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Department of Health Research has a Central Sector Scheme titled “Setting-up of nation-wide network of laboratories for managing epidemics and national calamities.

Highlights

• The Scheme has mandate to create three tier networks of Virus Research and Diagnosis Laboratories at Regional Level, State level and Medical College Level for timely diagnosis/identification of viruses during outbreaks of epidemics and generation of data about viral diseases for facilitating quick deployment of resources & measures to save the human lives.
  
• Regional Laboratories have state-of-art facilities so that it could achieve the objectives in research, continuous monitoring and surveillance of existing as well as new viral and other strains and handling of viruses etc. with a potential of being used as agents of bioterrorism, capacity building, diagnosis, development of diagnostic kits etc.

Multi -Disciplinary Research Units

• Government of India approved the scheme for ‘Establishment of Multi -Disciplinary Research Units (MRUs) in the Government Medical Colleges/Research Institutions’ as a path- breaking initiative to develop/strengthen the health research infrastructure in the country.
• This initiative fulfils the function of Department of Health Research related to “Promotion, Coordination and Development of Basic, Applied and Clinical Research”. Scheme has now been continued beyond 12th year Plan i.e. for the period of 2017-18 to 2019-20.

Objectives

• To encourage and strengthen an environment of research in Medical Colleges
• To bridge the gap in the infrastructure which inhibits health research in the Medical Colleges by assisting them to establish multidisciplinary research facilities with a view to improve the health research and health services.
• To ensure the geographical spread of health research infrastructure, in order to cover un-served and under-served Medical Colleges and other institutions
• To improve the overall health status of the population by creating evidence-based application of diagnostic procedures/processes/methods.

 Major Functions of the MRU

• To promote and encourage quality medical research in the Medical Colleges/Institutions.
• To constitute local research advisory committees for identifying the research priorities and projects with participation of State health system officials.
• To undertake research in non-communicable diseases and other need-based research as recommended by the Local Research Advisory Committee.

Source: PIB