The chair will build capacity for the evidenced-based validation of Ayurvedic medicine.
Australia’s Western Sydney University is planning to appoint an Academic Chair in Ayurvedic Medicine. The university has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indian Government’s Ministry of AYUSH, in this regard.
The agreement builds on the Ministry of AYUSH’s visiting scholars program adding to the existing AYUSH Academic Chairs within universities across the globe, and cements further previous ties between the two research organisations.
According to the university, the collaboration will build capacity for the evidenced-based validation of Ayurvedic medicine and aligned inventions such as Ayurveda herbal medicine, yoga and meditation,
The MoU was signed by Western Sydney University Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Barney Glover AO, and Professor Tanuja Nesari, Director, All India Institute of Ayurveda, Ministry of AYUSH at a virtual ceremony.
Professor Nesari said, “We are delighted to progress further our partnership with Western Sydney University and our collaborative research endeavours.”
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi said earlier this year at the Global Ayurveda Festival 2021, that ‘Ayurveda could rightly be identified as a holistic human science. The effect and power of Ayurveda and conventional medicine are tremendous, from the plants to your plate, from physical strength to mental wellbeing.’
“Through such international research initiatives, we aim to demonstrate how,” Professor Nesari said.
The chair will be based at Western Sydney University’s NICM Health Research Institute, located on the Westmead campus with tenure for a period of three years.
The appointment of the chair is jointly funded by the Ministry of AYUSH and Western Sydney University and anticipated to commence early in 2022.
Professor Glover said the new academic chair will elevate the existing research partnership between All Indian Institute of Ayurveda and Western Sydney University’s NICM Health Research Institute and will have a significant impact on the scientific evaluation and internationalisation of Ayurvedic medicine.
“The visiting AYUSH Academic Chair will provide leadership and work within the robust Australian regulatory framework to develop strategies to promote the translation and integration of evidenced-based Ayurveda medicine into conventional healthcare,” said Professor Glover.
“The collaboration strengthens the University’s reputation as Australia’s leader in integrative and complementary medicine and is a significant step towards developing a new research stream for the NICM Health Research Institute.
“We look forward to this partnership with the Ministry of AYUSH and strengthening the ties between Australia and India, our governments, researchers and industry.”
