Bhubaneswar, Oct 17: The Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) of AIIMS Bhubaneswar has been conferred with the prestigious Silver Award by the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in recognition of its outstanding contributions in diagnostic services, research, and quality in viral diagnostics.

The award was presented during a special VRDL Conclave organized by the Department of Health Research (DHR) at Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi, to honour high-performing laboratories and assess the progress of the national VRDL network.

Dr. Baijayantimala Mishra, Head of the Department of Microbiology, and Dr. Bhagirathi Dwibedi, Associate Dean Research and Professor of Paediatrics, received the award on behalf of the institute. The felicitation was done by Anupriya Patel, Minister of State, Health & Family Welfare, and Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, DHR & Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), in the presence of several dignitaries and health officials.

Congratulating the VRDL team, Dr. Ashutosh Biswas, Executive Director & CEO of AIIMS Bhubaneswar, expressed pride in their achievement and assured continued institutional support for future advancements in patient care, diagnostics, and research.

The VRDL at AIIMS Bhubaneswar has provided free diagnostic services to more than 20,000 patients, covering over 50 types of viral infections. The centre has played a pivotal role in offering timely diagnostic support for both patient care and public health management during outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics.

Notable infections handled by the laboratory include COVID-19, Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease, Measles, Herpes Simplex Virus, Japanese Encephalitis, and other respiratory viruses. The lab is accredited by NABL and boasts several high-impact publications in reputed international journals.

In addition to diagnostics, the VRDL serves as a training hub for doctors, laboratory personnel, and biomedical science students, strengthening viral disease management and diagnostic capacity in the region.

The VRDL network, established by the Department of Health Research (DHR), MoHFW, comprises 165 laboratories across India, functioning at regional, state, and medical college levels, forming a crucial backbone of the country's viral disease surveillance and response system.