Bhubaneswar, November 25: The Advanced Molecular and Diagnostic Research Centre for Fungi, first of its kind laboratory in eastern India, was inaugurated at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here.
The centre was set up by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in Department of Microbiology. It will act as a referral centre for eastern India.
Renowned Medical Mycologist Prof. Arunaloke Chakrabarti inaugurated the facility in the presence of Executive director AIIMS Bhubaneswar Prof Ashutosh Biswas, Dean(Academic) Prof PR Mohapatra, Head of the Department of Microbiology Prof. Baijayantimala Mishra, and Dr. Madhuchhanda Das, Scientist D, Indian Council of Medical Research.
The objective of establishing the advanced laboratory is to make available cutting-edge diagnostics for fungal infections for the people of Odisha, impart training to Odia doctors and paramedical personnel for identification and treatment of fungal infections, and support the different medical hospitals across eastern India for diagnosis and management of fungal infections, said a AIIMS Bhubaneswar communique.
The lab will act as a referral center for eastern India. It will help identify medical fungi, offering various serological, molecular, and antifungal susceptibility testing services for patients with different fungal infections. Additionally, the lab will provide observership/hands-on laboratory training opportunities at our center to microbiology trainees or practicing microbiologists throughout the year, it stated.
“Hospitals experiencing outbreaks of fungal infections can seek help from this center to identify underlying reasons for an outbreak to terminate the episode, and implement measures to prevent future incidents,” it added.
