The 'Clinical-Basic Research Collaboration through Journal Presentation' series was inaugurated on August 18, 2026. The inaugural session featured presentations from Dr. Ankita Chatterjee, Assistant Professor in the Department of Genomics at JCMLRI, and Dr. Samannay Das, Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology at IILDS. Both speakers shared insights from high-impact research articles recently published in esteemed, peer-reviewed journals. The one-hour event concluded with rigorous critical academic discussions and identified promising avenues for future collaborative research partnerships.

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The 9th edition of “Ritwik Jiban”, held on August 4, explored the timeless film 'Jukti Takko Aar Gappo' and the extraordinary charisma of filmmaker Ritwik Ghatak. Actor Sugata Barman shared vivid personal memories of working with Ghatak, while renowned film critic and writer Kamalendu Sarkar discussed his creative process, writings and enduring influence on Indian cinema. Moderated by Dr. Parthasarathi Mukhopadhyay, the evening brought together cinema, memory, history and storytelling, offering a fascinating glimpse into the life and legacy of Ritwik Ghatak.

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First-year GNM students of Chandrakanta Institute of Nursing and Health Sciences (CINHS) organised a nutrition awareness programme on 30 July under the guidance of their teachers, following the Indian Nursing Council curriculum. Divided into three groups, students presented DASH Diet – “Diet for a Healthy Heart,” Antenatal Diet – “Nourish the Mother, Nurture the Baby,” and Hepatic Diet – “Healthy Liver Begins with Healthy Food.” The presentations were evaluated by invited guests and fellow students along with representatives from IILDS and JCMLRI. The event offered valuable practical experience in teamwork, communication and health education.

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World Hepatitis Day 2026 programme was held at the proposed University campus, Sonarpur, under the theme "No Hep Village", symbolizing the vision of creating hepatitis-free communities. The event brought together over 250 participants, including students from 11 schools, healthcare professionals, Hepatitis Patient Forum members, community representatives, and volunteers. The programme was graced by Shri Debashis Dhar, Hon'ble MLA, Sonarpur North, as the Chief Guest, while renowned actor Debshankar Haldar attended as Guests of Honour. The programme featured awareness sessions, a Poster Making Competition on the theme "Know Hep, No Hep" and a Short Speech Competition on "Prevention is Better than Cure", alongside a Live Crafting session by members of the HPF members and a prize distribution ceremony. The event concluded with a Cycle Rally to the Indian Institute of Liver and Digestive Sciences (IILDS), reaffirming the collective commitment towards eliminating viral hepatitis and building healthier communities.

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World Hepatitis Day was also observed at M.M. High School, Purulia, with the participation of approximately 110 students and several teachers. The programme was attended by Mr. Swapan Kumar Sau, Headmaster of the school, along with Mr. Indranil Mukherjee, Mr. Rajib Mondal, Mr. Manasram Chattopadhyay, and representatives from the local police and civic police. A 2.5-kilometre awareness rally was organized through the surrounding locality, engaging students in promoting messages on hepatitis prevention and healthy living.

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World Hepatitis Day was celebrated in collaboration with the National Service Scheme (NSS) Department of Suri Vidyasagar College. Around 150 students participated in the programme, which featured a Hepatitis Quiz Competition and a Slogan Writing Competition. The programme was inaugurated by Prof. Tapan Paricha, Principal of Suri Vidyasagar College, as the Chief Guest. Other distinguished attendees included Dr. Shaibal Majumdar, Dr. Kajal Chatterjee, and Prof. Rita Mukhopadhyay of the Department of Philosophy. The event was coordinated by Satyidananda Mukhopadhyay. The programme concluded with an awareness rally around the college campus, where students enthusiastically participated in spreading the message of hepatitis prevention among the local community.

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The 8th session of the year-long Ritwik Japan programme by The Liver Foundation, West Bengal focused on "Ritwik and Time." Dr. Parthasarathi Mukhopadhyay reflected on time as a lived historical and human experience, while Prof. Manas Ghosh (Jadavpur University) discussed Ritwik Ghatak's enduring influence across cinema and other disciplines. The programme concluded with the screening of the completed version of Ghatak's documentary on Ramkinkar Baij. Two distinguished personalities associated with the completion of the documentary, Gokul Sarkar and Abhijit Goswami, were present at the event and shared various memories and experiences from the making of the documentary.

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A celebration of 20 years of Service, Science and Social Commitment, titled ‘Through the Decades’, was held on 1 July 2026 at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre. The day began with a cultural programme featuring artists from ‘Kalavrit’, led by Anushila Basu. The Chief Guest, Jagannath Chattopadhyay, Minister of Higher Education and Technical Education, along with Swami Vimalatmananda, Vice-President, Ramakrishna Mission, and Rev. Dr. Dominic Savio, SJ, Principal, St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata, praised the Foundation’s two decades of dedicated work. Dr. Abhijit Chowdhury, Chief Mentor, LFWB, reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to building a healthy, aware and humane society. Doctors, researchers, academics, representatives of social organizations, rural health workers, community workers, media professionals, individuals and donors who have contributed to the Foundation’s journey were felicitated. The evening concluded with Lopamudra Mitra and Joy Sarkar presenting their musical programme, Lopa-Joy Express.

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Marking the beginning of its 20th anniversary year, Liver Foundation, West Bengal organised ‘Human Biology and Public Health: The Next Frontiers’ symposium, focused on role of science in improving people’s lives, at Biswas Bangla Convention Center on 30th June, 2026. Dr. Suman Chakraborty, Director, IIT Kharagpur, was the Chief Guest. Leading scientists explored cutting-edge advances in healthcare, discussed the latest research on regenerative nanotechnology, genomics, metabolic disorders and inflammation. A panel discussed critical aspects of translating basic science into healthcare and public health. Discussions also focused on equitable and accessible healthcare, corporatisation, prevention and environmental determinants of health. The concluding civil-society session brought together NGO representatives highlighting the importance of linking scientific innovation with grassroots action, social responsibility and community health.

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The seventh session of Ritwik Japan, organised by The Liver Foundation, West Bengal, was held on 4 June, featuring discussions on the shared humanistic vision of Ritwik Ghatak and Ramkinkar Baij. Dr. Parthasarathi Mukhopadhyay and Dr. Abhijit Chowdhury highlighted the programme's continuing cultural journey, while artist-scholar Anindyakanti Biswas and Prof. Abdul Kafi explored Ramkinkar's artistic legacy and Ghatak's Subarnarekha. The programme also included a screening of Ghatak's documentary on Ramkinkar Baij, an audio tribute to Nabarun Bhattacharya, and a special display of sculptures by Ramkinkar Baij and Ritwik Ghatak.

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The John C. Martin Centre for Liver Research & Innovations (JCMLRI), a unit of the Liver Foundation, West Bengal, and Jadavpur University signed a five-year Collaborative Research Agreement on 12 May 2026 to advance interdisciplinary research, innovation, and academic collaboration in liver and translational sciences. The MoU was signed by Dr. Selim Box Mandal, Acting Registrar, Jadavpur University, and Dr. Parthasarathi Mukhopadhyay, Secretary, Liver Foundation, West Bengal, in the presence of Dr. Chiranjib Bhattacharjee, Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Amitava Datta, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, and Dr. Abhijit Chowdhury, Chief Mentor, Liver Foundation, West Bengal. Effective from 1 June 2026 to 31 May 2031, the partnership will support collaborative research, joint PhD supervision, scientific publications, intellectual property development, and shared research facilities, fostering translational research, innovation, and capacity building through close collaboration between scientists, clinicians, and students.

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As part of the Public Health Support for Communities in the Sundarbans initiative, the Liver Foundation, West Bengal established Nutrition Counselling Centre in Dayapur and Rangabelia to address malnutrition and improve nutrition awareness among children, adolescents, pregnant women, and the elderly. The initiative empowers local Self-Help Group (SHG) women as Para Nutritionists, enabling them to provide community-based nutrition counselling, promote locally available nutritious foods, conduct awareness sessions, and encourage healthy dietary practices. Supported by nutrition experts from IILDS, the programme aims to reduce malnutrition, strengthen community health, and create a sustainable, community-led model for nutrition education across the Sundarbans.

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The 6th session of ‘Ritwik Japan’, organised by Liver Foundation, West Bengal, was held on 4 May, despite adverse weather and the prevailing election atmosphere. Dr. Parthasarathi Mukhopadhyay and Dr. Abhijit Chowdhury reflected on the enduring relevance of Ghatak’s artistic vision, Eminent theatre director and actor Sohini Sengupta shared personal memories and reflections on Ritwik Ghatak’s films and his creative legacy. The programme concluded with poetry recitations by Swapna Dey, featuring works by Birendra Chattopadhyay, Premendra Mitra and Ritwik Ghatak.

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Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital (IILDS Unit I) celebrated its first anniversary on 7 April 2026 with the inauguration of a modern two-bed dialysis unit by Dr. Manimoy Bandyopadhyay, Director, SSKM Hospital, addressing the growing need for accessible kidney-care service. Dr. Manabendranath Roy, Chairman, Board of Governance, IILDS; Avtar Singh, Secretary, Gurdwara Sant Kutiya; Dr. Abhijit Chowdhury, Chief Mentor, Liver Foundation; Dr. Partha Sarathi Mukherjee, Executive Director, IILDS, and Shamik Gangopadhyay (Friends of LFWB) spoke about the importance of affordable and compassionate healthcare and the need to bring quality medical services closer to the community.

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The 5th edition of ‘Ritwik Japan’, hosted by Liver Foundation, West Bengal, took place on 4 April at the proposed University of Human and Health Sciences campus. The programme began with a Rabindra Sangeet performance by Alokananda Ray, followed by an engaging lecture by Prof. Anindya Sengupta (Jadavpur University) on Ritwik Ghatak’s distinctive cinematic language, editing style and social vision. An interactive exchange with the audience further enriched the session, deepening appreciation of Ghatak’s enduring artistic legacy.

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The palliative care centre ‘Arun Porosh’ was inaugurated on the 98th birth anniversary of social worker and educationist Arun Chowdhury. The five-bed centre, established in his family home, will provide free and compassionate care for patients with advanced and chronic illnesses, prioritizing comfort, dignity and emotional well-being. Speakers included Arati Sharma Ray, District Judge, Birbhum; Dr. Shubhabrata Ghosh, Chief Medical Officer of Health, Birbhum; Professor Mesbah Kamal, University of Dhaka; Dr. Shankar Nath; Dr. Shaibal Majumdar; Dr. Abhijit Chowdhury, Chief Mentor, LFWB and son of Arun Chowdhry; and Dr. ParthaSarathi Mukherjee, Chief Secretary, Liver Foundation. A group song was performed by Abhik Ghosh, a retired teacher of Patha Bhavan, along with Ashramik Partha Chakraborty, Ranendu Das, Manas Bishnu and others.

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The fourth edition of ‘Ritwik Japan’, hosted by Liver Foundation, West Bengal, was held on 4 March 2026. The session featured reflections by Dr. Parthasarathi Mukhopadhyay and Dr. Abhijit Chowdhury on preserving Ritwik Ghatak’s creative legacy. Eminent theatre critic Shamik Bandyopadhyay delivered the keynote lecture, offering rare insights into Ghatak’s life, cinema and theatre through personal memories and historical perspectives. The programme concluded with a musical tribute by Abhik Mukhopadhyay, celebrating Bengal’s rich folk heritage.

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Indian Institute of Liver and Digestive Sciences (IILDS) completed 10 years on 27 February 2026. Founded with the belief that healthcare is a service, not a commodity, IILDS has grown with a strong focus on compassionate, patient-centred care. The anniversary programme brought together Dr. Manabendranath Roy, Chairman, Board of Governance, IILDS; renowned pediatricians Y. K. Amdekar; Dr. Ashisa Janila M.; Dr. Kalyan Basu, Vice-President, LFWB; and Shailesh Chowdhury. A key highlight was the launch of the Paediatric Gastroenterology Department, the first specialised unit of its kind in an Eastern Indian hospital, led by Dr. Ujjal Poddar. The Mandira Bhavan auditorium was named after the late Fangisheli Mushali, Director, Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation, honouring her association with the Liver Foundation. Dr. Somnath Chattopadhyay spoke on donor collaboration, while Ashish Kumar Ghosh highlighted IILDS’s bond with the local community. A coffee-table book marking the decade was released, 15 staff members were felicitated, and the programme, conducted by Dr. Parthasarathi Mukhopadhyay, concluded with a speech competition and musical performances by Dr. Chandan Chattopadhyay and Parbati Purkait.

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A two-day training programme for field staff, organised by LFWB and held at JCMLRI on 20–21 February 2026, focused on strengthening community health preparedness among local para-health workers across 11 Gram Panchayats in the Sundarbans region. Dr. Purnendu Ranjit, Pathologist, IILDS; Ms. Samarpita Sadhukhan, Clinical Nutritionist, IILDS; Dr. Pabak Sarkar, Project Scientist, JCMLRI; and Mr. Tushar Mandal, Project Coordinator, Public Health Support Project, led the sessions. Through lectures, practical demonstrations and hands-on training, field staff were prepared to support NCD screening camps in seven Gram Panchayats with the help of local para-health workers.

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The first Popular Science Talk on Machine Learning, organised by the Bigyanbhash team, was held on 30 January 2026 at Briddhi Hall, Kolkata. Prof. Kuntal Ghosh of the Machine Intelligence Unit, Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) delivered an engaging lecture, exploring pattern recognition, the evolution of computing, neural networks, and the historical foundations of machine learning beyond the popular notion of "artificial intelligence."

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The Consortium for Rural Healthcare Providers' Welfare (CRHPW) organized with the active support of the Liver Foundation, West Bengal 'Community Health Festival' at Chinpai School Ground, Chinpai Gram Panchayat, Suri-I Block, Birbhum. The festival promoted preventive healthcare through three main interactive stalls on nutrition, emergency care, and health & hygiene. Demonstrations on affordable nutritious local food, encouraged healthy eating habits. The emergency care stall offered hands-on training in basic life-saving techniques, along with free BMI and blood pressure screening. The health and hygiene stall, managed by local students, highlighted personal hygiene, sanitation, and simple daily exercises. By engaging local residents, Rural Health Care Providers, Self-Help Groups, students, and volunteers, the festival demonstrated an effective community-based approach to improving rural health literacy and promoting healthy lifestyles.

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As part of Public Health Support for Communities in the Sundarbans project, LFWB organized Community Health Festival at Meriganj I Panchayat, Kultali Block on 21 Dec, 2025, promoting preventive healthcare, nutrition and emergency preparedness through interactive community engagement. The festival featured three key stalls on nutrition, emergency care and health & hygiene. Nursing students, Self-Help Group (SHG) members Rural Health Care Programme (RHCP) representatives demonstrated affordable nutritious foods using locally sourced ingredients, basic life-saving skills, BMI and blood pressure screening, and healthy lifestyle practices. The initiative demonstrated the potential of community-led health festivals to strengthen health awareness and preventive care in rural areas.

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The Indian Institute of Liver and Digestive Sciences (IILDS), in collaboration with Sun Pharma and Sygnus, hosted a high-impact session, "Protect Liver, Preserve Life," at Taj Vivanta, Kolkata. This 360-degree dialogue on Liver and digestive Diseases featured a multidisciplinary approach, covering genetic markers, public health, and surgical interventions. Renowned experts including Prof. Abhijit Chowdhury, Dr. Dipankar Mondal, Dr. Phalguni Hota, Dr. Souvik Mitra, Dr. Srijan Majumdar, Dr. Kishalaya, and Dr. Chandan Chatterjee from IILDS—led sessions for an audience of medical professionals and sales experts. The event underscored IILDS's commitment to innovation and education in the fight for a liver and digestive-disease-free India.

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The 2nd Kolkata Pancreas Meeting (KPM), a biennial national congress on pancreatology, was held on 12–13 December 2025 at Hotel Taj Bengal, organised by IILDS under the Liver Foundation, West Bengal. With over 200 delegates and 26 eminent faculty members, including six international experts, the meeting focused on “Recurrent Acute and Chronic Pancreatitis: Scouring the Moot Domains.” A key highlight was the inaugural Dr. TN Lahiri Mazumdar Oration, delivered by Dr. D. Nageshwar Reddy on “A Lifetime of Pancreatic Endotherapy.” The Competitive Journal Review recognised young researchers, with Dr. Arihant Seth securing first place, followed by Dr. Pragnya Ghosh Dastidar and Dr. Brateen Roy. Delegates received 9 West Bengal Medical Council Credit Points, reinforcing KPM’s role as a leading academic platform for pancreatology in India.

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To mark the centenary of legendary filmmaker Ritwik Ghatak, Liver Foundation, West Bengal launched a 100-day installation exhibition at the proposed University of Health and Human Sciences, Natagachi, Sonarpur. Opened on 4 December, one month after Ghatak’s 100th birth anniversary and will remain open for 100 days as a symbolic tribute to his centenary. It hosts a special programme on the 4th of every month, exploring different aspects of his artistic legacy. The exhibition was inaugurated by his son Ritoban Ghatak, along with the Liver Foundation’s leadership and eminent cultural personalities. Lead artist Shovon Tarafdar introduced the installation artists and their installations, followed by cultural and musical performances featuring songs and folk compositions associated with Ghatak’s films.

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