Nodal officers
Dr. P. Manickam Scientist – F
Dr. C.P. Girish Kumar Scientist - F
Establishment of Model Rural Health Research Units across the country is one of the flag ship projects of Department of Health Research, Government of India. MRHRU at Nadukallur, Tirunelveli is one of the first in the series of MRHRU to be established with funding from DHR, Government of India in 2014 and became functional in its new building from 2016. This unit is mentored by ICMR-NIE, and linked to Tirunelveli Medical College, Tirunelveli.
The objective of this unit is to undertake field and translational research by the faculty of the linked Medical College on diseases prevailing in the district. Currently there are about 17 approved projects, of which 12 are now being implemented. A population cohort of 37000 has been constructed for undertaking longitudinal studies under MRHRU. There are three ICMR Task force funded projects, of which one is completed, and two are being implemented. One App for coordinating the stroke patients reaching the nearest hospital within the golden hour has been developed. Currently the Unit has received a three grant from DBT/NBM/BIRAC for establishing a Field Clinical Trial Unit. It is now planned to undertake Phase III Clinical Trials for vaccines of various viral infectious diseases.
The unit has a Local Research Advisory Committee comprising of eminent specialists and researchers to review and advise on the research proposals submitted by the faculty. This committee meets once every year and is also convened on demand. The State level Steering Committee gives future directions and guidelines for undertaking research to the faculty who use this Unit for undertaking research. There is a Community Advisory Board which advises the faculty on issues relating to community based research activities.
This Unit has a core contractual staff of Two Scientists (one each medical and non medical), Two Technical Assistants (Statistics and Social Work- one each), a Laboratory Technician and a Project Assistant (Administration). Apart from the above there is a Data Entry Operator, and a Multi- Tasking Staff. The unit currently employs around 60 staff in various designations, in various projects that are currently being undertaken in the Unit.
