COVID-19 Testing Laboratory

Under the leadership of Hon. Commissioner shri  & support of Surat Municipal Institute of Medical Education and Research (SMIMER) higher authorities, The COVID-19 testing facilities is established at the Multidisciplinary Research Unit (MRU) laboratory. At present running under the observation of Dr. Mannu R Jain, HOD Microbiology Department.

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Introduction

The Department of Health Research was created as a new Department under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare vide Presidential Notification dated the 17th September, 2007 by an amendment to the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961. The Department has been allocated 9 new functions to promote health research activities, besides the ongoing work relating to the management and administration of ICMR.

Government of India, in June, 2013, vide sanction order at approved the scheme for 'Establishment of Multi -Disciplinary Research Units (MRUs) in the Government Medical Colleges/Research Institutions' during the 12th Plan period as a path- breaking initiative to develop/strength the health research infrastructure in the country to fulfil the newly allocated function of the Department related to the "Promotion, Coordination and Development of Basic, Applied and Clinical Research".



Objective of the scheme:

The objectives of the present scheme are to:

  • Encourage and strengthen an environment of research in medical colleges.
  • Bridge the gap in the infrastructure which is inhibiting health research in the Medical Colleges by assisting them to establish multidisciplinary research facilities with a view to improving the health research and health services.
  • To ensure the geographical spread of health research infrastructure, in order to cover un-served and under-served Medical Colleges and other institutions.
  • To improve the overall health status of the population by creating evidence-based application of diagnostic procedures/processes/methods

Major functions of the MRUs

  • To undertake research in non-communicable diseases and other need-based research as recommended by the Local Research Committee/Expert Committee of the DHR employing newer tools.
  • To promote and encourage quality medical research in the Institution.
  • To constitute the local research committees for identifying the research priorities and projects with participation of State health system officials.

Major functions of the MRU - SMIMER

In the fulfilment of this vision, the MRU- SMIMER Surat will aspire to:

  • The SMIMER – MRU will also train and disseminate the best clinical practices and offer practical solutions in all rural and urban facilities.
  • Provide the premier level of patient associated translational research.
  • Work with integrity and passion to accomplish the mission of high quality health research.
  • Seek innovative, holistic solutions to nationally important health issues in collaboration.
  •  MRU-SMIMER will be bound by natural responsibility to study the non-communicable diseases that require answers and that which will aid planning, technology and expertise transfers and provide informational resources, educational and technical assistance that could bridge barriers in implementing a modern, affordable and sustainable model of health care delivery based on sound principles of quality.

Agency for Implementation of the Scheme

The scheme was implemented by the Department of Health Research (DHR) with the technical support of ICMR.


Funding/Financial Assistance for the project

One time financial assistance upto Rs. 5.25 crores will be provided to each Government Medical College/Institution for setting up of modern biological lab/multi-disciplinary research unit. This will include Rs. 5.00 crores towards equipment and Rs.25 lakhs for minor civil works for modifications/renovation in the space to be provided by the State Medical College.

Administrative approval (letter No. R.11011/01/2021-HR dated 29.06.2021) for continuation of central sector scheme of establishing Multidisciplinary research unit (MRUs) under the 15th Finance Commission period for next 5 years (2021-22 to 2025-26) was received by SMIMER on dated 30/06/2021.


Research

Below are the project details:

Sr. No. Title Principle Investigator Status Area
  Effectiveness of Covaxin and Covishield vaccines against severe COVID-19 in India, 2021: Multi-centrichospital-based case control study Dr. Prakash Patel
Assistant Professor,
PSM Department,
SMIMER,
Surat
Research project participation invited by ICMR- National Institute of Epidemiology by Dr.Tarun Bhatnagar
Project is completed
Multi-disciplinary projects of the total projects Multi-centric projects of the total projects Projects with Extramural Funding
  Reinfection with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS CoV-2) among health care workers in India Dr. Hetal Desai,
Nodal officer MRU
Professor & Head of the Department, Physiology SMIMER,
Surat
Research project participation invited by ICMR Project PI,
Dr.Tanu Anand. Project is completed
Multi-disciplinary projects of the total projects Multi-centric projects of the total projects Projects with Extramural Funding
  Risk factor of post COVID-19 rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis in India: Case -control study -2021 Dr.Khushnood M Shaikh
Associate Professor,
Opthalmology Department, SMIMER,
Surat
I MUCOR (India – Multicentric Case -control Study On ROCM)
JIPMER, Puducherry
Project is completed
Multi-disciplinary projects of the total projects Multi-centric projects of the total projects Projects with Extramural Funding
  Costing of Health Care Services in different  states of India States PI Dr. Prakash Patel
Assistant Professor,
PSM Department,
SMIMER, Surat
Project is completed Multi-disciplinary projects of the total projects Multi-centric projects of the total projects Projects with Extramural Funding
  Cost Effevtiveness of Pradhan Mantri Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMJP) and its impact on Financial Risk Protection in  State PI Dr. Prakash Patel
Assistant Professor,
PSM Department,
SMIMER, Surat
Fund is received and Staff recruitment process is completed.
Project is completed
Multi-disciplinary projects of the total projects Multi-centric projects of the total projects Projects with Extramural Funding
  National Clinical Registry of COVID 19 Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) Dr. Poonam Singh
Additional Professor
MD (Pediatrics)
Dept. of Pediatrics, SMIMER
Research project Funded by ICMR Head quarters
Project is completed
Multi-disciplinary projects of the total projects Multi-centric projects of the total projects Projects with Extramural Funding
  Prevalence of cervical HPV infection among HIV and non HIV women at tertiary care hospital Dr.Smita Jhaveri,
Associate Professor, Pathology Department, SMIMER,
Surat
Research project granted on 18th August, 2020
Granting Agency
Science for Equity, Empowerment &Development(SEED)
waiting for funds release
Multi-disciplinary projects of the total projects
  A community based study on prevalence of post-natal maternal depression in Surat district PI-Dr Prakash Patel, Assistant Professor, Department of PSM
drpbpatel@gmail.com
Completed  
  Study of cardiac markers in post post-mortem samples in sudden death cases.  PI-Dr M I Sheikh, Professor& Head, Department of FMT
drmiliyas@gmail.com
Completed Multi-disciplinary projects of the total projects
  Transcranial Doppler-An Innovative approach in predicting risk of brain stroke in patients of sickle cell disorder PI-Dr Ekta Desai, Associate Professor, Department of Radiodiagnosis
ekatadesaishah@gmail.com
Completed  
  Investigation into the shelf of Fresh frozen plasma components following thawing PI- Dr Paras Ghanshyam Patel, Associate Professor, Department of Pathology On going  
  Diagnostics association of radiologically suspicious solid breast lesions with histopathological tests: A tertiary hospital experience from South Gujarat population. PI- Dr. Nipa M. Patidar, Assistant professor, Department of Radiodiagnosis On going  
  Morphological, Molecular & immunohistochemical evidence of HPV in oral & oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. PI-Dr Sudha Jain, Department of Pathology & Dr Ashish Surana, Department of Microbiology. On going  
   The relationship between serum zinc and glucose metabolic disturbances in patients having of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). PI- Dr. Naimesh Shah, Assistant Professor, Department of General Medicine
Co PI Avani Kasture, Scientist II MRU
Completed  
  Clinical Validation of indigenously developed Fluorescence Immunoassay Analyser (FIA) System for quantitative measurement of various disease markers at Point Of Care (POC). PI- Dr. Hetal Desai Professor& Head Dept. of Physiology,
Co PI- Dr. Deepak Howale ,Dean  SMIMER
Dr. Pradip Barde, Associate Professor  Dept. of Physiology, AIIMS, Rajkot, Gujarat
Dr. Avani Kasture  Scientist II -MRU MRU Department
On going Multi-centric projects of the total projects Projects with Extramural Funding
  Clinical Validation of indigenously developed PCR Iso-thermal Amplification System for Point Of Care (POC) Molecular Diagnostic Testing of various infectious diseases.  PI- Dr. Hetal Desai Professor& Head Dept. of Physiology,
Co PI- Dr. Deepak Howale ,Dean  SMIMER
Dr. Pradip Barde, Associate Professor Dept. of Physiology, AIIMS, Rajkot, Gujarat
Dr. Silver Panchal  Scientist I -MRU MRU Department
On going Multi-centric projects of the total projects Projects with Extramural Funding


Publications

Below are the publication details:

Sr. No. Title Name of the Journal Authors Year of Publication
Impact factor
  Translating Research to Policy: Setting Provider Payment Rates for Strategic Purchasing under India's National Publicly Financed Health Insurance Scheme Applied health economics and health policy  Prakash Patel, Mannu Jain, Rajendra Joshi, 2019 - 3.686
  A study to find out correlation between life style, nutritional status, personnel
habits, physical development and sudden death due to cardiac origin
IP Journal of Nutrition, Metabolism and Health Science   M I Sheikh,
Swati Patel 
2021
  Transcranial Doppler Screening In Children with Sickle Cell Disease of South Gujarat Population National Journal of Community Medicine Ekta Jayantkumar Desai, Dhagash Patel, Mona Digantkumar Shastri, 2021 - 0.1
  Association of p16 expression in oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine Dr.Akruti Patel Dr.Sudha Jain Dr.Moxa Parmar Dr.Kinjal Patel Dr.Vasu Tailor 2022 - 0.152
  Effectiveness of BBV152/Covaxin and AZD1222/Covishield vaccines against severe COVID-19 and B.1.617.2/Delta variant in India, 2021: a multi-centric hospital-based case-control study International Journal of Infectious Diseases Prakash Patel, Mannu Jain, Rajendra Joshi, 2022 - 8.4
  Hyperglycemia and steroid use increase the
risk of rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis
regardless of COVID-19 hospitalization: Casecontrol
study, India
PLOS ONE Khushnood M Shaikh, Manisha Patel 2022 - 3.752


Working Nodal Team

Sr. No. Designation Name
1 Nodal Officer, MRU Dr. Hetal Desai,
Professor & Head, Physiology Department
2 Co- Nodal Officer, MRU Dr. Ashvin Vachhani,
Professor & Head, OBG Department
3 Co- Nodal Officer, MRU Dr. Ekta Desai
Professor, Radiology Department


Executive Committee (EC)

As per the DHR letter R-11016/05/2024 dated 09/05/2024

Sr. No. Designation Name
1 Chairperson, MRU Dr. Deepak Howale, Professor, Anatomy
Dean, SMIMER
2 Nodal Officer, MRU Dr. Hetal Desai,
Professor & Head, Physiology Department
3 Member Dr. Ashvin Vachhani,
Professor & Head, OBG Department
4 Member Dr. Ajay Pawar,
Professor & Head, PSM Department
5 Member Dr. Ashish Surana,
Associate Professor, Microbiology Department


Local Research Advisory Committee (LRAC)

As per the DHR letter R-11016/05/2024 dated 09/05/2024

Sr. No. Position LRAC Member
1 Chairman, MRU, SMIMER (Dr. Deepak Howale)
Dean, SMIMER, Surat
2 Chairman, LRAC-MRU, SMIMER
(External Medical expert)
(Dr. Pratik Tarvadi)
Professor & Head, FMT, Dharpur, Patan
3 Co-Chairman, LRAC-MRU, SMIMER (External Medical expert) (Dr. Gaurav Shah)
Professor &Head,
Bio-Technology Dept, VNSGU, Surat
4 Member, LRAC, MRU, SMIMER
(External Medical expert)
(Dr. K. N. Bhatt)
Professor, Dept of Medicine, GMC, Surat
5 Member, LRAC-MRU, SMIMER
(Nominee from state health dept)
Dean, GMC, Surat
6 Member, LRAC, MRU, SMIMER
(Nominee from ICMR)
(Dr. B. Rakesh)
Scientist D ,NIOH, Ahmedabad,
7 Member, LRAC-MRU, SMIMER
(Internal Medical expert)
(Dr. Ashvin Vachhani)
Professor & Head, OBG Department, SMIMER
8 Member, LRAC-MRU, SMIMER
(Internal Medical expert)
(Dr. A. B. Pawar)
Professor& Head, Dept of PSM, SMIMER
9 Member Secretary-LRAC, Nodal Officer, MRU, SMIMER (Dr. Hetal Desai)
Professor & Head, Dept of Physiology, SMIMER


Staff Details

Sr. No. Designation   Name
1

Scientist -II    

Dr. Avani  Kasture

2

Scientist -I

Dr. Silver Panchal

3

Laboratory Technician

Mrs. Krunalben Ankurbhai Dave

4

Laboratory Technician

Ms. Riddhi Umraniya

5

Laboratory  Assistant cum Data Operator

Ms. Sweta Singh



Elective: Biomedical research in Genetics and Molecular biology

As per curriculum based Medical Education Guidelines by NMC, Fifteen (15) days elective program was design by MRU for basic understanding in Molecular Biology and research methodology. There was fifteen third year M.B.B.S students were posted at MRU between 01 Jan 2024 to 14 Jan 2024.

MRU Elective

Learning objectives of the elective:

  • To understand the medical molecular genetics and genomics including current areas of research and research methodologies.
  • To demonstrate or conduct the fundamental genetic/Molecular experiments in a controlled environment.
  • Introduction to basic statistical software and bioinformatics.
  • Introduction to research report/paper/projects writing / IPR (Intellectual Property Rights) and funding opportunities for extramural projects.
  • Learn to prepare and present abstract/ Report writing/ Review Paper writing in an internal meeting.


Campaigns

Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) campaign

Swachhata hi Seva Abhiyan was established by the Indian government on September 15. On October 1st, 2023, this program of donated communal labour was to begin. Prime Minister of India launched 'Swachhata Hi Seva', a 15-day initiative that requires people to volunteer for clean-up drives and contribute to the goal of Clean India as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission.

Swatchhta Campaign - Cleaning photos Before After

Cleaning activities - Before & After

Swatchhta Pledge

Swatchhta Pledge

Under the guidance from DHR, MRU SMIMER organized various Swachhata initiatives such as shramdan activity, Tree plantation along with all staffs and students took Swachhta pledge under the Swachhata Hi Seva campaign.



Major accomplishments

  • Department of Health Research (DHR) Delhi, organized the meeting on 8-9th January 2019 for a review of performance of all MRUs and MRHRUs was reported. After the successful presentation the DHR committee evaluated the progress and graded as SMIMER-MRU overall progress/output was considered as scientifically “GOOD”.
  • MRU - SMIMER with collaboration Dr. Pradeep Barde Associate Professor Physiology– AIIMS Rajkot and STRUmed Solutions worked on the Inter- MRU project titled “Clinical Validation of indigenously developed Fluorescence Immunoassay Analyser (FIA) System for quantitative measurement of various disease markers at Point Of Care (POC)” To overcome the limitations of existing testings, Project was planned to introduce FIA analyser as a point of care alternative for CLIA machine, which will overcome all above shortcomings with equal accuracy for diagnosis of illness which is now available in market.
  • Project “Cost Effectiveness Pradhan Mantri Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMJP) and Cost-effectiveness of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP): The cost data generated by the study is used to develop the national cost data based and cost function and policy making for India. Further, research is recommended to develop a cost-function for unit cost estimation with changes in time, region, prices, skill-mix and other factors.
  • During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Multidisciplinary Research Unit (MRU) laboratory played a pivotal role in establishing COVID-19 testing facilities. MRU was entrusted with several COVID-related projects directly from ICMR, including studies on the effectiveness of Covaxin and Covishield vaccines, reinfection studies with SARS CoV-2 among healthcare workers in India, post COVID-19 rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis in India, and the National COVID-19 Clinical Registry – India. All the COVID related completed projects are acting as stepping stones for the government agency to design and plan the future guidelines and policy making.