The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

HEALTH

ICMR grants 14 projects to PGI
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 13
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has granted 14 projects for research worth Rs 5.7 crore to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) this year. These projects were okayed by the ICMR in March 2002 and funds for some of these have started reaching the various departments of the PGI.

Sources in the PGI claim that the number of projects which the PGI has bagged this year is higher than the number of projects granted to any other institute in the country by the ICMR this year. Since the number of projects which an institute is able to get from the ICMR is considered to be the criteria of determining the national position of the institute as far as research is concerned, the PGI might be topping the list this year. Till last year the PGI was next in line to AIIMS, New Delhi, which generally tops the list each year.

Although the subjects of the projects vary from research on lung cancer to kidney stones to development of a vaccine against streptococcal infection, the thrust of many of these projects is on genomic or gene studies. This is evident from the fact that seven out of the 14 projects deal with genomic studies of disease-causing pathogens or their gene characterisations. This is due to the fact that the ICMR is promoting research in these two fields among the various medical research institutes in the country.

The largest project, which is worth Rs 1 crore, has gone to Dr K.K. Kohli of the Department of Biochemistry who will be working on pharmacogenetics of certain cytochrome among North Indians. The PGI Director, Prof S.K. Sharma, will be analysing the genomic variations in the population with kidney stones as part of his research project.

Dr H. Vohra of the Department of Experimental Medicine will be analysing conserved epitopes of streptococcus which is a vital step towards the development of an effective vaccine. Dr Madhu Khullar will be working on the genetic risk factors in children and adolescents for cardiovascular diseases based on variations in the human genome.

The others who have got these projects include Dr Sujata Ghosh, Dr Radhika Srinivasan, Dr Anil Narang, Dr A.Chakraborti, Dr Gurjeevan Grewal, Dr Anil Grover, Dr S. Majumdar, Dr Rajendra Prasad, Dr Pallab Ray and Dr Anuradha Chakarborti.

The Departments of Experimental Medicine and Biotechnology, Medical Microbiology and Biochemistry have been able to get more than one project for themselves. The Departments of Heamatology, Urology, Cardiology and Paediatrics have got a project each this year.

While most of the projects are time bound, the number of years in which these have to be completed and submitted to the ICMR varies with each project.

‘Proactive health authorities can stem rumours’
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 13
There needs to be better co-ordination between the media and the health authorities to avoid panic among the public in case of a suspected epidemic.

This was felt at a workshop on ‘ The Role of Communication in Public Health’ organised by the Department of Mass Communication in collaboration with the Regional Institute of Public Health at Panjab University here today.

The health authorities had showed their incapability in confirming cases of plague immediately after the first reports came in. This was probably because the confirmation period for the diagnosis was about two days after the isolation of the patient. The media, however, felt that the authorities should at least give details about the possibilities under consideration because lack of knowledge led to speculation. In case of non-cooperation from the authorities, the press had to rely on other sources. It was pointed out that health institutions, in fact, maintained rumour registers where each case of reported uncommon disease was followed up.

There was unanimity among the participants that the local, state and the union public relations departments of the health authorities had not reacted correspondingly in reaching out to the masses to stem confusion. The media, however, had done its role creditably.

The workshop was co-ordinated by Dr Satnam Singh, executive chairman of the RIPHC and Mr Sanjay Wadwalkar, chairman of the Department of Mass Communication. Others who participated in the seminar included Mrs M.C. Mamgain, Dr Subhash Varma, Head of the Department of Internal Medicine, PGIMER, Dr Pallab Ray, Department of Microbiology (PGIMER), Dr Rajesh Kumar, Head of the Department of Community Medicine (PGIMER), Dr Rameshwar Chander, Director of the Health Services (UT), Dr S.K. Dogra, Director of the Health Services (Haryana), Dr Virender Kumar, Dr Jitender Mohan, Mr Jayanth Narayanpethkar, Mr L.M. Sharma, Ms Archana R. Singh and Ms Mohanmeet Khosla, besides others.

SPORTS

ISTC XI beat Gourav XI by four wickets
Our Sports Reporter

Rakesh Mohindra

Chandigarh, April 13
Superb bowling by Sandeep Mehta, who claimed six wickets for just 15 runs, enabled ISTC XI to beat Gourav XI by four wickets in the VIth UT League Cricket Tournament played here today. In other matches of the day, Taurus XI defeated Sunrise XI by 162 runs; District Court XI beat Hillions Cricket club by 27 runs; Gymkhana XI outplayed Pace XI by four wickets; DAV Coaching Centre ‘A’ beat City Cricket Club by 104 runs; DYFI defeated Satluj Coaching Centre, Panchkula, by 27 runs.

Selected for training in cycling

Rakesh Mohindra, secretary of the Chandigarh Amateur Cycling Association, has been chosen for a three-month training course to be conducted by the International Cycling Union (UCI) at the World Cycling Centre, Aigle, Switzerland, from April 15 to July 15.

Mohindra is also an International Commissiare (referee) in mountain biking. He will receive training from world renowned cycling coach M. Doucourt Chantal, who has produced a number of world class cyclists.

Recently, Mohindra was appointed convener of the Mountain Bike Commission Cycling Federation of India to promote new discipline of mountain biking and off-road cycling in India.