National Jalma Institute of Leprosy & Other Mycobacterial Diseases, Agra

This Unit has been engaged on studies improving the therapy of leprosy using different drug combinations and immunotherapy and has now taken up studies on epidemiology of leprosy (ICMR Taskforce) in Ghatampur area of Kanpur. In addition, the unit is investigating the effect of Mw. on leprosy and tuberculosis and also the profile of leprosy in females.

This unit has a core strength of 4 core scientists, research fellow and several project and para medical staff.

Core scientists :

Dr.Kiran Katoch, Director (Scientist G) and Head of Medical Unit I is an M.D. from S.M.S.Medical College, Jaipur, a talent research scholar of ICMR, has more than 30 years of experience in working in leprosy and mycobacterial diseases, has published 132 research papers on various clinical (CVS and CNS involvement) and designing & evaluation of different therapeutic regimens against leprosy. She is a recipient of Dr.C.G.S.Iyer Oration Award, JALMA Trust Fund Oration Award and Best Poster presentation prize of IAL. Her current interests are epidemiology of leprosy, new therapeutic regimens against leprosy and tuberculosis and clinical aspects.
Dr.Mohan Natarajan, Deputy Director is a post graduate in Dermatology from Hyderabad and has submitted his Ph.D. thesis to Agra University on this subject. He has years of experience of working in leprosy and molecular histopathology and has contributed 30 papers. He is a recipient of Dr.S.C.Mohanty award of IADVL. He is currently engaged in studies pertaining to the development of direct in-situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry and in-situ PCR methods for improving the histodiagnosis of early leprosy and is also participating in other studies being undertaken by the Unit.
Dr.Raj Kamal, Research Officer is a M.D. from S.N.Medical College, Agra. He joined the Institue about 3 years back and is currently engaged on studies pertaining to immunotherapy of borderline leprosy and is also participating in other studies being undertaken by the Unit.
Dr.Mamta Arora, Research Officer is a Post Graduate Diploma in obstetric and Gynecology. She joined the Institute about 3 years back and is currently engaged in studies pertaining to profiles of leprosy in women.