IIIM Jammu releases Annual Report 2024-25, unveils roadmap for 2026

STATE TIMES NEWS

JAMMU: The CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM), Jammu, released its Annual Work Report for 2024-25 and unveiled its roadmap for 2026 during an event organised to mark the New Year. The official calendar for 2026 was also released on the occasion.

Director, CSIR-IIIM Jammu, Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, presided over the event and highlighted the institute’s scientific achievements, societal contributions, infrastructure development, and future priorities, in alignment with the vision of CSIR leadership.
The programme commenced with a tribute to eminent CSIR scientists who passed away in 2025.
Dr. Ahmed paid homage to Dr. Palpu Pushpangadan, former Director, of CSIR-NBRI, who started his work at erstwhile RRL Jammu (now CSIR-IIIM), and other distinguished scientists including Dr. Gopal Prasad Sinha, Dr. G.R. Venkatakrishnan, and Dr. H.N. Siddiquie. He emphasized that carrying forward their scientific vision and commitment to national development remains the institute’s foremost responsibility. He urged young scientists and students to draw inspiration from their lives of dedication and integrity.
Presenting the Annual Work Report, Dr. Ahmed described 2025 as a year of robust scientific output, institutional strengthening, and impactful societal engagement.
“CSIR-IIIM filed 09 Indian and 19 foreign patents during the year and published 173 peer-reviewed research papers, reinforcing its position as a leading research institution. The institute also awarded 69 PhD degrees, underscoring its growing role as a premier research and academic hub,” he said. Director CSIR-IIIM Jammu informed that the institute’s drug discovery pipeline saw significant progress, with 9 New Chemical Entities (NCEs) and 5 phytopharmaceutical leads targeting critical conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and cancer pain.
In addition, he added that two nutraceutical leads for sickle-cell anemia and sleep disorders were declared ready for technology transfer.
“CSIR-IIIM’s societal initiatives continued to transform livelihoods. The CSIR Aroma Mission team received the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar – Vigyan Team Award 2025 for spearheading the ‘Purple Revolution,’ which has substantially increased farmer incomes in Jammu and Kashmir through lavender cultivation,” he said.
Dr. Zabeer Ahmed said that the Floriculture Mission also recorded major success, generating over 3.8 lakh planting materials, covering more than 62 hectares, producing export-quality monofloral honey from Lavender and training thousands of farmers across the region. “The institute’s Technology Business Incubator, IIIM-TBI, was conferred the Bharat Incubator Award 2025 for its role in nurturing startups and promoting entrepreneurship in the region.
Adding to this, a student mentored by CSIR-IIIM- for the “Solar Mech Engine”- won the prestigious USA HonorsGradU 2025 Scholarship award, highlighting the institute’s outreach at the grassroots level,” he said.
“Major facilities have been augmented including the state-of-the-art Industrial Scale Fermentation Plant and Drug Testing Laboratory (DTL),” he said. He added that through the JIGYASA 2.0 programme, CSIR-IIIM engaged with over 3,000 students and 500 teachers. In addition, 748 participants were trained through various skill development initiatives focusing on advanced laboratory techniques, GMP compliance, and entrepreneurship.
Building on the momentum, Dr. Ahmed outlined a clear and ambitious agenda for 2026.
In the area of drug discovery, he said the institute plans to initiate Phase I/II clinical trials for its pancreatic cancer drug IIIM-290 and would put its efforts to file atleast one US FDA application for a phytopharmaceutical lead.
“Efforts will also focus on advancing technologies committed for transfer by 2030 while expanding the drug development pipeline,” he said. For societal missions, CSIR-IIIM is preparing for Aroma Mission Phase-IV and Floriculture Mission Phase-III, with sharper farmer-centric verticals, stronger market linkages, and enhanced income generation.
“The institute also aims to shift towards job-oriented skill development programmes and provide advanced incubation support through TBI, BioNEST, and AIC centres, strengthening the regional startup ecosystem,” Director CSIR-IIIM Jammu said.
“As we move into 2026, let us work with renewed resolve to advance science and contribute meaningfully to society and the nation,” he said, extending New Year greetings to the entire CSIR-IIIM fraternity. Among those present on the occasion were Chief Scientists-Er. Abdul Rahim, Head, RMBD&IST Division and IIIM Branch Srinagar; Dr. Asha Chaubey, Head, Fermentation and Microbial Biotechnology Division; and Dr. Shashank Kr. Singh; Senior Principal Scientists-Dr. Dhiraj Vyas, Head, Plant Sciences and Agrotechnology Division; Dr. Sumit G. Gandhi, Head, Infectious Diseases Division; Dr. Tasduq Abdullah; Dr. Suphla B. Gupta; Dr. Amit Nargotra; and Dr. Saurabh Saran; Principal Scientist-Dr. Nasir ul Rasheed; and Administrative Officer-Rajesh Gupta. The proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks presented by Rajesh Gupta.