Vision
This is to show-case a high standard of Medical Education in the State; to bring together in one place medical-care didactic facilities of the highest order for the training of biomedical scientists and clinicians; to lead a consistent national effort for accomplishing an integrated, cooperative, collaborative, critical path for biomedical research and discovery necessary to support long-term human healthcare needs; to map the State in the global arena of biomedical research output by dint of sustained efforts to generate, to put to test, to practise and to utilize the fruits of research efforts for establishing unequivocally the benefits of novel discoveries for human welfare; to make-feel the relevance of existence of an advanced Centre for Biomedical Research as a contributor of advanced biomedical technologies, and their applications; to establish a super-speciality hospital of the highest order to deal with unattended specialty needs of patients from the State and adjoining States. IUCBR & SSH plans to host in-depth basic, applied and clinical research activities across a range of diseases and therapeutic areas including a variety of infectious diseases, woman and child health, paediatric neuroscience, developmental disabilities, geriatric disorders including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, endocrine and metabolic diseases, gastroenterology and hepatology, genetics and genomics, nutrition and lifestyle, respiratory disease, stroke, and surgical innovation. It is expected to be staffed by expert investigators and clinicians, who are leaders in translating lab-based discoveries into new cutting edge treatments, technologies, diagnostics and other interventions in clinical settings.
Centre for Communicable Diseases; Control & Prevention
University proposes to establish a Centre for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention (CCDCP) as part of the IUCBR & SSH with the objectives of conducting basic and advanced studies on epidemiology of infectious diseases with special reference to viral diseases, and to provide facilities for quick and easy diagnosis of potential outbreaks of viral infections as public health problems in specific geographic regions. The Centre will also conduct studies on travel and immigration, and bio-terrorism concerns.
The ultimate aim is to provide rapid detection, identification and monitoring of viruses of clinical relevance to Kerala population. It is planned to adapt antigen-based, antibody-based and PCR-based assays to suit the clinical conditions. These tests will be validated internationally for correctness, and suitability to clinical conditions. Moreover, therapeutic approaches will be taken up in translational mode for newly emerging viral diseases. As required, personnel will be trained for safe use of detection devises, virus handling, and clinical bed-side training of paramedical staff for the benefit of hospitals. As a social commitment classes/tutorial/videos/advertisements will be generated for early warning, and measures to be taken prior to and during viral epidemics occurrences or while episodes are in progress.
Centre for Development and Aging Research
Ageing population in Kerala is on the rise. Kerala’s total population as of 2011 census was 3.36 crores and people above 60 years were 12.6%. A recent study conducted by Centre for disability studies, Thiruvananthapuram reported 2.3% growth rate among elderly people. The rate is higher among elderly people aged above 70 and 80 years. The Kerala Aging Survey conducted by them suggested that if such a trend continues uninterrupted, the proportion of elderly will be higher than the young by 2021 and 2031.
Diseases associated with ageing are compounded by incidences of communicable diseases including viral diseases at any stage of their life cripple the elderly, and affect brain faculties and the mental capabilities of the ageing population. Astute examples are increasing incidents of autism spectrum disorders, and attention deficit-hyperactivity in the children & the elderly, and the increased cases of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases of the elderly, to name the major ones. The Centre will do translational biomedical research on geriatric and developmental disabilities for clinically relevant diagnostic and therapeutic output to ultimately address solutions for the present day predicament of the developing and ageing population.
The Centre will be dedicated to the discovery the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying disorders/diseases connected to the present-day aging and early human development to provide high impact interventions for persons with disabilities. It shall be committed to focus on research and clinical care to improve the quality of lives of individuals affected with developmental and aging-related problems. Strategically placed at the intersection of established academic and industrial expertise, the Centre is designed to fulfil both scientific and commercial objectives.
Centre for Drug Discovery
Mere diagnosis of the viral disease will not be a solution for the epidemic outbreaks in the state. New pathogens, particularly viruses, remain unpredictable and continue to emerge and spread across countries, cutting across national boundaries. During the past 30 years, more than 30 new pathogens have been detected worldwide, many of which have caused serious outbreaks. They continue to challenge our ability to respond to the epidemic quickly. Deliberate use of the micro-organisms adds another grim dimension to the burgeoning problem of microbial diseases. Many a times the vaccines developed for fighting viruses in countries in which they are first detected proves ineffective in other areas due to the instability of the viral genome. An indigenous drug Discovery Centre is the need of the hour for a developing country like India. Moreover, drugs developed from indigenous plants have proven to be effective in local population due to some ecological reasons.
Centre for Drug Discovery in the IUCBR & SSH of the University will be dedicated to the discovery of novel medications and the development of approaches and technologies aimed at improving the discovery of new therapeutic drugs particularly of plant origin. The facility will be a unique one, acting effectively against diseases particularly epidemic outbreaks by discovering low cost therapeutic drugs of plant origin.
The Centre will be devoted for the discovery of drugs for the epidemics diagnosed at the Centre for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention. This will enable the IUCBR & SSH to act as a premier institution for diagnosis of pathogens and discovery of therapeutic drugs of plant origin for the newly discovered epidemics. The Centre will work in close association with the major Biomedical, Medical and Scientific Research Centres in the Country. The available academic resources in these Centres of Excellence will be synergized to carry out basic and advanced research programmes. The Centre will provide advanced laboratory facilities for researchers working in the area of drug discovery. The proposed Centre for Drug Discovery will support the ongoing research at the Centre for Communicable Diseases Control and Prevention by discovering new drugs from indigenous plants for the treatment of viral diseases.
