The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Department of Medical Genetics for NIMS

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Thursday, May 08, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Department of Medical Genetics for NIMS

HYDERABAD: The city is set to play host to yet another major institution – a state-of-the-art Department of Medical Genetics.

The institution is aimed at providing diagnosis, treatment and counselling services to children and families with inherited genetic disorders.

This follows the Centre’s willingness to fund such a department that will be operated jointly by the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) and the Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD).

In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, Union Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal said the institution, dealing with a high technology area, would be useful for patients suffering from different genetic disorders, especially those prevalent among tribals in the agency areas. The CDFD possessed the expertise in medical genetics and was already providing diagnostic services on referral basis.

Negotiations between the directors of NIMS and CDFD were already in an advanced stage wherein NIMS would provide the necessary space and facilities for patient care while the CDFD would undertake diagnostic tests.

The department would need three permanent clinical faculty posts (one professor and two assistant professors) and two to three Ph.Ds so that it could seek recognition for super-specialty teaching programmes.

Mr. Sibal assured the Centre’s full financial support through the Department of Bio-Technology and the CDFD for the running costs, including staff salaries for the first five years.

He sought the State government’s consent to pave way for negotiations for finalising a memorandum of understanding.

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