ICMR-NIIH treading towards advanced diagnosis of rare immune disorders across India, abroad

ANI June 22, 2025 263 views

The ICMR-NIIH Centre of Excellence is transforming rare immune disorder diagnosis with advanced tools like flow cytometry and genetic testing. It supports over 150 hospitals in India and extends expertise globally, including the UAE and the US. The centre also provides prenatal diagnostics, helping families make informed reproductive choices. Additionally, it trains healthcare professionals and fosters research in pediatric immunology.

"Beyond India, our services have helped patients from countries like the UAE." – Dr. Manisha Madkaikar
New Delhi, June 22: The Centre of Excellence for Inborn Errors of Immunity (IEIs) at the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Immunohaematology (ICMR-NIIH) is emerging as a critical national and international hub for the diagnosis and management of rare immune disorders.

Key Points

1

ICMR-NIIH supports 150+ hospitals in India and abroad

2

Offers prenatal diagnostics for at-risk families

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Uses flow cytometry and genetic testing for precision

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Trains healthcare professionals in pediatric immunology

The centre currently supports around 150 hospitals in India and extends its expertise to countries including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, the UAE, and the United States.

In an exclusive interview with ANI, Dr Manisha Madkaikar, Director of ICMR-NIIH and ICMR-CRMCH, highlighted the global reach of the centre's expertise.

"Beyond India, our services have helped patients from countries like the UAE. We actively collaborate with global institutions, including leading centres in the USA, for access to specialised functional assays that aid in confirming genetic diagnoses," she said.

Dr Madkaikar noted that the Department of Pediatric Immunology at ICMR-NIIH has developed a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to diagnosing IEIs.

"Our Centre of Excellence offers comprehensive diagnostic services and is at the forefront of both research and clinical testing for children suspected to have immune deficiencies," she added.

Elaborating on the advanced diagnostic capabilities, Dr Madkaikar explained that the centre employs cutting-edge tools such as flow cytometry-based assays and advanced genetic testing. These technologies accurately identify a wide spectrum of immune system disorders, ensuring timely diagnosis and intervention.

Importantly, the centre also offers prenatal diagnostic services for at-risk families, empowering them to make informed reproductive decisions and pursue early interventions when needed.

As a national referral hub, the centre supports over 50 medical colleges across India by offering specialised diagnostic tests and expert consultations to clinicians handling complex pediatric immunology cases.

Dr Madkaikar emphasised that the centre also plays a vital role in training healthcare professionals and fostering research in the domain.

The ICMR-NIIH Centre of Excellence for IEIs continues to stand as a symbol of hope and innovation, bridging global collaborations and strengthening India's healthcare response to rare immune disorders.

Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
This is such a proud moment for Indian healthcare! 🇮🇳 Our scientists are not just serving Indian patients but also helping neighboring countries like Nepal and Bangladesh. Hope this leads to more medical tourism and recognition of India's advanced healthcare capabilities.
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Priya M.
While this is impressive, I wonder how accessible these services are for common people in smaller towns. The article mentions 150 hospitals, but India has thousands. Hope the government focuses on expanding reach beyond metros.
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Amit S.
Great to see India leading in specialized medical research! The prenatal diagnostic services mentioned could be life-changing for many families. More awareness needed about these facilities though - many doctors in tier 2 cities might not even know about them.
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Shalini V.
The collaboration with US institutions shows how far we've come! But let's not forget to make these treatments affordable. Cutting-edge tech is good, but only if it reaches the aam aadmi. Maybe Ayushman Bharat should cover these tests?
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Vikram J.
Helping SAARC nations like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh shows our commitment to regional healthcare development. This is the kind of soft power India should focus on - sharing knowledge and improving lives across borders 👏
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Neha P.
As someone whose cousin struggled with an undiagnosed immune disorder for years, this gives me hope. But the article doesn't mention costs - are these tests subsidized? Many families go bankrupt trying to diagnose rare diseases.

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ICMR-NIIH rare immune disorders Dr. Manisha Madkaikar pediatric immunology IEIs diagnosis