States » NorthPosted at: Sep 24 2026 7:28PM


Media delegation from MP explores drug discovery, agri-tech during Jammu CSIR-IIIM visit

Jammu, Sep 24 (UNI) A media delegation from Madhya Pradesh visited the CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM), Jammu, and got a first-hand exposure to the institute’s research and technology-development activities spanning drug discovery, medicinal and aromatic plants, biotechnology, farmer-oriented technologies and startup incubation.
During the visit, coordinated by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Government of India, the delegation was briefed on the institute’s research ecosystem and its efforts to translate laboratory research into technologies, products and livelihood opportunities, particularly in the areas of medicinal and aromatic plants, natural products, biotechnology, nutraceuticals and healthcare.
In his message to the visiting media delegation, Director CSIR-IIIM Jammu and CSIR-NBRI Lucknow Dr Zabeer Ahmed as per the official communiqué, highlighted the institute’s mandate of integrating modern scientific research with traditional knowledge and natural resources for societal benefit.
He underlined the importance of taking scientific research beyond laboratories through technology development, industry linkages, farmer outreach, and startup incubation.
He also emphasised the role of the media in communicating scientific achievements, emerging technologies and their potential applications to a wider public.
The visit began with a welcome address by Dr Saurabh Saran, Scientist-F, Fermentation and Microbial Biotechnology Division and Principal Investigator, IIIM Technology Business Incubator, who introduced the delegation to CSIR-IIIM and its broad research mandate.
He explained that the institute works across several interconnected areas, including plant-based and herbal drug development, fermentation-based technologies, biotechnology, medicinal and aromatic plants, natural products and technology commercialisation.
Dr Saran also outlined the institute’s research pipeline, covering areas such as natural-product research, biotechnology, fermentation, pre-clinical studies and technology development.
Dr Suphla B. Gupta, Scientist-F, Plant Sciences and Agrotechnology Division, briefed the delegation about the CSIR Aroma Mission and CSIR-IIIM’s work on medicinal and aromatic crops.
She explained the different phases of the Aroma Mission and the institute’s efforts to create awareness among farmers, promote suitable aromatic crops and establish linkages between farmers, researchers and industry.
The visiting journalists were also briefed about the scientific interface created by CSIR-IIIM between farmers and industry, including the testing and quality assessment of plant material and essential oils to facilitate better market linkages.
Dr Amit Nargotra, Scientist-F, Natural Products & Medicinal Chemistry Division, explained CSIR-IIIM’s work in natural-product research and computational drug discovery.
He described how medicinal plants contain a large number of phytochemicals and how scientists identify, isolate and study compounds with potential biological activity.
Dr Nargotra explained how computational tools can help researchers study interactions between small molecules and protein targets, screen compounds and identify potential candidates before they move to more time-consuming laboratory experiments.
He said computational approaches can help narrow down large numbers of potential compounds, thereby supporting faster and more targeted research.
Vidushi Abrol, Business Manager, IIIM Technology Business Incubator, briefed the delegation about CSIR-IIIM’s entrepreneurship and startup-support ecosystem.
According to the presentation, 165 startups have been registered with the incubator since its inception, with several resident and non-resident incubatees working on products and technologies.
The incubator has also supported startups in areas including nutraceuticals, cosmetics and other products derived from natural resources.
The delegation subsequently visited relevant research and technology facilities at the institute to understand the practical aspects of the work presented during the technical sessions.
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