Strengthening Crisis Investigations

ICMR achieved several significant milestones, including setting up a pan-India laboratory network in less than a year, isolating and genetically characterising the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and successfully developing newer diagnostics and vaccines.

The Council was the fifth in the world to isolate the virus and further worked on cultivating various variants such as alpha, beta, gamma, delta, delta plus, and omicron.

ICMR played a crucial role in aiding the development of the ELISA test, monoclonal antibodies,lab assays, antiviral screening, and vaccine development.

ICMR was the first in the country to sequence the SARS-CoV2 genome.

ICMR implemented a calibrated testing strategy, supported by a 24X7 operational pan-India laboratory network consisting of over 3300 functional laboratories.

In challenging terrains like Manipur and Nagaland, ICMR successfully delivered 17,275 units of medical supplies via drones, covering a total distance of 735 km through eighty drone sorties.

ICMR's research also demonstrated the importance of using non-rebreather masks during oxygen therapy to reduce the risk of black fungus in COVID patients.

ICMR initiated sentinel surveillance of Zika Virus Disease (ZVD) in March 2016 through its network of virus research and diagnostic laboratories (VRDLs). Link:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9226610/ 

ICMR screened 82000 human and 60000 mosquito samples.

ICMR’s research linked the absence of mutation to foetus microcephaly (small heads in infants) in the Jaipur outbreak.

ICMR isolated the virus from clinical samples and established the source of infection.

ICMR detected the virus in 25% of fruit bats.

In June 2019, ICMR set up on-field surveillance labs and helped successfully contain the virus with no fatalities recorded.

ICMR developed a Nipah rapid test, the first in the world, which generates results in 2 hours.

ICMR-NIV established that the lion deaths occurred due to Canine Distemper Virus (CDV).

It successfully identified the CDV strain and established relation to East African strains.

ICMR’s research helped save the endangered Asiatic Lions.

ICMR conducted the investigation and diagnosis of Monkeypox Virus in India, including the isolation and culture of the MPV.

ICMR called for LOIs from companies for diagnostic kit and vaccine development.

ICMR signed Memorandums of Understanding with three companies for the validation of the diagnostic kits.

ICMR conducted laboratory investigations to support the regional veterinary diagnostic laboratories.

ICMR established ‘RESEARCH - Regional Enabler for South East Asia Research Collaboration for Health’ in collaboration with 9 countries of the South-Asian region. The platform works to effectively combat emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases in the South East Asia region.