Annual Report 2017-18 Compiled & Edited by : Dr. Chanchal Goyal, Scientist ‘D’, Informatics, System and Research Management (ISRM) Division Scientific Support: Dr. Rajnikant, Scientist ‘F’ & Head Research Management and Policy Planning Coordination (RMPPC) Division Technical Assistance: Arvind Singh Kushwah (Scientist-B), Mona Gupta (Scientist-B), Madhu (Computer Programmer), Furqan (Data Entry Operator), Gaurav Pandey (Computer Programmer) ISRM Div. Published by the Division of Publication and Information on behalf of the Secretary DHR & DG, ICMR, New Delhi. Designed & Printed at M/s Aravali Printers & Publishers (P) Ltd., W-30, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase-II, New Delhi-110020 Phone: 47173300, 26388830-32 INDIAN COUNCIL OF MEDICAL RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 DIRECTOR-GENERAL’S MESSAGE It gives me immense pleasure to present the Annual Report of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for the year 2017-18. ICMR scientists worked as a team to achieve the goals in sync with government policies and programmes in the field of biomedical research. The significant findings of the year was the release of the India State-Level Disease Burden Estimates from 1990 to 2016 for every state of India that would ensure a more nuanced health policy and system development in each state. To combat tuberculosis in Mission Mode under India TB Research Consortium, set up by ICMR, initiatives were made in the area of TB Diagnostics. TruNAT Rif, an indigenous, cost effective, rapid molecular diagnostic kit for TB/MDR-TB has been developed in collaboration with DBT and the industry. The feasibility study of TruNAT in 100 microscopy centres, at 50 districts, across 10 states has been completed. It has been recommended for roll out under RNTCP at Primary Health Centres (DMCs) in a phased manner. Mobile TB Diagnostic Vans were launched under ICMR-TIE-TB program in collaboration with RNTCP for targeted intervention to Expand and Strengthen TB Control in Tribal Populations. To speed up the process of leprosy elimination from the country, Mycobacterium Indicus Pranii (MIP), the world’s 1st leprosy vaccine developed in India, is being piloted as preventive vaccine for contacts of patients in Gujarat and Bihar. Also, Nikusht, a real-time monitoring software developed by ICMR has been introduced into the National Leprosy Elimination Programme (NLEP). During the year, ICMR launched three new diagnostic kits for the detection of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever(CCHF) Sheep and Goat, Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in Cattle, Japanese Encephalitis virus (JEV) from Mosquito. ICMR signed an MoU with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) for commercialization of ICMR technologies under the program ‘Health Technology Acceleration and Commercialization (HTAC). To handle viral outbreaks, ICMR-NIV established surveillance at 25 sites in the country for Zika testing. Repeated training and capacity building was done for 25 labs + 11 IDSP labs. First case of Zika virus in the country was detected through ICMR’s surveillance network. Entomological surveillance for Zika Virus has also been established. More than 50,000 human samples and 25,000 mosquito samples were screened by ICMR network. Baseline sero survey was initiated in 15 states to assess the prevalence of antibodies for dengue, chikungunya and JE in Indian population. This serosurvey would help in designing the policy for rolling out dengue vaccine. National Anti-Microbial Resistance Surveillance Network (AMRSN) continued to enable compilation of National Data of AMR at different levels of Health Care. Pfizer has partnered with ICMR as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activity to achieve the unified goal of reducing AMR. iii INDIAN COUNCIL OF MEDICAL RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 ICMR’s National Cancer Registry Programme continued to provide data on cancer Incidence, burden, mortality, trends, clinical care and survival. ICMR-NCDIR has developed an electronic mortality (NCDIR e-Mor) software, which aims to strengthen Medical Certification of Cause of Death (MCCD) reporting in hospitals through training, quality checks to avoid mode of dying and guide doctors in recording the underlying cause of death and report deaths. During the year, ICMR released the Urban Nutrition Report and has taken up a project involving Nutrition Interventions in adolescent girls. For the same, 18 Navodaya Schools have been identified. ICMR Strategic Plan - Agenda 2030 with focus on 5 major pillars – Health Research Capacity Strengthening, Research Data Platforms, Evidence to Policy, Traditional Medicine and Strengthening Program Implementation through Research, was released. The revised National Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical and Health Research involving Human Participants and National Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical Research involving Children have been developed and released. National Guidelines for Stem Cell Research were also developed and released. ICMR established Samrat Ashok Tropical Disease Research Centre at RMRI, Patna with an aim to focus on research on various tropical diseases. ICMR also established ‘School of Traditional Medicine’ with an ‘Integrated clinic’ to validate the traditional medicine practices and generate human resource in the area at NITM, Belagavi. Under Human Resource Development (HRD), ICMR selected 138 candidates for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) through national level exam conducted in July 2017, 765 medical undergraduates were selected for short term studentship (STS), Post-doctoral Research Fellowship (PDF) was granted to 30​ candidates and financial assistance was given to a total of 470 seminars/symposia/conferences. MD/Ph.D Programme is continuing in three universities and presently 98 students are engaged in this programme; seven students joined in three universities during 2017-18. A total of 389 non-ICMR scientists were given financial assistance to attend conferences abroad. ICMR institutes continued to provide training to various State level health officials. Under International Cooperation in Health Research, partnerships in Health Research (under 2 MOUs) with various international organizations/agencies, were continued during the year. Total 42 exchange visits of Scientists were arranged for various international collaborative programmes/projects. ICMR funded a total of 1213 extramural research projects (including fellowships) in various areas of health research during the year. To award excellence in biomedical research, ICMR distributed awards and prizes to 84 scientists. ICMR Scientists published over 800 research papers in national and international journals. (Balram Bhargava) iv INDIAN COUNCIL OF MEDICAL RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 EDITOR’SEDITOR’S DESKDESK The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is today the apex and premier medical research organization in the country which spearheads planning, formulation, coordination, implementation and promotion of biomedical research. It is one of the oldest medical research bodies in the world. In 1911, Government of India made a historic decision to establish Indian Research Fund Association (IRFA) with the specific objectives of sponsoring and coordinating medical research in the country. After Independence, in 1949, the IRFA was re- designated as the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) with considerable expansion in its functions and activities. In the year 2017-18, ICMR strived to achieve various goals in the field of biomedical research. A randomized controlled clinical trial comparing daily with intermittent therapy in HIV-TB coinfected individuals showed the efficacy to be better with the daily regimen which is in line with the current RNTCP policy. ICMR-NJILOMD Institute is involved in activities of Model Rural Health Research Units at Ghatampur, U.P and Una, Himachal Pradesh.The main objectives of the Institute are to develop and standardize techniques of investigation for diagnosis, treatment and assessment for better management of leprosy with ultimate goal of eradication of this disease by helping the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP). IT Based system (SMS and Robodialing) has been developed and the registrations of the TB and Leprosy patients has been initiated. A total of 152 healthy contacts of leprosy patients were vaccinated in the Gandevi Block of district Navsari. A total nine clusters were studied to estimate the burden of TB in tribal area, out of which, four clusters have been completed covering highly remote and non-accessible mountainous areas (three clusters in Chamba district and one cluster in Jammu & Kashmir). TIE-TB project: A unique Active Case Finding Model comprising of Mobile TB diagnostic van for diagnosis of TB was initiated in 17 districts in 5 states by ICMR-NJILOMD. TruNAT Rif, an indigenous, cost effective, rapid molecular diagnostic kit for TB/MDR-TB has been developed, validated and has been recommended for roll out under RNTCP at Primary Health Centres (DMCs) in a phased manner.Tribal Health Research Forum was set up at ICMR for addressing specific health needs of the tribal population in the country, under which studies in the area of nutrition, genetic disorders, malaria have been initiated. ICMR through its institutes is supporting GOI and making efforts in demonstrating the best strategies which could be implemented in the field towards elimination of malaria. ICMR’s National Institute for Research in Tribal Health (NIRTH), Jabalpur and Sun Pharma along with Govt of Madhya Pradesh and Directorate of