Primate research centre for HIV/AIDS opened at Vasai: Ramadoss

January 10, 2005

Primate research centre for HIV/AIDS opened at Vasai:

Ramadoss:

[Health India]: Vasai (Thane), Jan 9 : The country's

first primate research centre will address the needs

of scientific research mainly in the areas of HIV/AIDS

and stem cell biology, Union Health and Family Welfare

minister Anbumani Ramadoss today said.

Speaking after laying the foundation stone for the

Centre here, Ramadoss said the National Centre for

primate research would be supported by the government

without any fund constraints.

The outlay for the Centre was envisaged at Rs 80-100

crore and the Union Governmment has already sanctioned

Rs 18 crore for it, he said.

The US office of Aids research of National Institute

of Health (NIH) has given USD three million in the

form of equipment and other acessories for the Centre

under Indo-US Research programme.

Ramadoss said the primate species which would be used

at the Centre would serve as good experimental models

for research if humane approach is adopted while

handling them.

" We should, therefore, ensure there wellbeing and make

all efforts to minimise the pain and distress to them

during th experimentation " , he said.

Scientists also have to ensure that the animals are

used for experimentation only when no alternative

models are available and the number of animals used

are restricted to the minimum, he said.

With creation of the facility, scientists would be

able to address health related problems effectively,

he said.

Speaking on the occassion Jack Whites Tarver, director

office of AIDS research, NIH said the primate centre

would open up much more opportunities betwen India and

US. His country would provide additional help if

required. PTI

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