Medical Research Centre-Kasturba Health Society: An Integrated Vision and Endeavour
for Biomedical Research
“A whole of science is nothing more than a refinement of every day thinking.”
— Albert Einstein
The
Medical Research Centre of the Kasturba Health Society (MRC-KHS) is the
only centre in the world dedicated to research and education in Reverse
Pharmacology (RP), a fast track and cost effective process for new drug
discovery and development; especially from traditional medicine.
Reverse Pharmacology bridges the gulf between the domains of Ayurvedic
fundamentals/therapeutics (Shastra) and advances of modern bio-medicine
(Science). This centre has set a trend in new drug discovery through RP,
at a time when major research centres attached to leading
drug-industries in India have been closed. Prof. Ashok Vaidya, Research
Director of MRC-KHS, and former Regional Medical Director of Ciba-Geigy
says “Small is beautiful, functional and can be sustainable” and adds
“Research prospers through collaboration.” The collaborative efforts of
MRC-KHS teamhave been evident from the leadership role it has played in
coordinating a major nationwide CSIR-NMITLI project in diabetes and also
participated in osteoarthritis and hepatitis projects.
The
discipline of RP is recognized nationally and has its global echoes.
Ashok Vaidya was invited by NIH to talk on “Reverse Pharmacology and
Fast Tracking of Natural Products” in MR4 workshop on “International
Cooperative Biodiversity Group (ICBG) Program: Screening and Preclinical
Development of Antimalarials”. Dr. Merlin Wilcox was impressed with the
concept of RP. He discovered and developed antimalarial drugs from
medicinal plants including Argemone mexicana as an antimalarial in Mali.
Antimalarial activity and safety of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis was shown
in an experiential study by Karnik, Tathed and MRC team. Para-clinical
studies with extracts and fractions of the plant in vitro, carried out
by Dr. Chhaya Godse, Associate Research and Academic Director-MRC-KHS,
showed anti-parasitic activity in even drug-resistant P. falciparum
strain at Drexel University in collaboration with Prof. Akhil Vaidya,
Director- Centre for Molecular Parasitology. In a further in-depth
exploratory study N. arbor-tristis was shown to be immuno-modulatory and
disease-modifying besides anti-parasitic, as confirmed by DNA-PCR
studies. Dr. Ashok Amonkar, Academic Director MRC-KHS has concentrated
and isolated putative active/s from the plant and the candidate compound
is being identified.
The paradigm-shifting approach
of RP was recognized by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
which awarded “Advanced Centre of Reverse Pharmacology in Traditional
Medicine” to the MRC team. The ICMR project covered the work on N.
arbor-tristis (vide supra), Withania somnifera for sarcopenia (vide
infra) and Curcuma longa to enhance neuro-plasticity. The latter work
was carried out in collaboration with Prof. Vidita Vaidya, Department of
Biological Sciences - Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.
The
discipline of RP has led to interesting hits, leads and candidates for
new drug discoveries. MRC team has done extensive research on Picrorhiza
kurroa as a hepatoprotective. The plant and its phytoactives have a
vast potential for viral hepatitis, non-alchoholic steatohepatitis and
drug-induced hepatic damage. Hiteshi Dhami-Shah, a PhD student, is
pursuing the hepato-protective phytoactives in an in vitro model of
lipid accumulation in hepatocytes. Dr. Shobha Udipi, Director of
Integrative Nutrition and Ayurceuticals at MRC-KHS, is guiding the
project. Mucuna pruriens was shown to be effective and safe in the
management of Parkinson’s disease by the team. It was subsequently taken
up by a leading Ayurvedic company which has marketed it as a
standardized drug.
Dr. Rama Vaidya, Director of the
Division of Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders of MRC-KHS has proposed
Ayurvedic Pharmacoepidemiology (AyPE) and Observational Therapeutics to
strengthen experiential base of RP. Dr. Girish Tillu did his PhD thesis
on AyPE of antiarthritic remedies under the guidance of Prof. Bhushan
Patwardhan, Professor of Health Sciences, University of Pune and Rama
Vaidya. Dr. Nutan Nabar, Asst. Dean MRC-KHS is currently doing her PhD
under the guidance of Ashok Vaidya. Similar AyPE efforts have been
initiated by Dr. Manickum and Dr. Mahendale, Director ICMR Institute of
Epidemiology, in Siddha Medicine in collaboration with MRC.
MRC-KHS
team has been focusing on services and research on musculoskeletal
health and associated diseases of elderly viz., rheumatoid and
osteoarthritis, sarcopenia and post-menopausal osteoporosis. The centre
has organized MAITREYI, a health care module for menopausal women. Dr.
Ashwinikumar Raut, Director Clinical Research, under CSIR-NMITLI project
showed safety and efficacy of Amrutbhallatak in Osteoarthritis. A study
of Withania somnifera was carried out in collaboration with Prof. N.
Rege of Seth GS Medical College. With Dr. Mihir Joshi’s team at Crystal
Laboratory, Saurashtra University, extensive work was carried out on
bio-crystals responsible for urinary stones and arthropathy, by Ashok
Vaidya and Raut. Several plants were studied in an in vitro model of
crystal formation. The work on this project has resulted in three PhD
thesis and several scientific papers in national and international
journals with high impact. The centre is currently coordinating a
clinical study of the effect of Dalbergia sissoo for postmenopausal
osteoporosis. This research compound of CDRI has been taken up for
further development by a company. Dr. Deepak Patkar, Adjunct Professor
and Director of Imaging at MRC-KHS, Dr. Preeti Galvankar, Consultant
Gynecologist-MRCKHS and Dr. Meeta Singh, Director-Tanvi Hospital for
Mother and Child Health, Hyderabad are major partners in this project.
MRC-KHS
has basic and applied Life Science laboratories. Dr. SC Talwalkar and
Mrs. Shubhada Agashe have provided yeoman services for routine and
sophisticated laboratory investigations. The laboratories have core
facilities of auto-analyzers, coulter counter, gamma counter,
spectrophotofluorometer, HPTLC, HPLC, PCR, platelet aggregometer, cell
culture hood etc. MPharm, MSc and PhD students of other colleges and
universities avail of these facilities and expert guidance. The MRC team
has an excellent library resource which is currently housed at Karjat,
courtesy Shree Yatin Pathak. The library collection has rare Ayurvedic
Books and back volumes of major journals like Nature, Science etc.
Currently, there is a program of translating some of the classics of
Ayurveda into English eg., Siddha Yoga Sangraha of JT Acharya.
The
MRC team, for many years, has an active interest in cancer prevention
and regression. Our team with the leadership of late Dr. Sumati Bhide
was the first to show the antimutagenic and chemo-preventive effects of
Curcuma longa. An extensive review on the “Complementary and Alternative
Medicine for Cancer Care in India” was published by our team in an
international monograph. Dr. Jayashree Joshi, Joint Research Director
MRC-KHS, has a long term interest in cervical cancer and vaginal
infections. Several formulations and plant products including C. longa
have been studied in patients. Prajakta Paradkar, a PhD student, is
pursuing the phytoactives of C. longa and Tinospora cordifolia in vitro,
for anticancer and antiangiogenic activity.
A major domain
of interest to MRC is the challenge of life-style diseases. The latter
are often the consequences of obesity, metabolic syndrome, dyslipidemia
and diabetes mellitus. There is a long track record of MRC team in
screening of antidiabetic plants and formulations used in Ayurveda. For
the CSIR NMITLI project six plants were selected. One of the six, has
been developed as a formulation for diabetes and has been taken up
jointly with a leading Industry for global development. Prof. Urmila
Thatte of Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital and Rama Vaidya are
guiding the project. Prof. Pratima Tatke of C U Shah College of
Pharmacy, SNDT University and Prof. Renuka Munshi of Topiwala National
Medical College and BYLNair Charitable Hospital are collaborators.
Our
group has carried out extensive research on obesity, metabolic syndrome
and Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). In addition, unique programs of
MAITREYI for menopausal women and Steps-to-Swasthya module have been
major contributions for life-style management. Dr. Deepak Dave, Medical
Director MRC-KHS has been spear-heading a preventive endeavour to study
the first degree relatives of diabetics so as to lead to early detection
and life-style education. Dr. Akshay Mehta, Consultant Cardiologist,
has been a major support to cardio-metabolic services and research. It
is desirable to engage students and teachers very early. A program named
School Health Education and Enlightened Living (SHEEL) was initiated by
our team led by Rama Vaidya. Later several components of SHEEL were
adopted by the Government of Maharashtra.
Besides obesity,
another major problem is musculoskeletal development vis-à-vis
life-style and aging. Dr. Mona Shah, Director Physiotherapy and
Rehabilitation, MRC-KHS has organized services for the sector:
prevention of falls and fractures in the aged, “ANSHU” program for
physically or mentally challenged children and for patients with back
ache. Dr. Tushar Jimulia, Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon, has been a
dynamic collaborator at MRC-KHS.
The centre is a component of
Kasturba Health Society, Sevagram. The sapling was planted by Gandhiji,
with a ten bed facility. The banyan tree has grown to a thousand bed
Kasturba Hospital and the outstanding rural Mahatma Gandhi Institute of
Medical Sciences, nurtured by Dr. Sushila Nayar and Shree Dhiru Mehta
for decades. The values of non-violence, compassion and ethics in
scientific research are guiding all the Institutes of KHS. Bombay
Gorakshak Trust has supported a project to replace Fetal Bovine Serum
(FBS) with cow milk whey and other biological fluids. The collection of
FBS involves a violent method of death of many cows and new born calves.
Promising results for replacement of FBS are being followed up for its
translational rationale.
The centre has also provided a venue,
facilities, inputs and strong editorial support of several journals eg.,
The Indian Practitioner, Journal of Midlife Health, Journal of Obesity
and Metabolic Research, Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine and
Indian Drugs.
The inputs by the MRC faculty to the national
planning for health, research councils of the Government of India,
Industrial R&D and professional societies are sizeable. Several new
initiatives have been taken like Vaidya- Scientist Fellowship Program,
Ayurgenomics, Systems Ayurveda, Phytopharmaceuticals, Gavya-Chikitsa and
Ayurceuticals. The faculty has published several books, monographs,
reviews and research papers in their fields of expertise besides
medicinal plants, Ayurvedic Pharmacology, Observational Therapeutics,
Ayurvedic Pharmaco-epidemiology, and Reverse Pharmacology.
The
MRC team has been organizing Prof. PK Devi Orations for more than two
decades. The first oration by Prof. Sune Bergstrom, Nobel Laureate set
the pace for excellence by an advocacy for girl child education and
impact on health. Vaidya DS Antarkar Memorial Forum was established and
the volume commemorating his life and works was published.
The
centre is fortunate in having an efficient Hon. Chief Finance Officer –
Sri Manojbhai Rajguru and amiable Administrative Officer – Mr. Pravas
Master. Sachin has been strength of the centre as a supportive assistant
with multiple functions.
The centre is fortunate in having
outstanding adjunct and visiting faculty: Prof. Akhil Vaidya (Molecular
Parasitology), Prof. DBA Narayan (Phytopharmaceuticals), Dr. Jayesh
Sheth (Human Genetics), Dr. Vishnu Acharya (Cancer Surgeon), Prof.
Vidita Vaidya (Neurosciences), Dr. VS Ajagaonkar (Dibetologist), Dr.
Deepak Patkar (Imaging Sciences & Radiology), Dr. Preeti Galvankar
(Gynecologist), Dr. Namyata Pathak (Vaidya- Scientist), Dr. Kalpana
Shah-Dhuri (Panchkarma Specialist).