The aim is to create a network of Rheumatology centres and research institutes across India with the mandate of establishing uniform research standards in compliance with best practices to ensure faster, cost-effective drug development in Rheumatology. Under BIRAC NBM grant, GCP compliant network is being established by utilising trained manpower, procurement of equipment’s, establishment of common software for Rheumatology database. Medanta Institute of Education and Research is leading the network with 5 other collaborators (3 private sites- Centre for Arthritis & Rheumatism Excellence, Kerala, St Johns National Academy of Health Sciences Bangalore & Kusum Dhirajlal Hospital Ahmedabad, Gujarat and 2 public hospitals- Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh & Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram, Maharashtra).
The aim is to develop harmonised research processes in compliance with GCP for faster and cost effective conduct of clinical trials. Electronic database for registry of various Rheumatology diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Spondyloarthritis, Myositis, Sjogren’s syndrome, Systemic lupus erythematosus, Systemic scleriosis, ANCA associated vasculitis, Aortoarteritis is being created on a common IT platform to support GCP compliant clinical trials in Rheumatology. Common protocol for establishing database has been established among all centres and approved by Institutional Ethics Committee.