National Institute of Epidemiology has effective structural, training and research linkages with other ICMR and non-ICMR Institutes. The Institute develops functional and need-based linkages for collaborative research programmes with other national Institutes / organizations such as National Institute of Communicable Disease (NICD), New Delhi, National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (NIHFW), New Delhi , All India Institute for Hygiene and Public Health (AIIPH), Kolkata, Central Bureau of Health Intelligence, Indian Council for Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi, Medical colleges, other ICMR Centres, State Health Authorities, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and National programmes. Exchange of information, transfer of research results for absorption into health programmes etc are important aspects of the linkage. Linkages within ICMR Institutes and with Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Department of Science and Technology (DST) Institutes have added significance particularly with respect to development related to genetic and molecular epidemiological studies and other sophisticated laboratory investigations.

National Institute of Epidemiology organized "Epidemiology week" twice in Chennai to strengthen the network and develop partnership with these international and National Institutions. The first was from 30th December 2002 to 3rd January 2003 and second was from 12th to 17th October 2003. Kindly click the following box for the detailed information about the two EPI-WEEKS conducted.

The Institute has established linkage with Training Program in Epidemiology and Public Health Intervention Network (TEPHINET). Possible linkages with internationally renowned groups / Institutes like International Clinical Epidemiology Network (INCLEN), The Johns Hopkins University (JHU), and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM),trained experts are being considered. NIE is the only WHO collaborating Centre for epidemiology of leprosy.

A major Indo-US collaborative programme on environment and occupational health was initiated to improve the health status and well being of environmental and occupational health. Need for trained epidemiologists in the fields of environmental and occupational health was felt in India. Under this programme, experts from India and US identified areas to be covered in environmental epidemiology. Two workshops were held, one at Chennai (7th - 10th January 2004) and the other at Ahmedabad (13th - 16th January 2004). By clicking the box given below a report of the proceedings of the workshop conducted at Chennai will appear.

The Institute is collaborating with

 Sree Chitra Thirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST),    Thiruvanandapuram in the conduct of Field Epidemiology Training Programme (FETP) leading to    Master of Applied Epidemiology (MAE) degree.

 National Institute of Communicable Disease (NICD), Delhi for short term programme in field    epidemiology and SEPR regional workshops

 CHITS, UCLA for HIV studies

 Madras Christian Council Social Service (MCCS), Chennai for HIV studies among    Commercial Sex Works (CSWs)

 Institue of Venereology (IOV) Chennai, General Hospital, Chennai for HIV studies among STD    patients

 Department of Microbiology, Dr. ALM post-graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences,    Chennai for HBV/HCV transmission studies.

 SAHAI Trust for HIV /AIDS studies

 Sundaram Medical Foundation for Cardio vascular risk factors studies.

WHO COLLABORATING CENTRE FOR LEPROSY EPIDEMIOLOGY

National Institute of Epidemiology is the WHO collaborating Centre for the epidemiology of leprosy and is involved in conducting several epidemiological studies, clinical trials, operational studies and evaluation pertaining to Leprosy.

The World Health Organization recognized the National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai for its Leprosy research work and training activities on Field Epidemiology and awarded Dr.Shen Jianping a fellowship at the National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai. By clicking the box given below a brief report about Dr.Shen Jianping and his fellowship will appear.

Comparative leprosy vaccine trial in South India

A comparative double-blind randomized prophylactic leprosy vaccine trial was conducted in South India. Four candidate vaccines viz., BCG, BCG + Killed M. leprae, M. w. and ICRC were studied in comparison with normal saline placebo. Protection was observed with the combination vaccine BCG + Killed M. leprae and ICRC met the requirements of public health utility.

Single dose therapy for PB leprosy cases

Clinical trial for the treatment of paucibacillary leprosy (mono-lesion and 2 or 3 lesion) cases revealed that a single dose of Rifampicin 600 mg, Ofloxacin 400 mg and Minocycline 100 mg [ROM] is as effective as 6-month WHO Multi Drug Therapy [MDT] for achieving elimination of leprosy.

Evaluation of National Leprosy Eradication Program (NLEP)

Govt. of India with the assistance of WHO and World Bank under took the 8th round of evaluation of NLEP. Validation study was undertaken in 5 endemic states and validation / evaluation study was undertaken in the remaining states.

Simulation model for leprosy transmission and control

An epidemiological simulation model for leprosy transmission and control has been developed in collaboration with the Center for Decision Sciences in Tropical Disease Control (CDTDC), Erasmus University, Rotterdam. Several sensitivity experiments were carried out to identify important parameters. Validation of the model was done using data from endemic regions.

LQAS for leprosy elimination monitoring

The Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS) technique was considered and found to be simple, rapid and reliable for monitoring national control programmes.

Field-testing of WHO design for Leprosy Elimination Monitoring (LEM)

Field-testing of the WHO design for LEM activities was done and the design was found useful to improve quality of routine reporting.