The Centre has been established on the funds raised by a BBC television show for children, ‘Blue Peter’, hence the name. The main focus of the centre aligns with the mission of the organization - to mitigate the morbidity and suffering of patients with leprosy, tuberculosis, HIV and lately, lymphatic filariasis and malaria. The main focus of the centre therefore is to conduct applied research on issues related to these infections. The Research Centre has 45 papers to its credit, published in different journals - 36 International and 9 National. The centre has four departments, viz., Clinical & Epidemiology, Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Biology and Field projects including Administration.
Clinical & Epidemiology Division of BPHRC receives self-reporting and referred patients with Leprosy, Tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS etc who are provided diagnostic and specialized treatment services. Physiotherapy and Grade 1 & 2 MCR footwear are also offered to the patients. Also, severe ENL reactions are managed with thalidomide. In close collaboration with the Government and as part of the RNTCP (Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme), BPHRC undertakes the DOTS (Directly observed treatment, short course). This helps not only in ascertaining patient compliance, but also in developing a good database, a must for any research centre. Follow-up studies on the patients are also feasible. Clinical division is also undertaking the treatment of Multi Drug Resistance in Tuberculosis.
In the Microbiology Division, rapid and simple diagnosis of TB with a special reference to TB lymphadenitis and MDR TB has been the main focus of activities. Mycobacteriology lab has a collection of clinical M. tuberculosis isolates well characterized for clinical and phenotypic features, originated from parts of AP and Orissa states. The laboratory has been accredited by the Central TB division of GOI and is identified by GOAP as the referral center for MDR diagnosis for patients from four districts of AP state (Guntur, Krishna, East and West Godavari).
The Immunology Division is primarily investigating immune mechanisms of the human host to understand the cause of immuno-incompetence leading to development of the infectious diseases. Further, the investigators also address applied issues relating to genes regulating these immune responses. The insights may help in the planning of improved or new strategies to prevent and control the infectious diseases. By determining the T cell immune correlates of protection from infection the group intends to develop improved vaccines for TB and leprosy.
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Field Projects are located in Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Adilabad, Krishna, Nizamabad, Medak, Vizianagaram, Chittoor districts in Andhra Pradesh covering leprosy, TB, lymphatic filarisis, malaria &/ STI/HIV/AIDS services and interventions. These field projects work in close association with the research centre.
Administration covers issues relating to accounts, HR, data management, secretarial, reception, transportation, pharmacy, medical records and overall functioning and house-keeping of the centre.
Public health is a new perspective that has recently been added to the activities of the centre. Four field projects catering to the patients at the grass root level are now part of the institution. This will allow an integration of the laboratory and the field, enabling translation of lab sciences to the field requirements.
Collaborative research is another major activity of the research centre. Collaboration with national institutes, local universities and international universities has taken place in the past and are underway presently. In the field of tuberculosis, BPHRC is a part of the Centre of Excellence in collaboration with ten other investigators from six national institutes and the Hyderabad Central University and is funded by the Department of Biotechnology. In general, the senior staff of BPHRC is engaged in international and national academic networks.
Mechanisms governing research at BPHRC are in place. RAC, IEC and IBSC comprises of well-known scientists, doctors and other socially responsible individuals. Projects are funded by DBT, DST and ICMR, in addition to foreign collaborations.
Training is of great consequence to the centre, which offers a wide range of training programmes for undergraduates, postgraduates and postdoctoral researchers to develop knowledge and skills. Since research-based teaching and hand-on training is offered to the trainees, the Centre serves as the basis for holding on to young researchers. Having state-of-the-art equipment and well-equipped labs are an additional advantage. This is reiterated by the fact that the centre is recognised not only by DSIR as SIRO, but by the Central University of Hyderabad, Osmania University and JNTU. The presence Ph.D. supervisors enable research scholars to register for Ph.D. at these universities. |
