New Delhi  : AIIMS,New Delhi and IIT Delhi launched a CAPHER-India network of researchers to address research gaps, suggest and examine solutions to address air pollution and its impact on health in India  .The network was inaugurated by Dr.Randeep Guleria (Director,AIIMS Delhi) and Prof Ramgopal Rao( Director, IIT delhi) .In his keynote address Dr. Guleria emphasized on need for a  multidisciplinary approach to mitigate the impact of air pollution on human health .Prof Ramgopal gave insights on the work done at IIT Delhi on exposure reduction in Delhi NCR.  Dr Harshal R Salve Additional Professor at Centre for Community Medicine AIIMS and Dr. Sgnik Dey, Associate Professor at IIT Delhi are co-ordinators for CAPHER  India. The Secretariate of CAPHER is located at Centre for Community Medicine, AIIMS, New Delhi. The aim of the of CAPHER-INDIA is to build dedicated network focused on air pollution and health effects research in India and to bring together teams of Indian researchers from various scientific disciplines. The CAPHER-India consists of a Secretariat, Steering committee and an Expert Advisory group with major activities focusing on Capacity building, advocacy and research communication and collaborations. A 3 day virtual “Workshop on Air pollution and Health Effects Research In India” was held form 21st -23rd oct,2021.It was attended by about more than 300 researchers and experts in the field from India and outside India. Through the active engagement with the workshop participants, CAPHER-India hopes to develop a strategy to advance the state of science regarding air pollution and health effects in India.

Dr.Harshal R Salve, Additional Professor at Centre for Community Medicine, AIIMS New Delhi Said “ CAPHER -india will bring together researchers from exposure assessment and health side so that research gaps and policy level science driven solutions for addressing air pollution can be brought out in India. This is unique multidisciplinary sustainable collaboration between AIIMS and IIT Delhi”.