SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre (SRM MCHRC): News & Events

SRM Hospital Launches Third Phase of COVAXIN Trail; Seeks Volunteers

December 8, 2020: Kattankulathur based SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre has successfully completed two human test phases of the COVAXIN trial and the third phase of the COVAXIN trial has started from today.

At a press conference today, Pro-chancellor Dr P Sathyanarayanan said that the number of patients to be tested in the third and final phase of Covid vaccine trial is over 1,000 however so far only 550 people have volunteered. The institute is trying its best to make this work as it will be India's first indigenous vaccine.

People above the age of 18 years who have not encountered Coronavirus so far can volunteer. Pregnant women are excluded. The shot is given twice - 28 days apart, said Dr Satyajit Mahopatra, Principal Investigator of Covaxin.

The hospital is going to be able to run a trial on 50 patients a day. Once the trials are successful, the vaccine will be approved on a fast-track basis. SRM MCHRC is currently treating 21 Covid-19 cases and a total of 80 people are tested for Covid-19.

SRM MCHRC Organises Press Meet to Create Awareness About Government Safety Norms on Covid-19

November 13, 2020: With an aim to create awareness amongst students and audience about the government safety norms on Covid pandemic and guiding them about the progress of Covaxin trials, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre called for a press meet today. Pro Vice-Chancellor (Medical) Lt Col Dr A Ravi Kumar of SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre (SRM MCHRC), Kattankulathur talked about the importance of facemask and other safety measures in order to avoid the second potential wave of the Covid pandemic.

He also talked about the successful completion of the second phase of Covaxin trials which were performed on 45 individuals and the third trial is yet to be performed on over 1,500 individuals for which the results will be out in the month of February 2021. SRM MCHRC is the only medical institution in Tamil Nadu shortlisted for the vaccine trials and so far the hospital has treated over 1,400 Covid patients since April with the help of Allopathy and Siddha combination.

To handle this clinical trial, SRM MCHRC has a state-of-the-art clinical trial facility. The trial unit was partially funded by DST, the Government of India which has also performed several clinical trials during the past eight years.

SRM MCHRC Inks MoU With National Institute of Siddha (NIS) For Academic, Research Purposes

September 14, 2020: SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre has signed an agreement with the National Institute of Siddha (NIS) with an aim to impart quality education and achieve excellence in patient care and research.

This association will let both the institutes to offer certified short and long-term courses, conduct jointly sponsored research, academic and clinical activities, publish books and journals, develop reference materials, training methods and services, and offer advisory or consultancy services.

Both SRM and NIC have earlier worked together on curing Covid positive patients using Siddha and Allopathy. The results were much faster than the regular treatment. This treatment procedure was approved and allowed by the government

SRM MCHRC Inks MoU with Aravind Eye Hospital to Provide Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) Screening of High-Risk Babies

August 14, 2020: A Memorandum of Understanding ( MOU) was signed between SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre and Aravind Eye Hospital to allow the former to provide Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) routine screening of high-risk babies at its Kattankulathur premises. This is done as part of an engagement to prevent ROP blindness in children under the National Program for Blindness Prevention and Control.

Aravind Eye Hospital will provide SRM Medical College and Hospital and Research Center with an expert and a team of specialists to perform the screening at the centre (including Tele ROP). Experts at Aravind Eye Hospital will also offer care recommendations, carry out laser or intravitreal injections or surgery free of cost apart from screening.

Dr Prabhu Baskaran, Vitreo-Retinal Surgeon from Aravind Eye Hospital, said a qualified technician would conduct ROP screening while a doctor would perform the operation.

SRM to Take Up Research Initiatives to Tackle Coronavirus

August 9, 2020: With continued global pandemic situation due to Coronavirus, Chennai-based SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre has decided to take up a research project to tame the virus with the help of medicinal system such as ‘Siddha’.

Kabasura Kudineer, a component of Siddha is considered as a harmless immunity booster and can benefit a large group of suspected Covid patients. The Central and state governments have also allowed the inclusion of Indian systems of medicine and medical research institutions like SRM taking up the challenge.

Considering the benefits of ‘Kabasura Kudineer’, a component of Siddha, SRM MCHRC is all set to test its efficiency in treating Covid-19 patients in a proper scientific study. The institute is undertaking research in collaboration with National Institute of Siddha (NIS) and aims to record how the formulations of 'Siddha' contribute to the efficacy of the current allopathic drug in the hospital to cure Covid-19 based on clinical proof, as well as how they can avoid the virus spread.

The tests will be performed on two groups of people with their consent. One group will receive normal treatment along with the formulation of Siddha while the other one will only receive the standard treatment  The results will be analysed and accordingly the study will be presented

SRM Doctors Cure Patient With Benign Lesion In Pancreas

July 31, 2020: A patient with one of the rarest diseases recently recovered at SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre. Known for its team of dedicated and experienced doctors who aim to cure the rarest of diseases, SRM MCHRC registers another success of helping a 58-year-old woman recover from the benign lesion of the pancreas.

The patient didn’t have any symptoms such as nausea history, loss of appetite, weight loss and normal bladder and bowel movement however, she was undergoing a diabetes treatment for the last two years. She just complained about abdominal pain in the last two weeks. Endoscopic ultrasound and other tests were performed and she was diagnosed with a cystic lesion of the pancreas with a large cyst of 10X11X7 cms. Surgery was performed and doctors decided to proceed with a splenectomy (removal of the spleen). The surgery was successful and she responded to the treatment positively and now she continues treatment for her diabetes alone.

SM doctors say, ‘Not all tumours are malignant; Some can be benign and can be thoroughly treated if correctly detected in the early stages”.

Human Trials of India’s First Coronavirus Vaccine Covaxin Begins at SRM MCHRC

July 23, 2020: The human trial of India’s first Covid-19 vaccine has begun today at SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre. SRM happens to be the only medical college in Tamil Nadu to be selected for the trials. As a part of the process, volunteers were screened today. Two of them were given injections this morning and they have reported no complaints so far. 

Dean of the Institute Dr A Sundaram, explains the process saying that every subject has to take two doses at a gap of 14 days. These subjects will be kept under observation for some time post which they can continue with their usual activities. Each volunteer will have to come after receiving the injections for a total of four visits subsequently at day 28, 42, 104 and 194. During these visits, their response to the vaccination will be assessed by immunogenicity testing.

AIIMS Patna, PGIMS Rohtak and Nizam's Institute Hyderabad have already initiated the clinical trial. The first dose of the vaccine was given to volunteers at the institutes. After 14 days, volunteers will be given the second dose.

Covaxin is a result of joint efforts of Bharat Biotech International Limited with ICMR and NIV, Pune.

ICMR Selects SRM Medical College Hospital as Clinical Trial Site for Covid-19 Vaccine

July 5, 2020: ICMR is all set to test India’s first Covid-19 vaccine, Covaxin, and release it for public health use after performing all successful clinical trials. For performing these trials, ICMR has selected 12 institutions in India, including SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre. Not just one among 12, SRM is also the only medical institution in Tamil Nadu to be selected for this purpose.

The vaccine trials and launch are the utmost priority for Indian government today and this comes at a time when the entire world is reeling under Coronavirus pandemic and there is a dire urgency to launch the vaccine. President of SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Dr P Sathyanarayanan praised Dr Mohapatra him and his entire team for their efforts to make SRM reach such heights and assured all the support required to perform this exercise.

In and around Kattankulathur, SRM MCHRC serves over three lakh people. SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Center (SRM MCHRC) provides a range of possibilities to graduate and to boost the wellbeing of the profession in the country.