The Hyderabad campus (Kallam Anji Reddy Campus) of L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) in Hyderabad is now equipped with a state-of-the-art Ophthalmic Research Biorepository. LVPEI is the first institute in the country to have this facility. The facility has been set up with the generous support received from Prof Krothapalli Ravindranath, retired Dean, SV University, Tirupati. Prof Ravindranath is a long-term well-wisher and supporter of LVPEI.
Biorepositories are collections of human tissue for future research on disease mechanisms, therapeutics and diagnostics. The Prof Krothapalli Ravindranath Ophthalmic Research Biorepository has been set up in the operational complex of the Institute that is on par with international standards. The facility is well equipped with infrastructure required for cryopreservation (storage of ophthalmic tissues) as in -80, -20 and 4 degrees freezers, liquid nitrogen for snap freezing and specially trained technical staff for handling the samples.
‘We are immensely grateful to Prof Krothapalli Ravindranath for his generous contribution and his keen interest in supporting ophthalmology research at LVPEI. The study of these preserved tissues will help in developing innovative and breakthrough therapies for treating blinding diseases. It will majorly help in (a) preservation and sanctity of invaluable patient samples, (b) developing a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of both common and rare diseases, and (c) coming up with new insights for managing rare eye diseases,’ said Dr Sayan Basu, Network Director, Prof Brien Holden Eye Research Centre (BHERC), L V Prasad Eye Institute. The facility was inaugurated in the presence of Prof Krothapalli Ravindranath, Retired Dean, S V Veterinary University, Tirupati; Prof Geeta K Vemuganti, Dean, School of Medical Sciences, University of Hyderabad; and Dr Sudha S Murthy, Director - Clinical Support, Datar Cancer Genetics.
Research has always been an integral part of the L V Prasad Eye Institute. The Prof Brien Holden Eye Research Centre (BHERC) at LVPEI has earned international recognition as a Centre of Excellence in ocular research. A strong team of clinicians and scientists work on various aspects in ophthalmology and visual sciences, unravelling new insights that can lead to early diagnosis and better management of vision-threatening conditions. LVPEI, to date, has published over 4000 publications in various high-impact peer-reviewed international Journals. LVPEI scientists have featured in the world ranking of Top 2% Scientists and Top Eye Researchers from India in 2020 in a study done by Stanford University.
About LVPEI: Established in 1987, L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Prevention of Blindness, is a comprehensive eye health facility. The Institute has ten functional arms to its areas of operations: Clinical Services, Education, Research, Vision Rehabilitation, Rural and Community Eye Health, Eye Banking, Advocacy and Policy Planning, Capacity Building, Innovation and Product Development. The LVPEI Eye Care Network has 236 Centres spread across the states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Karnataka in India. The institute's mission is to provide equitable and quality eye care to all sections of society. The LVPEI’s five-tier ‘Eye Health Pyramid’ model covering all sections of society right from the villages to the city, provides high quality and comprehensive - prevention, curative and rehabilitation – eye care to all. It has served over 32.11 million (3 crore 21 lakh people), with more than 50% of them entirely free of cost, irrespective of the complexity of care needed.