Palampur varsity scientist to attend global Congress at Malaysia

Dr Rakesh Kumar, Assistant Professor in the Department of Veterinary Pathology at Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya (CSKHPKV), Palampur, has been awarded a prestigious International Travel Grant by the Houghton Trust, United Kingdom. The grant will support his participation in the 23rd World Veterinary Poultry Association (WVPA) Congress, scheduled to be held in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia from October 6 to 10.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Naveen Kumar, congratulated Dr Rakesh Kumar on this remarkable international recognition and stated, “The university takes immense pride in Dr Rakesh’s achievements. His research embodies the core vision of the university integrating traditional knowledge with cutting-edge science to address pressing global challenges such as antimicrobial resistance. His participation at the WVPA Congress is not only a personal milestone but also a significant representation of India’s contribution to sustainable veterinary and biomedical sciences.”

Dr Rakesh will present his pioneering research on evaluating Artemisia annua and Saussureacostus root extracts as natural alternatives to antibiotics against Escherichia coli and Salmonella Typhimurium infections in poultry. The study, conducted in the Department of Veterinary Pathology, addresses the global challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by promoting the use of eco-friendly, cost-effective and locally sourced phytotherapeutics.

Dr Rakesh has long been involved in translational and experimental research on medicinal plants native to Himachal Pradesh. His body of work spans multiple domains including breast cancer treatment via herbal nanoformulations and the management of diabetes mellitus using ethnobotanical species from diverse agro-climatic zones of the state.

Collaborating with Dr RK Asrani, Head of the Department, Dr Rakesh has contributed over a decade of research to the development of plant-based therapies for liver damage, cancer and zoonotic infections. Their findings offer sustainable and safe alternatives to antibiotics — a major step in combating Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).

Dr Rakesh’s presentation at the WVPA Congress, supported by the Houghton Trust (UK), highlights CSKHPKV’s growing global presence in veterinary and biomedical research, while advancing the mission of promoting indigenous knowledge systems in modern science.