The international push to position Ayurveda as a key player in global health solutions gained significant momentum at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) this week. The three-day International Conference on 'Cutting-Edge Research in Ayurveda: Transforming Global Health (ICCRA-2025)' concluded on Friday, with a powerful consensus on the future path for the ancient science.
A Call for Evidence-Based Advancement
Delivering a pivotal message at the valedictory function, Prof S N Sankhwar, Director of the Institute of Medical Sciences-BHU (IMS-BHU), outlined a clear roadmap. He asserted that for Ayurveda to realize its full potential, it must evolve through rigorous scientific validation, seamless interdisciplinary integration, and a strong focus on outcome-oriented research. This sentiment formed the core theme of the conference's closing deliberations.
The event, organized by the esteemed Faculty of Ayurveda at IMS-BHU, attracted a distinguished gathering of academicians, clinicians, and researchers from across India and multiple foreign countries, underscoring the worldwide interest in traditional medicine systems.
Building Bridges Between Traditional and Modern Medicine
Echoing the need for a collaborative approach, Prof Sanjay Kumar Gupta, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at IMS, addressed the attendees. He emphasized the critical importance of fostering strong, evidence-based collaboration between Ayurveda and modern medicine. Prof Gupta noted that academic platforms like ICCRA-2025 are indispensable for tackling contemporary health challenges with an integrated perspective.
The global character of the conference was highlighted by Prof B M Singh while presenting the scientific report. He informed that the scholarly sessions featured an impressive lineup of 31 plenary speakers and over 100 research paper presentations. Active participation came from delegates representing the USA, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal, alongside a wide contingent of Indian researchers, making it a truly international forum.
Rooted in Wisdom, Supported by Science
Dr. Sunil Gautam, Director of Jeevak Ayurvedic Medical College and Hospital, Research Centre, Akauni, observed that ICCRA-2025 itself is a reflection of the growing global acceptance of Ayurveda. He commended the high quality of research presented and urged young researchers to drive innovation. His advice was to ground their work deeply in classical Ayurvedic wisdom while robustly supporting it with modern scientific methodology.
In his presidential address, Prof P K Goswami, the conference president, drew attention to the rich academic legacy of BHU's Faculty of Ayurveda. He stressed that conferences of this caliber are vital for strengthening research culture, enhancing global collaboration, and generating policy-relevant outcomes that can shape the future of Ayurveda on the world stage.
The concluding ceremony also included the distribution of certificates and awards to recognize outstanding academic contributions made during the conference, celebrating the researchers driving the field forward.
