Research

 

The Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Disease at AIIMS Rajkot leads a broad spectrum of clinical, laboratory, translational, and public health research projects. These projects are strategically distributed across institutionally supported intramural work, government-funded extramural programs, and a dedicated VRDL-led virology surveillance arm, aligning with national priorities in infectious disease control, diagnostics, and One Health.

 

I. Intramural Research Projects

 

These projects are investigator-initiated and institutionally supported, reflecting our focus on clinical relevance, translational potential, and student mentorship.

  1. Anti-CCP Titres and Disease Severity in Rheumatoid Arthritis
  2. Evaluation of Anti-HBs Antibody Titers in Vaccinated Healthcare Workers at AIIMS Rajkot
  3. Clinical and Molecular Correlates of Metronidazole Resistance in Trichomonas vaginalis
  4. Clinico-Mycological Trends in Vulvovaginal Candidiasis in Gynecology OPD
  5. RCT on Disinfection Effectiveness of Two Irrigation Needle Types in Pediatric Endodontics
  6. CHW-Driven HPV Self-Sampling Cervical Cancer Screening: Acceptability & Implementation Challenges

 

II. Extramural Research Projects

 

These projects are supported by major national agencies including ICMR, DHR, and NOHP-PCZ, and are geared toward system strengthening, disease surveillance, and community-level health improvement.

  1. Nationwide Network of Epidemic Preparedness Laboratories – Under PM-ABHIM
  2. Upgradation of VRDL to BSL-3 Facility – Flagship infrastructure mission under PM-ABHIM
  3. Establishment of Regional Coordinator – One Health Programme (NOHP-PCZ)
  4. Anemia in Pregnant Women and Adolescent Girls: Biochemical and Dietary Determinants
  5. Engaging Youth in Hypertension Prevention: A Community Mobilization Model
  6. Sero-Prevalence of HBV and HCV in Pregnant Women and Adolescent Girls in Gujarat

 

III. VRDL-Funded Research Projects (ICMR)

 

Under the guidance of ICMR, our Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory is executing a range of high-priority projects in molecular surveillance, virus evolution, diagnostic innovation, and vaccine response mapping.

  1. Molecular Surveillance of Respiratory Viruses in Pediatric Patients
  2. Asymptomatic Hepatitis B Carriers: Epidemiological & Molecular Characterization
  3. Influenza Molecular Surveillance & Seasonality-Based Vaccine Strategy
  4. Chikungunya Virus: Serological and Genomic Monitoring in Rajkot
  5. Post-COVID Impact on Influenza Strain Evolution via GISAID Data
  6. Rise of Mumps in Vaccinated Children: A Hospital-Based Study
  7. Dengue Serotyping and Molecular Epidemiology Linked to Climate Variability
  8. Zika Virus Surveillance in Pregnant Women and Clinical Outcomes
  9. Development of a Multiplex RT-PCR Kit for Respiratory Viral Panels

 

Research with Real-World Impact

  • Strengthening diagnostic services across Gujarat
  • Informing local and national vaccination policies
  • Addressing AMR and diagnostic stewardship
  • Building genomic surveillance capacity for pandemic preparedness
  • Innovating point-of-care molecular diagnostics for India

 

Publications :

 

  1. Padhi, A., Gupta, E., Agarwal, A., Kumar, S., Saxena, S.K. (2025). Laboratory Diagnosis of Japanese Encephalitis. In: Saxena, S.K. (eds) Japanese Encephalitis. Medical Virology: From Pathogenesis to Disease Control. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-5433-5_9
  2. Padhi, A., Bhise, M., Chaudhary, A., Vyas, R., Talwar, V., Agarwal, A., & Katoch, C. (2025). Establishing robust infection control at a new hospital: the AIIMS Rajkot experience. International Journal of Infection Control, 21. https://doi.org/10.3396/ijic.v21.23790
  3. Bhatt, P., Padhi, A., Agarwal, A. et al. Global environmental and socioeconomic drivers influencing contemporary viral disease emergence and transmission. Discov. Viruses 1, 4 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44370-024-00004-7
  4. Padhi, A., Agarwal, A., Mishra, P. et al. Re-emerging Chandipura vesiculovirus: A cause of concern for global health. VirusDis. 35, 385–399 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13337-024-00896-5
  5. To handle zoonoses better, Indigenous people must be included in policy making

A Padhi, A Agarwal - Nature India, 2024

  1. The impact of climate change on viral transmission: Viral persistence and reactivation, P Bhatt, A Padhi, A Agarwal, CDS Katoch, Journal of Medical Virology 96 (7), e29813
  2. Progress and Challenges in Achieving Tuberculosis Elimination in India by 2025: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (Accepted for publication in Plos One
  3. Agarwal A, Padhi A, Chaudhary A, Bhise M, Chauhan K, Sharma M, Krishan RR, Dubey P. Case series on Trichomonas vaginalis infections: impact of proper sample collection and diagnostic stewardship. Access Microbiol. 2024 Jan 31;6(1):000698.v4. doi: 10.1099/acmi.0.000698.v4. PMID: 38361657; PMCID: PMC10866041.
  4. Padhi, A., Agarwal, A., Saxena, S.K. et al. Transforming clinical virology with AI, machine learning and deep learning: a comprehensive review and outlook. VirusDis. 34, 345–355 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13337-023-00841-y
  5. Agarwal, Ashwini; Padhi, Abhishek; Vala, Jaydevsinh; Katoch, C. D. S.. Large Language Models in Academia: Ethical Considerations and Future Prospects. NMO Journal 17(2):p 105-106, July–Dec 2023. | DOI: 10.4103/JNMO.JNMO_16_23
  6. Dr Mayuri Bhise, Dr Padma Das, Dr. Nitesh Nayak, Dr Rupa Mehta. Polymicrobial cerebellar abscess due to Streptococcus constellates and Spingobacterium multivorum: A case report European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine Volume 13 Issue 1 2023 Print ISSN: 2042-4884 | E-ISSN: 2042-4892
  7. Thosani P, Agarwal A, Karade S, Sen S, Katoch CDS, Jindamwar P, et al. Assessment of resistance to second line anti-tubercular drugs by line probe assay at a tertiary care hospital. Med J DY Patil Vidyapeeth 2023;16:505‑9.
  8. Singhal S, Deokar, K, Bhatia G, Agarwal A, Katoch, CDS. Lessons learned on my journey in an upcoming institute. Cancer Research, Statistics, and Treatment: 2022, 5 (3): 403-404. doi: 10.4103/crst.crst_228_22.
  9. Kaur N,  Tak V, Nag VL, Agarwal A, Bhatia PK, et al. Comparative evaluation of colistin susceptibility testing by Disk Diffusion and Broth Microdilution methods: An experience from a tertiary care hospital. Infect Disord Drug Targets 2022, doi: 10.2174/ 1871526523666221025121801. Online ahead of print
  10. Twishi S, Anjuna R, Alisha A, Sukanya M, Vidhi J, Kumar AS, Amit G, Ankita C, Satyendra K, Deepak K, Srikanth S, Pankaj B, Ashwini A, Sanjeev M. Isolate profiling and geographical distribution of COVID-19 associated mucormycosis cases presenting to a tertiary care hospital in Jodhpur, India. Indian J Med Microbiol. 2023 Jul 19;46:100424. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmmb.2023.100424. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37638772.
  11. Nare T, Gadepalli R, Sharma A, Agarwal A, Jain V, Bhardwaj A, Budania A. P071 Isolate profiling and antifungal susceptibility determination for terbinafine and itraconazole among dermatophytes in a tertiary care hospital of western Rajasthan. Medical Mycology 2022 Sep; 60(Supplement_1):myac072P071. Medical Mycology, Volume 60, Issue Supplement_1, September 2022, myac072P071, https://doi.org/10.1093/mmy/myac072.P071
  12. Jain V, Agarwal A. Shrimali T, et al. Hit or miss: The Dilemma of Specimen Selection for Microbiological Diagnosis of Rhino-Orbital-Cerebral- COVID-Associated Mucormycosis (ROCM-CAM). Infect Disord Drug Targets. 2022 Aug 16. doi: 10.2174/ 1871526522666220816110905. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35975857..
  13. Sharma, Neha1,; Desai, Heena R.2; Chaudhary, Anil3; Shrivastava, Ajit K.1; Hasan, Anjum A.4. Resurgence of diphtheria in Northern Gujarat: A retrospective study done in Banas Medical College and Research Centre, Palanpur, Gujarat. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care 11(11):p 7163-7167, November 2022. | DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_960_22