Director  :  Dr BC Harinath

The Jamnalal Bajaj Tropical Disease Research Centre (JBTDRC) is an advanced centre for Tropical Disease Research established in 1994 at MGIMS Sevagram to expand the Institute’s ongoing research programmes in tropical diseases such as filariasis and tuberculosis prevalent in this region. It is the result of sustained problem based research activity in Department of Biochemistry for more than two decades at MGIMS with support from ICMR, CSIR, DST, WHO/ TDR, INDO US-STI and DBT.

The foundation stone of the centre was laid on 23 Feb by former Prime Minister Shri Chandrasekhar. The Centre has become fully operational under Dr BC Harinath as Director with research thrust on diagnostics in filariasis and tuberculosis with core support from Kasturba Health Society. In association with Departments of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Pathology, the main thrust has been to apply the latest and sophisticated techniques of immunology and molecular biology in developing tools for immunodiagnosis, monitoring, immunoprophylaxis, surveillance and their application in better management of the diseases, filariasis and tuberculosis.

During the year 2010-2011, a total of 411 samples from patients suspected of filarial infection were referred from Kasturba Hospital and private practitioners from surrounding areas. Filter paper blood samples were received from different endemic areas namely Bilaspur, Calicut etc. by post/courier. Patients were screened for filarial infection. Patients showing antigen/ antibody positivity were treated with DEC 2 mg/ kg body weight, 3 times a day for 21 days in a month for 3-12 months, immunomonitored quarterly and followed for clinical relief and cure.

A total of 287 patients attending Kasturba Hospital suspected of tuberculosis (TB) were screened by SEVA TB ELISA. Tubercular antibody/ antigen / Immune complexed antigen positivity was observed in clinically suspected cases of pulmonary Koch’s (9/20), TB lymphadenitis (14/33), TB meningitis (4/5), osteo-articular TB (67/141), ocular TB (1/5), genitourinary TB (6/22), abdominal Koch’s (16/30), pleural effusion (2/3), fever (2/3) and others (12/25). The test is often also requested to rule out tuberculosis in a suspected patient. Bhat Biotech, India Pvt. Ltd, Bengaluru showed interest and placed order for TB reagents worth  Rs. 1.73 lakhs and prepared MoU for making prototype kit based on SEVA TB ELISA for commercialization.