Key stakeholders including scientists, researchers, government officials and policy makers attended the sixth meeting of the Task Force on Research Resource Service Facility and Platforms (RRSFP) of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) which concluded at the Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University (SOA) here on Friday.

The two-day meeting reviewed the advancements and progress of the DBT-RRSFP scheme with more than 24 institutes presenting reports about the progress of their work under the scheme.

The meeting assessed the ongoing projects and initiatives under the scheme with the discussion revolving around project milestones, research outcomes, fund allocation and future directions for enhancing students’ interest in research and science. Researchers from SOA also presented report about the progress of research projects during the Task Force meeting.

The Task Force members who attended the meeting included its Chairman, Prof. M. Radhakrishna Pillai, former Director of Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Kerala, Co-chairman Prof. L.S. Shashidhara, Director, National  Centre for Biological Sciences, Bengaluru, Prof. Sunit Kumar Singh, Director, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Centre for Biochemical Research, University of Delhi, Prof. Ramesh Sharma, Retired Professor of North East Hill University, Shillong, Dr. Subeer Majumdar, Director General, Gujarat Biotechnology University, Gandhinagar, Prof. Ashwani Pareek, Executive Director, National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute, Mohali, Dr. Mukesh Jain, Professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, Prof. P.N. Rangarajan, Professor of Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, Prof. S.M. Srinivasula, Professor at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Tirupati, Dr. M.K. Bhatt, Director, National Centre for Cell Science, Pune and Prof. Debashis Mitra, Professor of Eminence at National Centre for Cell Science, Pune.

Dr. Sanjay Mishra, Scientist-H, Dr. Garima Gupta, Scientist-G and Mr. Pratyush Sinha, Junior Technical Assistant were coordinators of the event from DBT, New Delhi while Prof. S.C. Si, Dean, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Prof. Goutam Rath, Prof. Durga Madhab Kar and Prof. B.B. Subudhi were the coordinators from SOA.