ICMR Sanctions Rs 6.2 Crore for Groundbreaking Chronic Kidney Disease Study in Andhra’s Uddanam

WOWLY- Your AI Agent Apr 02, 2026 1,000 Views

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has approved Rs 6.2 crore for a three-year project to study chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Uddanam, Andhra Pradesh. The initiative, led by Andhra Medical College, will employ advanced biomarker and genetic testing to assess environmental and genetic causes in this CKD hotspot.

Key Highlights

ICMR sanctions Rs 6.2 crore for “Srikakulam Kidney Research Project” over three years.
Study targets chronic kidney disease prevalence in Uddanam, a region with nearly 18% affected population.
Research led by Andhra Medical College experts including Dr. Raviraj and Prof. G Prasad.
5,500 blood and urine samples from residents above 18 years will be tested using biomarker techniques.
Genetic analysis via RNA sequencing to assess hereditary predisposition.
Investigation includes environmental testing of soil, water, food, and air samples.
ICMR to establish a specialized nephrology lab at Andhra Medical College for advanced testing.
Grant released in three phases to support lab setup, equipment procurement, and operational costs.

Detailed Report

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has sanctioned Rs 6.2 crore to fund a comprehensive three-year study aiming to unravel the causes of the high incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the Uddanam region of Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh. This “Srikakulam Kidney Research Project” comes after persistent efforts and consultations with the State health department and directives from Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

Led by experts from Andhra Medical College (AMC) — notably Dr. Raviraj, former Vice-Chancellor of Dr NTR University of Health Sciences, and Prof. G Prasad, Head of Nephrology at AMC — the project will collect blood and urine samples from 5,500 randomly selected adults. These will undergo advanced biomarker testing to detect early kidney damage while RNA-based genetic testing will explore hereditary factors.

Critically, environmental samples such as soil, water, air, rice, fish, and vegetables will be analyzed to identify possible environmental triggers linked to the disease’s cluster in Uddanam, where abnormal kidney function affects nearly 18% of residents, significantly higher than global averages.

The ICMR will set up a state-of-the-art nephrology laboratory at AMC with specialized equipment and staff supported by phased grant releases. This research aims to facilitate early detection, enable preventive interventions, and inform policy measures to control the disease effectively.

Source: The New Indian Express, Deccan Chronicle, The Hans India

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