ICMR Selects AIIMS Bhubaneswar For Setting Up East India’s Referral Centre On Fungal Diseases

Bhubaneswar: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) will set up an advanced molecular diagnostic centre for fungi will at AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, Hospital Director Prof Gitanjali Batmanabane said on Sunday.

Batmanabane said ICMR will provide approximately Rs 2.5 crore for the new diagnostic centre that will be set up in Mycology laboratory of the hospital’s Microbiology Department.

The ICMR funds will be provided over a period of three years towards infrastructure building, installation of equipment and recruitment of personnel, she said.

“Since a large number of patients come here with invasive fungal diseases, this centre will be very beneficial to them. Besides, the centre will be used as a referral unit for East India,” she added.

The centre will provide referral services like molecular identification of invasive fungal infections, antifungal susceptibility and detection and control of fungal outbreaks.

The centre will have a multi-disciplinary team of nine faculty members comprising a mycologist, pathologist, physician, surgeon, intensivist, pharmacologist and a haematologist to manage suspected fungal infections and conduct research on fungal infections.

“Till now, recruitment of a scientist, two technicians and a multitasking staff has been completed,” the director said.

Besides diagnostic laboratory services, the team shall also provide training, advice and support to the doctors treating suspected fungal infections in East India.