ITANAGAR, 14 Dec: Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) Vice Chancellor Sushant Kumar Nayak inaugurated the viral research & diagnostic laboratory (VRDL) of the microbiology department of the Tomo Riba Institute of Health & Medical Sciences (TRIHMS) here on Friday, in the presence of TRIHMS Director Dr Moji Jini, TRIHMS Principal Dr Shyamal Kumar Bhatta-charya, Scientist-F Dr B Borkakoty, and others.
TRIHMS Microbiology HoD Dr Mika Umpo informed that “the VRDL is a scheme of the union health research department and was approved in 2022 by government of India.”
“The VRDL will help in timely detection of any epidemic, and the quality control of the VRDL will be assured under the monitoring of the National Institute of Virology and the regional VRDL based in Dibrugarh, Assam.”
Dr Borkakoty, who is also in-charge of the regional VRDL, assured to provide training and to assist the VRDL TRIHMS “to grow in the future.”
Dr Jini praised the tireless effort of Dr Umpo in setting up the VRDL and recalled how Dr Umpo worked tireless without sleep during the peak Covid pandemic and had set up the Covid-RT-PCR molecular lab in a record period of 28 days when there was complete lockdown.
Prof Nayak in his address acknowledged the role that the lab will play in the future in detection and containment of epidemic/pandemic.
