In order to cater to the health problems of north east India, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) will soon begin research in communicable and non-communicable diseases including vector borne diseases, viral diseases, HIV/AIDS and drug abuses, bacterial infections, diarrhoeal diseases and parasitology.

The focus of this North East Project is primarily to conduct translational research so as to cater to the health problems of North East India for the benefit of people and public health welfare. Under this programme, the principal investigator (PI) must be from the north-east region of India.

The ICMR's initiative in this regard is important as the north-east India shares international borders with neighbouring countries like Bhutan, China, Myanmar and Bangladesh, and being a gateway to South East Asia, attains a specific importance to various problems due to various well established, emerging and re-emerging communicable diseases and cross border transmission.

The Epidemiology and Communicable Disease Division of the ICMR has invited concept proposals in communicable disease research in North-East India on priority areas of research in north-east India. The last date for submission of concept proposals is July 20, 2014.

Under the vector borne diseases, the focus of the research will be on diseases like malaria, filaraisis, Japanese encephalitis, dengue, chikungunia, West Nile Virus and resurgence of kala azar as these are the most important mosquito borne parasitic and viral diseases prevalent in the north-eastern states.

The research programme is also focusing on viral diseases such as Hepatitis B virus infection with C, D and A and I circulating genotypes; HIV/AIDS and drug abuse; bacterial infections; diarrhoeal diseases and parasitological which may be developed into full adhoc proposals on approvals.   In addition, proposals in areas of non-communicable diseases like cancer, heart diseases, lifestyle diseases, neurology, nephrology, disability, ENT, ophthalmology, etc. can also be submitted.

Under this NE Initiative, the PI should identify the local problem, gaps in technology which need fortification and institutes outside the region with which collaboration would be useful.  The researchers should focus on the health problems of the NE region and the component of technology transfer should be inbuilt in all collaborative projects where one of the institutions is from outside the region. Other institutions including Agriculture, IIT and Universities could also apply for funding from ICMR provided there is a medical or public health benefits in the proposal. Such proposals could also be in the form of collaborative projects wherein the medical colleges can also be provided.