Indian researchers ignore tropical diseases

CHENNAI: Research in parasitology related diseases in India is most neglected as researchers preferring greener pastures devote more time on getting funds from the West to find cure to the diseases prevalent in developed nations, experts said.Pointing out that only 0.9 per cent of funds from eight Indian scientific funding agencies were utilised during the last three years, a top Indian official slammed the lack of sincerity by scientists. At the 23rd National Congress on Parasitology here on Friday, Indian Council of Medical Research director general Dr V M Katoch said that there was ample money but no projects.“Many antigens have been discovered in India. But scientists lack sincerity,” he rued. “These are diseases that affect the poor, but researchers are not interested in them,” he said.Dr P Kaliraj, Dean of Alagappa College of Technology Campus, Anna University, said crisis is felt in research related to tropical diseases due to attitude of young researchers who pursue research on diseases like cancer which get more funds and recognition from West.Dr S L Hoti, head of microbiology and Immunology division of Vector Control Research Centre in Puducherry said hardly any drug has been added to the arsenals of medical shop to combat parasites and pathogens.Interestingly, Anna University is one of the few institutes that has been utilising the funds to the optimum, says Kaliraj. He said they have finished using the grant of 10 crore from department of biotechnology. “We have been 98 per cent successful in eradicating filaria,” he said.Earlier, Katoch said that the government was setting up 43 new molecular labs to combat tuberculosis.