ICMR-National JALMA Institute for Leprosy and Other Mycobacterial Diseases (ICMR-NJIL&OMD), Agra was originally established by the Japan Leprosy Mission for Asia (JALMA), a trust of the people of Japan for serving leprosy patients in India in the year 1963. The foundation stone of this Institute was laid by our first Prime Minister, the late Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru in December 1963 and the Institute started functioning in 1966. The Institute was run by Japanese initially and handed over to the Central Government in 1976 and was named as Central JALMA Institute for Leprosy. It was elevated as the "National JALMA Institute for Leprosy and Other Mycobacterial Diseases" in 2005 in recognition of its pioneering work in leprosy research. Since the inception the JALMA Centre at Agra, has been caring for the treatment of the leprosy patients of the region specially covering high endemic districts of Uttar Pradesh and adjoining States of India.
The Institute has contributed over 900 research publications mainly on leprosy and tuberculosis. The scientists of the institute have earned many laurels as recognition for research done involving the discovery of newer diagnostic tests/procedures (validation/evaluation) for leprosy and tuberculosis. Some of the studies are Mycobacterium indicus pranii (MIP) Vaccine trials, National TB prevalence survey, short-term drug regimen for tuberculosis, reconstructive surgery for claw hand in leprosy, development of animal models (Guinea Pig) for the slow-release of drugs in extrapulmonary tuberculosis, and development of an animal model for drug testing through respiratory routes.
The institute has well-established BSL-3 laboratories for handling infectious agents. In addition, the institute also possesses the BSL-3 facility for animal experimentation in infectious diseases like TB. An animal house facility was established for detecting drug resistance in leprosy using conventional mouse foot pad methods as well as molecular methods for surveillance of multi-drug resistance in leprosy in late 1970s.
The scientists of the institute evaluated and demonstrated the immunotherapeutic and immunoprophylactic effect of the MIP vaccine (earlier known as immune-modulator Mw) for both TB and leprosy. Additionally, they have designed and established several new/improved treatment regimens for leprosy using conventional as well as alternate drugs like ofloxacin, minocycline, and prothionamide.
The institute established the safety and usefulness of the addition of immunotherapy [Mw and BCG to multi drug therapy (MDT)]. Mw is now commercially available in the market for use as Immunovac/Sepsivac manufactured by Cedilla Pharmaceuticals Ltd. A new PCR-RFLP based method to differentiate mycobacterial isolates (Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. avium, M. fortuitum, and other pathogens) has also been developed. The institute also developed and improved a new surgical procedure for correction of deformities i.e. JALMA flap for restoration of volume of first web space in muscular atrophy associated with ulnar nerve paralysis in leprosy.
The Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC) is functioning at the Institute since 1988. Pre and Post-test counselling and referral services are being provided to clients attending ICTC.
Since 2008, the Institute has served both as a repository for mycobacterial strains, and the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) for tuberculosis for four states: Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Eastern Uttar Pradesh. Currently, NRL certifies the Interim Reference Laboratories (IRL) and Culture Drug Sensitivity (CDST) Laboratories; and also monitors the TB patient data from the states of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
A Real-time PCR-based COVID-19 testing laboratory was also established at the Institute in the year 2020 in a very short period of time during the challenging period of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A field unit of ICMR-NJIL&OMD is functioning at Ghatampur, which was established in 1999. The unit is well recognized for its services in the field of Leprosy, Tuberculosis, and Filariasis in the nearby districts. The unit is an excellent place for community trials, and has carried out many community trials of vaccines like MIP and clinical trials of many new drug regimens for TB and Leprosy.
In addition to this, the Model Rural Health Research Unit (MRHRU), Una was established in the state of Himachal Pradesh on the campus of CHC, Haroli in district Una on 16th February 2014. The ICMR-NJIL&OMD, Agra; Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda and the Department of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of Himachal Pradesh are the partnering institutions that are involved in the research and operationalization of the MRHRU, Una.
Throughout these years, the Institute has made substantial contributions to both research and capacity development. The institute's scientific, technical, and administrative staff work well together, which has made it possible to carry out a variety of tasks successfully and effectively.
