Research Promotion Policy

Research Promotion Policy

Research Promotion Policy
Approved Board of Management on 13th January 2018
Notification Notified by Registrar vide notification No. SRHU/Reg/OO/2018-16(i) dated 17th February 2018
Reviewed / Revised Board of Management on 9th July 2022
Notification Notified by Registrar vide notification No. SRHU/Reg/OO/2022-154(i) dated 01st August 2022
Next Review 2025-26
  1. Short Title & Commencement
    1. This Policy shall be called as “Research Promotion Policy 2022” of Swami Rama Himalayan University.
    2. This Policy supersedes the earlier ‘Research Promotion Policy 2018’ as approved in 18th meeting of the Board of Management held on 13th January 2018.
    3. This Policy shall be deemed to have come into force from the date of approval of the Board of Management of the University.
    4. Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Policy, pronouns in masculine, feminine and neuter genders shall be construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular form shall be construed to include the plural and vice versa.
  2. Preamble
    Swami Rama Himalayan University (SRHU) aims to emerge as the core centre of Education, Research, Innovation and Translation, taking the region towards Atma Nirbhar Bharat. Completely aligned to the UGC, NMC, NCI, Science-Technology and Innovation Policy of India, SRHU continues to be a major contributor of urban and rural Education, Health, Skilling, Plant Sciences, Environment and Social up-liftment.
  3. Vision
    SRHU has a vision to transform R & D activities in all its constituent units and create many Centres of Excellence, Research Parks, Innovation Centres and Technology Business Clusters promoting collaboration and cooperation amongst Institutions and Universities within the region thus transforming the State’s Science-Technology and Innovation Ecosystem. Through its chain of Start-ups slated for incubation at the Technology Business Incubators, the University aims to provide employment and add value to the State’s economy.
  4. Governance
    The University has promoted its research through the Research Committees at the Academic Unit level, and a University Research Committee at the central level since 2017. Further, since 2022, SRHU is working through the R&D Guidelines of the UGC by creating three-tier Governance Structure for implementing its Research Policy with special emphasis on the vision. At each tier, there are eminent researchers, scientists, policy makers and Government officials to keep a balance on immediate, medium-term and long-term objectives ensuring strategizing, prioritization, timely implementation, mentorship and course correction from time to time. Three levels of Research Governance are: Research Advisory Committee (RAC); University Research Committee (URC) and Five Academic Constituent Research Committees.
  5. Objectives
    1. To promote Research, Development and Innovation in different constituent schools/colleges of the University with equality in spirit and gender;
    2. To ensure integrity, quality, and ethics in research
    3. To incentivize the enhancement of intellectual capital
    4. To facilitate national and international research collaborations and partnerships
    5. To encourage consultancy and industry-academia collaboration
  6. Executing Objectives
    1. To identify emerging areas of research and encourage the faculty members to undertake research in these areas as well as in topics of academic, practical, and socially relevant significance;
    2. To promote interdisciplinary research involving more than one knowledge domains
    3. To establish suitable research infrastructure in the university enabling the researchers to undertake research projects of relevance.
    4. To encourage and facilitate the publication of research papers and research findings in reputed academic national/international journals.
    5. To facilitate the presentation of the research work through presentation of the research work at academic events such as workshops/seminars/conferences.
    6. To organize seminars/conferences/workshops on research topics and training programmes in research methodology.
    7. To encourage faculty members to acquire external research projects with funding from state/national/international agencies of govt./non-govt./industry/business houses/NGOs/etc.
    8. To identify and establish linkages including MOUs for long term relationships with national and international research organizations and with industry and business organizations for widening the scope of research opportunities available to the researchers of the university.
    9. To strengthen the institutional capacity for strategic, technical and operational planning, budgeting and control of all research activities.
    10. To serve as a facilitator/consultant for providing professional guidance, technical support and recommendation.
    11. To identify and inform researchers about the appropriate research opportunities announced by different academic, research, industry or government organizations.
    12. To develop, prescribe, and implement a research quality assurance mechanism for ensuring that all research activities conform to standard quality specifications and the code of ethics of the University.
  7. Thrust Areas of Research, Innovation and Translation

    Though the philosophy of independence of research pursuits is followed by the University, whereby the researchers have the freedom to choose their own stream/topics of research, in order to make the research relevant at the institute’s, state and national level, a thrust is given to make research socially relevant. The University thus encourages different schools to have their internal research policy aligned with regional, state and national guidelines and priorities. 50 % of the research is Grassroots-Top while 50% pertains to Top-down approach.

    Under each discipline/department/constituent unit, a push is being given to prepare an exhaustive list of research areas called “Thrust Areas Bank” of that particular discipline. These areas are to be innovative; having translational elements built-in so that the University meets the guidelines of the UGC on Atmanirbhar Bharat. These idea banks are expected to be based on the individual and cumulative academic and research strength of the school. The concept of “Idea Lab” would also be institutionalized wherein the students, faculty and other allied staff would be encouraged to drop ideas of research, which can be opened periodically and discussed for taking it further. Following methodology is being integrated for research policy being developed from “Grassroots to the Top”:
    1. Creating an Idea Bank within each Constituent Unit of the University;
    2. Making the Idea Bank available to the research scholars for use in their doctoral thesis;
    3. Use of the Idea Bank by the faculty for identifying the subject for their minor research projects and even for major research projects;
    4. Use of Idea Bank for industry sponsored projects or for collaboration with other institutions.
  8. Independence of Research, Writing Projects, Publication and adherence to Human & Animal Ethics
    1. The University strives to create a conducive environment for research. The University to the extent feasible, shall support all research to be undertaken, by allocating the space, facilities and other resources for research programmes based on the scholarly and educational merits of the proposed research. The SRHU grants freedom to its students and faculty:
      1. To carry out research in their chosen field
      2. To approach any funding agency to seek support for their research work
      3. To publish/report their findings and conclusions freely
      4. Provides development opportunities to researchers for writing research proposals and reports, publications, patent filing, etc.
    2. However, the SRHU also reserves the right to:
      1. To scrutinize the research proposal and the findings
      2. Make it available for constructive criticism of peers
      3. Adherence to established professional ethics, norms pertaining to the health, safety, privacy, and other personal rights of human beings
      4. Adherence to CPCSEA that checks infliction of injury or pain on animals.
  9. Types of Intramural & Extra-mural Funding
    1. Seed Money for Research
      To initiate research activities of its young faculty members, the University provides seed money to research proposals approved by either the Research Committee, the Thesis Committee, or in case of Ph.D. the Departmental Research Committee. The purpose of the seed grant is to carry our preliminary research based on the expertise of the faculty and its progression into the next level. The money could be used for a research facility, equipment, manpower, software, travel and stationary etc. The University also provides administrative and other assistance to submit and defend research projects funded by external agencies. The quantum of funds under Seed Grant generally varies between Rs. 20,000/- up to Rs. 2.00 lakh.
    2. Intramural Project
      The next level of funding is called Intramural Research Grant which may vary from Rs. 2.00 Lakh upto Rs. 40.00 Lakh. This is for the purpose of establishing concrete proof of initial research hypothesis and concepts. For granting funds under intramural grant, it is assumed that the preliminary work has been done and data scrutinized by the Internal Research Committee. The results of intramural research are expected to lead to extramural funding projects so as to build the research at a larger scale.
    3. Extramural Research Projects
      A faculty member can submit a research project to any government or non-government agency. Every research proposal has to be submitted for SRHU’s approval through the Research Committee of the respective Academic Units who will maintain an up-to-date record of all submitted as well as sanctioned research projects. The University may monitor the progress, maintain its accounts and submit the utilization certificate in time to the funding agency for all funded research projects. University encourages students and faculty members to report findings from a research project either as a publication or patent.
    4. Collaborative National & International Research
      University encourages its faculty members to conduct collaborative research with their peers from reputed national and international Universities and Institutions. The University also signs Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with prominent Universities and Research Institutions, for conducting joint research in the areas of common interest.
    5. Consultancy and Sponsored Research
      SRHU encourages its faculty to take up sponsored research and consultancy assignments and projects. All consultancy activities are governed by the policy on the subject. Any intellectual property arising out of sponsored research will be owned jointly by the University and the sponsors.
  10. Publication of Papers in Journals
    Faculty members are expected to publish their research in referred national and international journals. It is expected that the journals in which publication is done are indexed in SCOPUS (Elsevier) and/or Web of Knowledge. In order to improve quality of research publications, University provides incentive for all such publications that appear in SCOPUS (Elsevier) and/or Web of Knowledge (Clarivate Analytics) indexed journals and also meets the expenses if required.
  11. Patent and IPR
    The University encourages its research community to file for patents arising out of their work as per the policy of the University on IPR. The University creates awareness about intellectual property rights among faculty, researchers and scholars from time to time. Annual seminars are organized to bring about this awareness. The application for filing patent is submitted to SRHU’s Intellectual Property Rights Cell for a scrutiny. Expenses for filing patent, sharing of revenue in case a patent is commercialized is done as per statutory provisions.
  12. Research Misconduct
    Research misconduct is defined as any fabrication, falsification or plagiarism in proposing, performing or reviewing research or in the reporting results of research. Research misconduct does not include an honest error or difference of opinion, authorship dispute that do not involve plagiarism, and violations of other University policies. The University believes that the occurrence of misconduct is a threat to the basic principles of research. The University has in place a mechanism for taking action on all allegations of misconduct, and ensures that the procedures for the inquiry, investigation and adjudication of any misconduct are well defined and just for all parties involved.
  13. Policy on Prevention of Plagiarism
    The University through its policy on plagiarism ensures that all quoted work is reproduced with necessary permissions and attributions. The research work carried out by the faculty researchers, staff and students has to be based on original ideas. Proper mechanisms are existing in the University to check the plagiarism.
  14. Human Ethics Committee
    The University conducts all its research on Humans under the supervision of a Human Ethics Committee that is registered under National Ethics Committee Registry for Biomedical and Health Research, Department of Health Research.
  15. Animal Ethics Committee
    The animal research in the University, especially the small animal research is conducted after due approvals from the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC) that is duly registered under CPCSEA of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Animal Welfare Division.
  16. Establishment of Endowment/Research Chairs
    The University envisages to create Research Chairs and a scheme for appointment of Professor Emeritus for a particular term, where very senior scientists or professors shall be appointed for chairs and they shall conduct research on an important topic. The research chair professors shall take some teaching load in line with the principle of integrating the research and teaching.
  17. Creation of Scientific Cadre
    The University has brought the research at a Centre Stage for all disciplines of Science and Technology. SRHU is thus inclined to create a parallel Scientific Cadre for promoting and providing strength to all its clinical units.
  18. Research Park & Research Incubator
    ‘The idea-a Research Park’ is gradually emerging in the University wherein collaborative research between academia and industry could take place. The infrastructure and ambience are planned to be jointly created, especially in Healthcare, Grassroots technologies, water purification and Environmental protection for conducting research along with experts from industry and the University. They work together and find solutions to the problems of industry or society and create new knowledge which ultimately will benefit the socio-economic system. In the Park, the research can also be conducted jointly by different institutions of the University.
  19. Technology Business Incubators/ Start-ups
    The University has allocated a space of 5,000 square feet for the establishment of an exclusive Technology Business Incubator that would house faculty to promote on-campus incubation and start-up ecosystem. Under this scheme, the Infrastructure, Manpower and Mentorship are provided for conducting research in a particular area and the University along with the industries invest money; and the experts from the industry and the University work in cohesion.
  20. Reward System for the Conducting Research
    The University incentivizes the faculty, students and other associated members with research awards in various formats. The awards are linked to the research output and considered as one of the criteria for promotion along with other academic responsibility. Annual research appraisal of faculty is calculated based on research metrics.
  21. Research Fellowship
    The University Research Fellowship has been introduced by the SRHU w.e.f. 2022-23. The Terms of Reference of the fellowship are in line with the UGC guidelines.
  22. Review of the Policy
    The University reserves the right to interpret, alter, amend, modify, cancel or withdraw any provision mentioned herein above in this Policy without any notice. The policy will, however, be reviewed after a period of three years.
  23. Notwithstanding anything stated in this Policy, for any unforeseen issues arising, and not covered by this Policy, or in the event of differences of interpretation, the Vice-Chancellor may take a decision, the decision of the Vice-Chancellor shall be final and binding.
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International Endowed Chair Professor

Prof Rakesh Kumar

Prof Rakesh Kumar is the Founder and President of the Breast Cancer in Young Women Foundation (USA), dedicated to vaddressing the distinct issues affecting young women with breast cancer. He also serves as the International Endowed Chair Professor at the Cancer Research Institute of the Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences. Additionally, he holds adjunct professorships at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and Virginia Commonwealth University.

Dr Kumar earned his Ph.D. from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in 1984 and began his research career at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in January 1986. From 1988 to 2017, he held various academic and leadership positions —including faculty member, tenured professor, distinguished professor, endowed chair, department chair, and research leader—at esteemed institutions such as Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. From 2017 to 2022, he served as the National Chair for Cancer Research for the Government of India and as a distinguished professor, continuing his innovative work in breast cancer research.

With nearly 40 years of research and professional experience, Dr. Kumar has made conceptual contributions to the field of cancer research (h-index 108, citations >50,000). He has authored over 325 peer-reviewed publications, edited or co-edited nine books, and delivered 290 invited lectures worldwide. His work has been featured on the covers of 18 major cancer journals and has been highlighted in institutional research reports of the MD Anderson Cancer Center.

A passionate educator and mentor, Dr. Kumar has guided 67 trainees throughout his career. He serves on the editorial boards of multiple leading cancer journals and has served on the editorial boards of 21 top cancer journals. His global reputation is further demonstrated by his participation in about 100 peer-review panels for cancer research funding in the US and internationally over the past 28 years.

Dr. Kumar's innovative research has earned him numerous prestigious honors, including the Hinkle Society Faculty Award at Penn State University (1994), the Dalla/Fort Worth Living Legend Faculty Achievement Award in Basic Sciences (2004), the Ranbaxy Research Award (2006), and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Association of Indian Scientists in Cancer Research (2013), among others. Dr. Kumar's pioneering research continues to have a profound influence on the fields of oncology and breast cancer, opening up new opportunities for biomedical scientists and trainees worldwide.