Dr. Mohammad Salman Shah, Prof. Fatima Khan, Dr. Shahzad Anwar, Dr. Shafqat Tasneem, Dr. Mohammad Ahmad, Prof. Mohammad Khalid, Prof. Mohammad Athar Ansari and Prof. Uzma Eram during the program
Faculty-Led WHO UNITY Initiative Positions JNMC, AMU as Key Regional Research Hub in SEAR Region
Aligarh, December 8: The Department of Community Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC), Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), organised a special programme to formally launch the WHO UNITY Study project for positioning the institution as a strategic research node under the WHO South-East Asia Regional UNITY Study Network and the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS).
The WHO UNITY platform consists of globally harmonised epidemiological study protocols developed to help countries better understand transmission trends, disease severity, population immunity, and emerging infectious threats. First conceptualised after the 2009 H1N1 pandemic and significantly strengthened during COVID-19, UNITY protocols have now evolved into a cornerstone of global health preparedness.
Dr. Mohammad Salman Shah, Department of Community Medicine, serves as the Site Principal Investigator for the WHO UNITY Study at JNMC. He emphasised that the standardised methodology will allow India and AMU specifically contribute to global surveillance, evidence-based response planning, and policymaking.
The Site Co-Investigator team comprises: Prof. Fatima Khan, Department of Microbiology,Dr. Shahzad Anwar, Department of Tuberculosis & Chest Diseases AND Dr. Shafqat Tasneem, Department of Medicine
As part of the programme, Dr. Mohammad Ahmad, National Professional Officer (Research), WHO India, conducted an on-site assessment of readiness and expressed satisfaction over study preparations. He commended AMU for its proactive commitment to research excellence and called UNITY Studies ".
Presiding over the launch, Prof. Mohammad Khalid, Dean, Faculty of Medicine, termed the collaboration a landmark achievement and highlighted its relevance at a time when global health systems continue to prioritise readiness for future pandemics. Former Chairperson and senior faculty member Prof. Mohammad Athar Ansari stressed the importance of interdisciplinary and international partnerships in strengthening institutional scientific capabilities. Prof. Uzma Eram congratulated the research team and encouraged sustained momentum.
The launch signifies JNMC’s advancement as a key regional public health research hub. With strong institutional backing and WHO technical support, the UNITY Study at AMU is expected to generate valuable insights on respiratory infections and contribute to global evidence-based health security efforts.