IIT Roorkee has raised INR 20 Crores grants from SKAN Medical Research Trust

Ashok Soota promoted SKAN Medical Research trust has announced a grant of Rs 20 Cr to IIT Roorkee. The grant goes towards sponsoring a Chair Professorship, three Faculty Fellowships. The engineering institute will also use the funds to create a lab and funding of joint research projects.

IIT Roorkee (IITR) is a premier institute for teaching and research in Science, Engineering, Management, Humanities & Social Sciences and Architecture & Planning disciplines. In particular, IITR is engaged in research in the field of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering. As part of its support for medical research in India, SKAN has agreed to provide a grant of Rs. 20 Cr to IITR. IIT Roorkee will use the grant of Rs 20 Cr towards-

· Funding of an Institute Chair Professorship, two new faculty Fellowships and one Institute Research Fellowship.

· Establishment of a wet lab in IITR.

· Funding of joint medical research projects; the first project under this agreement is in the area of bipolar disease.

BVR Mohan Reddy, Chairman BoG, IIT Roorkee thanked Ashok Soota on the occasion. “I am confident that IITR will make good use of your funding for research in ageing and neurological disorders to make the world a better place to live. You are exemplar alumni and a role model for present and future generations,” he added.

Ashok Soota happens to be an alumnus of IIT Roorkee.

Ashok Soota, Chairman, SKAN Trust confirmed that he took this opportunity to give back to his alma mater through this grant. “There is negligible private funding towards medical research in India,” he added. He also congratulated IITR for doing excellent work in this area. “I see this as a good opportunity for me to contribute and also fulfil these needs of IITR.”

Prof Ajit K Chaturvedi, Director, IIT Roorkee said, “Today is a momentous day in the history of IIT Roorkee. With one stroke, our alumnus Shri Ashok Soota has made a beginning in several directions. After a long gap, we see an India-based IIT alumnus make such a generous grant to his/her IIT.”

“Through this gesture, Mr Soota has also made a beginning in terms of directing private funding to support medical research in India. We are proud that our Institute has produced an alumnus as accomplished and innovative as Mr Soota. We applaud his commitment to giving back to society,” he further added.