Multidisciplinary Research Unit (MRU)

In the year 2013-14, the Government introduced the scheme of establishing Multidisciplinary Research Unit (MRUs) in Government Medical Colleges to strengthen research environment, bridge the gap in infrastructure inhibiting health research, and improve the overall health status of the population by creating evidence based application of diagnostic procedure/processes/methods.

So far 80 MRUs have been approved. Statement containing details of 80 units State/UT and medical college-wise is annexed.

Proposals for establishing new MRUs are received on continuous basis from all the States and Union Territories of India. These are considered in the Department as per the scheme guidelines. After completion of necessary requirements, approval for establishing MRUs is accorded.

The funding norms, as per scheme guidelines, provide for non-recurring and recurring grant in the following manner:

Non-Recurring Grant:

1. Civil Construction — Rs. 0.25 crore

(ii) Equipments — Rs. 5.00  crore in 03 installments

Recurring Grant:

1. Salaries — Rs. 0.252 crore

(ii) Contingencies — Rs. 0.222 crore

Funds of Rs. 26.25 crore have been disbursed during the last 03 years for establishing new MRUs as per the funding norms of the scheme.

Department of Health Research has a Central Sector Scheme titled “Setting-up of nation-wide network of laboratories for managing epidemics and national calamities”. The Scheme has mandate to create three tier networks of Virus Research and Diagnosis Laboratories at Regional Level, State level and Medical College Level for timely diagnosis/identification of viruses during outbreaks of epidemics and generation of data about viral diseases for facilitating quick deployment of resources & measures to save the human lives.

Regional Laboratories have state-of-art facilities so that it could achieve the objectives in research, continuous monitoring and surveillance of existing as well as new viral and other strains and handling of viruses etc. with a potential of being used as agents of bioterrorism, capacity building, diagnosis, development of diagnostic kits etc.

State Level Laboratories are equipped with BSL-2 facility and expected to carry out serology, RT-PCR, isolation, fluorescence microscopy, tissue culture and sequencing for all enlisted viruses. These laboratories are also expected to be involved in basic as well as applied research on viruses, development of kits and diagnostic reagents and identification of unknown/referred samples from the Sub-state level laboratories.

Medical College Laboratories, in case of any outbreak / epidemic, carry out the initial diagnosis/ screening at the most peripheral areas & nearest to the site of outbreak.  While the medical college labs are expected to identify all listed common viruses, the viruses/agents which cannot be identified by these labs are referred to the State/Regional Labs for identification and / or characterization.

Till date total 118 Labs- 10 Regional Level, 23 State Level and 85 Medical College Level Labs have been established across the country.

* Funds could not be released as the matter is under discussion with the State Government.

The Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare), Sh. Ashwini Kumar Choubey stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha here today.