ICMR's first infectious disease research, diagnostic lab to come up in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI) will host the the Indian Council of Medical Research’s (ICMR) first Infectious Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (IRDL) in south India. This will be a part of seven proposed IRDLs being set up across the country.

Dr Sharan Prakash Patil, Minister for Medical Education, lauded BMCRI for its achievement in being recognised and noted that its “credibility and service approach to all sections of society in the state made ICMR choose BMCRI”.

An in-state IRDL will help state health institutions test infectious disease samples quickly, especially during outbreak investigations, enable in-depth research, improve medical institution capabilities, and enhance disease surveillance activities.

Special focus will be accorded to capacity building in bacteriology, mycology, and parasitology, improving diagnostic accuracy, identifying and treating infections and researching new strains.

Besides this, the minister also inaugurated a new, state-of-the-art DSA cath lab at the Trauma Care Centre, a new 260-seat auditorium at Minto Hospital and a 150-seat ⁠auditorium at the Trauma Care Centre, Victoria Hospital. The latter is named after former president Dr A P J Abdul Kalam.

Additionally, he declared the Trauma Care Centre as Level-1, which means that it offers the highest level of surgical care to trauma patients, and declared the department of orthopaedics as a Centre of Excellence for Joint Replacement, as recognised by the state government. He also launched the new logo for Victoria Hospital to celebrate 125 years since its inception.