Chandigarh: Dean to check plagiarism at PGIMER

Chandigarh: The Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research(PGIMER), has created the post of Dean, Research after sixty years. The position will carry administrative authority to look into plagiarism or research misconduct at PGIMER, make assessments of the in house studies conducted, and provide individual faculty members with a 6 monthly or annual feedback.

A data base of all research done at the institute is to be prepared to assess work quality . The dean is supposed to be in possession of all published research in the form of a digital repository. An office order of July 24 saw Professor, Digamber Behera appointed Dean, Research. While Head, Community Medicine, Dr Rajesh Kumar has been appointed as Dean- Academic, from Ist August.

Dr Subash Varma, the present Dean retires at the end of the month.

These posts are similar to those at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. The term for these appointments being -one year.

The governing body approved of this bifurcation of duties of the post of Dean on May 12 in New Delhi.

"The director wants to focus on the enhancement of research at the institute, which is why this proposal was taken to the governing body meeting," said a senior faculty member.

August 1 to March 31(2018) is to be the tenure for Dean Research(when he will retire).

The Union Health Minister, as Head PGIMER, has empowered the Dean to authorise submission of research proposal for intramural (within the institute) and extramural (outside the institute) grants, to resolve intra- and inter-departmental issues disputes or differences related to research projects or papers authorship.

He will be in control of all raw data being used for researches being conducted at the PGI.

"As the post has been created to allow the growth of research, which is suffering due to the huge patient inflow, the dean research will be a catalyst for promoting collaboration and research linkages outside the institute. He will identify and sign MoUs (memorandums of understanding) for collaborative research with institutes and universities within India and abroad," said a senior administrative officer of the PGI to TOI.