Integrative Medical Research

Ageing is a natural biological process, but individuals experience ageing at different rates. While some maintain good health and functional ability well into later life, others develop age-related diseases earlier. Currently, there are limited objective tools available to determine healthy ageing in individuals. Understanding the biological factors that contribute to healthy ageing and developing geroprotective strategies is an important global research priority. At PES University Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, the Integrative Medical Research department is conducting a research project aimed at finding reliable blood-based biomarkers that can be used to objectively identify healthy ageing, monitor ageing status in older individuals and assess the effectiveness of intervention designed to- promote healthy ageing.

Sepsis, a life-threatening medical emergency, affects an estimated 30 million people globally each year and is among the leading causes of death, accounting for approximately 6–9 million fatalities annually. In India, the growing burden of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)—particularly among Gram-negative bacilli—further exacerbates the sepsis crisis. The country’s healthcare landscape faces several challenges in sepsis management, including the absence of standardized clinical guidelines, fragmented care teams, inadequate data collection systems, a lack of dedicated digital tools, and limited surveillance infrastructure. The project aims to establish a comprehensive dataset with systematic collection, analysis, and dissemination of data (retrospective and prospective) on sepsis and AMR-related sepsis, ultimately contributing to the development of a citywide hospital-based sepsis e-registry from over five participating hospitals with 500-1000 entries/hospital. This collaborative effort will estimate the incidence of sepsis and AMR-related sepsis, clinical outcomes, mortality rates, identification of key prognostic factors associated with disease severity and mortality, spectrum of infective pathogens (including multidrug-resistant organisms), evaluate the appropriateness and timeliness of antibiotic therapy in early sepsis management and a probable SOP implementation with Rapid Response teams with awareness programs at participating hospitals. The study will thus enable participating hospitals to identify high-risk populations, adopt best practices in sepsis management, and serve as a tool for raising awareness among healthcare professionals and the public regarding early recognition and timely intervention in sepsis. In the long term, this dataset is envisioned to facilitate further advanced research and inform public health policy.

This is a project in collaboration with the Art of Living to study the molecular signatures in yoga practitioners performing Sudarshan Kriya on a long term basis.