SRI DHARMASTHALA MANJUNATHESHWARA COLLEGE OF AYURVEDA, HOSPITAL AND RESEARCH CENTRE
- UDUPI

JOB DESCRIPTION
Title: Head – Research Centre | Ayurveda, Naturopathy & Traditional Medicine REPORTS TO: Executive Director – SDM Udupi CampusROLE MANDATE: Build a credible, collaborative and commercially relevant research center1. Role Purpose Provide strategic and operational leadership to establish the SDM Udupi Research Centre as a respected platform for rigorous, evidence-informed research across Ayurveda, Naturopathy, traditional medicine and holistic health. The role combines scientific acumen with institutional development, market understanding, partnership building and commercialisation capability—translating credible research into validated services, products, intellectual property and solutions that can create meaningful value for patients, practitioners and the Indian healthcare market. 2. Strategic Context: Modern Ayurveda at SDMSDM’s next phase of growth calls for research that respects traditional knowledge while engaging confidently with contemporary science, modern research methods, digital tools, patient-centred outcomes and responsible market pathways. The Head will build bridges between tradition and evidence without overstating claims, ensuring that scientific integrity, patient safety and institutional reputation remain non-negotiable. 3. Key Accountabilities A. Research Strategy, Portfolio and Scientific Quality
· Develop a three-to-five-year research strategy, annual plan and prioritised portfolio spanning clinical and practice-based research, traditional knowledge, natural products/formulations, wellness interventions and integrative care, aligned with SDM’s strengths and the needs of the Indian market.
· Identify high-value research questions; build rigorous protocols, measurable outcomes, publication plans and stage-gate reviews so resources focus on work with scientific merit and potential for real-world application.
· Strengthen research methods, biostatistics, data management, literature review, reproducibility, documentation and publication quality; mentor faculty, clinicians and early-career researchers.
· Promote appropriate collaborations across Ayurveda, Naturopathy, modern medicine, public health, life sciences, technology and industry, while maintaining clear roles and scientific independence.
· Lead evidence-informed Ayurvedic product development for the pharmacy, from concept and formulation through validation, regulatory readiness and responsible commercialization.
· Head Ayurvedic drug trials, ensuring scientific rigor, ethics approvals, participant safety, protocol compliance, data integrity and transparent reporting. B. Research Governance, Ethics and Centre Readiness
· Lead readiness for relevant research center registrations, accreditations, certifications and quality-management systems, as applicable to the Centre’s scope; maintain inspection readiness and close audit gaps.
· Ensure applicable ethics approvals, informed consent, participant safety, protocol compliance, confidentiality, secure data handling, trial/project registration where required,



and transparent reporting of findings and limitations.
· Establish clear governance for intellectual property, conflicts of interest, sponsored research, material/data sharing, authorship, partner agreements and responsible use of AI or analytics in research.
· Build standard operating procedures, research records, risk registers and review mechanisms that support quality, accountability and confidence among regulators, partners and funders. 4. Commercial Translation, Market Development and Partnerships A. Research-to-Market and Value Creation
· Build a practical translation pipeline from research insight to validation, product/service design, intellectual-property assessment, regulatory pathway, market testing and responsible launch. Define stage gates and go/no-go decisions based on evidence, feasibility, safety and market demand.
· Identify research outputs with potential for Indian-market adoption—for example, evidence-backed wellness programmes, practitioner tools, validated care pathways, botanical or formulation-related opportunities, diagnostic/support services, digital health solutions or licensing opportunities—subject to appropriate evidence and approvals.
· Develop business cases covering target users, unmet needs, differentiation, addressable market, pricing, cost-to-serve, partner economics, adoption barriers and likely routes to market. Build a pipeline of opportunities rather than measuring success only through publications.
· Work with SDM leadership, clinicians, pharmacy/product teams, legal/regulatory specialists and commercial partners to protect IP, assess freedom to operate, define ownership and select fit-for-purpose routes such as licensing, co-development, institutional services or spin-out models where approved.
· Ensure every market-facing claim is supported by the available evidence and complies with applicable laws, professional standards and product/service-specific regulatory requirements. Research credibility must never be compromised for short-term sales. B. Market Intelligence, Sales and External Relationships
· Maintain a grounded understanding of India’s Ayurveda, Naturopathy, traditional medicine, integrative health and wellness markets—including customer needs, practitioner behaviour, competing offerings, distribution channels, pricing, industry trends and emerging opportunities.
· Build relationships with hospitals, universities, research institutions, AYUSH and healthcare ecosystem stakeholders, pharmaceutical/herbal companies, wellness providers, industry bodies, funders and potential licensees or distributors.
· Represent the Centre with confidence; present research value propositions, develop partnership proposals,



negotiate collaboration terms and actively convert qualified opportunities into funded projects, research contracts, pilots, licensing discussions or other approved revenue streams.
· Build a measurable business-development funnel covering leads, qualified opportunities, proposals, conversion, partnership value, funded research, licensing or translation milestones, repeat collaborations and market uptake. 5. Leadership and Institutional Capability
· Recruit, develop and lead a multidisciplinary research team; create a culture of curiosity, scientific discipline, collaboration, delivery ownership and continuous learning.
· Manage research budgets, project costing, grant applications, resource utilisation and financial reporting; balance strategic investments with sustainable operating discipline.
· Create effective operating rhythms—portfolio reviews, project milestones, ethics/compliance checks, partner reviews and management dashboards—with early escalation of risks and delays.
· Translate complex science into clear messages for institutional leaders, clinicians, practitioners, funders, partners and commercial audiences without exaggerating results or certainty. 6. First 12-Month Priorities and Success Measures Strategy & portfolio Approved research strategy; prioritised project pipeline; milestones, owners and review cadence established. Quality & readiness Gap assessment completed; required approvals and quality systems mapped; SOPs and audit actions tracked to closure. Research output Improved protocol quality, completion discipline, publications, presentations, grant submissions and collaborative projects. Commercial pipeline Market map and opportunity shortlist; documented business cases; partner meetings, proposals, pilots and conversion milestones. Value creation Evidence-based translation opportunities advanced through agreed validation, IP, regulatory and market stage gates. Financial sustainability Research funding pipeline, project economics, budget discipline and appropriate external income monitored through an agreed dashboard. Products & drug trials Ayurvedic product pipeline established; priority drug trials initiated with required approvals and milestones. 7. Candidate Profile
· Senior leader with substantial experience managing a research centre, institute, hospital-linked research function or comparable multidisciplinary setting in India; proven portfolio, people and partnership leadership.
· Solid research acumen in Ayurveda, Naturopathy, traditional medicine, holistic health or a related field; relevant postgraduate/doctoral qualification or equivalent domain credibility and a record of research delivery.
· Hands-on experience with research ethics, quality systems and centre-level certification/accreditation or regulatory readiness, working with appropriately qualified scientific, clinical and regulatory specialists. Commercial orientation with Indian-market insight, business development, sales/presentation, negotiation and conversion skills; able to turn credible research into funded work and responsible market opportunities. Strong communication, financial judgement and stakeholder management.

📌 Head Research Centre (Udupi)
🏢 Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara A urveda Hospital
📍 Udupi