Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine for Neurocognition

Dilip Ghosh, Tanuja Manoj Nesari, Dennis Chang, Manoj Nesari, Rajagopala Shrikrishna

Dr. Dilip Ghosh received his PhD in biomedical science from India and a postdoc from USDAARS, HNRCA at Tufts University, Boston, USA. He is an international speaker, facilitator, and author and is professionally associated with Nutriconnect, Australia. He is also an adjunct-industry fellow with NICM HRI, Western Sydney University; Visiting Professor, Kasturba Health Society, MRC, Mumbai; Jamia Hamdard University at Food Technology, Delhi, India; and Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran. He is a fellow of the American College of Nutrition, professional member of the Australian Institute of Food Science & Technology, an advisor and executive board member of Health Foods and Dietary Supplements Association and The Society for Ethnopharmacology, India, and sits on editorial boards of several journals. Dr. Ghosh has published more than 100 papers in peer-reviewed journals, as well as books and numerous articles in food and nutrition magazines. His more recent books include Pharmaceutical to Nutraceutical: A Paradigm Shift in Disease Prevention, Natural Medicines: Clinical Efficacy, Safety and Quality, Nutraceutical in Brain Health and Beyond, and Fenugreek: Traditional and Modern Medicinal Uses, published by CRC Press and Elsevier/Academic. He is a recipient of IASTAM¬Zandu Oration Award 2022–23 and a consultant with the WHO–Global Traditional Medicine Center (GTMC).

Dr. Tanuja Nesari has completed her MD and PhD in Dravyaguna Vigyan (Traditional Pharmacology) from Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar in 2000 with Gold Medal and Yagneshwar Gopal Dixit Scholarship. She is a former director and head of Translational Research & Biostatic at All India Institute of Ayurveda, GOI, New Delhi. She was also Chair for Health Sector Subskill Council for AYUSH under MOA, GOI. She has served as CEO, National Medicinal Plant board, Ministry of AYUSH, GOI and Additional Director (Academics) and Medical Superintendent at Ch.Brahm Prakash Ayu. Charak Sansthan, under Government of NCT Delhi. Prior to that, she was Principal and Medical Superintendent of Tilak Ayurvedic College Pune. Dr. Nesari is a Universityapproved Ayurveda professor with 29 years of experience teaching in Dravyaguna and Rsasashastra as well as research in quality, safety, and efficacy of medicinal plants. She was the recipient of the Best Ayurveda Teacher award in 2005. She has guided 33 MD, 20 PhD, and 3 MPhil students through their courses of study. Dr. Nesari is an acclaimed international speaker on Ayurveda and has organized series of national & international seminars, workshops, CME programs, and medicinal plants exhibitions on thrust areas of Ayurveda. For the outstanding academic contributions, she received the best teacher award in 2004 and the Harihar Mukherjee Memorial Award for remarkable contribution in the field of ethnopharmacology in 2019. Dr. Nesari has published 74 original papers and 91 review articles in peer-reviewed journals and has authored and edited 15 books in English and regional languages, including Marathi. She is also an executive sditor and reviewer of many indexed journals.

Prof. Dennis Chang has 25 years of experience in complementary medicine as a researcher, educator, and mentor. He is currently Director of NICM Health Research Institute (NICM HRI) at Western Sydney University, Australia’s leader in complementary medicine research and policy development. Prof. Chang was initially trained in medicine and completed his postgraduate training in pharmacology. He is recognized internationally as a leading researcher in pharmacology and clinical research of natural and traditional medicine. He has successfully led several major multicenter clinical trials to evaluate herbal medicine, yoga, and tai chi for the treatment of vascular dementia, mild cognitive impairment, coronary heart disease, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes. Prof. Chang has also conducted numerous laboratory-based studies to evaluate pharmacokinetic/bioavailability profiles and mechanisms of action of herbal medicines. His research has been widely published in highquality international medical journals with more than 130 peer-reviewed articles, one edited book, and more than 10 book chapters. Prior to his appointment as the NICM HRI director in 2020, Prof. Chang served as the Institute’s Associate Director, International. He played a leading role in the development of the Institute’s international partnership program, which led to substantial collaborations and partnerships with prestigious universities and research institutions around the world.

Dr. Manoj Nesari is the Advisor to the Government of India at Ministry of AYUSH to advise on policy matters related to improving health of people, integrating Ayurveda and other Indian traditional systems of medicine in public health care delivery, infrastructure strengthening, and human resources capacity building. He received a PhD on policy research on international laws related to traditional systems of medicine and an MD from Institute of Post Graduate Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (IPGT&RA), Jamnagar, with specialization in internal medicine (Kayachikitsa). He completed his bachelor’s degree in integrative medicine, Ayurveda (BAMS), from R A Podar Medical College (Ayur), Worli, Mumbai. Dr. Nesari has 30 years of experience in Ayurvedic academia, clinical practices, policy planning, international cooperation, and public health. He also has extensive experience developing policy documents, programs, white papers, and vehicles for international negotiations. Many new initiatives for expansion of Ayurveda services and their utilization in public health are to his credit. In addition to his current post, he has worked in different capacities in the past 30 years, including Joint Advisor, Director National Academy of Ayurveda, and Chief Medical Officer at Central Government Health Scheme.

Dr. Rajagopala Shrikrishna is specializing in Ayurveda pediatrics. He received his BAMS from Coimbatore Ayurveda College and completed his postgraduation and doctoral studies at IPGT&RA (now Institute of Teaching & Research in Ayurveda, an Institute of National Importance), Gujarat Ayurved University in Gujarat, India. He has more than 30 years of professional experience and more than 20 years of exclusive teaching and research experience at a postgraduate level. Dr. Shrikrishna is currently holding the post of Ayurveda Academic Chair & Visiting Professor at Western Sydney University’s NICM Health Research Institute, Sydney, Australia. He is also Additional Professor and Head, Department of Kaumarabhritya (Ayurveda Paediatrics) at the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in New Delhi. He is former Dean of Research and Associate Dean of International Cell at AIIA, and executed the duties of medical superintendent at AIIA Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Rajagopala has published more than 80 research articles in peer-reviewed journals and contributed more than 25 book chapters. He also delivered more than 45 invited talks and guest lectures at continuing medical education and training seminars at regional, national, and international levels.