Dr. Praveen Balakrishnan

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Introduction

Dr. Praveen Balakrishnan is currently working as Research officer (Ayurveda) at Regional Ayurveda Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram. He joined the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, Ministry of Ayush, Government of India on January 30, 2017. He was initially posted at Regional Ayurveda Research Institute, Lucknow till March 11, 2019, and later was transferred to Thiruvananthapuram. He is basically an ayurveda researcher who is interested in establishing the ayurveda basic principles clinically and generating evidence using contemporary diagnostic tools. He is also interested in exploring the possibilities of performing ayurvedic management in acute cases and has published a couple of papers in that regard.

Educational Qualifications

He completed his undergraduation from Pankajakasthuri Ayurveda Medical College, Kattakada, Thiruvananthapuram in 2010. Later he did his masters in Shalakya Tantra (Ayurveda specialization of Eye, ENT and Dental diseases) from Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara (SDM) College of Ayurveda and Hospital, Hassan, Karnataka in 2014.

Previous Work Experience

He worked as Junior Physician in Kerala Ayurveda Limited, Aluva, Ernakulam District for a period of eleven months in 2010-11. Later he worked as an Assistant Professor, Department of Shalakya Tantra, Vishnu Ayurveda College, Shoranur, Palakkad District for two years from December 31, 2014 to January 27, 2017.

Awards Received

He has won the prestigious Kottakkal Aryavaidya Shala P.S. Varier Award for six times (2013, 2014, 2017, 2019, 2022, and 2023), Ashtavaidyan ET Neelakandan Mooss Memorial Award two times (2016 and 2023). He has also won the Late Vaidya HB Paranjape award in 2012 conferred by Ayurveda Shikshan Mandal. He has won the best paper award for paper presentation at three National/International Conferences including Jignasa 2014, World Ayurveda Congress 2018 and Global Ayurveda Festival 2023. He stood at the second position in Karnataka State Level Finals PG Presentation Contest conducted by The Himalaya Drug Company, Bangalore in 2014. He has also won the Late Smt Pramila Bai Kanade – Young Scientist Award conferred by The Association of Shalaki in 2021.

Books written

He has written 07 books and one book chapter till date. Six books were published by Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal, Kerala and one book by Chaukhambha Orientalia, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. One chapter in a book has been published by Lab Academia, Publications, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.

Articles published

In total he has published 19 papers till date. 14 papers are in PubMed/Scopus/UGC Care indexed journals as the first author/corresponding author and 2 papers as corresponding authors. 3 papers were published in non-indexed journals, which includes Aryavaidyan of Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Shala.

Reviewership

He has reviewed more than 50 articles till date. He is a member of the peer review panel of Annals of Ayurvedic Medicine Journal, and an External Subject Reviewer/Referee of Ayu Journal. He is a reviewer of many PubMed/Scopus/UGC Care indexed journals including Integrative Medicine Reports (Mary Ann Liebert Inc), BMJ Nutrition, Prevention and Health (BMJ Journals), Evidence- based complementary and alternative medicine (Hindawi) Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine (De Gruyter), Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine (Elsevier), Ayu (Wolters- Kluwer), Internal Journal of Ayurveda Research (Wolters-Kluwer), Journal of Ayurveda Case Reports (Wolters-Kluwer), Journal of Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (Wolters-Kluwer), Journal of Drug Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (Wolters-Kluwer). He is also a reviewer of the PG-STAR program of CCRAS.

Research Experience

Till date he has completed 05 IMR projects as Principal Investigator. 3 projects are now ongoing as a co-investigator, 02 projects as principal investigator.

Resource person

He has been an active person in delivering the essence of Shalakya Tantra to undergraduates, post graduates, research scholars of Indian nationals and foreign nationals. Till date he has been a resource person in 23 events conducted by various institutions including All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi, Government Ayurveda College, Thiruvananthapuram, Govt. Ayurveda Medical College, Bengaluru, Dept of Posts, Govt. of India, Shri BMK Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya, Belgavi, SNA Oushadhasala Pvt Ltd, Thrissur, AVP Research Foundation, Coimbatore, TAS & Sreedhareeyam, and Veda Education. He regularly takes clinical Shalakya classes for interns posted at Regional Ayurveda Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram.

Technical Experience

He is enthusiastic in developing Ayurveda/Shalakya wherever he is posted. He was deputed to Cantonment General Hospital, Cantonment Board, Dehu Road, Ministry of Defence, Govt of India to establish Ayurvedic OPD there for a period of 03 months which was successfully achieved. He has conducted World Sight Day Eye Camp 2019, and World Glaucoma Eye Camp 2020 at Regional Ayurveda Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram.

Administrative Experience

He has acted as the full-incharge of the institute for about 25 spells. He is the Hospital-in- charge, and Chairman of various committees including AHMIS Implementation, Building committee, Establishment of LAN and NKN/E-office Chairman, and maintenance of computers/equipment/AMC related issues. He has worked as Liaison officer to G20 (First Meeting of Health Working Group) and RAV Seminar held at Regional Ayurveda Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram,

Trainings undergone

He had undergone training in health research fundamentals, bio-medical research, basics of Systematic review and Meta-analysis, basics of scientific writing and reference management, Publishing Scientific Literature, Oral Health Promotion for Ayush Professionals, Programme on Implementation of NABH Standards for Ayurveda Hospitals, and Parangat.

Other Knowledge

He has also undergone training in various computer education programs like MS office, C programing, web designing, oracle, social media content development, and IT training for AYUSH professionals. He is also trained in Reiki (First and Second Levels), and effective communication.

Memberships of scientific bodies

He is a lifetime member of The Association of Shalakies (TAS).