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director.vcrc@icmr.gov.in

Madurai, Tamil Nadu

HomeAbout Us Field StationsMadurai, Tamil Nadu
HomeAbout Us Field StationsMadurai, Tamil Nadu
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ICMR-VCRC Field Station, Madurai, Tamil Nadu

Office In Charge: Dr R. Paramasivan, Scientist-F

  • The ICMR-VCRC field station, Madurai (formerly known as ICMR-Centre for Research in Medical Entomology, Madurai) was established during 1985 and throughout its successful carrier undertaken extensive work on various aspects of vectors and vector borne diseases in the country. It had significantly contributed in understanding Mosquito biodiversity in the Western Ghats, the Eastern Ghats, Mangrove forest, Assam, Andaman & Nicobar areas. The field station (FS) had described five new mosquito species.
  • A total of 242 species and 92,166 of mosquito specimens are maintained at the mosquito museum of the Field station. The significant contribution of the FS in incriminating Ochlerotatus niveus (Aedes niveus) as a vector of sub-periodic bacroftian filariasis in Andaman & Nicobar Islands is noteworthy.
  • JE Surveillance network was established in Tamil Nadu to monitor JE virus activity using desiccated and dried vectors. The isolation methodology of JE virus from mosquito larvae and humans and by using Toxorhynchites splendens mosquitoes by immunofluorescence assay (Toxo- IFA system) was standardized in place of suckling mice. In the rice ecosystem, enhancement of the oviposition of JE vectors by the use of urea was established.
  • With its significant contribution in Lymphatic filariasis, the FS demonstrated that the children<5 years had higher antigenaemia clearance when compared to minimal change in youth after a single- dose combination therapy (MDA with DEC+ albendazole). The combination therapy of DEC+albandazole for filariasis resulted in enhanced efficacy against geohelminths and the magnitude of infestation remained at a significantly low level for about a year after the intervention was successfully demonstrated.
  • Methodology for detection and serotyping of dengue viruses from desiccated and dried field caught Aedes vectors using Toxo-IFA system has been standardised.
  • The field station had successfully conducted many National and International conferences and workshops on the emerging vistas of vector borne diseases such as 1st , 2nd and 3rd Asian Bio-safety training course executive report on Asian centre for training in biosafety assessment for human health and environment using genetically modified vectors during June 15 – 26, 2009, February 22 – March 5, 2010) & October 18-29, 2010 respectively.
  • The field station has been regularly conducting training programmes for research scholars, state government health personnel’s and international researchers on taxonomy of mosquitoes, ticks, mites etc., for its credit.
  • The field station has submitted two innovative products for vector pathogen interaction application and control for patent at the ICMR Head Quarters, New Delhi

 

Staff List
Sr. No.Name of the staffDesignation
1Dr. R. ParamasivanOIC & Scientist -F
2Dr. M. MuniyarajScientist -D
3Dr. P. Philip SamuelScientist - C
4Dr. (Smt). Bhavna GuptaScientist - C
5Dr. V. ThenmozhiPrincipal Technical Officer
6Dr. M. PalaniyandiTechnical Officer-C
7Mr. A. VeerapathiranTechnical Officer-C
8Mr. V. RajamannarTechnical Officer-B
9Mr. N. KrishnamoorthyTechnical Officer-B
10Mr. M. KalimuthuTechnical Officer-A
11Mr. A. SelvamTechnical Officer-A
12Mr. R. GovindarajanTechnical Assistant
13Mr. K. VenkatasubramaniTechnical Assistant
14Mr. T. BalajiTechnical Assistant
15Dr. A. VenkateshTechnician (2)
16Dr. S. Victor Jerald LeoTechnician (1)
17Mr. A. Abdul RahibdeenLaboratory Assistant-1
18Mr. K. AndiLaboratory Assistant-1
19Mr. S. MathuraiveeraniLaboratory Assistant-1
20Mr. C. PonnusamyAssistant
21Mr. M. AbbasStaff Car Driver (Group II (5))
Research activities

Research activities

  • The field station has undertaken research activities on surveillance, diagnostics development and developing innovative tools and methods (Nanotech based) for the control of vectors and vector borne diseases particularly JE, Dengue, CHIKV, LF, Scrub typhus and other tick borne pathogens in the country. The FS is actively involved in development of innovation products for VBD diagnosis and control.
on-going projects

Projects: List of on-going projects

Extramural

  • 1. Nanofibre encapsulation of Pseudomonas fluorescens for the sustained production of mosquito larvicides
  • 2. Comprehensive analysis of microRNA biomarkers during dengue infection
  • 3. Analysis of early innate immune response against dengue virus isolated from different clinical stages of infection
  • 4. Molecular ecology of Aedes aegypti in India: elucidating genetic structure, dispersal potential and connectivity among populations

Intramural

  • 1. Studies on prevalence of vector and animal host of Scrub typhus in the endemic foci of Tamil Nadu and Kerala
  • 2. Nanopore (minION) based surveillance of emerging rickettsial pathogens in ticks prevalent in The Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu
  • 3. Exploring the role of Philodina roseola as a hiding source of dengue / chikungunya virus during inter-epidemic period
  • 4. Designing and development of novel equipment for generating germ free and gnotobiotic mosquitoes
  • 5. Designing and evaluation of a simple, eco-friendly and cost effective Ovitrap for the control of dengue/Chikungunya vectors
  • 6. Presence of intra and inter species male in the fecundity of female Aedes aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus, Culex tritaeniorhynchus, Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes
  • 7. Development of a nanoparticle based rapid diagnostic assay for detecting dengue virus in mosquitoes.
Infrastructure (Labs)

Infrastructure (Labs)

  • The field station is equipped with the state –of-the-art facility such as Nanopore DNA sequencer, real time PCR, Gel documentation system, Biosafety cabinets to handle P2 level organisms, Microbiological Shakers, Millipore water system, tissue homogeniser, UV Microscope, Ultra low temperature cabinets (-80o C) and Deep freezer (-20o C), automated ELISA washer and reader etc., for conducting cutting edge research on surveillance and control of vector borne diseases in the country. The field station has been establishing facility for undertaking research on nanotechnology based control of vector borne diseases.

 

Photo Gallery

Contact details

ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre,
Field Station, 4, Sarojini street,
Chinna Chokkikulam, Madurai-625 002.
Tamil Nadu. India
Nodal Officer: Dr. S. Poopathi, Scientist-G
Officer-in-Charge: Dr. R. Paramasivan, Scientist-F

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