| National Institute Of Immunology
The National Institute of Immunology (NII) has the mandate to undertake, aid, promote, guide and coordinate research of high calibre in basic and applied immunology. The institute continues to create a scientific base and focusses its activities in the pursuit of fundamental research, and solutions derived for tangible public utility with pragmatic entrepreneurial partnership.
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To undertake, aid, promote, guide and coordinate research of high calibre in basic and applied immunology.
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To carry out reserearch for development of new vaccines and immunological reagents for communicable diseases.
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To develop immunological approaches for regulation of male and female fertility.
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To interact with industry for manufacture of vaccines and immunological reagents
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To organize postgraduate courses, workshops, seminars, symposia and training programmes of a specialized nature in the field of immunology, vaccine development and related areas
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To organize training programmes for technicians in immunological methods and related techniques
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To establish affiliation with recognized universities and instituteions of higher learning for the purpose of enabling research scholars to register for postgraduate degrees
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To serve as a National Reference Centre for immunology and to provide consultancy services to medical and veterinary institutions, publich health agencies and industries in the country
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To provide and promote effective linkages on a continuing basis between various scientific and research agencies/laboratories and toehr organizations working in the country in the field of immunology, vaccine development and related areas
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To collaborate with foreign research institutions, laboratories and other international organizations in fields relevant to the objectives mentioned above
The institute during its formative years was a recipient of UNDP grants to develop immunodiagnostic kits relevant to tropical climates. This led to the development of diagnostic kits for the detection of pregnancy, typhoid, hepatitis B and amoebiasis. The institute has so far developed, validated and technololgy transfered to the industry, the following diagnostic kits: two kits for pregnancy, one each for typhoid, hepatitis B, amoebic liver abscess and intestinal amoebiasis. Product stabilization, quality assurance and packaging facilities, have been established. The institute has produced the technology for seed culture for the leprosy vaccine based on Mycobacterium. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)- based DNA probes have been designed for tuberculosis and for transfusion jaundice-causing hepatitis B virus.
The Institute has developed an ELISA test to detect the presence of HIV- 1 and HIV-2 Antibodies in serum with high specificity to the local strains. The test is designed for use by AIDS surveillance centres and blood banks and will be a suitable substitute for improved kits. The Institute has major projects on developing immunological contraceptives like the birth control B-hCG based contraceptive vaccine, universally-effective epitope- based vaccines, strategies to optimize vaccine design, production, formulation and delivery, and the optimization of recombinant expression systems for the production of immunogens, the leprosy vaccine using Mycobacterium, applications in reproductive biology such as pregnancy detection and embryo sexing in animals of agricultural interest, in vitro fertilization, establishment of techniques for embryo preservation, induced breeding and related areas.
The institute also carries out basic research in the area of immunology. NII has filed several Indian and foreign patents. It maintains eight international patents. NII has succeeded in developing a repository of high quality immunological reagents, restriction enzymes and plasmids. The institute is a collaborating centre for the national mission project on cattle herd improvement through embryo transfer technology. The institute has initiated a project to establish the technology for generating transgenic animals.
For more Information, Please Visit http://www.nii.res.in
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