Vision

We envision an IT and data management system in NIRT that supports and contributes to health research towards elimination of Tuberculosis in India.

Mission

The mission of the EDP division is to

•  Provide IT systems at par with international standard that support the health research and administrative activities of NIRT.

•  The overview of data processing using computer vision techniques

•  Develop and sustain big data management systems that contribute to the generation of accurate, valid, reliable, complete, accessible and unique health research data.

History of infrastructure development

In 1970, Tuberculosis Prevention Trial (TBPT), at Madras saw the birth of the IBM 1401-H computer system for doing data processing work for the BCG trial. Twelve years later when the TBPT was merged with TRC, it was decided to replace the IBM 1401-H computer system with new computer to manage against an increasing amount of data and analyses. In 1984, TRC had purchased a micro-computer called “Aurolec data processing system” and carried out analyses work. Later, in 1986, a VAX-11/750 computer system with 8 terminals was installed. The system was working up to 1999 and became obsolete. In 2000, the LAN system funded by USAID through WHO/ICMR was installed. This LAN is being used for data management systems pertaining to the MODEL DOTS PROJECT undertaken by TRC. This had created facilities for researchers, students and trainees to communicate within and outside TRC.

Current infrastructure facilities available:

• The current LAN facility was established and is being managed with the help of NIH-ICER project. There are more than 300 user accounts with email access.
• Wi-Fi enabled NIRT campus.
• External Service have been created to provided to NIRT scientists during travel.
• First ICMR institute to enable Eduroam (Educational and Research Global free wi-fi roaming service)
• First ICMR institute to enable Shibboleth IDP, which is the most widely deployed federated identity solutions
• Availability of statistical, bibliography and other specialized softwares for use in NIRT.
• 62 TB capacity server facility to enable server based data collection to eliminate paper and errorless scientific work.
• NIC and BSNL base new NKN connection through Radio frequency (RF) to NIRT-Tiruvallur and NIRT-Madurai unit to equip the full pledged internet facility similar to NIRT-Chennai.
• Central servers (30TB) have been created for National TB prevalence survey.
• Central servers (2TB) have been created for Tamil Nadu TB prevalence survey.

EDP's support for administrative activities

•  Technical installation and support for biometric attendance system

•  Function as technical lead in setting, customizing and overseeing proper implementation of eOffice at NIRT, an eGovernance web portal developed by NIC.

•  Supportive role in procurement related Central government web portals               •  eProcurement             •  GEM             •  Technical advice for equipment procurement process.

•  AMC Approval             •  EDP is actively involved in supporting and enhancing the Bacteriology Automation software.

Facilities for Electronic Data Capture

REDCap is a secure, web-based application for building and managing online surveys and research databases with enhanced features to support HIPAA level requirements required by research. Use of the REDCap system is governed by an End User License Agreement between ICMR-NIRT and Vanderbilt University.

•  Currently, 31 projects use NIRT-REDCap. A total of 176 users access the REDCap actively.

•  Projects utilizing mobile applications are 11. There are about 77 individual's users using mobile applications as part of these 11 projects.

Archive of epidemiological research data:

The EDP division maintains an archive of well-organized digitized data from around 50 epidemiological research studies undertaken in NIRT, then TRC, from 1968. Some of the major milestone epidemiological studies of NIRT in the history of tuberculosis research in India, undertaken in the past, are listed below:

•  Tuberculosis Prevention trial – a fifteen year follow-up study from 1968 – 1983 to study the effect of BCG on the incidence of tuberculosis.

•  Leprosy Prevention trial - a fifteen year follow-up study from 1968 – 1983 to study the effect of BCG on the incidence of leprosy.

•  Baseline and three repeat surveys to study the trends in the prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis over a period of seven and a half years in a rural community in South India – 1999 - 2008

•  Trend in tuberculosis infection prevalence in a rural area in South India after implementation of the DOTS strategy – three repeat surveys between
1999 – 2010

•  Prevalence surveys in the following areas

•  Kashmir valley (1978)                 •  Raichur district (1988)         •  North Arcot districts (1989)        
•  Tribal population of Jawadhu hills (1989)   •  Chennai (2010-2012)

Contribution to current key projects undertaken by NIRT

IT and/or data management contribution in currently ongoing key projects like

•  National TB prevalence survey in India

•  The Tamilnadu TB prevalence survey

•  The RATIONS (Reducing Activation of Tuberculosis by Improvement of Nutritional Status) study