Hyderabad November 2, 2025: Dr Bhupesh Bagga, Consultant Ophthalmologist - Cornea & Anterior Segment at L V Prasad Eye Institute was elected as president of the Ocular Microbiology and Immunology Group,(eyeomig.org/Facebook) an international non-profit organization of physicians and scientists who focus on the study of 'bugs and drugs' in the eye.
The group was established in 1990 and is based in Pittsburgh, USA. The group's core mission is to present new information on ocular infections, the immune system's response to them, and related treatments. Participation in their annual meeting where they discuss topics like infectious agents, immunity, inflammation, and new data and statistical analysis is much sought after by scientists and clinicians worldwide.
Dr Bhupesh spearheaded the Bug Busters 5 Conference organized by LVPEI between Oct 31 – Nov 2, 2025. The conference saw in-person and virtual participation of both national and international speakers. Around 120 delegates from across India participated in the three-day conference. Papers and sessions were presented on various aspects of ocular immunology, microbiology, and pharmacology.
Corneal infections pose significant challenges to eye health, and finding effective solutions requires a multidisciplinary approach. Bug Busters was conceived by LVPEI to explore the latest advancements in corneal infection research and enable multidisciplinary collaboration among ophthalmologists, microbiologists, immunologists, and other professionals working in the domain. It brings together leading experts, researchers, and clinicians from around the world to exchange knowledge, present groundbreaking findings, and discuss cutting-edge strategies in the field of corneal infections.
Bug Busters 5 enabled engaging discussions, interactive sessions, and thought-provoking presentations that delved into the complex nature of corneal infections and explored innovative approaches to diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
As part of Bug Busters 5, a 'Race Against Resistance – AMR Awareness 4K Challenge' was organized on November 2, starting at L V Prasad Eye Institute, Kallam Anji Reddy Campus, Banjara Hills. The run was organized as a precursor to the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW), a global campaign held annually from November 18–24 to raise awareness about antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and promote best practices to combat it.
Organized in collaboration with Superheroes Against Superbugs initiative, the run included a fun element where runners solved puzzles related to antimicrobial resistance. About 200 enthusiastic clinicians, scientists and the public participated in the run to create awareness on the harmful effects of the misuse and overuse of antibiotics.
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is one of the fastest-growing health threats of our time — and most people don’t even know they could be contributing to it! Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been prioritized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity.
The latest AMR report by the World Health Organization (WHO) quotes experts describe findings, 'as deeply concerning and predict 70% increase in related deaths by 2050.' It also states, 'more than 40% of antibiotics losing potency against common blood, gut, urinary tract and sexually transmitted infections between 2018 and 2023.'
India ranks among the top countries globally for age-standardized mortality due to AMR. In 2019, India had approximately 297,000 deaths directly attributable to AMR and over 1,042,500 deaths associated with AMR as a contributing factor. About 66-67% of reported AMR cases were from the productive age group of 15 to 64 years. The high rates of infectious diseases make antibiotic use—and misuse especially important to create awareness about.
About L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI): Established in 1987, with the vision, 'to create excellent and equitable eye care systems that reach all those in need,' the L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), a comprehensive eye health facility, is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Prevention of Blindness.
In pursuance of this vision, LVPEI clinicians and scientists work at the cutting edge of eye research. Through its five-tier ‘‘Eye Health Pyramid’ model, it has till date offered over 36.89 million services (3 crores 68 lakh services), with more than 50% entirely free of cost, irrespective of the complexity of care needed. LVPEI is the world leader in corneal transplants with 50 K completed as of August 2024. For further information, visit the Institute’s website, www.lvpei.org.