The National Institute For Research In Vision Science And Ophthalmology (NIRVO), the research venture of the Chennai based Sankara Nethralaya, is all set to take off by the end of 2007. The construction work for the building will be commenced by September 2006.

The NIRVO, being set up with a vision to provide consultation services for health providers, managers and planners in improving the health services and to promote the quality research directed at solving the vision and ophthalmic problems of the country, will also offer scientific, technological and add on training programme for local and foreign participants, according to Dr H N Madhavan, Research Director, Sankara Netralaya.

Sankara Nethralaya, the unique referral ophthalmic institution under Medical Research Foundation (MRF), Chennai, will deploy its cutting edge research in the fields of Biochemistry, Genetics, Stem Cell Research, Nanotechnology, Ocular Microbiology and Ocular Pathology under the new institution. The R&D will occupy Allergy and Immunology Research centre, Genetics and Molecular Biology unit, and Ophthalmic Infections Disease Centre, Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics unit.

"The institute will act as a primary, secondary and tertiary care centre and is intended to provide advisory and consultative services to the Ministry of Health, Science and Biotechnology departments and also to councils of science, industry and education in the country," told Dr H N Madhavan.

The new institute with an area of 85,000 sq. ft., with a research area of 50,000 sq. ft, is estimated to come up with an investment of Rs 36 crores, in which the construction works alone costs Rs 16 crores. Another Rs 18 crore is allocated for equipment and Rs Two crore for special facilities in the lab for Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) compliance.

The finance for the investment will be sourced from the sponsors of the institute and through loans and donations. The MRF and its research wing, Vision Research Foundation (VRF), are the sponsors of the project.