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Helen Keller Research Centre (HKRC) for the upliftment of visually challenged students of Loyola college was inaugurated on 3rd December 2006, by renowned Ophthalmologist, Dr. Anil Kumar Mandal MD, DNB (Director and Consultant Glaucoma Services) L.V. Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), Hyderabad, India (World Health Organization {WHO} collaborating centre for the prevention of blindness). During his inaugural address he stressed the need of molecular genetic study in combating blindness. He also delivered the first HKRC popular lecture on “Clinical and Genetic aspects of Blindness in India” on 3 rd December 2006. Dr. Shirly George Panicker, Coordinator of HKRC gave the introductory note and introduced the speaker. Dr. Mandal also gave the video clipping of surgeries done in restoring vision in childhood blindness, especially Primary Congenital Glaucoma (PCG) and also interacted with the audience. HKRC was blessed by Rev. Dr. Boniface Jayaraj, S.J. (former Rector and Principal), Rev. Dr. A. Albert Muthumalai, S.J. (former Principal), Rev. Dr. Samuel Savio (Prof. Theology) and welcome address was done by Dr. Agastian .P. Theodre (former HOD, department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology)
The first Principal and Chairman of HKRC is Rev. Dr. A. Albert Muthumalai, S.J. and the Co-ordinator is Dr. Shirly George Panicker.
At Loyola College, each year several visually challenged students are joining for various graduate programmes. Presently, fifty five such students are there. It has been shown that many blinding disorders are due to various genetic reasons. The aim of HKRC is to do clinical and molecular genetic investigations of these afflicted students and their families. The activities of HKRC would enable the diagnosis of the disorder, treatment, counselling and also in the prevention of some of the blinding disorders. In order to create general awareness of these blinding disorders, every year, popular lectures on relevant topics are being conducted for their benefit.
On 2nd December 2007, HKRC had organized the second popular lecture on "Restoration of Sight to the Visually Challenged by Novel Stem Cell Therapy". This very useful lecture was delivered by Dr. Geeta. K . Vemuganthi DCP, MD (Path), DNB an eminent Ophthalmic Pathologist and Head of Stem Cell Laboratory, LVPEI, Hyderabad, India. The talk was followed by the video demonstration of stem cell therapy in restoring vision and interactive session with the vusually challenged students as well as the public. Rev. Dr. S. Peter Xavier S.J (Former Secretary) and Rev. Dr. A. Albert Muthumalai S.J (former Principal) felicitated the gathering
The Institute Ethics Committee (IEC) of HKRC was constituted in 2008 to carry out the research activities and Rev. Dr. A. Albert Muthumalai, S.J. was the patron. IEC has approved the project entitled "Clinical and Molecular Genetic Investigations of Visually Challenged Students of Loyola College, Chennai". The Principal Investigator (PI) of the project is Dr. Shirly George Panicker and the Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) is Dr. B. Sridhar Rao, MBBS, MS (Ophthal), Ophthalmologist of the Jesuits. Eight IEC members attended the first meeting. We are in the process of seeking grants from various funding agencies.
The third HKRC popular lecture was on "Glaucoma for Laymen and Treatment Options” and was delivered on 11 th December 2008 by a distinguished Ophthalmologist Dr. B. Sridhar Rao, MBBS, MS (Ophthal {collaborating physician & Co-PI of HKRC}), consultant at Kumaran Hospital (P) Ltd. and Su-darshan eye clinic, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. There was a video demonstration of various aspects of Glaucoma in Tamil, for the benefit of HKRC students and the Ophthalmologist interacted with the audience. Rev. Dr. S. Peter Xavier S.J (Former Secretary) and Rev.Dr. A. Albert Muthumalai S.J (Former Principal) felicitated the gathering.
The fourth HKRC popular lecture was on "Cataract for Laymen and Treatment Options” and was on 6 th February 2011. This lecture was also delivered by the distinguished Ophthalmologist Dr. B. Sridhar Rao, MBBS, MS (Ophthal {collaborating physician & Co-PI of HKRC}), consultant at Kumaran Hospital (P) Ltd. and Su-darshan eye clinic, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. The illuminating and enlightening talk was followed by video presentation of Intra Ocular Lens (IOL) implantation surgery (Phacoemulsification) . Then the Ophthalmologist interacted with the visually challenged students as well as the audience to clarify their queries. Rev. Dr. Boniface Jeyaraj S.J felicitated the gathering. Rev. Fr. K. Amal S.J (Rector) and Rev. Dr. C. Joe Arun S.J (secretary) sent their blessings. Deputy Principal Rev. Dr. Arokiasamy S.J, Dean of Academics Dr. Dhanaraj, IEC Members Mr. R. Sarto (CEO, Gaurdian enterprises, Chennai) and Advocate Mr. Venkatachalam along with visually challenged students, RCDA (Resource Centre for Differently Abled) members, other invited guests and students of Loyola college attended this very useful lecture. According to our knowledge, HKRC is the fist of its kind in a Jesuit higher educational Institution in the world. As per the study conducted by HKRC 70% of the visually challenged students in Loyola college are from consanguineous marriages and quite a few families are having multiple affected children and family members. HKRC is a centre of excellence of Loyola College, Chennai.
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