Deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi lights lamp to inaugurate the programme in Patna on Thursday. Picture by Sachin

Patna, Nov. 10: Deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi today inaugurated a new laboratory for the diagnosis of extensively-drug-resistant and multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) at Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Science (RMRIMS).

Modi launched the facility while inaugurating the centenary celebrations of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and a seminar on kala-azar at RMRIMS.

Extensively-drug-resistant tuberculosis is a form of TB caused by bacteria that are resistant to drugs used to cure the disease. On the other hand, multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis is a variant of the disease that is resistant to the two most powerful anti-TB drugs.

The deputy chief minister wished ICMR director-general Dr V.M. Katoch on the institute completing 100 years. The event was attended by health minister Ashwani Kumar Choubey, road costruction minister Nand Kishore Yadav and former Union health minister C.P. Thakur.

Addressing the gathering, Dr Katoch emphasised the importance of research based on translation and its potential benefits.

RMRI director Dr Pradeep Das welcomed the dignitaries and talked about the importance of biomedical research for improving healthcare facilities.

He announced that the newly constructed Tropical Disease Research Centre would become operational on the campus of the institute by 2012.

Dr Das said the centre would be unique of its kind in this part of the country with state-of-the-art facilities for research on vector-borne and communicable diseases.

He added that the institute has got affiliated to Calcutta University and Bhagalpur University for awarding PhD degree.