Jalandhar March 11 (Jaswinder Singh Azad)- Hans 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 keynote address was delivered by Dr. Harpreet Singh
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
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
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.