Pondicherry University officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on June 09, 2025, with the Directorate of AYUSH, Puducherry. This partnership will foster interdisciplinary research, access to funding, enhancing curriculum and contribute to the validation of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy) practices. Under this partnership, various Departments of Pondicherry University can collaborate with Directorate of AYUSH, Puducherry.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. P. Prakash Babu, Vice-Chancellor of Pondicherry University, stated that “This collaboration with AYUSH will empower all stakeholders of Pondicherry University to engage in high-impact initiatives to address the evolving healthcare requirements, specifically through traditional healthcare even as antimicrobial resistance (AMR) emerges as a major public health concern. Together, we share a goal to develop innovative, scalable, alternative healthcare solutions with national and global relevance.”
On behalf of the Directorate of AYUSH, Dr. R. Sridharan, Director of AYUSH and CEO of the State Medicinal Plants Board described this collaboration as a bridge between laboratory research and real-world application of traditional healthcare systems. He also highlighted the range of government programs aimed at promoting and integrating traditional Indian healthcare systems.
Talking about the importance of the collaboration, Prof. S. Victor Anandkumar, Dean of International Relations, Pondicherry University, highlighted that this bipartite agreement involving academia and the government opens up a new path for cross-disciplinary learning.”
In his address, Dr. V. Thillai Sekar, Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology and MoU Coordinator, added, “This partnership is the culmination of a year-long dialogue and strategic planning. By collaborating with AYUSH practitioners, the university can leverage traditional knowledge and practices alongside modern scientific methods to develop new approaches to healthcare.”
The signing of this MoU signifies a forward-looking approach to fuse academic research with regulatory and industry frameworks and contribute to public healthcare system.