My thoughts on FRIS by Dr. Syed Ziaur Rahman

During my recent visit to London, the Secretary of AMU Alumni Association of UK, Mr. Khursheed Hasan, fixed a meeting with Dr. Ahmad Waseem, Professor of Molecular and Cellular Oral Biology at Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London. Dr. Fahim Halim Khan and Dr. Sumbul Halim Khan from Aligarh, also attended the meeting. We were graciously hosted by Prof. Waseem, who first of all congratulated me on becoming a Fellow of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians and then gave us a tour of his prestigious institute.

Our meeting was both enjoyable and insightful as we discussed scientific advancements in both London and Aligarh. Dr. Waseem introduced me to Friends of Researchers in the Indian Subcontinent (FRIS), a charitable organization that he founded. FRIS aims to foster collaboration among researchers from the UK, EU countries, and seven countries in the Indian subcontinent including India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The organization’s mission is to advance biomedical education and research collaboration to combat diseases and promote global health as well as to equip researchers with the skills and resources needed to contribute effectively to improving health outcomes in the subcontinent and beyond.

FRIS supports initiatives such as researcher exchanges, provides access to modern research tools, facilitates lectures, seminars, webinars, and conferences, and funds research projects in the UK/EU led by scholars from the subcontinent. These efforts are crucial for addressing healthcare needs in the region and promoting disease prevention and management through innovative biomedical research. Given the foundational role of biomedical sciences in modern medicine, FRIS emphasizes non-clinical and translational research that bridges basic science with clinical applications. By supporting such research, FRIS aims to equip researchers in the subcontinent with the skills and resources necessary to contribute meaningfully to global health challenges.

Although FRIS is currently not accepting grant applications as it establishes itself, I encourage everyone to support its mission. Together, we can contribute to a healthier world by fostering advancements in biomedical education and research through FRIS.

For more information, please visit FRIS website: www.frischarity.org.uk.

Submitted by
Syed Ziaur Rahman
MBBS (1990 Batch), MD
AMU, Aligarh, India