RGUHS to research dengue

BENGALURU: For the first time in the country, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) has taken up a research study on dengue to help identify biomarkers which can predict the disease.

Considering the seriousness of the disease and the struggle which both patients and hospitals go through to identify the severity of the disease, the university has taken up this study in association with IISc, St John’s Medical College, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, M S Ramaiah Institute of Medical Sciences and Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences and NIMHANS.

Dr G S Venkatesh, director of advanced research at the university said, “This research is set to find biomarkers (predictors) that could help isolate patients that are more likely to develop complications of the disease.” The university has allocated `3 crore for the study. 

They will screen over 3,000 patients who are having symptoms of dengue and that of 1000 patients who tests positive for NS1 antigen would be considered for the study. “The samples of the patients will be preserved in a bio bank of blood cells for an infinite period and later, the same can be used for further study,” mentioned Dr Venkatesh.