<p>Retaining the faculty in AIIMS and bringing them together were some of the major challenges that he faced during his five-year tenure as the director of the institute, R C Deka said.<br /><br /></p>.<p>“Retaining the faculty at AIIMS was a big challenge as many wanted to leave and go to corporate hospitals. That is why I had introduced many initiatives like the institute bearing the entire expenses of their travel abroad for conferences,” said Deka, who retired on September 30.<br /><br />“Further, I raised their incentives to Rs 60,000 per year which is being given to them as a learning resource allowance,” he said.<br /><br />According to Deka, when he took charge in May, 2009, the faculty of AIIMS were divided into various groups.<br /><br />Engaged in research <br /><br />“To bring them together, I engaged them in research activities like human genomics, immunogenetics with organ transplant programme, molecular medicine, structural biology and protein structure, aiming at new drug development,” he said.<br /><br />During the previous academic year, the faculty, scientists and students of the institute published over 1,800 research papers in national and international journals. <br /><br />Over 500 young scientists at different positions like research fellows, research associates and PhD students had been engaged in significant research projects under the supervision of the faculty, he said.<br /><br />Presently, 508 research projects, including 55 projects funded by international organisations like WHO, NIH, UNICEF and some Indian agencies, are in progress.<br />The faculty and scientists have brought extramural funds of Rs 69 crore and 211 research projects were successfully completed this year.<br /><br />“Institutional funds of Rs 5 crore was also distributed to young faculty for undertaking 58 new research projects involving newer areas like cardiology, neurosciences, stem cell studies, drug designing and protein research,” he said.<br /><br />“Under my chairmanship, the Research Advisory Council took a number of steps to enhance our research capabilities and to stimulate young scholars and faculty to learn research techniques using platform-based technology,” he said.<br /></p>
<p>Retaining the faculty in AIIMS and bringing them together were some of the major challenges that he faced during his five-year tenure as the director of the institute, R C Deka said.<br /><br /></p>.<p>“Retaining the faculty at AIIMS was a big challenge as many wanted to leave and go to corporate hospitals. That is why I had introduced many initiatives like the institute bearing the entire expenses of their travel abroad for conferences,” said Deka, who retired on September 30.<br /><br />“Further, I raised their incentives to Rs 60,000 per year which is being given to them as a learning resource allowance,” he said.<br /><br />According to Deka, when he took charge in May, 2009, the faculty of AIIMS were divided into various groups.<br /><br />Engaged in research <br /><br />“To bring them together, I engaged them in research activities like human genomics, immunogenetics with organ transplant programme, molecular medicine, structural biology and protein structure, aiming at new drug development,” he said.<br /><br />During the previous academic year, the faculty, scientists and students of the institute published over 1,800 research papers in national and international journals. <br /><br />Over 500 young scientists at different positions like research fellows, research associates and PhD students had been engaged in significant research projects under the supervision of the faculty, he said.<br /><br />Presently, 508 research projects, including 55 projects funded by international organisations like WHO, NIH, UNICEF and some Indian agencies, are in progress.<br />The faculty and scientists have brought extramural funds of Rs 69 crore and 211 research projects were successfully completed this year.<br /><br />“Institutional funds of Rs 5 crore was also distributed to young faculty for undertaking 58 new research projects involving newer areas like cardiology, neurosciences, stem cell studies, drug designing and protein research,” he said.<br /><br />“Under my chairmanship, the Research Advisory Council took a number of steps to enhance our research capabilities and to stimulate young scholars and faculty to learn research techniques using platform-based technology,” he said.<br /></p>