The Research Review and Strategy Meeting 2024, held on 8th–9th November at the Patodia Auditorium, KAR Campus, brought together research faculty from all LVPEI campuses alongside eminent speakers from leading institutions. The event aimed to encourage, mentor, and offer insights into advancing academic research careers while navigating the complexities of translational research in India.
After welcome remarks by Dr Swati Singh, the meeting opened with Dr. Prashant Garg, Executive Chair of LVPEI, outlining the institute’s future research focus areas and institutional goals. Following this, Dr. Sayan Basu, Director of Research, provided an overview of the ongoing research at LVPEI, emphasizing its breadth and impact.
Throughout the event, invited expert guests shared their personal research journeys and expert insights on navigating academic research in India. Prof. Geeta Vemuganti from the University of Hyderabad discussed bridging the gap between clinicians and scientists, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration. Prof. Surinder Singh Pandav from PGIMER, Chandigarh, delved into the challenges faced by clinician-scientists in Indian ophthalmology research, emphasizing their pivotal role in advancing the field.
Prof. Vikram Kate of JIPMER shared his journey of building a successful translational and clinical research program in gastroenterology, while Prof. Vineeta Bal from IISER Pune provided a thought-provoking discourse on the opportunities and barriers faced by women scientists in India. Dr. Geeta Jotwani from ICMR presented various funding opportunities offered by ICMR, an area of great relevance for the audience.
Adding a personal touch, Prof. Javed Ali, Network Director of the Clinician-Scientist Development Program at LVPEI, shared his journey of carving a niche as a clinician-scientist, inspiring participants to navigate their own paths. Complementing this, Dr. Ponnari Gottipati, Associate Director – Research at LVPEI, provided practical guidance by sharing available funding support for researchers in India.
The day ended with an engaging open discussion on tackling the challenges and opportunities in translational research, moderated by Dr. Soumyava Basu. The discussions focused on fostering collaborations between basic and clinical researchers, sparking dynamic conversations on key topics such as effective communication, navigating authorship challenges, and cultivating mutual respect within teams.
Day 2 Highlights:
The second day showcased the depth of research at LVPEI, with about 20 faculty members presenting their work across diverse fields including retina, neurodegeneration, pediatric vision, ocular infections, Myopia, corneal regeneration, oncology, and epidemiology. This rich array of topics demonstrated the institute’s commitment to advancing eye health research at every level.
The meeting concluded with a mentoring session, moderated by Dr. Charanya Ramachandran, which focused on strategies to address challenges in attracting and retaining top research talent and skilled human resources at the institutional level.
Beyond knowledge-sharing, the meeting served as a platform for networking. It provided researchers with valuable external perspectives, constructive technical feedback, and actionable strategies to overcome challenges, fostering impactful research at LVPEI on both individual and institutional levels.
