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© 2006 Indian Council of Medical Research Prof. N.K. Ganguly: Director--General Dr. K. Satyanarayana: Chief (Publication & Information) Compiled and Edited by Dr. Sudha Chauhan, DDG (SG) Published by the Division of Publication, Information and Communication on behalf of the Director -General, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi 110029 Designed & Printed at : Aravali Printers & Publishers Pvt. Ltd., W-30, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase-II, New Delhi-110 020. The Indian Council of Medical Research is the premier research organization of the country in the field of biomedical/health research. It performs its function through its various Institutes, Centres and Advanced Centres spread throughout the country. Some of the Council’s Institutes were renamed during the year under report viz. National JALMA Institute of Leprosy and Other Mycobacterial Diseases (earlier named as Central JALMA Institute of Leprosy), Agra, National Institute of Medical Statistics (earlier known as Institute for Research in Medical Statistics) and National Institute of Malaria Research (earlier known as Malaria Research Centre), both located in Delhi. During the year under report, the Council moved forward in its research efforts not only in national priority areas but also in basic research in the field of modern biology. Under the Avahan India AIDS Initiative funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Council’s National AIDS Research Institute, Pune is collecting biological and behavioural trend data in Indian population. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed between ICMR and Merck for initiation of clinical trial of HPV vaccine in India. There has been significant growth and development in national and international scientific collaborations between ICMR and other scientific agencies in India and abroad. A MOU for South- South collaboration was signed between MRC (South Africa), FIOCRUZ (Brazil) and ICMR to work together in areas of common interest. A total of 73 exchange visits of scientists to and from India were arranged during the year under report. During the year the Council carried out surveillance for human influenza. Chandipura virus encephalitis and outbreak of Chikungunya was also investigated. A multi-centre site preparation activity to initiate vaccine probe study to estimate preventable burden of Hemophilus influenzae B meningitis and pneumonia was launched during the year, The scientists of the Council published over 450 research papers during 2005. During the year 2005- 2006, a total of 779 research projects and 372 fellowships were funded by the Council. The impact factor of Indian Journal of Medical Research increased to 0.869 in 2005 as compared to 0.600 in the year 2004. A total of 8 patent applications were filed during the reported period. A patent has been granted to a process of mosquito larvicidal formulation from Bacillus thuringiensis developed by Council’s Vector Control Research Centre, Pondicherry. The Council’s Bioinformatics Centre has completed networking of all ICMR Institutes, Centres and Headquarters which has greatly improved communication among scientists with enhanced work performance and efficiency of the staff. The website of the ICMR is updated regularly incorporating features beneficial to the scientific community and civil society. This has resulted in increased interaction between ICMR and other agencies, scientists and job applicants. I am glad to present the highlights of research activities of ICMR for the financial year 2005-2006. Nirmal Kumar Ganguly Director-General OVERVIEW .......................................................................................................................1 COMMUNICABLE DISEASES ......................................................................................3 REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH .........................................................................................60 NUTRITION .....................................................................................................................77 ENVIRONMENTAL AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH ..........................................86 NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES ..........................................................................91 BASIC MEDICAL SCIENCES ...................................................................................102 SUPPORTING FACILITIES .......................................................................................116 PUBLICATION, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION ............................121 ICMR PERMANENT INSTITUTES / CENTRES ......................................................123 REGIONAL MEDICAL RESEARCH CENTRES .....................................................125 ICMR CENTRES FOR ADVANCED RESEARCH ...................................................126 The Indian Council of Medical Research and type B. Avian influenza, due to H5N1 appeared in (ICMR) continued to forge ahead in the field of Navapura and Jalgaon, Maharashtra. The National medical and health research. Three of the ICMR Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune being the WHO’s institutes have been renamed. The Central JALMA National Influenza Centre participated in screening of Institute of Leprosy, Agra has been renamed as the individuals who had history of exposure. About National JALMA Institute of Leprosy and Other 500 samples were tested using real time PCR system, Mycobacterial Diseases (CJILOMD), the Malaria nucleic acid sequence based amplification (NASBA) Research Centre, Delhi has been renamed as platform. None were found to be positive. National Malaria Research Institute (NMRI) and the Chandipura virus encephalitis which had Institute for Research in Medical Statistics also appeared in Andhra Pradesh in 2003 and Gujarat in located in Delhi has been renamed as National 2004, re-appeared in Andhra Pradesh in 2005. The Institute of Medical Statistics (NIMS). During the mystery of the Siliguri outbreak, which occurred in period under report, construction of new building West Bengal in 2001 was finally solved. of the National Malaria Research Institute was Investigations carried out in collaboration with CDC, started at Dwarka, Delhi. A devastating fire Altanta, revealed it to be due to Nipah virus. The destroyed a portion of CJILOMD, Agra resulting in Indian strain was related to the Bangladesh and loss of equipments, consumables and civil works Malaysian strain. worth Rs. 5 crores. There was a major outbreak of Chikungunya in Under the Avahan India AIDS Initiative funded the Indian Ocean in the early 2006. In India cases were by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Council’s reported from Rajasthan, Gujarat, MP, Orissa, National AIDS Research Institute, Pune is collecting Maharashtra, A.P., Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. behavioural and biological trend data in populations The NIV provided the diagnostic kit (MAC ELISA) to before and after interventions in six high prevalence all the States in India. The genotyping of the viral states of India i.e. Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, isolates from several states showed that they belong to Maharashtra, Manipur, Nagaland and Tamil Nadu. the African genotype in contrast to the earlier outbreaks Studies were conducted by Tuberculosis which were due to Asian genotype. The African strain Research Centre (TRC) on Mycobacterium had caused severe morbidity. tuberculosis for defining phylogentic link existing in During the year under report, in the project for the TB genome, for comparing global pattern of disease home based management of young infants, training was transmission and for elucidating evolutionary biology imparted and comparison made in services delivered of tubercle bacillus. by trained village health workers called Shishu A multi-centre site preparation activity to initiate Rakshaks and Anganwadi workers. an vaccine probe study to estimate preventable burden During the year under report, on application from of Haemophilus influenzae B meningitis and Vector Control Research Centre (VCRC), Pondicherry pneumonia was launched. patent has been granted to a process for preparation of The first year of surveillance for human mosquito larvicidal formulation from Bacillus influenza was completed. Almost half of the isolates thuringiensis var. israelensis. Besides, eight patent belonged to H3N2 and about a quarter each to H1N1 applications were filed, five in India and rest abroad. 1 ICMR Annual Report 2005-2006 The Council’s Regional Occupational The impact factor of Indian Journal of Medical Health Centre at Kolkata redesigned and Research increased to 0.869 in 2005 compared to 0.600 developed a cycle rickshaw based on ergonomic in the year 2004. principles for which a patent application had been Around 450 research papers were published by made. scientists of ICMR during the year 2005. Overall 779 research projects and 372 fellowships were supported A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has during 2005-2006. been signed between ICMR and Merck for initiation Seventy exchange visits of scientists to and from of clinical trial of HPV vaccine in different regions of India were arranged under international collaborative the Country. The Institute of Cytology and Preventive programme of the council. An MOU for South-South Oncology (ICPO) located in NOIDA has been collaboration has been signed between the MRC (South designated as National Coordinating Centre for Indian Africa), FIOCRUZ (Brazil) and ICMR to work together HPV Vaccine Initiative. on health issues of medical interest. ICMR INSTITUTIONAL NETWORK 2 Communicable Diseases Infectious