- ‘SMART 2.0’ program has been launched by the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) along with National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM).
- The aim of ‘SMART 2.0’ program is to promote clinical studies in priority areas of Ayurveda.
- It aims to promote such studies with Ayurveda academic institutions and hospitals across the country through mutual collaboration.
- According to Director General of CCRAS, the study aims at safety, tolerability and adherence to Ayurveda formulations in the certain priority research areas.
- These priority research areas are Bal Kasa, Malnutrition, Insufficient lactation, Abnormal Uterine Bleeding, Osteoporosis in post-menopausal women and Diabetes Mellitus (DM) II.
- The goal of “SMART 2.0” is to use multidisciplinary research techniques to produce concrete evidence of the safety and efficacy of Ayurvedic treatments.
- About ten diseases were covered under “SMART 1.0,” with the active participation of teaching professionals from 38 colleges.
- CCRAS is the premier organisation for formulating, coordinating, developing, and advancing scientific Ayurvedic research. It functions under the Ministry of Ayush. It is headquartered in New Delhi.
National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM)
- It is a Statutory and regulatory body of the Government of India. It was formed in 2020.
- It frames policies for institutions engaged in the Indian System of Medicine.