Vijayawada: 3 Crore funding for scientists annually announced

Vijayawada: Sree Padmavati Venkateswara Foundation director Dr C Nageswara Rao on Thursday informed that the foundation would give Rs 3 crore to scientists for research programme, Rs one crore every year which is first of its kind in the country.

Addressing the media, Rao said that the first research grant will be given to Prof Vidita Vidya of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research here on Friday. He said that Prof Vidita Vidya would carry out her research on 'Stress at Young age leading to Brain malfunctions'.

He said that they have received about 109 applications from across the country and Prof Vidita Vidya from Tata Institute was selected for the grant. Next year they would select one more research person and extend their grant of Rs one crore to them and Rs one crore to Prof Vidita Vidya, on the third year they would select another person for the research programme and would grant Rs one crore to the new and Rs one crore each to the old two research programmes.

He said that Rs three crore will be spent on each research and for a period of three years, said Dr Vageswara Rao. He said that the chief guest of the research grant programme will be Dr Shekhar C Mande, director general of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, guests of honor Prof D Balasubramanian, director of Research Emeritus, LVPEI, Prof LS Shashidhara, Professor of Biology, IISER, Prof V Chandra Sekhar, centre director, TIFR, Hyderabad and Dr G N Rao, Chair, LV Prasad Eye Hospital. Tirumala Rao, coordinator was present at the meet.