The selection of around 1,600 scientists from various fields in India in the global list of 2 per cent scientists of the world by Stanford Study is remarkable and speaks volumes about the advancement of India in the field of research and development. The final research of these scientists and their application will contribute immensely to the progress and growth of the country and eventually to the well-being of the people.
The total list was published by the internationally renowned journal, PLOS Biology. In the research paper entitled “Updated science-wide author databases of standardized citation indicators” authored by John P. A. Ioannidis et al, of the total published 68,80,389 (sixty-eight lakh eighty thousand three hundred eighty-nine) scientists, 1,594 are from India.
However, as per the latest Global Innovation Index, India has entered the group of top 50 countries for the first time in 2020, moving up four places to 48th rank and continues to maintain top position among the countries of Central and Southern Asia. India has been recognised as an innovation achiever for 10 consecutive years. India has the 2nd second ranking fifth time in a row with top positions in the quality of scientific publications (21st globally), quality of its universities (22nd).
Radiance Viewsweekly talked to some scientists who have figured in the list of 2 per cent scientists in the world to know their feelings, their focus area of research and how their research can be helpful for the people and the country.
Professor Asad Ullah Khan, Popularly Known As “Man Of NDM– Superbug”
[Prof. Asad Ullah Khan is Coordinator (Head) of Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India.]
I have been working on one of the major global problems called antimicrobial resistance (AMR), for more than a decade and being recognised in the field as “Man of NDM- superbug” since I discovered NDM-4 producing bacteria from hospital sewage of JNMCH, Aligarh in 2013 and got published the study in one of the leading British Journals. AMR is one of the top priority research areas worldwide since WHO announced that in 2050 more deaths will be caused by AMR than any other ailment, even cancer.
My main focus of research is to understand global AMR spread in the current scenario when no antibiotic left to treat deadly infections as well as to devise novel therapeutic approaches using Nanotheranostic/ Nanotherapeutic approaches. I am also excited working on most recently recognised field of gene editing, CRISPR on which 2020 Nobel Prize was announced in Chemistry. One of the most exiting researches came out from my lab is a photo-therapeutic technology, treated diabetic foot ulcers which cannot be treated by any antibiotic available so far due to highly drug resistant infection and the same was filed for patent.
Now, a million-dollar question is how research quality be evaluated. The main gauge of research quality is its overall impact on that field in which research is being carried out. Subject experts can assess the quality by looking research work. Time to time research can also be evaluated by quality of publications. Citations and H-index can also be one of the parameters to judge the quality but not the only parameter.
Overall impact of researchers’ work in their field and its societal impact are appropriate criteria to judge original research to recognise a scientist, and on the same basis Nobel Prizes are awarded. Decision of Nobel Prize is never on Citation Index of any scientist; therefore, mere Citation Index can never decide overall ranking of a scientist. Since, citation varies from research to research, if a large number of groups are working on that topic, more citations will be observed compared to the topic on which only few groups are working. The real science will be decided by the use of state-of-the-art technologies and overall impact of research on that field as well as on society.
My Focus for Research is on Energy and Environmental Sustainability: Prof Ashok Pandey
[Prof Ashok Pandey is a Distinguished Scientist at Centre for Innovation and Translational Research
CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, India.]
Each year citations-based ranking is released by the Clarivate Analytics, Web of Science, which is considered one of the best recognised and accepted rankings globally for the researchers. My name has been in this list since 2018 as Highest Cited Researcher (Top 1% in the world; top 10 in India).
The criteria of this study on preparing the list of top 2% scientists in the world are: Authors used updated analyses that use citations from Scopus with data freeze as of May 6, 2020. Assessed scientists for career-long citation impact up until the end of 2019. Assessed for citation impact during the single calendar year 2019. Primary list contains all scientists who are among the top 100,000 across all fields according to the composite citation index. Fields also contain names who are not in top 100,000 but within top 2%. Field and subfield discipline categories use the Science-Metrix classification. Specific field and subfield have been assigned using a character-based convolutional deep neural network. Derived the 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, 95th, and 99th percentile thresholds for each field and each subfield for career-long and single year 2019 impact based on citations and, separately, based on the composite indicator.
The formula to calculate the composite indicator for career-long impact is derived by summing the ratio of log of 1 + the indicator value over the maximum of those indicator logs for 6 indicators (NC, H, Hm, NCS, NCSF, NCSFL). The formula to calculate the composite indicator for single year 2019 impact follows the same principle and only uses citations from publications published in 2019. Maximum log values across the population are in separate tables for career and single year 2019.
My current focus for research and technological developments is on energy and environmental sustainability.
Waste-to-energy concept has gained much momentum in recent years as on one hand, it offers a unique opportunity to handle and dispose of solid wastes (municipal waste as well as agro-industrial wastes), and simultaneously provides alternative sources of renewable energy. Solid waste treatment and management is a major issue worldwide. Several countries lack proper basic waste management infrastructure and awareness. Thus, waste-to-energy could be an attractive solution for resource recovery, which eventually offers potential benefits when working on principles of bio refinery. A bio refinery is a facility that integrates biomass conversion processes and equipment to produce bio-products, including bio fuels and chemicals. It is analogous to today’s’ petroleum refinery. By producing several products, a bio refinery takes the advantages of various components present in the biomass and their intermediates, therefore maximising the value derived from the biomass feedstock. They also help in complete or near-complete utilisation of the feedstock and reduction in solid, liquid or gaseous wastes.
Various wastes such as food wastes, agri-crops wastes, municipal solid wastes, etc. offer potential opportunities if used as feedstock for developing bio-based processes for the production of value-added chemicals and fuels. Potential application of such wastes for the production of liquid and gaseous bio fuels and other products on principle of biorefineries has gained more attention for possibilities of bio ethanol, bio butanol, biodiesel and other high-value chemicals production, coupled with industrial waste treatment. Two major pathways for these include thermo-chemical conversion and biochemical conversion. However, process integration is key for techno-economic success. These activities are directly relevant to society.
We are Working on Improving Oral Bio Availability of BCS Class II and Class IV Drugs: Professor Javed Ali
[Dr. Javed Ali is a Professor, Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi.]
Indian scientists have been working with a lot of energy and vigour to establish their presence on the world map. A recent publication by PLOS Biology has given encouragement and motivation as a step forward. The listing of my name in the top 2% worldwide scientists in the field of Pharmacology and Pharmacy will not only provide impetus to my research work but will also motivate and encourage the young members of my team for an impactful outcome. The credit also goes to Jamia Hamdard and the founder Late Hakim Abdul Hameed sahib who started the movement in education and research in those times when this field was not preferred by a large segment of people.
My efforts are towards bringing new formulations that are beneficial for society. I have fulfilled all my responsibilities as an academician and researcher with compassion and enthusiasm. Paramount endeavours have been placed in order to develop highly qualified and globally competitive students. This amalgamation of education, research, and quality has brought laurels to Jamia Hamdard which is evident through various quality rankings like NIRF ranking, QS world Ranking, Times Higher Education (THE) World University Ranking, and announcement of institution of eminence by the Ministry of Education.
The PLOS Biology has published a list of subject-wise ranking of top 2% scientists in all fields. The compilation is based on an independent study done by Stanford University scientists which was led by Dr. John PA Loannidis and his associates (Loannidis et al. 2020 PLoS Biol 18(10): e3000918. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3000918). The analysis used data from Scopus for a standardised citation metrics such as citations, H-index, and Cite score data and career-long citation impact.
What is the focus area of your research what has been the latest advancement in your research and how do you think it will help people?
My research group is working on improving oral bio availability of BCS class II and Class IV drugs using polymeric conjugates and lipid-based systems like microemulsions, nanoemulsions, solid lipid nanoparticles, and nanostructured lipid carriers. We are also working on nanoparticulate systems for herbal drug moieties for the treatment of skin disorders. The group is also actively involved in formulating nanoparticulate drug delivery systems for brain delivery for the treatment of CNS disorders. The research work relating to nano-technological based formulations has been focused on affordable healthcare.
A substantial number of process technologies have been investigated in collaboration/sponsorship. We have put in tremendous efforts to upgrade the novel drug delivery systems coupled with experimenting with its route of administration. Presently immune suppressant, HIV, and neurological disorders have gained impetus and bear a huge global burden. Therefore, by focusing on these critical conditions and researching them, we would like to have a more immediate and direct impact on the population affected by the same. I would like to thank my colleague Prof. Sanjula Baboota for her association in various research activities. In addition, I would like to thank the various government agencies for research grants from time to time. Also, the Pharmaceutical Industry has been of great help in terms of the training to the young researchers of the group and consultancy work.
Our Findings may Help Develop New and Effective Medicines for Cancer Patients: Prof. Asif Husain
[Dr. Asif Husain is a Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (SPER), Jamia Hamdard.]
I feel happy and delighted for this selection. Such activities are an acknowledgement of good and hard work, and boost our confidence. I have supervised and guided 01 Post Doctoral Fellow (PDF), 12 Ph.D., and 25 M. Pharm. students. There are more than 300 manuscript publications, 75 paper presentations in National and International conferences/seminars, 50 invited lectures/talks, coordination of several sponsored research projects in Pharmaceutical Sciences funded by Government of India (AICTE, UGC, DST & AYUSH), and filing 03 Indian patents to my credit.
I have written several chapters in different Pharmacy Books, and have also authored 09 Pharmacy Books with reputed publisher like Elsevier publication, Birla publication, IK International Publication, etc. I have research collaboration with various research organisations like NIH, NCI, NIAID- USA.
The criteria of this selection were on the basis of standardised citation indicators, including information on citation, H-index, co-authorship, and a composite indicator. The list of world’s top 2% scientists was prepared by a team of Scientists from Stanford University, USA.
The focus area of my research is the design and synthesis of target-based new anticancer small molecules applying environment-friendly approaches. We are also working on newer prodrugs and mutual prodrugs of anticancer and other drugs, and our main interest is in new Heterocyclic Chemical Entities as possible drug molecules.
Recently, we have been able to discover three novel benzimidazole and furanone based hybrid molecules as safer and potential anticancer agents (NCI approved). Several green synthetic approaches have been successfully used for the preparation of synthetic compounds. My research group has significantly contributed to the field of Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry. The findings may pave way to develop new and effective medicines for cancer patients.
We are Working on Novel Drug Delivery Systems: Dr. Mohd. Aqil
[Dr. Mohd. Aqil is an Associate Professor, Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi]
It is an honour to be placed among the leading scientists in the global list of the year 2019. I am very much pleased on this acknowledgment and consideration by an elite group of scientists from Stanford University, USA who have published this data. The recognition is the culmination of the sincere and tireless efforts of my research group at Jamia Hamdard.
I also feel glad for my fellow colleagues from Jamia Hamdard who have made it to the list led by our Pro Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ahmed Kamal, who along with our VC, Prof. S.E. Hasnain, a distinguished scientist himself, has inspired all of us to work hard and strive for excellence. It is with their blessings and guidance, we have been ranked No. 1 Pharmacy institution in India for second consecutive year in 2020.
We at Jamia Hamdard have been working in the area of novel drug delivery systems for the amelioration of ailments which are chronic and require long term use of medicines. Some of the promising medicines have limitations when delivered by conventional immediate release dosage forms including poor bioavailability, frequent dosing and treatment failure; hence special dosage forms are desirable for delivery of drugs for chronic disorders like hypertension, diabetes mellitus, arthritis, psoriasis, brain disorders including epilepsy, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, mental depression, etc.
As mankind needs new drug delivery systems to overcome the drawbacks of conventional formulations, we have been focusing our research on delivery of nanomedicines mostly by trans(dermal) route for the management of above ailments. It is anticipated in good faith that these new drug delivery systems will help people by reducing the frequency of dosing for they will need to be used only once in 24-72 hours and even once in a week. This will lead to improved patient compliance to treatment regimen with better therapeutic outcomes.
My research team has had success in our thrust area of research as mentioned above. We have filed 8 patents (4 granted) and published over 200 research papers; many of them in high impact factor journals which probably have fetched more citations in Scopus and other databases. I would like to dedicate and share my success with all dear colleagues, research scholars and students past and present who contributed to these research endeavours.
I’m Happy But It isn’t an Official Study or Ranking: Professor Farhan Ahmad
[Farhan Jalees Ahmad, PhD, is currently a Professor, School of Pharmaceutical Education & Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India and is an internationally known researcher in the area of Pharmaceutical Sciences.]
It is an independent study done by faculty members of Stanford University and on the basis of our research publications and their citations they have calculated the score and ranking. I am happy but it is not an official study or ranking done by an official body.
I am leading a very productive research group which has been funded extensively by national and international funding agencies. The focus of the group has been in the area of Novel Drug Delivery System and has two US patent, three PCTs and 10 Indian patents. With a total citation of 12059, H Index of 50 and i-10 index of 284, my work has been clearly well received by the scientific community.