Contact Us
Plot No-1057-F2, PBN Center, Road No. 45, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad-500033, Telangana, India.
Phone: +91-40-2355-4386
info@worldashwagandhacouncil.org
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About Us
The World Ashwagandha Council (WAC) serves as a global hub for individuals passionate about Ashwagandha, including researchers, stakeholders, academics, farmers, and healthcare professionals. Its primary goal is to unite and leverage their collective expertise, knowledge, and resources to promote awareness of the herb’s numerous benefits, which can enhance both physical and mental well-being. The council is dedicated to launching outreach initiatives and fostering research opportunities, as well as facilitating the trade of Ashwagandha and other lesser-known yet clinically significant Ayurvedic herbs, which can address contemporary medical challenges.
Vision
To attain global recognition of Ashwagandha as the premier herb of Ayurveda.
Mission
The council is on a mission to advance and advocate for Ashwagandha by elevating awareness regarding its cultivation, production, and fostering a deeper understanding of research and development, encompassing both well-established and newly discovered benefits.
To expand the popularity of Ashwagandha and bring it into every household, we have devised a comprehensive roadmap:
1. Raising Awareness and Accessibility
Launch a widespread awareness campaign to inform people about the benefits of Ashwagandha in both traditional and modern contexts.
Develop educational materials, including pamphlets, videos, and online resources, to disseminate information about Ashwagandha’s uses and advantages.
Collaborate with health organizations and pharmacies to make Ashwagandha products readily available.
2. Empowering Research
Establish research grants and incentives to encourage scientists and institutions to conduct studies on Ashwagandha.
Organize international conferences and symposiums to facilitate the sharing of research findings.
Foster partnerships with academic institutions to promote ongoing research on Ashwagandha’s applications.
3. Supporting Farmers and Sustainable Cultivation
Provide training and resources to farmers for the sustainable and high-quality cultivation of Ashwagandha.
Promote Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) to ensure the production of safe and potent Ashwagandha.
Develop a certification program to recognize and reward farmers who adhere to sustainable and quality cultivation practices.
4. Advocating for Medicinal Ayurvedic Herbs
Promote other top ten medicinally important Ayurvedic herbs alongside Ashwagandha, creating a broader awareness of Ayurveda’s holistic benefits.
Collaborate with Ayurvedic organizations to endorse the usage of multiple herbs for comprehensive well-being.
5. Government Collaboration
Engage with governments to eliminate entry and trade barriers for Ashwagandha in various countries.
Advocate for the inclusion of Ashwagandha in national healthcare policies and programs, emphasizing its role in preventive healthcare.
6. Research Repository
Establish and maintain a comprehensive repository of all Ashwagandha-related research, making it easily accessible to researchers, healthcare professionals, and the general public.
Develop user-friendly interfaces and tools for searching, analyzing, and utilizing research data.
7. Educating Ayurvedic Practitioners
Conduct workshops and seminars to educate Ayurvedic practitioners about government schemes and funding opportunities.
Encourage Ayurvedic specialists to explore new avenues for research and product development, contributing to a thriving ecosystem of health and well-being.
By following this roadmap, we aim to increase awareness of Ashwagandha and its benefits, empower research and sustainable cultivation, and build a robust ecosystem for Ayurvedic herbs that can improve global health and well-being.
DR. GIRISH TILLU
Executive Director
World Ashwagandha Council
Dr. Girish Tillu is a Vaidya Scientist with over 20 years of experience. He is a blend of traditional knowledge and biomedical research. He is a doctor by training and a researcher by profession, who believes in working in an interdisciplinary environment. He completed his M.D. in Dravyaguna Vidynan (Ayurveda Pharmacology) and Ph.D. in Health Sciences. Dr. Girish has participated in the coordination and execution of multi-institutional drug development research activities for degenerative and auto-immune diseases, epidemiological projects related to treatment-seeking behavior, drug utilization studies, clinical trials and case series. Currently, he contributes to the World Ashwagandha Council as an Executive Director (Honorary). He is instrumental in research and research capacity building activities to explore potentials of Ayurveda in current health challenges.
DR. J.B. GUPTA
Secretary
World Ashwagandha Council
With a distinguished career spanning pharmaceutical giants like Ranbaxy and Bayer, and leadership roles at Aragen Bioscience, GVK Biosciences, and Bayer Pharma, Dr Gupta brings extensive expertise in pharmaceutical R&D and management. As a Board member of Aragen Bioscience and Vanta Bioscience, He has contributed to strategic decisions. Dr Gupta’s achievements include leading target selection for the Millennium-Bayer alliance, licensing Ranbaxy’s Phase 3 clinical candidate, and holding authorship on 26 patents, 4 book chapters, and 35 peer-reviewed research articles. He has been honored with orations, served on academic boards, and played a pivotal role in drafting guidelines for laboratory animal facilities in India.
DR. AKASH SAGGAM
Technical Officer
World Ashwagandha Council
Dr. Akash Saggam is a biochemist and researcher with a passion for understanding the biological dimension of Ayurveda. He pursued Ph.D. in Health Sciences that involved exploration of Ayurveda-based botanicals as an adjuvant to combat chemotherapy-associated myelosuppression and multidrug resistance using preclinical models. He extensively researched Ashwagandha, from formulation preparation to pharmacological testing. Dr. Akash has gained industrial experience at Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. He excels in animal experiments, cell culture, network pharmacology, and holds experience in conducting clinical trials. He is also instrumental in research capacity building and teaches research methodology, cancer biology, and biochemistry. He is fond of applying creative skills for deeper understanding of scientific concepts. Read More
Chief Patron
Vaidya Rajeshji Kotecha
Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, Govt. of India
India
Special Invitee
Shri Kailashji Choudhary
Minister, State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
India
Special Invitee
Shri Mahendrabhai Munjapara
Minister, State Ayush
India
IAB Members
Dr Ravinarayan Acharya
Director General, CCRAS
India
Mr Kartikeya Baldawa
Founder and CEO, KSM-66 Ashwagandha (Ixoreal Biomed Inc)
India
Mr Jon Benninger
Vice President, Health and Nutrition, Informa Markets
United States
Mr Mark Blumenthal
Founder, American Botanical Council
United States
Dr Arvind Chopra
Ayush Distinguished Chair (Public Health and Epidemiology), Ministry of Ayush,
Govt. of India
India
Dr Madhu Dikshit
Ayush Distinguished Chair (Pharmaceutical Drug Development), Ministry of Ayush,
Govt. of India
India
Dr J B Gupta
Secretary, World Ashwagandha Council
India
Dr Chandra Kant Katiyar
Member, Drug Technical Advisory Board
India
Smt. Mitaji Kotecha
Pro-vice Chancellor, National Institute of Ayurveda
India
Dr Geetha Krishnan
Senior Consultant, World Health Organization
India
Dr Tieraona Low Dog
Founder, Medicine Lodge Academy
United States
Dr Paul Mittman
President and CEO, Sonoran University of Health Sciences
United States
Prof Pulok Mukherjee
Director, Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development
India
Dr Manoj Nesari
Advisor (Ayurveda), Ministry of Ayush,
Govt. of India
India
Prof Tanuja Nesari
Director, All India Institute of Ayurveda
India
Prof Bhushan Patwardhan
National Research Professor – Ayush
India
Dr Ranjit Puranik
MD and CEO, Shree Dhootapapeshwar Ltd.
India
Dr Pratibha Shah
Founder, Global Council for Ayurveda Research
United States
Dr Ajay Shrivastav
Adjunct Faculty University of Wisconsin-Stout
United States
Dr Girish Tillu
Executive Director, World Ashwagandha Council
India
Dr Roy Upton
President, American Herbal Pharmacopoeia
United States
Dr David Winston
Herbalist and Alchemist
United States