Srinagar, Dec 11: Novo Nordisk India Pvt. Ltd. and Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a state-of-the-art Clinical Trial Unit (CTU) to strengthen clinical research under the aegis of the institute’s Clinical Research Department.
This partnership marks a significant milestone for both organizations as they join to innovate and transform the clinical research landscape to improve patient outcomes.
Dr. Mohammad Ashraf Ganie, Director, SKIMS & EOSG; Dr. Shariq R. Masoodi, Dean Medical Faculty, SKIMS; Vikrant Shrotriya, Managing Director and Corporate Vice President, Novo Nordisk India Pvt. Ltd; Dr. Maya Sharma, Geetanjli Raghavan, Veranki Leela Bhargavi, Andrey Vasilenko and others were present at the event.
The proceeding of the MoU ceremony was moderated by Dr. Muzaffar Maqsood Wani, Professor of Nephrology, SKIMS emphasized the collaborative potential of this initiative.
Dr. Maya Sharma, Vice President Clinical Medical Regulatory, Novo Nordisk India Pvt. Ltd. said that this partnership is aimed to redefine the future of clinical research in India.
“By uniting our global expertise in innovative therapeutics with SKIMS’ exceptional medical infrastructure, we aim to create transformative healthcare solutions. This partnership aspires to bridge gaps in access to advanced medicines, delivering life-changing outcomes for patients in underserved communities and beyond,” Sharma said.
Director SKIMS Dr. Mohammad Ashraf Ganie said the move represents a significant step towards elevating clinical research standards in the region.
“By collaborating with Novo Nordisk India Pvt. Ltd., SKIMS aims to contribute to advancements in medical science while ensuring that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have access to world-class healthcare,” he said.
Dr. Ganie said the MoU will pave the way to create a dedicated infrastructure for conducting cutting-edge clinical trials, providing researchers and clinicians with the necessary resources to carry out high-quality research.
This is the first of its kind MoU for clinical trials with a medical institute in the region and is valid for three years and opens doors to long-term collaboration.
The director said the partnership aims to explore solutions in cardiology, obesity, nephrology and rare diseases by leveraging Novo Nordisk’s expertise in developing advanced therapeutics and SKIMS’ robust medical infrastructure.
As part of the MoU, Novo Nordisk will contribute to building research capacity by providing resources, clinical research, relevant training and project-related equipment.
Officials said it aims to enhance the capabilities of the clinical research team at SKIMS, ensuring the outreach of life-saving medicines to a larger patient population.
Meanwhile, SKIMS will play a pivotal role in expediting the approval process for clinical trials, facilitating patient participation, care and ensuring their safety and convenience.
“Together, the two organizations aim to pave the way for therapeutic interventions, ensuring that world-class treatments reach those who need them most and setting a strong foundation for future advancements in Indian healthcare,” they said.
