Page 5 - Final for web Spectrum Volume 15 Issue 5

2022 | Spectrum | Volume 15 Number 5 5

SRMIST Opens Hi-tech Centre for Clinical Trials & Research

STAFF WRITER

SRM Institute of Science
and Technology (SRMIST),
Kattankulathur through its
Faculty of Medical Camp; Health
Sciences has set up a 5000 square
feet Research Faculty in SRM
called the ‘Centre for Clinical
trials & Research’. This
facility is located at SRM Medical
College Hospital and Research
Centre (SRM MCH&RC).
This world-class clinical trial
research center is capable of Professor of Pharmacology Dr. Satyajit Mohapatra being felicitated Pro-Vice Chancellor (Medical & Health Sciences)
handling clinical trials of drugs, by Pro-Vice Chancellor (Medical Health Sciences) Lt.Col. Lt. Col. Dr.A.Ravikumar, Registrar Dr. S.Ponnusamy,
vaccines, and medical devices. Dr.A. Ravikumar, Registrar Dr. S. Ponnusamy for his contribution Dean (Medical) Dr. A. Sundaram inaugurating the SRM ‘
The facility was inaugurated for COVAXIN Clinical Trials (Phase 1, 2 and 3) at SRM MCH&RC. Centre for Clinical trials & Research.
by Pro-Vice Chancellor (Medical said, “SRM MCH&RC has During the COVID, when we Associate Professor, Dr. Melvin SRM MCH&RC. Grants
& Health Sciences) Lt. Col. come 46th position in research were awarded the clinical trial George, Associate Professor, Dr. have been obtained from various
Dr. A. Ravikumar, Registrar Dr.
S. Ponnusamy, Dean (Medical) and such initiatives will help in of COVAXIN, the minimum Sangeetha Raja, and also from all funding agencies such as ICMR,
Dr. A. Sundaram among others. increasing the hospital ranking.” requirement was for a virology branches of medicine (Clinical BIRAC, DBT, DHR-ICMR
He then urged students to make lab. This was met by developing, Pharmacology, General Medicine, National, and International
The facility has two wards with use of this world-class center and a world-class lab that was done General Surgery, Obstetrics
12 beds and several rooms for undertake research activities. entirely in-house.” & Gynecology, Pediatrics, Pharmaceutical companies
sample collection, processing, data Cardiology, Pulmonary Medicine, such as Sanofi-GSK, Genova
documentation, and monitoring. It “Research is the most important Urging students to overcome Nephrology, anesthesia and Pharmaceuticals to carry out
has state-of-the-art equipment for area that we are concentrating on the fear he said, “Only when you critical medicine, Dermatology). these research activities.
preserving serum samples at -80 these days,” said Dean (Medical). grow out of fear can you achieve
degrees Celsius and -20 degrees “Students and faculty can do anything in life.” Recalling the The same team has successfully The competency-based MBBS
Celsius deep freezers, high-speed any types of clinical trials at this Pro Chancellor’s vision he said, conducted the COVAXIN Clinical curriculum being followed
centrifuge, facilities for electronic centre like the recent COVAXIN “Research is to be the most Trials (Phase 1, 2 and 3) at SRM at present gives the student
data capture with high-speed trial. Research should be given important part of an institution.” MCH&RC, which was the exposure to Clinical Research in
internet, thermohygrometers, primary importance.” The SRM Centre for Clinical only hospital in Tamil Nadu the pre-final year. Students can
and data security is maintained Lt. Col. Dr. A. Ravikumar in trials & Research is headed chosen for this trial. choose it as an elective subject.
with controlled access. his presidential address said, by Professor of Pharmacology Dr. In the last ten years, more Our students get exposure to
Congratulating the team, “It is important to motivate the Satyajit Mohapatra, and supported than 35 sponsored and academic current Clinical Research and
Registrar Dr. S. Ponnusamy hidden talents in this Institution. by a team of Investigators clinical trials have been done in trials in this Centre.

International conclave on cryptocurrency

STAFF WRITER Taiwan, an affiliate of Pionex, the framework. He also expressed Avishek Kundu, Lead Decision P. Subhashree Natarajan Dean,
world’s leading cryptocurrency the willingness of his exchange Scientist (AI&ML), Ernst & College of Management, SRMIST
Fintech Research Lab of exchange explained that they to subject itself to all the norms Young, India argued that the welcomed the 103 registered
College of Management are quite willing to expand to and legal requirements as and possible misuse of technology participants, CXOs and resource
SRM Institute of Science other countries by subjecting when they are enforced. Austin, can be easily controlled by the people; and, underlined the
and Technology organized themselves to the regulatory PM, CEO, EduCentral & Fintech use of sophisticated technology relevance and timing of the event
an International Conclave on requirements. He emphasized the Expert, India justified the strength by citing the example of Robotic under the current context. Dr.
Cryptocurrency to discuss strength of blockchain platform of the underlying technology Process Automation (RPA). The Kavitha Shanmugam, Associate
‘Cryptocurrency: Is the Road as a technology to take care of that drives cryptocurrency and event was evenly represented Professor and the Convenor of the
ahead murky or Clear?’ on Dec. 9 all concerns about data privacy was quite clear in his view that by participants from academics event, College of Management,
2021. Delegates from Taiwan, UK and information security. Dr. cryptocurrency has come to stay. and industry, particularly from SRMIST gave the compelling
and India presented the current Su-Hua Ou, Associate Professor, Phani Krishna Pamarthy, the banking and financial data evidences in favour of the
complexities and opportunities CEO of DCFC (Digital Currency Principal Product Engineer, services domain. There was cryptocurrency industry. The
in investing in Crptocurrency. and Financial Research Center), ZF Group, United Kingdom an enthusiastic participation session was well moderated
The fears, dilemmas, market Soochow University, Taiwan brought out the advantages of from students, research scholars by Dr. Ravi Thodla, Visiting
positions and proposed policies highlighted the Non-Fungible the technology to mitigate the and faculty members from Professor-Finance.
were discussed elaborately. Token (NFT) initiatives and misuse of data and also protect various business schools. Dr.
The benefits of the underlying substantiated the need for a the privacy of investors.
technology, possible entry of broad-based approach to tokens
foreign crypto exchanges in third that may move to Metaverse Mr. S. Raghava Suresh,
world countries and the potential NFT. Arjun Vijay, Co-Founder & Industry Advisor (Banking
to generate employment for the Chief Operating Officer, Giottus and Financial Services), Tata
talent pool, was also explored. Cryptocurrency Exchange, Consultancy Services, India
The conclave was well received one of the prominent Indian explained the salient features
by Academicians, researchers, exchanges urged the policy of the proposed Central Bank
crypto enthusiasts and the makers to take a broader view Digital Currencies (CBDC) by
millennial investors. Some of of cryptocurrencies with suitable the Reserve Bank of India and
the experts of the conclave were: checks and balances in the form how this may facilitate the move
David Wu, Chairman of Picology, of a well conceived regulatory towards a cashless economy.