Indus Hospital & Health Network (IHHN) marked a major milestone in its research journey on April 15, 2026, with the announcement of the inaugural recipient of the Indus Seed Fund Grant (ISFG) 2026. The award was supported by the Muzammil Paracha Research Endowment Fund and was presented at a formal ceremony held at IHHN’s University Campus in Karachi.

The grant was awarded to a research team led by Dr. Aamir Sikander Kazi, Consultant Infectious Diseases, with Dr. Javeria Aijaz, Molecular Pathologist and Section Head of Molecular Biology at IHHN, serving as co-principal investigator. Their study, titled “Artemisinin Resistance Surveillance of Plasmodium falciparum by Next Generation Sequencing of the Kelch 13 Gene – A Single Centre Experience from Karachi, Pakistan,” was selected following a competitive, multi-stage evaluation process.

The ISFG received strong interest from across the network, with multiple submissions undergoing technical review by 16 independent experts from leading academic and medical institutions, including Aga Khan University, NUST, Ziauddin University, Khyber Medical University, and Rawalpindi Medical University. Eight projects were ultimately shortlisted, representing a diverse range of research areas such as infectious disease surveillance, digital health, paediatric nutrition, metabolic disorders, liver fibrosis, and clinical toxicology. Finalists were invited to present before a panel comprising senior clinical and research leadership, following which the winning project was selected.

Chaired by Dr. Saima Saeed, Consultant Pulmonology and Chair, Grants and Funds Committee, with operational oversight from the Office of Research, Innovation & Commercialization (ORIC) under Dr. Ammad Fahim, the grant process spanned nearly six months from the initial call for applications in October 2025 to the final award announcement in April 2026.

The Indus Seed Fund Grant was established to address a critical gap in global medical research: the underrepresentation of patient populations from regions such as South Asia in clinical evidence. Much of the existing literature continues to be based on Western cohorts, often limiting its relevance to local populations where disease patterns, genetic profiles, and environmental exposures differ significantly.

By investing in locally generated research, IHHN aims to produce evidence that is both scientifically rigorous and directly applicable to the communities it serves. The initiative reflects the organization’s broader commitment to strengthening Pakistan’s research ecosystem and ensuring that clinical decision-making is informed by local data.

The selected study focuses on antimicrobial resistance, a growing global health concern. In particular, resistance to artemisinin-based therapies for malaria poses a significant threat to treatment outcomes. Karachi’s status as a densely populated metropolitan center and major port city makes it an important site for early detection and surveillance of emerging resistance patterns.

Through the use of next generation sequencing (NGS), the study will analyze mutations in the Kelch 13 gene, a key molecular marker associated with artemisinin resistance in Plasmodium falciparum. The findings are expected to contribute to national antimicrobial stewardship efforts and help inform evidence-based clinical protocols in Pakistan.

Following the successful launch of the programme, IHHN has confirmed that the next cycle of the Indus Seed Fund Grant will open within the next three to six months. Faculty and researchers across the network are encouraged to begin preparing proposals.

The Indus Seed Fund Grant is supported by the Muzammil Paracha Research Endowment Fund. For further information please visit the ISFG webpage (https://indushospital.org.pk/isfg-framework/)