Conference programme

Two days of integrative inquiry.

Yoga and Ayurveda in Neurosciences: Therapeutics and Research Approaches

29–30 October 2026

Convention Centre, NIMHANS, Bengaluru

Day 1

Thursday, 29 October 2026

Time

Format

Session details

9:00 – 10:00 AM

Opening

Inauguration

10:00 – 10:30 AM

Keynote address

Keynote Address

  • VD Rajesh Kotecha · Ministry of AYUSH
  • Dr M Srinivas · NITI Aayog
    • 10:30 – 11:00 AM

    Interval

    Tea Break

    11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

    Panel discussion

    Policymakers, Funding Agencies and Research in Integrative Medicine

  • Dr Kousthubha Upadhyaya · Ministry of AYUSH
  • Dr Geethakrishnan · WHO
  • Dr Manisha Kothekkar · NCISM
  • Dr Rabinarayan Acharya · CCRAS
  • Dr Ruchi Singh · ICMR
  • Dr Kashinath Samagandi · AIIA

    • Chairpersons

    Prof. Dr D Nagaraja · Former Director, NIMHANS

    Lt. Col. Dr Madhuri Kanitkar · Former Vice-Chancellor, MUHS

    1:00 – 2:00 PM

    Interval

    Lunch Break / Poster Presentations

    Evidence from Public Health Research

    2:00 – 3:00 PM

    Plenary

    Integrative Medicine for Public Mental Health: A NIMHANS Initiative

  • NAMAN, YES, CCIM
  • Dr BN Gangadhar · Distinguished AYUSH Chair

    • Chairperson

    Dr Smita Deshpande · St. Johns Medical College

    3:00 – 4:00 PM

    Parallel symposium

    Three concurrent symposia

    Track 1

    SVYASA Initiatives in Public Health

  • TBD*

    • Chairperson
    Dr Manjunath · SVYASA

    Track 2

    Integrative Initiatives in AIIMS

  • Speaker 1
  • Dr Naveen · AIIMS, Jodhpur
  • Dr Monica Pathania · AIIMS, Rishikesh

    • Chairperson
    TBD*

    Track 3

    Yoga, Ayurveda and Public Health

  • Dr Rahul Shidhaye · Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences, Ahmednagar
  • Dr Sarika Chaturvedi · DY Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune
  • TBD*

    • Chairperson
    Dr Kishore Patwardhan · Banaras Hindu University

    4:00 – 4:15 PM

    Interval

    Tea Break

    4:30 – 6:00 PM

    Presentations

    Oral Paper Presentations

    6:30 PM onwards

    Evening programme

    Culturals followed by Gala Dinner

    Day 2

    Friday, 30 October 2026

    Time

    Format

    Session details

    Evidence from Clinical Research

    9:00 – 10:00 AM

    Panel discussion

    Integrative Clinical Services: Current Trends and Challenges

  • Dr Sanjeev Rastogi · State Ayurvedic College and Hospital, University of Lucknow
  • Dr Kishore Kumar R · NIMHANS
  • Dr Manohar S Gundeti · RRA-CARI, Mumbai
  • TBD*

    • Chairperson

    Dr Shivarama Varambally · NIMHANS

    10:00 – 11:00 AM

    Plenary

    Imaging and Integrative Medicine

  • Dr Balachunder Subramaniam · Harvard, USA
  • Dr Bharath Holla · NIMHANS

    • Chairperson

    Dr Ganesan Venkatasubramanian · NIMHANS

    11:00 – 11:15 AM

    Interval

    Tea Break

    11:15 AM – 12:30 PM

    Parallel symposium

    Three concurrent symposia

    Track 1

    Integrative Clinical Research in Neurology

  • Dr Neetina Patil · CIMR, MAHE, Manipal
  • Dr Rohan Mahale · NIMHANS
  • Dr Hemant · NIMHANS

    • Chairperson
    Dr Archana Purushottom · Houston, Texas

    Track 2

    Integrative Initiatives in CCRAS

  • TBD*
  • Dr Shubashree · CARI, Bengaluru
  • TBD*

    • Chairperson
    Dr Sulochana · CARI, Bengaluru

    Track 3

    Integrative Clinical Research in Mental Health

  • Dr Basavaraj Tubaki · KLE, Belgaum
  • Dr Nishitha Jasthi · NIMHANS
  • Dr Sangeeta S · NIMHANS

    • Chairperson
    Dr Srinibash Sahoo · CARI, Thiruvananthapuram

    12:30 – 1:00 PM

    Panel discussion

    Integrative Medicine for Global Health Care: Evidence, Opportunities & Challenges

  • Dr Antonio Morandi · Ayurvedic Point, Milan, Italy
  • Dr KAH Mirza · University of Hertfordshire, London, UK
  • Dr Reinhard Bogle · Vocational Training Yoga Forum, Munich
  • Dr Alex Hankey · MIT World Peace University & SVYASA

    • Chairperson

    Dr Shivarama Varambally · NIMHANS

    Evidence from Basic Science Research

    1:00 – 2:00 PM

    Interval

    Lunch Break

    2:00 – 3:00 PM

    Parallel symposium

    Three concurrent symposia

    Track 1

    Role of Genomics in Ayurvedic Phenotyping and its Translational Implication

  • Dr BK Thelma · University of Delhi
  • TBD*
  • TBD*

    • Chairperson
    Dr Akshay Anand · PGI, Chandigarh

    Track 2

    Basic Science Research in Ayurveda

  • Dr Ashwini Godbole · TDU, Bengaluru
  • Dr Supriya Bhale Rao · IRSHA, Bharati Vidyapeeth, Pune
  • Dr Asmita Wele · National Institute of Complementary Medicine, Pune

    • Chairperson
    Dr Sharmila Mande · AYUSH Distinguished Scientist Chair

    Track 3

    Drug Development in Ayurveda

  • Dr S Srikanta · Samatvam Diabetes Endocrinology and Medical Center
  • Dr Hrishikesh Damble · Atrimed
  • Dr Padmanabhan · NIMHANS

    • Chairperson
    Dr B Ravishankar · All India Institute of Ayurveda, Delhi

    3:00 – 4:00 PM

    Plenary

    Integrative Initiatives in CCRYN

  • TBD*

    • Chairperson

    TBD*

    4:00 – 5:00 PM

    Closing

    Valedictory

    * To be determined

    Department of Integrative Medicine, NIMHANS

    YANTRA 2026 · Bengaluru