ISLAMABAD, Dec 08 (DNA): Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) of the

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has awarded a project Quantifying the

Transmission Routes of Gastroenteritis (GastroPak) to a consortium of

researchers from the National University of Sciences and Technology

(NUST) Pakistan, Earlham Institute UK, University of Warwick UK,

Cranfield University UK, Institute of Development Studies UK, National

University of Ireland Galway, University of Agriculture Faisalabad and

Brigham and Women’s Hospital USA.

The grant is worth GBP 2 Million, out of which GBP 0.534 Million, has

been granted to NUST, said a news release.

The project is being led by Professor Dr Christopher Quince from Earlham

Institute and University of Warwick, while the NUST team is being

represented by Professor Dr Imran Hashmi and Professor Dr Sher Jamal

Khan from NUST Institute of Environmental Science and Engineering

(IESE), and Dr Aneela Javed from NUST Atta-ur-Rehman School of Applied

Biosciences (ASAB).

The research is aimed at quantifying rate of different non-vital

Gastroenteritis Transmission in Pakistan, including social, biological,

chemical and technical factors through agriculture, sanitation, drinking

water, food, and person-to-person contact.

The study will further ascertain the effectiveness of alternative waste

water treatment technologies for gastroenteric pathogen removal

contrasting relatively low-technology methods, such as managed wetlands,

with higher-technology membrane bio-reactors.

Felicitating the researchers on this meritorious accomplishment, Lt Gen

Naweed Zaman, HI (M), (Retd), Rector NUST, hoped that this phenomenal

achievement would inspire more researchers from the university to

acquire such international grants in the future and bring accolades to

their university and the country. DNA

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