PreambleIUCBR & SSH is here to show-case a high standard of Medical Education in the State; to bring together in one place medical-care didactic facilities of the highest order for the training of biomedical scientists and clinicians; to lead a consistent national effort for accomplishing an integrated, cooperative, collaborative, critical path for biomedical research and discovery necessary to support long-term human healthcare needs; to map the State in the global arena of biomedical research output by dint of sustained efforts to generate, to put to test, to practise and to utilize the fruits of research efforts for establishing unequivocally the benefits of novel discoveries for human welfare; to make-feel the relevance of existence of an advanced Centre for Biomedical Research as a contributor of advanced biomedical technologies, and their applications; to establish a super-speciality hospital of the highest order to deal with unattended specialty needs of patients from the State and adjoining States. IUCBR & SSH plans to host in-depth basic, applied and clinical research activities across a range of diseases and therapeutic areas including a variety of infectious diseases, woman and child health, paediatric neuroscience, developmental disabilities, geriatric disorders including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, endocrine and metabolic diseases, gastroenterology and hepatology, genetics and genomics, nutrition and lifestyle, respiratory disease, stroke, and surgical innovation. It is expected to be staffed by expert investigators and clinicians, who are leaders in translating lab-based discoveries into new cutting-edge treatments, technologies, diagnostics and other interventions in clinical settings.
The University has established a Centre for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention – CCDCP as part of the IUCBR & SSH with the objectives of conducting basic and advanced studies on epidemiology of infectious diseases with special reference to viral diseases, and to provide facilities for quick and easy diagnosis of potential outbreaks of viral infections as public health problems in specific geographic regions. The Centre conducts studies on travel and immigration, anti-microbial resistance, immunity status of health professional in hospitals, and will also address bio-terrorism concerns. The ultimate aim is conduct advanced research to provide rapid detection, identification and monitoring of viruses of clinical relevance to Kerala population. It is planned to support antigen-based, antibody-based assays, with PCR-based analyses to confirm the clinical diagnosis. These tests generated in house, are getting validated in accredited labs for correctness, and suitability to clinical conditions in Kerala. Moreover, therapeutic approaches will be taken up in translational mode for newly emerging viral diseases. As required, personnel will be trained for safe use of detection devises, virus handling, and clinical bed-side training of paramedical staff for the benefit of hospitals. As a social commitment, classes, tutorials, videos for information dissemination that helps in early warning, and for addressing measures to be taken prior to and during viral epidemics occurrences or while episodes are in progress. CCDCP has established collaborative programs with Govt. Medical College, Kottayam, District Hospital, Kottayam and General Hospital, Pampady and have initiated several programs aimed at viral disease detection employing PCR-based assays for determining serotypes, immunity status of health professionals, and anti-microbial resistance in inpatients and in general population. Collaborative ventures are also initiated with certain research Labs in the UK, although with minimal funding, yet the group of experts involved are all set to attract major funding in collaborative research ventures.
Ageing population in Kerala is on the rise. Kerala’s total population as of 2011 census was 3.36 crores and people above sixty years were 12.6%. A recent study conducted by Centre for Disability Studies, Thiruvananthapuram reported 2.3% growth rate among elderly people. The rate is higher among elderly people aged above 70 and 80 years. The Kerala aging survey conducted by CDS suggested that if such a trend continues uninterrupted, the proportion of elderly will be higher than the young by 2031. Diseases associated with ageing are compounded by incidences of communicable diseases including viral diseases at any stage of their healthy life, could cripple them when they are aged, and could affect brain faculties and the mental capabilities of the ageing population. Astute examples are increasing incidents of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the children & the adults, and the increased cases of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) of the elderly, to name some major ones. CDAR is undertaking a number of translational biomedical research on geriatric and developmental disabilities aimed at developing clinically relevant diagnostic and therapeutic measures. The Centre is dedicated to the discovery the genetic and molecular basis of neurological disorders connected to the present-day aging and early human development.
CDAR has established laboratories on genetic and molecular biology, clinical immunology and biochemistry, genomics and proteomics, advanced cell biology, and imaging facilities, and preclinical neuro-behavioural labs. CDAR has completed door-to-door survey of the population of two Panchayats in Kottayam District, and identified at-risk population. Several Medical Camps are conducted with the help of the offices of the DMO and DPM, and Medical teams comprising of Neurologist, Psychiatrists and Psychologists to confirm the neurological disabilities in the population. Blood samples collected with informed consent are processed for genetic and molecular studies, and for creating novel human cell lines of the specific disorders. CDAR receives several centrally funded grants, and has established collaborative project programs with laboratories abroad, with suitable funding. The team of scientists here are committed to research in the areas of rare diseases of the CNS, AD, PD, ASD & ADHD. CDAR is involved in the development and characterization of unique and novel animal and cellular models of these diseases including transgenic animals for high-end research at par with international community.
An indigenous drug discovery centre is the need of the hour for a developing country like India. Drugs developed from medicinal plants native to the region are proved to be effective in local population due to unknown epigenetic and micro-ecological causes. At a time when Ayurveda, Unani, Homeopathy and Siddha Systems of Medicines are considered faith-based medicines, the advancement of science and technology is proving these be medicines with strong scientific basis. Amongst these systems, Ayurveda is steadily evolving as a modern medicine, and CDD is dedicated to the discovery of novel medications particularly of plant origin. CDD currently concentrates on modern ways of drug delivery, leveraging on nano-technology to address blood brain barriers, placental barriers, and in reduction of toxicity of certain existing drugs. The facility is uniquely placed, to effectively screen against endemic diseases, to produce low cost, affordable drugs from plants. As an offshoot of the program, an Ayurvedic-based modern formulation scheme is under progress in CDD. Under this program, newer Ayurvedic drug formulations, easily palatable are being designed for consumption by the elderly.
CDD currently works in close association with some Biomedical, Medical and Scientific Research Centres in the State/Country. The Centre will provide advanced laboratory facilities for researchers working in the area of drug discovery. CDD will support the ongoing research in CCDCP by discovering new drugs from indigenous plants for the treatment of viral diseases.
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