1st GNDU scholar to bag PM’s Fellowship aims at research to treat renal anaemia

Aanchal Khanna, a researcher from the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), has bagged the prestigious Prime Minister’s Fellowship for doctoral research for the 2024 session. The fellowship is a public-private partnership (PPP) initiative, jointly promoted by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), Government of India, and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry.

The scheme aims at encouraging young, talented and result-orientated scholars to take up industry-relevant research. This is the first time a scholar has won the PM’s Fellowship for GNDU. Dr Preet Mohinder Singh Bedi, Dean, Students’ Welfare, shared that Aanchal had brought laurels to the university by winning the prestigious fellowship and urged the faculty to identify industry for further such associations and provide an amicable working environment to the awardees to conduct their research.

“The Prime Minister’s Research Fellow (PMRF) Scheme is designed to support the best talent in doctoral research in India with attractive fellowships. It aspires to build and nurture outstanding research ecosystems in the country and focus on extremely challenging and innovative research problems,” Dr Bedi informed. The scheme was announced in the Union Budget 2018-19.

Dr Bedi shared that Aanchal has been working in the field of developing anti-cancer and anti-microbial drugs. “But our subject for the scholarship, we submitted our work on developing biological similar for erythropoietin, which is a hormone produced by human kidney. This project was initiated under university industrial linkage programme where the research is supported by industry partners.”

“Erythropoietin or EPO is a hormone produced by the kidneys that stimulates the production of red blood cells. When the kidneys are diseased, they can’t produce enough EPO, which can lead to anaemia. Anaemia is a common complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is associated with an increased risk of health problems. Our research in producing a biosimilars to help produce EPO for normal functioning of body in case of renal injuries will be a significant milestone,” said Dr Bedi.

The funding tenure under the scholarship will be of four years. Aanchal Khanna, who works under the guidance of Prof Bedi, shared that they will begin their research, which is significant to treating renal anaemia and diseased kidneys.