Udupi: Dr. Manali Hazarika of the ophthalmology department at Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Manipal, has been awarded a prestigious SPARC grant of ₹41,13,233 under the Ministry of Human Resource Development’s Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC). KMC Manipal is the only medical college in India to receive this grant in the domain of Healthcare: Emergent Areas of Impact – Infectious Diseases.
Dr. Hazarika is the principal investigator of the pioneering project titled ‘Evaluation of the Bacterial Ocular Surface Microbiome in Neonates.’ This first-of-its-kind study in India is being conducted in collaboration with Dr. Mark Willcox and Dr. Jerome Ozkan from the University of New South Wales, Australia. Co-investigators include Dr. Sulatha Bhandary, Dr. Leslie Lewis, and Dr. Kiran Chawla from KMC Manipal.
As part of the SPARC initiative, KMC hosted Dr. Jerome Ozkan from January 13–17, 2025, for an international workshop on metagenomics titled ‘Exploring the Hidden World of Microbial Diversity.’ The event featured hands-on training and expert sessions, attracting students and researchers from southern India. Dr. Ozkan, renowned for his expertise in DNA sequence analysis and bioinformatics, led the workshop.
The workshop was inaugurated by Dr. Satish Rao, director of research, MAHE, and Dr. Padmaraj Hegde, dean of KMC Manipal. Both emphasized the significance of metagenomics in advancing microbial research and the impact of SPARC grants in fostering global collaborations and elevating India’s research landscape.
Dr. Sharath Rao, pro vice-chancellor (Health Sciences), MAHE, hailed the achievement as a milestone in interdisciplinary research. MAHE Vice-Chancellor Dr. M.D. Venkatesh reiterated the university’s commitment to groundbreaking research and global partnerships.
The project highlights KMC Manipal’s leadership in innovative healthcare research, addressing critical challenges and paving the way for advanced diagnostic and therapeutic solutions.
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