AYUSH Ministry, WHO to co-host 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine in December

New Delhi: The Ministry of Ayush recently signed an agreement with the World Health Organization (WHO) to co-host the 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine on the theme ”Restoring balance for people and planet: The science and practice of well-being”.

The Summit will be held in New Delhi from 17th to 19th December 2025.

Also Read:AYUSH Ministry to host 2-day National Summit to boost capacity building

The agreement signing took place in the presence of Union Minister of State for Ayush (IC), Shri Prataprao Jadhav, and Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, during the 2nd Summit Planning Group Meeting convened to monitor activities and progress for the upcoming Summit.

The Global Summit will serve as an important international platform bringing together experts, policymakers, and stakeholders to advance the role of traditional medicine in global health and sustainable development.

The Ministry of Ayush, in partnership with WHO, reaffirmed its commitment to fostering evidence-based traditional medicine practices that contribute to human and planetary well-being.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the Ministry of Ayush hosted a Press Conference in Panaji, Goa, on the occasion of the 10th Ayurveda Day to highlight the significance of Ayurveda, its contributions to holistic health, and the special events planned to mark the milestone celebration. Addressing the media, Professor (Vaidya) Pradeep Kumar Prajapati, Director, All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), Goa, said that the theme “Ayurveda for People, Ayurveda for Planet” underscores personal health, global well-being, ecological balance, and sustainable development. He emphasized that the 10th Ayurveda Day is an opportunity to take Ayurveda to every individual and reaffirm its role in global health. 

He also highlighted the inauguration of new healthcare facilities at AIIA Goa, including an Integrated Oncology Unit, Central Sterile Supply Department, Linen Processing Unit, and Blood Bank, which will strengthen the bridge between Ayurveda and modern medicine.

Also Read:AIIA holds bike rally under the theme Ayurveda for People and Planet

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BFUHS notifies on deadline extension for nursing admissions 2025, details

Punjab– The Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) has informed regarding the extension of the last date of admission for all Nursing Programs for the Academic Year 2025-26.

In continuation to earlier notification, Indian Nursing Council has extended the last date of admission to nursing programs ie. ANM, GNM, B.Sc.(N), PBB.Sc.(N), M.Sc.(N), Ph.D(N), Post Basic Diploma and Nurse Practitioner programs from 30th September 2025 to 31st October 2025, the BFUHS notified.

Medical dialogues had earlier reported that the vacancy position, a total of 106 seats are vacant for MSc Nursing and Post Basic BSc (N) courses. Of these, a total of 54 seats are vacant across MSc Nursing courses in 3 Nursing Colleges and a total of 52 seats are vacant across Post Basic BSc (N) courses in 6 Nursing Colleges. Below are the detailed vacancies-

VACANCY POSITION M.Sc NURSING

S.NO COLLEGE VACANT
SEATS
1 University College of Nursing, Faridkot. 8
2 State Institute of Nursing &
Para–Medical Sciences, Badal.		 22
3 Institute of Nursing URC Goindwal Sahib. 24
TOTAL 54

VACANCY POSITION POST BASIC BSc (N)

S.NO COLLEGE VACANT
SEATS
1 University College of Nursing, Faridkot. 10
2 Institute of Nursing URC Goindwal Sahib. 6
3 University Institute of Nursing,
Jalalabad.		 25
4 Govt. CON, Rajindra Hospital, Patiala. 5
5 Govt. CON, Amritsar. 3
6 State Institute of Nursing &
Para–Medical Sciences, Badal.		 3
TOTAL 52

FEE REQUIRED WITH ADMISSION APPLICATION FORM FOR MSc NURSING

1 Rs 5000/- +18% GST(5900)+ HSLIBNET fee 3000/- for General Category and SC candidates will deposit a fee of Rs 2500+18% GST(Rs 2950/-) + HSLIBNET fee 3000/- to be deposited online, payable at University College of Nursing, Faridkot on the day of form deposition/ submission.

2 The selected candidates have to pay Rs 50000/-(Tution fee) in the shape of Bank Demand Draft in favor of Registrar, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, payable at Faridkot.

FEE REQUIRED WITH ADMISSION APPLICATION FORM FOR BASIC BSc (N)

1 Rs. 3000/- +18% GST+ Counselling fee Rs. 1000/-(Rs. 4540/-)+ HSLIBNET fee 1500/- for General Category and SC candidates will deposit fee of Rs. 1500+18% GST Rs 1770/- + Counselling fee Rs 1000/-(Rs. 2770/-)+ HSLIBNET fee 1500/- to be deposited online, payable at University College of Nursing, Faridkot, on the day of form deposition/ submission.

2 The selected candidates have to pay Rs. 51000/-( Tution fee) in the shape of Bank Demand Draft in favor of Registrar, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, payable at Faridkot.

The candidate who has already been selected and has joined the allotted college in the central counselling conducted by the BFUHS, Faridkot, shall participate in the college-level counselling, subject to the condition that he/she produces Original Certificates for shifting at college-level counselling.

To view the official Notice, click here: https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/date-extend-notice-for-nursing-coruse-session-2025-302291.pdf

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Severe Alcohol-Associated Hepatitis Still Carries High Short-Term Mortality, Meta-Analysis Finds

USA: Short-term mortality among patients with severe alcohol-associated hepatitis (sAH) remains alarmingly high despite decades of clinical advances, a recent meta-analysis published in Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics has shown.

The analysis, led by Dr. Mushfiqur R. Siddique and colleagues from the Department of Internal Medicine at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, New York, highlights that survival rates have shown little meaningful improvement over the past 50 years. The authors call for urgent action to develop more effective treatments, refine patient selection for early liver transplantation, and strengthen strategies to prevent this life-threatening condition.
The review pooled data from 34 investigations involving 1,586 patients diagnosed with sAH. By examining mortality at 28, 60, and 90 days after diagnosis, the team sought to chart trends in outcomes over five decades. Advanced statistical approaches—including random-effects meta-regression and Bayesian mixed-effects models—were applied to identify mortality patterns and potential risk factors while accounting for differences across studies.
Key Findings:
  • Pooled mortality estimates were 26.8% at 28 days, 35.1% at 60 days, and 43.7% at 90 days, showing that the risk of death rises steadily during the first three months after presentation.
  • An initial decline in 28-day mortality was observed, dropping from over 50% in the 1970s to about 25% after 2000, but decade-by-decade analysis showed no statistically credible improvement in survival over the last four decades.
  • Considerable heterogeneity existed across the included studies, yet the overall short-term prognosis remained poor.
  • Higher Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores were identified as a significant predictor of mortality in multivariable analyses adjusted for follow-up duration.
  • The findings reinforce the MELD score’s value as an important tool for risk assessment and clinical decision-making in severe alcohol-associated hepatitis.
Dr. Siddique and colleagues stress that the stagnant mortality rates point to a critical gap in available therapies. Current supportive measures, including corticosteroid treatment, have limited effectiveness, and many patients fail to respond. Early referral for liver transplantation may offer a lifeline for select candidates, but identifying who will benefit most remains challenging. The authors also emphasize the need for preventive measures, such as comprehensive programs to curb harmful alcohol use, which could reduce the incidence of this aggressive liver disease.
The extensive review paints a troubling picture: despite medical advances, severe alcohol-associated hepatitis continues to carry a high short-term mortality rate, with little evidence of improvement since the 1970s.
“The findings highlight the urgent necessity for innovative treatments, improved prognostic tools, and public health strategies that address modifiable risk factors to improve survival and reduce the burden of this devastating condition,” the authors concluded.
Reference:
Siddique, M. R., Haque, M., Idalsoaga, F., Diaz, L. A., Im, G., Singal, A. K., Hoang, S., Khan, M. Q., & Arab, J. P. Meta-Analysis: Mortality Trends and Risk Factors in Severe Alcohol-Associated Hepatitis. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics. https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.70383

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Increased risk of depression and psychosis after childbirth among mothers: Study

Depression and psychosis are more common in women after childbirth than before, but the risk of suicide attempts decreases. This is shown by two new studies from Karolinska Institutet. The results suggest that national guidelines for screening can help women get help earlier.

Mental ill health in connection with pregnancy and childbirth can have long-term consequences for women’s health. During this period, major biological and psychosocial changes occur that can increase vulnerability to depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric conditions. Despite previous research, knowledge has been limited, especially regarding how different psychiatric diagnoses develop before, during, and after pregnancy.

In a new study, researchers have used data from Swedish registers covering all women who gave birth in Sweden between 2003 and 2019 – a total of nearly 1.8 million pregnancies.

The study, published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, shows that mental ill health has increased over time during this period, especially before pregnancy. During pregnancy itself, the number of new diagnoses decreases, but after childbirth, the risk increases again, especially for depression and psychosis.

“We can see that the risk of depression is about 20 percent higher during weeks 5 to 15 after childbirth, compared to the year before pregnancy. For psychosis, the risk is up to seven times higher during the first 20 weeks after childbirth,” says the study’s first author Emma Bränn, researcher, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet.

When national guidelines for screening pregnant women for depression were introduced in 2020, it opened up the possibility of detecting mental illness earlier. By comparing women who gave birth before and after 2020, the researchers saw that the peak of depression diagnoses occurred earlier after childbirth in women who gave birth after the guidelines were introduced.

“We don’t see that more people are being diagnosed, but screening could mean that women are identified earlier and don’t have to suffer as long before they can get the support and help they need,” says Emma Bränn.

The study also shows that the risk of other psychiatric diagnoses, such as anxiety, stress-related conditions, and substance abuse, is lower during pregnancy and after childbirth compared to before. The researchers believe that this may be due to biological changes, lifestyle changes, and increased contact with healthcare during pregnancy.

Another study from the same research group has investigated the risk of suicide in connection with pregnancy and childbirth. In the study, published in Nature Human Behaviour, researchers found that mothers were less likely to attempt suicide during and after pregnancy compared to fathers. This is the opposite of what researchers usually observe in the general population, where women tend to have higher rates of suicide attempts than men. For fathers, the risk decreased in the first ten weeks after childbirth, only to increase again.

“Our results suggest that both mothers and fathers are less likely to attempt suicide immediately after having a child, especially mothers,” says first author Yihui Yang, PhD student at the Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet. She continues:

“Although suicide attempts during and after pregnancy are rare, they can have devastating consequences and are often preventable. It is therefore important that healthcare providers conduct regular check-ups during and after pregnancy to identify parents who are struggling and offer support to prevent suicide.”

Reference:

Bränn, E., Guintivano, J., Yang, Y. et al. Maternal psychiatric disorders before, during, and after pregnancy: a national cohort study in Sweden. Mol Psychiatry (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-025-03212-9

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Validated nomogram may Predict upper GI bleeding in peritoneal dialysis Patients: Study

Researchers have found in a new study that Calcium and PPI use, history of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB), hemoglobin levels, and uric acid were identified as significant predictors of UGIB in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Therefore a validated nomogram based on these factors shows promise as a clinical tool for predicting UGIB risk in this population. The study was published in BMC Nephrology by Sijia S. and colleagues.

This retrospective study involved information from 2,107 PD patients who were treated from February 1, 2007, to November 15, 2021. The patients were split into training and validation groups randomly in a 1:1 ratio. Researchers used the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression method to determine candidate UGIB predictors. The predictors were then utilized to create a nomogram model.

To test the performance of the nomogram, the accuracy and clinical value of the model were both checked with a variety of metrics, ranging from receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and calibration curves to decision curve analysis (DCA). This strict testing guaranteed that the model was not only statistically valid but also useful in practice.

Key Findings

Of the 2,107 patients examined, 114 had UGIB. Five predictors were found to be predictive of UGIB and were included in the nomogram:

  • Calcium supplement use

  • Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use

  • History of UGIB

  • Hemoglobin

  • Uric acid

  • The nomogram had excellent predictive performance.

  • The C-index, a measure of model discrimination, was 0.859 (95% CI: 0.810–0.909) in the training set and 0.874 (95% CI: 0.829–0.919) in the validation set.

  • These results reflect high accuracy in separating patients at risk for UGIB.

The analysis conclusively demonstrated that the application of calcium and PPIs, history of UGIB, hemoglobin level, and uric acid were the key predictors of UGIB in peritoneal dialysis patients. The reliable nomogram derived from these factors provides a convenient method of estimating the risk of UGIB. It has the potential to be used as a clinical decision-support tool to enhance patient care and outcomes in this high-risk group.

Reference:

Shang, S., Zhang, X., Zhan, X. et al. Development and validation of a predictive model for upper gastrointestinal bleeding in peritoneal dialysis patients: a retrospective, multicenter cohort study. BMC Nephrol 26, 383 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-025-04304-y

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Predicta Bioactive Bulk as effective as 3M Filtek Bulk Fill in Class V Caries Restoration, Suggests Study

India: Researchers have found in a new study that Predicta Bioactive Bulk and 3M Filtek Bulk Fill Posterior Restorative showed equivalent effectiveness for restoring class V caries in high-risk patients.

The randomized clinical trial, published in the Journal of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, compared the clinical performance of a bioactive composite resin with a conventional non-bioactive composite in individuals prone to frequent tooth decay.
Dr. Apeksha Rao and colleagues from the Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Vokkaligara Sangha Dental College and Hospital, Bengaluru, designed the investigation to address a persistent challenge in restorative dentistry—recurrent caries at the tooth–restoration interface. Materials that can either resist demineralization or encourage remineralization may extend the life of restorations, but clinical evidence supporting such bioactive products has remained limited.
The researchers recruited 20 adult patients identified as high caries risk, each presenting with symmetrical class V lesions on the buccal surfaces of posterior teeth. Using a split-mouth design, one side of each patient’s mouth was restored with Predicta Bioactive Bulk composite (Parkell™), while the opposite side received the non-bioactive 3M™ Filtek™ Bulk Fill Posterior Restorative. This method ensured that each participant served as their own control, improving the reliability of comparisons.
The key findings of the study were as follows:
  • Follow-up assessments were carried out at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months.
  • The Fédération Dentaire Internationale (FDI) criteria were used to evaluate marginal adaptation, marginal staining, fracture, and retention, and recurrence of initial pathology.
  • Statistical analysis included the Chi-square test, the Cochran’s Q test, and the McNemar’s post-hoc test with a significance level of p < 0.05.
  • Both restorative materials showed similar performance at all time points.
  • No statistically significant differences were noted in marginal integrity, color stability, fracture resistance, or development of secondary caries.
  • Patients tolerated both materials well throughout the study.
  • Retention rates for both materials remained high over the 12 months.
The authors noted that while bioactive composites are engineered to release ions that may help neutralize acids and encourage remineralization, these theoretical advantages did not translate into measurable short-term clinical superiority over the conventional bulk-fill composite in this study. They emphasized that the trial’s relatively small sample size and limited follow-up period are important considerations. Longer-term monitoring of these patients is planned, and the team recommends larger studies with extended observation to determine whether differences might appear over time or in other types of carious lesions.
Despite these limitations, the findings provide valuable evidence for clinicians. Both Predicta Bioactive Bulk and 3M™ Filtek™ Bulk Fill Posterior Restorative can be considered reliable options for managing class V lesions in individuals at elevated risk for caries. By demonstrating comparable clinical outcomes, the study supports the continued use of either material based on factors such as practitioner preference, cost, and availability rather than expected differences in performance.
The research highlights that, at least within a one-year timeframe, the anticipated benefits of bioactive composites may not yield a clinical advantage in high-risk patients. Further investigations are needed to explore their potential in other clinical scenarios and over longer periods.
Reference:
Rao, Apeksha; Anithakumari, R.; Adarsha, M. S; Sudhanva, M. E; Vikram, R; Naveen Kumar, N. Clinical evaluation of bioactive composite resin in class V lesions in high-risk caries patients: A randomized split-mouth trial. Journal of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics 28(9):p 905-910, September 2025. | DOI: 10.4103/JCDE.JCDE_157_25

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Do CT scans increase childhood cancer risk? A UF researcher has the answer

A recent study links exposure to radiation from medical imaging to a small-but-significant risk of blood cancers among children and adolescents.

But do not panic. The study concludes the benefits of medical imaging outweigh the minimal risks.

Funded by the National Cancer Institute, the study will help medical personnel make informed decisions about using imaging on children. The study concluded that while ionizing radiation is a carcinogen, the benefit-to-risk ratio favors CT imaging of children when imaging is justified and the technique minimizes adverse effects.

The paper, “Medical Imaging and Pediatric and Adolescent Hematologic Cancer Risk,” was published last week in the New England Journal of Medicine. For his part of the study, Bolch used virtual patient anatomic models to reconstruct bone marrow doses in more than 3.7 million children who underwent CT imaging between 1996 to 2016.

“We used a library of 3D anatomic whole-body computerized patient models developed in the early 2010s under a contract with the National Cancer Institute,” said Wesley Bolch, Ph.D., a distinguished professor in biomedical and radiological engineering with the University of Florida’s J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering.

In Bolch’s Advanced Laboratory for Radiation Dosimetry Studies, researchers developed hundreds of models representative of U.S. adults and children across all combinations of ages, heights and weights.

“We call this an organ dose reconstruction,” said Bolch, who is also a member of the UF Health Cancer Center.

The study is unique because it directly measures leukemia risks in these pediatric patients. Previously, researchers used established cancer-risk models, many of which were based on data from the atomic bomb survivors in 1945 Japan. Needless to say, Bolch noted, diagnostic X-ray exposures are vastly different from atomic weapon radiation fields.

“This is the very first study of its kind in the U.S. and Canada, and the very first study of cancer risks in children undergoing medical imaging where each patient was considered in a unique manner regarding their sex, body size and medical imaging exposure technique factors,” he said.

While CT imaging contributes a greater fraction of total radiation, doses from nuclear medicine, radiography and fluoroscopy were also included for bone marrow-dose calculations.

“Dr. Bolch’s role in this landmark study highlights UF BME’s leadership in making medical imaging safer for children. It demonstrates UF’s dedication to research that safeguards patients and informs global healthcare practices,” said BME chair Cherie Stabler, Ph.D.

In the study, the highest CT doses to bone marrow were seen in head-and-neck imaging, where the average dose was 30.8 milligray (a unit measuring ionizing radiation deposited in tissue). CT imaging of the head – one of the more common pediatric CT scans – showed an average dose of 13.7 milligray.

The incidence of hematologic cancers by age 21 years was 0.3% among those children exposed to bone marrow doses more than 30 milligray. However, fewer than 1% of the 3.7 million children in this study had cumulative doses exceeding 30 milligray.

Plus, CT imaging doses today are much lower, and imaging systems are much faster than in the late-1990s and early-2000s.

This research comes 25 years after a Columbia University research paper made the link between leukemia and some radiology scans, thus scaring “every mother in this country,” Bolch said.

The key issue in that study showed imaging technologists and radiologists were not making adjustments to X-ray techniques that explicitly considered the size of the patient.

“Consider that you’ve just imaged an obese a male with a high-intensity and high energy X-ray beam, and now a petite 7-year-old girl becomes the next patient to be imaged. In the late 1990s, very few clinics would adjust the X-ray energies and intensities from the previous adult patient. In this case, the girl received a much larger amount of imaging than was really needed to form a diagnostic-quality image,” Bolch said. “This paper scared a lot of people, but it really was a great service because it says, ‘Oh, we’re doing this wrong.’”

Starting in the early 2000s, physicians adjusted the energy and intensities of the X-ray beam based on the size of the patient. CT system manufacturers, Bolch said, also made technological improvements to lower patient CT doses.

The paper’s lead authors are radiologist and epidemiologist Rebecca Smith-Bindman, M.D., from the University of California, San Francisco, and biostatistician Diana Miglioretti, Ph.D., from UC, Davis.

“Their work involved collecting and organizing the medical records that showed what imaging exams were performed on the children, when they occurred, how they were acquired and what modality was used – CT, radiography, nuclear medicine or fluoroscopy,” Bolch said.

They also led the team that linked these patients to cancer registries that indicated which patients later developed bone marrow cancers.

“This is where my laboratory came in,” Bolch said. “We ran computer simulations of these imaging procedures to provide estimates of bone marrow radiation doses for each child, for each form of medical imaging and for each imaging examination.

“Everybody went into action to figure out what is the appropriate lowest dose of radiation that would give us a good image. These risks are low, and when justified by the imaging physician, patient benefits, such as disease detection, will greatly outweigh these very small risks.”

Reference:

Rebecca Smith-Bindman, Medical Imaging and Pediatric and Adolescent Hematologic Cancer Risk, New England Journal of Medicine, DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2502098.

 

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Long COVID Linked to Abnormal Uterine Bleeding in Women: Study

UK: A U.K. study found that long COVID is associated with abnormal uterine bleeding but not with impaired ovarian function. Researchers noted a potential bidirectional relationship between long COVID and menstruation, while also highlighting that both COVID infection and vaccination have been linked to menstrual disruptions.

The research, published in Nature Communications by Jacqueline A. Maybin of the Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, and colleagues, explored how SARS-CoV-2 infection might influence menstrual health and how the menstrual cycle could, in turn, affect the course of long COVID. The team analyzed data from thousands of women to clarify whether infection or persistent post-COVID symptoms alter menstrual patterns or ovarian activity.
Using a large U.K. population cohort, investigators compared women who never had COVID-19 (9,423 participants) with those who recovered from acute infection (1,716) and those living with long COVID (1,048). Women with long COVID were significantly more likely to report abnormal uterine bleeding, including heavier or longer periods and spotting between cycles. In contrast, participants who recovered from acute infection reported little to no menstrual disruption, underscoring that persistent symptoms, rather than the initial illness, were linked to these changes.
To understand how symptom intensity varies across the menstrual cycle, the researchers followed 54 women with long COVID. They found that fatigue, pain, and other long COVID complaints were most severe during the perimenstrual and proliferative phases, the time surrounding menstruation and early cycle development. This pattern suggests hormonal or immune changes tied to the menstrual cycle may amplify long COVID symptoms.
The study led to the following findings:
  • Blood and endometrial samples from women with long COVID showed elevated levels of 5α-dihydrotestosterone and reduced endometrial androgen receptors compared with those of women without COVID-19.
  • Other ovarian hormones remained stable, indicating that ovarian function was preserved despite these hormonal changes.
  • Immune analysis revealed heightened inflammatory signals, including increased cytokines and clusters of immune cells in menstrual tissue.
  • The findings point to an inflammatory mechanism underlying abnormal uterine bleeding and symptom flare-ups in long COVID.
The authors propose that the combination of increased androgens and a heightened endometrial inflammatory response could drive abnormal bleeding and worsen long COVID symptoms around menstruation. They emphasize that while ovarian function appears intact, the endometrium—the uterine lining—shows signs of immune dysregulation.
These findings support a two-way interaction: long COVID can disrupt menstrual patterns, and phases of the menstrual cycle may intensify long COVID manifestations. The researchers call for further studies to develop treatments targeting abnormal uterine bleeding in long COVID, incorporate menstrual-cycle timing into biomarker research, and prioritize therapies tailored to women experiencing persistent post-COVID symptoms.
“By revealing how long COVID and menstruation may influence one another, the study highlights the importance of considering female reproductive health in understanding and managing the long-term effects of COVID-19,” the authors concluded.
Reference:
Maybin, J. A., Walker, C., Watters, M., Homer, N. Z., Simpson, J. P., Robb, C., Gibson, D. A., Jeanjean, L., Critchley, H. O., Kountourides, G., Olszewska, Z., & Alvergne, A. (2025). The potential bidirectional relationship between long COVID and menstruation. Nature Communications, 16(1), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62965-7

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Stanford 2025 List: 15 LV Prasad Eye Institute researchers among world’s top 2 % scientists, 7 earn lifetime ranking in Ophthalmology

New Delhi: Altogether 15 researchers associated with the LV Prasad Eye Institute have been recognised among the world’s top 2% of scientists in the prestigious database curated by Professor John PA Ioannidis of Stanford University, in collaboration with the Elsevier Data Repository.

Being recognised in Stanford University’s top 2% list of scientists acknowledges their pioneering research, clinical achievements, and consistent impact on the field.

Stanford University’s 2025 database of the top-cited scientists provides standardised information on citations, h-index, co-authorship-adjusted hm-index, citations to papers in different authorship positions, and a composite indicator (c-score). The selection is based on the top 100,000 scientists by c-score (with and without self-citations) or a 2% or above percentile rank in the sub-field.

More than 60 doctors and scientists from India have been recognised in Stanford University’s 2025 list for their research in Ophthalmology and Optometry, and among them, 15 doctors from LV Prasad Eye Institute have earned their place in the list. Below are the details of LVPEI researchers who have been featured in Stanford University‘s list for 2025:

1. Dr Mohd Javed Ali:

Dr. Javed Ali is a renowned oculoplastic surgeon specializing in state-of-the-art lacrimal surgeries and is a leader in advances of the lacrimal drainage sciences. He currently heads the Govindram Seksaria Institute of Dacryology at the L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, India. Javed is also the Distinguished Alumni Chair of Ophthalmology at the L.V. Prasad Eye Institute and the current Editor-in-Chief of Seminar in Ophthalmology. He holds international Professorships at the National University of Singapore, University of Shanghai, Krasnov Research Institute in Russia, and at WIM, Warsaw.

Dr. Ali has been recognised as one of the top 2% scientists across the world, as per Stanford University’s list of 2025. He holds a rank of 9095 in the list based on the composite score excluding self-citations, and 78597 when all citations are included. By the end of 2024, his h-index, excluding self-citations, stands at 9, with altogether 686 citations for 2024 (excluding self-citations).

2. Dr Swathi Kaliki:

An internationally recognized Ocular Oncologist, Dr. Swathi Kaliki currently heads the Operation Eyesight Universal Institute for Eye Cancer and the Ophthalmic Plastic Services at the L V Prasad Eye Institute, India.

Dr. Kalki has been recognised as one of the top 2% scientists across the world, as per Stanford University’s list of 2025. She holds a rank of 69975 in the list based on the composite score excluding self-citations, and 64062 when all citations are included. By the end of 2024, her h-index, excluding self-citations, stands at 11, with altogether 761 citations for 2024 (excluding self-citations).

3. Dr Savitri Sharma:

After pursuing her MBBS from VSS Medical College, Burla, Sambalpur, Odisha, Dr. Sharma pursued MD (Medical Microbiology) from Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry in 1982. She joined L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), Hyderabad in 1991 and established the ocular microbiology and clinical pathology services of the institute. Three decades on, the institute has recognized her contribution to ocular microbiology and instituted ‘Dr Savitri Sharma Chair of Ocular Microbiology’ in her name. Currently, she is the Director Emeritus, Laboratory Services – LVPEI Network and a visiting faculty member at LVPEI.

Dr. Sharma has been recognised as one of the top 2% scientists across the world, as per Stanford University’s list of 2025. She holds a rank of 73464 in the list based on the composite score excluding self-citations, and 78526 when all citations are included. By the end of 2024, her h-index, excluding self-citations, stands at 14, with altogether 5380 citations for 2024 (excluding self-citations).

4. Dr Prashant Garg:

An internationally renowned leader in corneal infections, anti-microbial resistance and eye banking, Dr. Prashant Garg is the Executive Chair LVPEI, succeeding the founder Chairman Dr Gullapalli N Rao. He received numerous prestigious awards, both national and international, and he is on the Boards of several international organizations, societies and scientific journals.

Dr. Garg has been recognised as one of the top 2% scientists across the world, as per Stanford University’s list of 2025. He holds a rank of 90300 in the list based on the composite score excluding self-citations, and 88664 when all citations are included. By the end of 2024, his h-index, excluding self-citations, stands at 11, with altogether 594 citations for 2024 (excluding self-citations).

5. Dr Sayan Basu:

Dr. Sayan Basu is the Prof. D. Balasubramanian Chair of Eye Research and serves as the Director of both the Prof. Brien Holden Eye Research Centre (BHERC) and the Centre for Ocular Regeneration (CORE). He is also an Adjunct Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Rochester, NY, USA.

Dr. Basu has been recognised as one of the top 2% scientists across the world, as per Stanford University’s list of 2025. He holds a rank of 102331 in the list based on the composite score excluding self-citations, and 102815 when all citations are included. By the end of 2024, his h-index, excluding self-citations, stands at 12, with altogether 697 citations for 2024 (excluding self-citations).

6. Dr Rohit Khanna:

Dr Rohit C Khanna is the Network Director for the Public Health Unit of LVPEI – The Gullapalli Pratibha Rao International Centre for Advancement of Rural Eye Care. He is also an Adjunct Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at school of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, USA, and Conjoint Associate Professor at the University of New South Wales, Australia.

Dr. Khanna has been recognised as one of the top 2% scientists across the world, as per Stanford University’s list of 2025. He holds a rank of 114263 in the list based on the composite score excluding self-citations, and 111687 when all citations are included. By the end of 2024, his h-index, excluding self-citations, stands at 11, with altogether 2071 citations for 2024 (excluding self-citations).

7. Dr Gullapalli N Rao:

Dr. Gullapalli N Rao is the founder-chair of L V Prasad Eye Institute. He received his basic medical education in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, and completed his postgraduate residency training at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. In the US, he trained at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, and later at the School of Medicine, University of Rochester, where he continued on the faculty until 1986.

Dr. Rao has been recognised as one of the top 2% scientists across the world, as per Stanford University’s list of 2025. He holds a rank of 124990 in the list based on the composite score excluding self-citations, and 131627 when all citations are included. By the end of 2024, his h-index, excluding self-citations, stands at 8, with altogether 455 citations for 2024 (excluding self-citations).

8. Dr Swathi Singh:

Dr. Singh has been working as the Associate Ophthalmologist at the L V Prasad Eye Institute since January 2021. She manages and treats patients with dry eye disease, ocular surface diseases like Stevens-Johnson syndrome and patients requiring eyelid surgeries. Her current focus of interest is improving tear production in patients with dry eye disease.

Dr. Singh has been recognised as one of the top 2% scientists across the world, as per Stanford University’s list of 2025. She holds a rank of 125912 in the list based on the composite score excluding self-citations, and 90746 when all citations are included. By the end of 2024, her h-index, excluding self-citations, stands at 8, with altogether 389 citations for 2024 (excluding self-citations).

9. Dr Taraprasad Das:

Dr Das is the Vice Chairman Emeritus of the L V Prasad Eye Institute. He is Professor of Ophthalmology at the Sun Yet-Sen University, Guangzhou, China; and Adjunct Professor of Ophthalmology at University of Rochester Medical School, Rochester, NY, USA; and Fellow, National Academy of Medical Sciences, India.

He has delivered 13 named lectures, has received 24 awards from state and national societies (1993- 2015) in India, from the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO, 2006 and 2013) and the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO, 2003 and 2015). He was conferred Doctorate of Science (Honaris Causa) by the Raveshaw University in year 2011. Government of India conferred high civilian honor (Padma Shri) in year 2013.

Dr. Das has been recognised as one of the top 2% scientists across the world, as per Stanford University’s list of 2025. He holds a rank of 179235 in the list based on the composite score excluding self-citations, and 109745 when all citations are included. By the end of 2024, his h-index, excluding self-citations, stands at 7, with altogether 486 citations for 2024 (excluding self-citations).

10. Dr Jill Elizabeth Keeffe:

Dr. Keffe is a faculty member at the L.V. Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad, India, where she works for the advancement of rural eye care and vision rehabilitation.

Dr. Keeffe has been recognised as one of the top 2% scientists across the world, as per Stanford University’s list of 2025. She holds a rank of 215079 in the list based on the composite score excluding self-citations, and 224752 when all citations are included. By the end of 2024, Her h-index, excluding self-citations, stands at 14, with altogether 1438 citations for 2024 (excluding self-citations).

11. Dr Vivek Singh:

Dr Vivek Singh is an expert in limbal stem cell culture, immunohistochemistry, confocal & fluorescence microscopy, generating mice chimaeras, animal cell culture and different animal models for clinical research. His lab combines various cell biology, molecular biology, and bioengineering approaches to address the scientific questions mainly related to ocular surface diseases and focuses on the research of corneal wound healing, regenerative biology, Animal models in Ophthalmology, biomaterials, Dry eye disease, Steven-Johnson syndrome, Simple limbal epithelial transplantation.

He is the assistant editor of the International Journal of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology and also a member of the Advisory Board of the Indian Journal of Scientific Research.

Dr. Singh has been recognised as one of the top 2% scientists across the world, as per Stanford University’s list of 2025. He holds a rank of 240125 in the list based on the composite score excluding self-citations, and 233271 when all citations are included. By the end of 2024, his h-index, excluding self-citations, stands at 9, with altogether 458 citations for 2024 (excluding self-citations).

12. Dr Pavan Kumar Verkicharla:

Dr Pavan Verkicharla is the Scientist researching on both basic and translational aspects of myopia at the myopia research lab in L V Prasad Eye Institute, India. He heads ‘The Myopia Centre’ at the LVPEI where they actively provide various anti-myopia strategies.

He is a committee member and an ambassador for International Myopia Institute and serves as a reviewer for various optometry/ophthalmology scientific journals. Dr Pavan Verkicharla is a recipient of the prestigious “Bernard Gilmartin Award” from college of optometrists, UK and the “INSPIRE Faculty Award” from the DST-Government of India. He holds grants from both private organizations and the government of India for researching various aspects of myopia through a holistic approach.

Dr. Verkicharla has been recognised as one of the top 2% scientists across the world, as per Stanford University’s list of 2025. He holds a rank of 263804 in the list based on the composite score excluding self-citations, and 261430 when all citations are included. By the end of 2024, his h-index, excluding self-citations, stands at 11, with altogether 337 citations for 2024 (excluding self-citations).

13. Dr Balasubramanian D:

Professor D Balasubramanian joined LVPEI’s Prof Brien Holden Eye Research Centre in 1998. In January 2016 he retired from the post of Research Director, Prof Brien Holden Eye Research Centre, and continues as a Distinguished Scientist there. His illustrious scientific career included positions such as Director, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, and Professor and Dean, University of Hyderabad.

He has received many awards from professional and institutional bodies including the Bhatnagar, Ranbaxy, Goyal and FICCI Prizes of India, the Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) Award for Basic Medical Sciences and the TWAS Award for Science Diplomacy, the Kalinga Prize for the popularization of science from UNESCO. He was honoured by the Government of India with the Padma Shri in 2002, and the Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Merite from the President of France in 2002. He has over 180 publications in national and international journals and has authored three books.

Dr. Balasubramanian has been recognised as one of the top 2% scientists across the world, as per Stanford University’s list of 2025. He holds a rank of 264281 in the list based on the composite score excluding self-citations, and 282499 when all citations are included. By the end of 2024, his h-index, excluding self-citations, stands at 7, with altogether 211 citations for 2024 (excluding self-citations).

14. Dr Milind Neilkant Naik:

After completing his postgraduate training in Ophthalmology at Christian Medical College, Vellore, Dr. Naik joined L V Prasad Eye Institute in 2001. He underwent an Oculo-Facial Plastic Surgery fellowship at the University of California, Los Angeles, USA.

Dr. Naik has 24 years of experience in Eye & Facial Plastic surgeries, and his area of expertise includes Thyroid Eye Disease, Cosmetic eyelid and facial surgery, and Reconstructive surgery around the eye and face. He has over 245 peer-reviewed publications in scientific journals, and lectures extensively across the globe.

Dr. Naik has been recognised as one of the top 2% scientists across the world, as per Stanford University’s list of 2025. He holds a rank of 279807 in the list based on the composite score excluding self-citations, and 220858 when all citations are included. By the end of 2024, his h-index, excluding self-citations, stands at 6, with altogether 294 citations for 2024 (excluding self-citations).

15. Dr Subhadra Jalali:

Best known for her work in the area of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), Dr. Jalali is the Network Director – Quality at LVPEI. She is also the Director of the Newborn Eye Health Alliance (NEHA) at LVPEI that provides neonatal eye care. Dr. Jalali has been associated with KVPEI as a faculty since 1993. She is also on the National Task Force on ROP, Govt. of India, and is an expert advisor on ROP to the Governments of Bangladesh and Philippines.

Her specialization lies in managing advanced vitreoretinal conditions, ocular trauma, endophthalmitis and primary genetic retinal degenerations.

Dr. Jalali has been recognised as one of the top 2% scientists across the world, as per Stanford University’s list of 2025. She holds a rank of 335938 in the list based on the composite score excluding self-citations, and 305962 when all citations are included. By the end of 2024, her h-index, excluding self-citations, stands at 7, with altogether 296 citations for 2024 (excluding self-citations).

Lifetime Ranking, Ophthalmology, India:

As per a recent press release issued by the institute, among these 15 doctors, seven of the LVPEI-associated researchers have earned a place on the Lifetime Ranking for Ophthalmology from India. The list includes the following:

1. Dr Gullapalli N. Rao

2. Dr Savitri Sharma

3. Prof Balasubramanian D

4. Dr Mohd Javid Ali

5. Dr Prashant Garg

6. Dr Taraprasad Das

7. Dr Swathi Kaliki

Also Read: 14 Indian Cardiologists, Doctors get recognised in Stanford University 2025 list of World’s Top 2% Scientists

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