JIPMER introduces IPR policy to guide faculty, students

As part of the efforts to boost research, the Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) has come out with an Intellectual Property Right (IPR) policy, formed by its Patent Cell to guide the faculty and students to apply for various innovations and patents. Talking to newspersons after releasing the IPR policy document, JIPMER Director Dr S C Parija said the institution is aiming to get atleast three to five patents by the end of this year to mark a beginning.

He said though considerable research is being done in various fields by the different departments of JIPMER, the institution could not get any patent so far. He said 45 Post Graduates and nearly 200 faculty members are engaged in various research projects and over 400 to 500 research papers were being published every year in internationally renowned journals. The JIPMER director said the JIPMER patent Cell (JPC) and IPR Policy will help and encourage all JIPMER employees and students in the their efforts to identify the innovative component of the research and seek patent protection before publication, to commercially exploit all new knowledge generated . The Cell will provide legal and other support needed for IP protection, technology transfer, licensing and commercialization of products, he added.

Dr.Parija said the initiatives will ultimately reach the poor patients, who approach the institution of national importance for quality health care treatment.

Citing an example, he said, the HIV and Typhoid kits developed for treatment of the diseases will cost more and the country has spent more on foreign exchange. Our researchers can develop the kits indigenously and it will reduce the cost of the treatment considerably. Ultimately this will help the poor patients and the country itself, he said.

The JPC (in charge), Dr Ravi Kumar Chittoria said: "We want the patient (clinical) and laboratory researches done by various departments should receive its due recognition by getting the patents."

The JIPMER organized a programme for the researchers today with experts Dr M Kantha Babu, Anna University, Priyadarshini Naveenkumar and Preethi Narayanan addressing the participants.

Asked about the Karaikal campus of JIPMER, Dr.Parija said the academic session will begin this year with the admission process commencing in July itself.

Answering to a query, he said a high-level inquiry was conducted on the sexual harassment committed by the staff of private security agency. The responsible persons were removed from duty in the premises.