptive and Celery which is used as a flavoring agent.
Numerous scientists of this institute have been awarded prestigious awards nationally as well as internationally since it’s inception. In fact such is the yeoman services of IIIM Jammu that it is not only helping farmers to grow all these , but collect their crop, get the oil from yield and sell the oil on behalf of farmers and transferring money to their accounts directly.Under the expert supervision and persistent efforts of present Director Dr. Ram A Vishwakarma ,IIIM Jammu has been awarded permission by state Government for cultivation of cannabis for research and medicinal products which will further boost the local economy and job opportunities .IIIM is also in collaboration with State Government to utilize unutilized Government lands for medicinal plants cultivation thus providing local population the much needed expertise at no cost at all.To sum up the things IIIM , Jammu is no doubt Crowning Jewel of the state of Jammu and Kashmir which is not only doing research work but providing expertise, infrastructure to whole state as well as making state proud of its contribution worldwide in the field of pharmacology, chemistry and integrative medicine. In the end a few words of praise for IIIM Jammu: “Do not worry about who get the credit or praise of the work done. Continue work to give your best.Your reward may come unexpected.”
rajangandhijammu@gmail.com
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