The Ahmedabad-based ACEAS Clinical Research, the advanced studies wing of the Aditya College of Engineering and Advanced Studies (ACEAS), is planning to set up a chain of clinics in Ahmedabad to offer lifestyle disease management through various systems of medicines.
The institute, currently offering training and education in clinical research, regulatory affairs and general management along with support services, including planning of clinical trials, preparation for audits, inspections and clinical data management, will launch its own clinics branded as ACEAS Clinics in next two months time. ACEAS will have six clinics in Ahmedabad within a short period, said Dr Ashok Kumar Batham, executive director, ACEAS Clinical Research.
"We will have experts from allopathy, ayurveda, homeopathy, apart from experts to advice on diets and the clinics will address lifestyle diseases like diabetes, obesity, hypertension and baldness related issues. The first clinic will be launched in Ahmedabad within two months and we are allocating an investment of Rs10 lakh for each clinic," he added. The investment would be in a phased manner and plans are to spread the operations to other cities in a later stage, he noted
As the arms of ACEAS clinical research, the clinics can generate database on various disease profiles and execute its clinical research training through the new venture. The company also has plans to launch general practicing clinics chain at a later stage. The company has identified potential in the field, though the plans are not at advanced stage at present, said Batham.
The institute, which commenced operations in mid-2006, has already completed training for 10 batches. ACEAS Clinical Research is currently offering training focused on general, principal, organisation and management of clinical trials along with continuing professional development programmes for contract research organisation (CROs) and pharmaceutical companies.
Under the banner of ACEAS, the company also runs an independent ethics committee - Aditya (IEC-Aditya) for protection of the rights, safety and well-being of clinical trial subjects, including patients and healthy human volunteers serving various pharmaceutical companies and CROs in the state. Apart from this, the company also offers consultancy services, including organisations and management of clinical trials, preparation of protocols and case record forms (CRFs), management of informed consent documents and reports. The company also offers support to the industry to prepare for audit and inspection of clinical trials, according to the company official.