Kolkata: The state-run IPGMER-SSKM Hospital got another feather in its cap, with its multi-disciplinary research unit (MRU) being recognised as the Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE) by the central ministry of health research. A state health department official said the hospital and medical college was among eight medical institutes in the country and the only one in the eastern and northeastern zones to achieve this distinction for its performance and projects. The other medical institutes with the CoRE tag include King George Medical College, Madras Medical College, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, and AIIMS Rishikesh.“The honour reflects on the quality of research work by our team at the MRU and the future projects. This means, in addition to getting funds for uplifting the research infrastructure, we can expect to bag various research projects, which will ultimately benefit medical science for better patient care. This will encourage our doctors to get into more research activities,” said an official at IPGMER-SSKM.The country hosts close to 120 MRUs, approved by the Centre, including 85-odd units in medical colleges. These MRUs underwent a stringent scrutiny procedure on their current performance and future research projects to qualify as CoRE. An official from IPGMER said this recognition would help the institute receive research projects and funding to carry out breakthrough studies. To start with, the institute will be granted Rs 3 crore to better research equipment and infrastructure. The rigorous quality assessment procedure by the central team began three months ago. The MRU team submitted three future research projects on tuberculosis, liver cancer and neonatal care, and named three professors in respective subjects as nodal officers. The three projects, too, received approval, said the institute official.Apart from the MRU, the state-run medical college houses a few centres of excellence, including that for rare diseases and cochlear implants for children with hearing impairment. The state govt recognised IPGMER as the Centre of Excellence in medical education, research and patient care in Oct 2021.“The department of health and family welfare congratulates all the members of the IPGMER family for this recognition and extends best wishes for their future endeavours,” the state health department posted on X.
