About Us |
Central India Institute of Medical Sciences (CIIMS), Nagpur was established in June 1984 and has completed 27 years of its existence. It has been recognized as a Research Institute by Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India from its inception. The major aim was to undertake research activity in clinical and basic sciences related to human illness. For the same purpose, CIIMS also established a separate Research laboratory in 2000, which is completing 11 years of its fruitful existence.
The Institute has undertaken several research projects which aim basically to improve the human health. The main focus has been the introduction of new diagnostic tests for diagnosis of certain fatal infectious diseases of central nervous system such as Tuberculosis, Herpes Simplex Virus, Chikungunya infection. For development of these techniques the approach has been wide and each stream of biology has been explored from immunological to molecular techniques to provide an effective diagnosis for each of the mentioned diseases. Currently CIIMS has 10 diagnostic test of its own such as 30kD ELISA test, ADA test, Multiplex ELISA test, TB PCR, Duplex PCR, BacTAlert Culture for TB, BacT Alert culture for pyogenic meningitis, HSV PCR, HSV Real time PCR, HSV antigen detection test. These tests are helping the clinicians inside and outside the CIIMS for providing accurate treatment to the patient.
Regarding infectious diseases, research has also been conducted to identify specific biomarkers for Latent TB and Tuberculous meningitis (TBM)-HIV and identification of important heat shock proteins in M.tuberculosis as well as in a TB infected individual for monitoring disease progression and prognosis. The research laboratory has also undertaken a project regarding the BCG vaccination and usefulness of booster doses in increasing the efficacy of BCG vaccine
Besides infectious diseases, Research have also been directed towards various other non-infectious diseases. Projects have been undertaken for disease such as stroke one , of serious disease conditions with which the patients suffer. At CIIMS, project for diagnosis of Acute Ischemic Stroke has been done by analyzing biochemical and immunological parameters and using proteomic approach to identify specific biomarkers in blood.
In addition, CIIMS has also explored the ayurvedic sciences and have evaluated several herbal preparations for their immunomodulatory effect and for clot lytic activity. Other important initiative has been the project which focuses on the in vitro production of polyclonal antibodies.
For all the in-house research work Institute has a well equipped laboratory, infrastructure facilities with all the modern amenities. Recently, CIIMS has constructed its own Animal House Facility in the premises of Nagpur Veterinary College, Nagpur for carrying out various animal related experiments. A MOU has been signed with Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences, University Nagpur for the same. The Institute also has sample bank, which contains various body fluids like CSF, serum, pleural, ascitic fluids of different infections.
Different projects undergoing at Institution are recognized by Government of India, and various government organizations have sanctioned adhoc research grants for six of our research projects. Four by Department of Biotechnology, one by Department of Science and Technology, Government of India and one by Indian Council of Medical Research.
Besides the in-house projects, Institute has also undertaken various collaborative projects with other well renowned Institutions nationally as well as internationally. To name a few, CIIMS has initiated a collaborative research project on TB with Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara, Nepal. A collaborative project is also being conducted along with Dr. Satav (MAHAN organization) for diagnosis of active and latent TB in tribal population of Melghat. CIIMS has also signed MoU with National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur for health related environmental problem. Other than these, CIIMS has collaboration with various Institutes like DRDE, Gwalior; AIIMS, New Delhi; Bengal Tuberculosis Association, Kolkatta; PD Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai; NIMS, Hyderabad; Dr.B.C.Roy Institute of Postgraduate studies, Kolkatta; NIMHANS, Bangalore; etc. CIIMS along with Tulip diagnostics, Goa and SPAN diagnostics, Surat is in the process of commercialization of some of its in house developed products. Along with this, Colarado State University, USA has been supplying some of the materials related to tuberculosis research free of cost since last ten years.
With all the above mentioned research work, Institute has gained recognition on the National and International front through its publications and patents. Institute has 53 published research publications on its credit, which are published in peer reviewed National and International Journals. And more than 100 papers have been presented in different National and International Conferences. The Institute has also been granted two Indian patents for the development of diagnostic kits, one for the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis and second for the diagnosis of extra CNS tuberculous infection. A complete specification for a third Indian patent for the development of a thrombolytic composition using a herbal preparation for the lysis of human blood clot has been submitted.
In a unique attempt to promote science, CIIMS has organized a National conference on CME-In-Immunology for the first time in Nagpur. CIIMS have also been promoting the application of science by various presentations in different National and International conferences. A number of National and International agencies such as Dept. of Biotechnology, Government of India; Japan Neuroscience Society; Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation etc. have paid travel grants to our Research Scientist Dr. Rajpal Singh Kashyap for attending and presenting research work in different conferences and seminars.
CIIMS has also been recognized by RTM Nagpur Universities as a place of research for Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry and Microbiology. Four of our Research fellows have been awarded Ph.D. degree, Three in Biochemistry and one in Microbiology. In addition, Datta Meghe Institute of medical Sciences University has recognized our Institute as a place of research work for Ph.D. in Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical microbiology and Medical Biotechnology. Ten research fellows have already registered for Ph.D. degree in the above mentioned two Universities.