Tamil Nadu faces research deficiency

Even though Tamil Nadu is known for its health facilities and home to a large number of medical colleges, the state, like the rest of the country, continues to lag behind in the field of medical research. 

Stating that with Tamil Nadu’s position, it was expected to excel in medical research as well, a research scholar from the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, said, “Merely having a University and a number of medical colleges will not help a state progress in terms of research. Students need to be pushed and more importantly, it is important to have an excellent mentor.” 

The state is also lacking in translational research. “The need for upgradation in medical research and the importance laid on translational research is the need of the hour,” said Dr S Elango, State President, Indian Public Health Association. 

Stressing on the degradation in the field of medical research that the state is seeing each year, he said, “Research today, is being done more for scientific promotions rather than to meet the needs of the people. As most of the institutes falling under the ambit of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) are now expenditure institutes, the lack of productive researches is becoming evident.” 

Expressing sympathy at the state of research in India, Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Director General, Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) and Deputy Director General, World Health Organisation (WHO), said, “It is important to kindle an interest in practical work among students at school. Sadly, that is found to be lacking today, with schools found to be spoon-feeding the students.”    

Citing an example from her own life, she said, “During my fellowship in the US, I had an excellent mentor, which helped me develop a great interest in my research. It was something that I missed in India. It is indeed of utmost importance to have a guide who can not only mentor you, but also can help create an interest that will last until you complete your entire research.” 

Naming a few research institutes in the state, including the Tamil Nadu Malaria Research Centre, Chennai, the National Institute of Epidemiology, Arumbakkam, and the National Institute of Tuberculosis Research, Chetpet, Dr Elango said, with the exception of these Institutes, the state is deteriorating in  the field of medical research. 

Tamil Nadu was earlier recognised for medical research – with Dr Suniti Solomon from MMC having done pioneering work in the field of AIDS research and prevention in the country after having diagnosed the first Indian AIDS case in Chennai in 1985. Dr Swaminathan said, “Many studies have also been published at the Institute of Child Health, Egmore, indicating that facilities and experts are not lacking, but it is the push required that is missing among institutes. Also, besides funds from  the ICMR, the University and the state government must also look for sources to sponsor the students.” 

Scholars have also been stressing on the importance of focussing on what the people need and not just what the researcher wants to find. However, Dr S Geethalakshmi, Vice-Chancellor, Dr MGR University, said that stress is now being laid on research, beginning with the availability of workshops to train professors and students on how to write a research and also the push that is being given to them to conduct studies.