The CHILDS Trust Medical Research Foundation (CTMRF)

Modern medical research requires a high-end laboratory equipped with state of the art equipments. The overall goal was to establish a state-of- art Research Laboratory facility as part of CTMRF which would provide pediatric focused research, diagnostics, teaching and training.

A Research Laboratory as part of the CHILDS Trust Medical Research Foundation (CTMRF) had been a long cherished dream. A proposal to set up the molecular laboratory was developed and submitted during August 2017 to the Trustees of CTMRF and approval obtained.

The research laboratory was realized thanks to the generous support extended by the CHOLAMANDALAM group which donated ₹ 1 crore towards establishment of this facility at KKCTH.

The 300 square foot facility is housed in the basement of main hospital building. The entire project was executed by SIEMENS HEALTHCARE during the period June 2018 to December 2018 and was designed in accordance with national and international guidelines for molecular laboratories. The laboratory was assessed for all parameters and became fully functional from January 2019. This research laboratory is a first of its kind in India – a paediatric speciality, not-for-profit tertiary care centre with its own in-house research laboratory.

The molecular laboratory envisages to provide paediatric-focused research, diagnostics, teaching and training. Planned deliverables include successful initiation of research and diagnostics programs, research training programmes, conference presentations, high-impact publications (national and international) and the establishment of doctoral (Ph.D) research programmes. Currently, the laboratory work is handled by a well experienced molecular virologist trained laboratory research associates.
CTMRF-ML started its research activities with a study of respiratory tract infections in children with cancer (funded by HDFC AMC) and another of paediatric dengue infections through a CTMRF intramural research fund.

Since inception, CTMRF-ML has participated in many research projects including multi-centric studies. It has been funded by government agencies (ICMR and DST) and overseas universities (University of Oxford and Johns Hopkins University). It was accredited in 2020 by NABL, for COVID-19 testing both by open and closed systems of testing.

The Research Laboratory has received more than 1700 samples for COVID testing. The Laboratory maintains high levels of quality. It participated in External Quality Control Programs for COVID initiated by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), King Institute, Chennai and Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC).

External quality control for real time PCR testing for scrub typhus, dengue and pneumococci are performed at Christian Medical College, Vellore.

Quantum of external funding awarded to CTMRF Research Laboratory