ICMR INVITES TEST KIT MAKERS

ICMR INVITES TEST KIT MAKERS

Indian council of medical research (IMCR) invited applications for validation of rapid antigen detection tests for COVID-19 from manufacturers who have developed them

Gold standard RT-PCR diagnostic test had limitations in terms of widespread availability 

Urgent requirement of reliable and convenient rapid point of care antigen detection assays with high sensitivity and specificity

So far, ICMR has validated and approved only one rapid antigen detection assay from SD Biosensor

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan launched the ‘eBloodServices’ mobile application of the Indian Red Cross Society

Four units of blood can be requisitioned at a time, and the blood bank will wait for 12 hours for the person to collect it

Application was developed by the E-Raktkosh-team of the centre for development of advanced computing 

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR): Apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research

One of the oldest and largest medical research bodies in the world

In 1911, the Government of India set up the Indian Research Fund Association (IRFA) with the specific objective of sponsoring and coordinating medical research in the country 

IRFA was redesignated the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in 1949, considerably expanded scope of functions

ICMR is funded by the Government of India through the Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

 

Governing body of the council is presided over by the Union Health Minister

It is assisted in scientific and technical matters by a scientific advisory board comprising eminent experts in different biomedical disciplines

ICMR's 26 national institutes address themselves to research on specific health topics 

Its 6 regional medical research centres address themselves to regional health problems, and also aim to strengthen or generate research capabilities in different geographic areas of the country

The council's research priorities coincide with National health priorities such as control and management of communicable diseases, fertility control, maternal and child health, control of nutritional disorders, developing alternative strategies for health care delivery, containment within safety limits of environmental and occupational health problems; research on major non-communicable diseases and haematological disorders; mental health research and drug research 

The council promotes biomedical research in the country through intramural as well as extramural research

ICMR provides international fellowship programme for research and training and exposure of Indian biomedical scientists in various countries as well as offering opportunities to scientists from developing countries to come and work in Indian institutes/laboratories

ICMR also funds task force studies which emphasise a time-bound, goal-oriented approach with clearly defined targets, specific time frames, standardised and uniform methodologies, and often a multicentric structure.