A landmark moment for research at one of the Best Medical Colleges in Delhi NCR and Best Dental Colleges in Delhi NCR — Santosh's faculty secures ₹81,58,936 under the ICMR Anveshan Extramural Grants scheme.
Santosh Deemed to be University has reached a proud new milestone in its research journey. A faculty research team has been selected for the ICMR Small Extramural Grants (ICMR Anveshan Extramural Grants), securing research funding of ₹81,58,936 — the university's first exclusive grant of this scale from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). For a growing multi-disciplinary health sciences campus that houses medical, dental, nursing and allied health programs, this recognition is a strong marker of the institution's rising research credibility in Delhi NCR.
The Approved Project
The funded project is titled "Development and Evaluation of a Peer-Led Tobacco Use Prevention Model Incorporating Stress Management and Refusal Skills among School Students in Ghaziabad: An Implementation Study."
It brings together expertise from Public Health Dentistry and Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, two departments known for community-oriented, evidence-based dental and child-health research. The project team includes:
| Faculty Member | Role | Designation & Department |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Meena Jain | Principal Investigator | Professor & HOD, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Santosh Dental College and Hospitals |
| Dr. Akshay Bhargava | Co-Principal Investigator | Director Research, Dean - Faculty of Dentistry and Director of the Santosh Startups Forum, Santosh Deemed to be University |
| Dr. Natasha Gambhir | Co-Principal Investigator | Assistant Dean & Professor and HOD, Dept. of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry Santosh Dental College & Hospitals |
Why This Research Matters
Tobacco-use prevention research among adolescents sits at the intersection of public health research, preventive dentistry, behavioural science and school health programs — all high-priority areas within India's national health research agenda. Instead of relying only on conventional awareness sessions, this project introduces a peer-led prevention model, where school students themselves become active participants in promoting healthier choices among classmates.
What sets the study apart is its integration of three interconnected components:
- Tobacco-use prevention — building awareness of health risks
- Stress management — equipping students with coping strategies
- Refusal skills training — helping students confidently decline tobacco use in peer situations
Adolescence is a formative stage for lifestyle and health-related decision-making and prevention strategies delivered through peer networks tend to be more relatable and effective than
top-down messaging. By working through peer influence rather than against it, the study aims to generate insights relevant to school-based tobacco cessation programs, adolescent mental health and oral and public health policy in India.
A Community-Based, Real-World Study
The research will be implemented directly among school students in Ghaziabad, giving it a strong community-based and implementation-science focus rather than confining it to a laboratory or clinical setting. This real-world design strengthens the study's relevance to public health implementation research and community dentistry, an area where Santosh's Department of Public Health Dentistry has been steadily building a research track record.
Notably, this ICMR-funded study builds on earlier momentum: the pilot phase of the project had already received a grant of ₹3 lakh last year from the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) — a validation of the model's early promise that helped the team secure this larger ICMR Anveshan grant.
What This Means for Santosh Deemed to be University
This achievement reflects the dedication, academic excellence and research aptitude of the Santosh faculty, and it highlights the university's growing commitment to research addressing pressing public-health challenges in India. As Santosh continues to strengthen its position among the best medical colleges in Delhi NCR and best dental colleges in Delhi NCR, milestones like this ICMR Anveshan grant reinforce the institution's identity as a research-driven health sciences university — one where faculty are actively contributing to national priorities in preventive medicine, adolescent health and community dentistry.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Grant Scheme | ICMR Small Extramural Grants (ICMR Anveshan Extramural Grants) |
| Funding Amount | ₹81,58,936 |
| Study Focus | Peer-led tobacco use prevention, stress management, refusal skills |
| Study Population | School students, Ghaziabad |
| Departments Involved | Public Health Dentistry, Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry |
| Principal Investigator | Dr. Meena Jain |
| Co-Principal Investigators | Dr. Akshay Bhargava, Dr. Natasha Gambhir |
| Prior Pilot Funding | ₹3 lakh, Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) |
| Institution | Santosh Dental College, Santosh Deemed to be University, Ghaziabad, Delhi NCR |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ICMR Anveshan Extramural Grant awarded to Santosh Deemed to be University for?
It has been awarded for a research project developing and evaluating a peer-led tobacco-use prevention model among school students in Ghaziabad, incorporating stress management and refusal-skills training.
Who is leading this research at Santosh Deemed to be University?
Dr. Meena Jain is the Principal Investigator, with Dr. Akshay Bhargava and Dr. Natasha Gambhir as Co-Principal Investigators.
How much funding has Santosh Deemed to be University received from ICMR?
The university has secured ₹81,58,936 under the ICMR Small Extramural Grants (Anveshan) scheme.
Why is this significant for Santosh's standing among medical and dental colleges in Delhi NCR?
It demonstrates the research depth and academic rigor of Santosh's faculty, reinforcing the university's reputation as one of the best medical and dental colleges in Delhi NCR with a genuine commitment to public-health research.
