The Hindu Business Line : NIN facility for Vitamin A analysis

A NATIONAL facility for analysis of Vitamin A using a technique called dry blood spot would be inaugurated at the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) here by the Director-General, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Prof N.K. Ganguly, on March 17.

The new facility is expected to help in faster analysis and effective control of Vitamin A deficiency, which is a major problem in the country. Similarly, the proposed National Animal Resource Facility, to be set up on a 100-acre campus at the Biotech Park at Turkapally, about 40 km from Hyderabad, would be discussed at a high-level meeting at the NIN on the same day.

The highlights of this proposed facility are to be presented by the ICMR Director-General at the meeting. The National Animal Resource Facility is expected to provide much-needed impetus to the pharma and biotech sectors by enabling scientific investigations in drug and vaccine testing as per international standards.

The facility, to be implemented as a joint venture of the Government and private sector, would have open enclosures in natural habitat to house different animals, health monitoring laboratories with X-ray room and surgical theatre, a large canine exercise area and full-fledged labs to determine quality control in animal experimentation.

The meeting would also see the launch of a Web site of NIN by the Union Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, Mr J.V.R. Prasada Rao.

The site would aim to sensitise the public on the research activities of the NIN as well as give an idea into the current trends in nutrition and provide information on healthy dietary guidelines, according to an institute release.

Another highlight of the meeting would be the presentation of the findings of the countrywide survey on iodine deficiency disorders done by the NIN scientists. Among the key people to participate are Dr B.K. Tiwari, Adviser (nutrition), Directorate General of Health Services; Dr Sandip K. Basu Director, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi; and Dr P.S. Chauhan of the Department of Atomic Energy, Mumbai.

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