Latest news with #JSSAHER
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Study on stigma faced by people with sickle cell disease
A study co-authored by Deepa Bhat, professor in Anatomy and certified genetic counsellor, JSS Medical College, Mysuru has been published in The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia, marking a national breakthrough in stigma research related to sickle cell disease, said the JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research (JSS AHER), Mysuru. 'It (the study) is a milestone in public health and genetic research,' the JSS AHER said in a release here. JSS Medical College is the constituent college of JSS AHER. The release said the study introduces the ICMR-SCD Stigma Scale for India (ISSSI) – 'the first scientifically validated tool from India to assess the multi-dimensional stigma faced by the people living with SCD and their caregivers.' Developed under the leadership of Dr. Bonta V. Babu and funded by the ICMR National Task Force Project under the Socio-Behavioural Research Division, the ISSSI is a culturally attuned and linguistically adaptable scale, tailored to the Indian context. The multi-centric study involved fieldwork across six tribal regions in collaboration with the Central Tribal University, Vizianagaram, Bodoland University, Assam, Parul University, Vadodara, ICMR-RMRC, Bhubaneshwar and JSS Medical College of JSS AHER, Mysuru. 'The scale captures stigma across key domains – familial, illness burden, interpersonal relationships, healthcare interactions and social disclosure – and is now positioned as a vital tool for the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission,' the release stated. The ISSSI tool is now available for use in clinical settings, community outreach and health systems research, enabling policymakers, clinicians and researchers to address stigma with precision and empathy, according to the university.
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
With sports becoming a profession, youngsters should look for opportunities: Javagal Srinath
With sports gradually turning into a profession in India, youngsters should look for career opportunities in the field, said former international cricketer Javagal Srinath. Participating as a chief guest at the inauguration of a two-day national workshop on 'An integrated approach to athletic performance through nutrition, gut health, psychology, rehabilitation and anti-doping awareness' organized by the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at JSSAHER's School of Life Sciences in Mysuru on May 26, Mr. Srinath recalled that information on training, nutrition, psychology was not as easily available when he was a cricketer in the earlier '90s. 'People used to hide information,' he said while claiming that they did not have any information about the training programmes for sports in the United States, England, Australia. 'We did not know what type of training was given for cricketers, more specifically for bowlers, in Australia, which has a sporting culture,' he said. Training for sports in India, which did not have a sporting culture, was 'incomparable' to the training in Australia, he said. While sportspersons like him in India were only practising on the field, besides lifting weights in the gym, their counterparts in other countries were undergoing advanced and in-depth training programmes, he said. However, with the facilities, opportunities and infrastructure for sports presently available for sports in the country, Indians can now aim for the top. Underscoring the importance of nutrition, Mr. Srinath said sports professionals should be able to guide aspiring sportspersons on what would go wrong if one messes up with nutrition, which is key for performance. Mr. Srinath cited the example of leading cricketer Virat Kohli, who he said watches 'every morsel of food he consumes' and 'its calories' based on whether it would slow him down or help him do better on the field. 'We should look up to such people,' he said. Mr. Srinath also emphasised the importance of psychology for every facet of life, including the performance of a sportsperson. Dr. Raveesha K. A., Dean of Faculty of Life Sciences, JSSAHER, said the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics was starting MSc programme in Sports Nutrition and Management at a time when India is aiming to host Olympics. Such facilities will help create supporting ancillary facilities to ensure there is sufficient manpower to hold such events. The two-day workshop will promote efforts to improve athletic performance of an individual through nutrition and other facets, like psychology, rehabilitation and anti-doping awareness, he said. He pointed out that it is not enough to provide proteins and other nutrients to an individual. It is equally important to customise it to an individual's physiology and biochemistry, as everybody does not come from the same genetic background. 'People come from different genetic backgrounds, cultures, food habits,' he said.
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
JSSAHER gets into space medicine research
In a significant advancement of its research frontier, the JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research (JSSAHER), Mysuru, on Thursday announced the successful completion of an international research training in space medicine by K. Gowthamarajan, professor and head, Department of Pharmaceutics, JSS College of Pharmacy, Ooty. Dr. Gowthamarajan underwent advanced hands-on training at the world-renowned Institute of Biomedical Problems (IBMP-RAS), Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow—an institution at the forefront of global space physiology research. The visit was facilitated through the DHR-ICMR Overseas Fellowship Scheme, generously supported by the Union government. The training, under the guidance of Vassilieva Galina Yu, focused on key domains such as dry immersion, head-down tilt (HDT), vestibular adaptation, and Mars Mission simulations. The visit also included a tour of ROSCOSMOS, delivery of invited academic lectures, and strategic discussions aimed at formalising a future MoU between IBMP-RAS and JSSAHER, said a press release. 'This initiative is part of JSSAHER's larger research vision to explore the pharmaceutical behaviour of drugs in microgravity, thereby contributing meaningfully to India's Space Science Mission and Innovation Agenda,' the release added. Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Mahaswami, Chancellor of JSSAHER, said, 'True education and research must rise beyond boundaries—towards new realms of knowledge that benefit all humanity. Space medicine is one such frontier where our ancient wisdom and modern science converge. I am pleased to support this endeavour which places JSSAHER at the helm of transformative science.' Basavanagowdappa, Vice-Chancellor, JSSAHER, said, 'This marks a defining moment for JSSAHER's research ecosystem. Dr. Gowthamarajan's training at IBMP-RAS will pave the way for groundbreaking research in microgravity-based pharmaceutical sciences. We are excited to develop strategic global partnerships that place India on the world map in space health innovation.' B. Suresh, Pro-Chancellor, JSSAHER, said, 'This milestone reaffirms our commitment to pushing the frontiers of health sciences. Space medicine represents the next dimension of pharmaceutical research.' JSSAHER's pioneering engagement with space physiology and pharmaceutics opens new avenues for collaborative research, interdisciplinary innovation, and knowledge transfer to both national and international space programs, he added.
