MHRD SPARC Project worth 77 lakhs to UIPS, PU & University of Melborne

Chandigarh May 2, 2024: Dr Anurag Kuhad, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology at University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Coordinator, International Affairs under Dean international Students, Panjab University, Chandigarh has received the prestigious MHRD Scheme for Promotion of Academic & Research Collaboration (SPARC) grant worth 77 Lakhs as Indian Principal Investigator and Professor Andrew J. Lawrence, Director, Florey Institute of Neuroscience, University of Melborne, Australia as Foreign Principal Investigator. Indian CO-PIs are Professor Anil Kumar, Chairperson, UIPS and  Dr Ranjana Bhandari, Assistant Professor, UIPS along with foreign CO-PI Dr Leigh Walker, Senior Scientist, Florey  Florey Institute of Neuroscience , University of Melborne, Australia.

The team have receive this grant for initiating international collaboration for project entitled “Unraveling the Difference in Reward Circuitary between Austistic & Normal Addicts”. This grant involves international collaboration between both institutes where scientists would undertake research understanding the complex interplay of rewrd circuitry changes in autistic addicts. 
This project will initiate international academic and research collaborations, co-publications, International travel of Foreign PIs, foreign visit of Indian/Australian students, publication of book and organisation of workshops/symposiums related to addiction and autism.