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Raj Mahila Maha Vidyalaya, Jalandhar marked the beginning of its AI Week with a
DST-CURIE Sponsored One Day National Symposium on “AI-Enabled Drug Discovery
and Precision Healthcare: Bridging Science and Technology.” The symposium was
organized by the Departments of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics under the
aegis of the HMV Centre for Artificial Intelligence. The event commenced with
the inaugural address by Principal Dr. Ekta Khosla, who highlighted the
proactive approach of HMV in embracing emerging technologies and innovation to
prepare future-ready skilled women professionals. She shared that the HMV
Centre for Artificial Intelligence has been established to bring together various
departments working in the domain of AI under one umbrella. The initiative aims
to create awareness about the transformative role of AI in society and to
contribute meaningfully to this rapidly evolving field as the institution moves
towards celebrating 100 years of excellence in 2027, aligning with the vision
of Viksit Bharat 2047. The Chief Guest, Dr. Susheel Mittal, Hon’ble Vice
Chancellor of I.K. Gujral Punjab Technical University, Kapurthala, inspired the
audience by sharing his academic journey and experiences in balancing
scientific research and administrative leadership. He encouraged students to
pursue excellence with determination, emphasizing that dedication and strong
will can make any goal achievable. The keynote address was delivered by Dr.
Harpreet Singh, Scientist-G, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), who
discussed various applications of Artificial Intelligence in the healthcare
sector. He elaborated on the AI development lifecycle in healthcare,
highlighting initiatives such as eSanjeevani, intelligent telemedicine
solutions, interoperable electronic health records, digital biomarkers,
molecular health monitoring, and digital therapeutics. He also shared the
vision and initiatives of ICMR in strengthening digital healthcare in India.
The second expert session was delivered by Dr. Arun Khosla, Professor,
Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering and Incharge, Centre
for Artificial Intelligence, NIT Jalandhar. He explained the fundamental
concepts, technologies, and tools of Artificial Intelligence and presented case
studies demonstrating the use of AI in managing Type-I Diabetes and Autism. The
third invited talk was presented by Dr. Rajnish Kumar from the Indian Institute
of Technology (BHU), Varanasi, who discussed the role of AI in the drug
discovery process, highlighting various AI-based bioinformatics tools that are
transforming pharmaceutical research and development. A major highlight of the
symposium was a panel discussion featuring the distinguished speakers along
with the Principal and experts from HMV. The discussion focused on the
opportunities, challenges, and ethical considerations of Artificial
Intelligence, along with career prospects in AI and Bioinformatics for students
from life science disciplines. The sessions witnessed enthusiastic
participation and engaging interactions from both faculty members and students.
A poster presentation competition was also organized on the theme of the
symposium, with around 30 students participating. Ms. Ayushi Gautam, a research
scholar from LPU, secured the First Prize, while Ms. Lavanya, a student of
B.Sc. Medical (Bioinformatics) Semester VI, won the Second Prize. The Third
Prize was jointly awarded to Ms. Jasmine Sharma (B.Sc. Biotechnology Semester
II) and Ms. Mercy Gharu (M.Sc. Bioinformatics Semester II). Principal Dr. Ekta
Khosla and Dean Academics Dr. Seema Marwaha congratulated Dr. Harpreet Singh
(Convener), Dr. Jitender Kumar (Co-Convener), Mr. Sumit Sharma, Mrs. Purnima
Sharma, Dr. Shweta Sharma, Mrs. Rama Sharma, Mr. Ashish Chadha, Dr. Shuchi
Sharma, and Mr. Arvind Chandi, along with the entire organizing team for
successfully conducting the symposium. Faculty members from the Science and
Computer Science streams including Mrs. Deepshikha (Head, Department of
Chemistry), Dr. Sangeeta Arora (Head, Department of Computer Science), and Dr.
Saloni Sharma (Head, Department of Physics) were also present on the occasion. The
stage was efficiently conducted by Dr. Anjana Bhatia, Coordinator IQAC and Dean
Research & Innovation, who kept the audience engaged throughout the event.
The symposium proved to be an insightful platform for exploring the growing
intersection of Artificial Intelligence, healthcare, and life sciences.
