The Hindu : Business : IFCR signs MoU with ARDSI

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Thursday, Sep 20, 2007
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IFCR signs MoU with ARDSI

Special Correspondent

To undertake phase-III clinical trials

KOCHI: Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Society of India (ARDSI), the national organisation dedicated to the care, support, and research of dementia, will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Canada-based Inter-Ed Faculty of Clinical Research (IFCR) India to undertake phase-III clinical trials and other relevant research projects.

An ongoing ICMR-supported study in Kerala indicates a prevalence of dementia in 37 out of 1,000 elderly persons. These findings were almost similar to the early Kochi urban and rural and Chennai studies, said K. Jacob Roy of ARDSI. This was at par with the findings from the rest of the world.

This figure was expected to double by 2025 and was particularly relevant in a State such as Kerala with a life expectancy of 72 years for men and 74 for women.

Dr. Roy told reporters here that ARDSI would be set up a R&D facility on the Little Flower campus of IFCR India on September 21. Such an initiative was the first of its kind in the country and the collaborative research would focus on Alzheimer’s and other dementia, he said.

He said extensive research was going on in this field in North America and Western Europe.

Although India has the world’s second largest aged population, very scant data is available. Studies on the prevalence, causative/ risk/ prefecture, cost-effective intervention strategies, development of drugs, including Ayurveda, and other systems of medicines in the country with rich human resources are yet to be fully explored.

“We need to tap our full potential, which will help patients not only in India but also in several other developing countries. There is also the need for more effective drugs and clinical research in this field,” said Anil Joseph, CEO and MD, IFCR India, who has set up the first clinical research organisation in Kerala.

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