MERA-India Image Competition 2022
MERA-India "Basic Mosquito Biology Training", was organized on 18th October 2022 at ICMR-NIMR, New Delhi, to spread awareness about entomology and encourage Ph.D. students to contribute to vector-borne disease control and elimination by pursuing this field.Click Here for more details
Basic Mosquito Biology Training
MERA-India "Basic Mosquito Biology Training", was organized on 18th October 2022 at ICMR-NIMR, New Delhi, to spread awareness about entomology and encourage Ph.D. students to contribute to vector-borne disease control and elimination by pursuing this field.
MERA-India Community Behaviour training at AIIMS Jodhpur on 22nd - 23rd March 2022
Two days of training at AIIMS Jodhpur was organized for the MERA-India funded Community Behavior project teams, under the guidance of the experts Dr Arun Sharma, Director ICMR-NIIRNCD; Prof Rajib Dasgupta, Jawaharlal Nehru University; Dr Bontha Babu, ICMR; Dr Amit Sharma, Director ICMR-NIMR and Dr Manju Rahi, ICMR. The training was organized with the aim of capacity building and in line with promoting the spirit of collaborative research.
During the training, there were discussions on the factors to consider while conducting household surveys to determine the community's knowledge about malaria prevention and control, to assess the acceptance and practice of using interventions such as bed-nets & mosquito repellents and the community's healthcare-seeking attitude. The data quality monitoring parameters while conducting such surveys were also discussed. A field activity to conduct household surveys using digitized forms was also organized to expose the participants to the challenges in real-life situations.
The training was attended by the Principal Investigators and their teams from institutions across India, (including AIIMS Jodhpur, SBKS MIRC Sumandeep Vidyapeeth, Rohilkhand Medical College & Hospital, AIIMS Raipur, Goa Medical College & Hospital, Dibrugarh University, ICMR-RMRCNE Dibrugarh, Sri Ramachandra Institute Of Higher Education and Research), running the MERA-India multi-centric Community Behaviour project.
Vector Bionomics & Control Workshop on 14th – 16th September 2021
This workshop was organized under the guidance of Dr P. Jambulingam (Former Director, ICMR-VCRC, Puducherry); Dr K. Gunasekaran (Sr. Consultant & Formerly Scientist G, ICMR-VCRC, Puducherry), and Dr K. Raghavendra (Sr. Consultant & Formerly Scientist G, ICMR-NIMR, Delhi). The participants were taught about the vector life cycle and behaviour, vector bionomics and vectorial capacity, vector surveillance and sampling, insecticide resistance monitoring and management in vectors, principles of vector control and personal protection and planning entomological surveys. Dr Arun K. Sharma (Director, ICMR-NIIRNCD, Jodhpur) gave an online lecture on use of GIS for vector surveillance and answered queries related to this topic. Field trips were also organized to train the participants in trap setting and outdoor/ indoor/ resting mosquito collection. The field exercises were followed by identification, data compilation and group presentations based on the vector samples collected.
Virtual Poster Competition on 06th September 2021
MERA-India organized a Virtual Poster Competition in September 2021 for the PhD students, postdoc and project staff working at ICMR-NIMR, Delhi and the field units. The participants were invited to submit their abstracts/ posters under three malaria-research based themes: Parasite-Host Biology, Vector Biology and Epidemiology. There were a total of sixteen participants. Each participant was given 10 minutes to present their poster, and it was followed by questions from the judges and audience. Dr Manju Rahi (Scientist-F/ Deputy-Director General (SG), ICMR) and Dr Ruchi Singh (Scientist-E, ICMR-National Institute of Pathology) were the judges for the competition.
Based on the scores from the judges, the following poster presenters were adjudged as the winners of the competition:
First Prize: Mr Debattam Mazumdar (NIMR Filed Unit, Goa)- "Seasonal prevalence and spatial distribution of mosquito species (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Western part of India".
Second Prize: Mr Loick P. Kojom Foko (ICMR-NIMR, Delhi)- "Non-falciparum species, asymptomatic malaria and submicroscopic parasitemia: Three rising threats to malaria control efforts in Cameroon".
Third Prize: Dr Vandana (ICMR-NIMR, Delhi)- "Plasmodium falciparum Metacaspase-2 Capture its Natural Substrate in a Non-Canonical Way".
All the participants were awarded with a certificate of participation by Dr Amit Sharma (Director, ICMR-NIMR).
Basic Entomology Training on 20th August 2021
To commemorate the World Mosquito Day on 20th August, MERA-India organized a one-day training in basic entomology at NIMR Delhi, for all the ICMR-NIMR PhD students and project staff.
In this highly interactive training, the entomology experts at NIMR taught the students about the various aspects of mosquito biology, the prevalent malaria vectors in India, identification of different mosquito species and the different approaches for vector control & malaria surveillance. The presentations were followed by live demonstrations of various life stages of the different mosquito species and a visit to the NIMR insectary to learn about the mosquito breeding for research purposes. A quiz was organized at the end of the training session, in which the students participated enthusiastically. The event concluded with the distribution of participation/ appreciation certificates by Dr Amit Sharma (Director, ICMR-NIMR) to all the students and the training staff.
International Malaria Symposium on 25th April 2021
To mark the World Malaria Day on 25th April, MERA-India organized a virtual international symposium on 26th April 2021. The aim of the meeting was to bring together eminent malaria scientists from around the world on a common platform and to discuss their views and knowledge pertaining to various areas of malaria research. The speakers at the symposium included Dr Amit Sharma (Director, ICMR-NIMR), Dr Bart G J Knols (SCIE:NCE, Soneva Fushi, Republic of Maldives), Professor Utpal Tatu (IISc, Bangalore), Dr Avadhesh Kumar (Additional Director, NVBDCP), Dr Marta Maia (KEMRI Wellcome Trust Programme, Kenya), Professor Ashis Das (BITS Pilani), Professor Sanjeev Krishna (St. George’s, University of London) and Professor Richard Maude (MORU, Thailand).
The symposium concluded with a panel discussion led by Dr Manju Rahi (Scientist-F/ Deputy-Director General (SG), ICMR) on the current scientific and political problems and how they can be addressed to finally achieve malaria elimination in India by 2030. The recording of the symposium wass made available online on MERA-India website and YouTube Channel (https://youtu.be/Ye09--W6PAE).
Brainstorming, theme specific first One-On-One meeting of Investigators and the Experts at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Headquarters on 19-20 February 2020
Malaria Elimination Research Alliance (MERA) India organized a Brainstorming, theme specific first One-On-One meeting of Investigators and the Experts at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Headquarters on 19-20 February 2020.
It was first kind of meeting where the participants were from all over India including big and small Institutions, Universities, Medical Colleges, Commercial Organizations etc.
Theme specific group members enthusiastically participated in round table discussion. The Experts supervised the investigators and provided their feedback on the framework of Team Science. The also helped MERA India to develop a Standard Common Protocol.
Dr Anup Anvikar, Scientist F, National Institute of Malaria Research (NIMR), Delhi welcomed all the guests, experts and participants and gave an overall view of the meeting.
Dr Amit Sharma, NIMR, Delhi added that ideas and skill sets have to be structured for a successful outcome and MERA India is committed for that.
"It is an unique opportunity for all the investigators to understand and do translational research" said Professor Balram Bhargava, Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Secretary of India's Department of Health Research (DHR) in his address. He mentioned that theme specific Team Science research will add significantly to the mission Elimination Malaria.
Dr Manju Rahi, Scientist F, ICMR gave the background of MERA India and highlighted the progress of MERA India and objectives of Brainstorming meeting.
Dr Raman Gangakhedkar, Scientist G & Head of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases (ECD) Division, ICMR emphasized the importance of small implementation and discoveries instead of publishing in high impact factor journals. He added that the pre-elimination phase of Malaria, strong planning is a must for the success and quality work of the program.
Wider epidemiology studies, clear objectives, strong methodology and defined time duration are very important parameters for a fruitful outcome in the pre-elimination stage of Malaria, said Dr Neeraj Dhingra, Director, National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP).
Dr Neena Valecha, Advisor, World health Organization (WHO) praised MERA India for adopting different approach by conducting theme based team science. She thanked ICMR for the financial support for the program.
Dr Sachin Sharma, Coordinator MERA India briefed the concept of thematic working groups and explained the role of investigators and experts. He also highlighted MERA India is committed to adopt best practices to facilitate the program.
Meeting was successfully concluded on the second day and MERA India received positive and enthusiastic feedback from participants. Investigators and Senior members from Universities and prestigious organizations like WHO, NVBDCP, IHF etc. from all over India were also presented at the event and gave their valuable suggestions.
Stakeholders’ Meeting of MERA India on 24th April 2019
India is making tremendous efforts towards malaria elimination and is committed to achieve this goal by 2030. Research is an integral component of any elimination programme. Many organizations are carrying out research on different aspects of malaria. There is need for better coordination among research organizations to avoid duplication and improve the transnational value of research.
Thus, there is a strong felt need to have a common platform for developing research strategies which could identify the existing gaps and foresee the roadblocks thus fueling and accelerating the programmes targeted at malaria elimination by 2030.
Indian Council of Medical research has established ‘Malaria Elimination Research Alliance-India (MERA-India)’ which will be a conglomeration of partners working in the field of malaria and its control. The principal activity of the Alliance would be to prioritize, plan, conduct, scale up and translate relevant research in a coordinated and combinatorial way in order to have a tangible impact of this research on the population at risk for malaria.
Secretary (Health), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has extended their support to this initiative by ICMR, Various national and international organizations (government, non-government, industries) are partnering with ICMR in this venture.
Stakeholders’ Meeting of MERA India on 24th April 2019, a day prior to the World Malaria Day at Conference Hall of ICMR, New Delhi to have vibrant discussions on the roadmap of the Alliance.