Lucknow, August 21: The University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus, Barbados, Era University, Lucknow, and the American University of Barbados (AUB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in medical education, research and healthcare, bringing together academic strengths from India and the Caribbean to address emerging regional and global health challenges.

The MoU was signed during a one-day international academic exchange hosted by Era’s Lucknow Medical College & Hospital, Era University, Lucknow, on Thursday. The programme, titled “The Nexus between Health and Development: Innovations in Health, Healthcare, and Health Professions Education,” brought together academicians, researchers and healthcare professionals from the two regions.

The agreement was signed by Prof. R. Clive Landis, Pro Vice Chancellor & Principal, University of the West Indies, Barbados; Ms. Anita Bhat, Chief Executive Officer, American University of Barbados, Barbados; and Prof. (Dr.) Abbas Ali Mahdi, Vice Chancellor, Era University, Lucknow.

The partnership aims to leverage the complementary strengths of the three institutions to foster impactful research, enhance medical education and address pressing health challenges. It will focus on integrating thematic and translational research with education to develop sustainable, high-impact outcomes in healthcare and health professions education.

UWI brings Caribbean experience to India’s changing health landscape
For UWI, the partnership comes at a time when India and the Caribbean are confronting increasingly similar challenges associated with the changing burden of disease.

Speaking during the academic exchange, Prof. R. Clive Landis highlighted the Caribbean’s experience of transitioning from a predominantly infectious-disease burden to one dominated by non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and said India was moving along a similar path.

He said UWI’s strength in academic research and publications could complement Era University’s strength in translating research into clinical practice.

“The great strength of the University of the West Indies is really in terms of academic outputs. We’re very strong in our research and publications. The great strength of ERA University is its research translation,” Prof. Landis said.
He described Era University’s ability to take research “from the lab to the bedside” as world-class and said the two institutions could benefit from their different strengths and healthcare environments.

The MoU will also open opportunities for student exchanges and clinical exposure. Prof. Landis said medical students from the Caribbean could benefit from India’s diverse patient population and clinical environment, including exposure to areas such as orthopaedics and paediatrics. Students from Era University, in turn, could gain exposure to the Caribbean’s high burden of chronic diseases, including diabetes and ischemic heart disease.
Lucknow’s food culture gets a public-health spotlight

Prof. Landis also used the occasion to flag the growing health concerns surrounding ultra-processed food and its role in the NCD transition.
Referring to Lucknow’s recognition by UNESCO as a City of Gastronomy, he urged people to preserve the city’s traditional food culture instead of replacing it with ultra-processed products.

“Stick to your own food culture, it is healthy,” he said.
Prof. Landis said ultra-processed foods are engineered to encourage overconsumption, often combining high levels of sugar, fats and salt with additives, emulsifiers, colourants and preservatives.

Their growing consumption, he said, is associated with obesity and chronic inflammation and may have wider cardiovascular, neurological and mental-health implications.
He advocated clear warning labels for ultra-processed foods, citing Brazil’s experience with simple labelling that tells consumers directly when a product is ultra-processed.

Until such labelling becomes available, he advised consumers to ask themselves whether what they are eating is “real food” and to rely more on traditional dietary cultures.

Academic exchange covers health, technology and education
The international exchange featured sessions covering health and disease across the life course, healthcare technology, research, medical education and healthy living.

The opening session, “Era University & The University of the West Indies: A Partnership of Excellence,” included presentations on research at Era University by Dr. Sharique Ahmad, Department of Pathology, and Dr. Shadab Raza, Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Era’s Lucknow Medical College & Hospital, Era University, Lucknow. Prof. Landis spoke on research for health and the role of academic institutions in addressing contemporary health challenges.

The session “Health and Disease through the Life Course” featured Dr. Mustahsin Malik, Head, Department of Critical Care Medicine, on antimicrobial resistance; Dr. R. K. Garg, Department of Neurology, on central nervous system infections; Dr. Farzana Mahdi, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Era University, on personalised medicine; and Dr. Damian Cohall, Dean, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados, on the herbal heritage of the British West Indies.

The afternoon session, “Transforming Healthcare Through Research and Technology,” featured Mr. Zaw Ali Khan, Additional Director (Research and Development), Era’s Lucknow Medical College & Hospital, Era University, on digital health across the care continuum, and Dr. Alok Kumar Singh, Deputy Dean of Research, University of the West Indies, Barbados, on clinical research and postgraduate training.

Presentations on patient safety competencies and simulation-based learning were delivered by Dr. Sucheta Dandekar, Department of Biochemistry, and Dr. Anuja Bhargava, Head, Department of ENT, Era’s Lucknow Medical College & Hospital, Era University, Lucknow.

The concluding session, “Shaping the Future,” focused on safe doctors and healthy living, with Dr. Zainab Naqvi, Department of Biotechnology, Era University, Lucknow, speaking on nutrition and longevity and Dr. Angela Carrington Dyall, Assistant Dean, Assessment and Examinations, American University of Barbados, sharing the AUB experience in lifestyle and healthy living.
‘Important step towards global academic engagement’

Prof. (Dr.) Abbas Ali Mahdi, Vice-Chancellor, Era University, said international academic partnerships were essential for creating a shared platform for knowledge, innovation and collaborative research.

He described the exchange with UWI and AUB as an important step towards strengthening global academic engagement and creating opportunities for researchers, educators and healthcare professionals to learn from one another.
The university, he said, looked forward to building a sustained partnership that would contribute meaningfully to healthcare, health professions education and research.

The programme concluded with an interactive discussion and vote of thanks by Dr. Nirmala Rege, Department of Pharmacology, Era’s Lucknow Medical College & Hospital, Era University, Lucknow, followed by high tea.

The MoU marks a significant step towards sustained academic, research and professional collaboration between India and the Caribbean, with the three institutions expected to explore further opportunities in healthcare innovation, medical education, translational research and capacity building.