KOLKATA: The Indian Institute of Liver and Digestive Science (IILDS) is all set to start research activities on a big scale. One of the only two liver and digestive diseases care institutes in the country, the facility in Sonarpur has now got a $5 million boost. If all goes well, IILDS will get into full-time research projects from 2020.“This institute has a bright future. In addition to patient care, it needs to expand into research and training. I am happy to support such initiatives,” said John C Martin, founder of JCM Foundation, USA.Martin — who has a number of achievements to his name, including contribution to the development of an antiviral drug for HIV/AIDS treatment — has committed to pump in funds for the research unit. Named John C Martin Centre for Liver Research and Innovations, the foundation for the unit was laid on Sunday.“I see three possibilities here — training, research and translation of the results into patient care and preventive strategies,” said Dr Arun J Sanyal, chairman, division of gastroenterology and hepatology at Virginia Commonwelth University.“We did not want to restrict service to only patient care, but expand to research activities as well. Now, we shall look at elements like cell and immune therapies,” said Dr Abhijit Chowdhury, member secretary IILDS.A brainchild of Liver Foundation, West Bengal (LFWB), IILDS started as a small clinic on the southern fringes of the city. Now it has transformed into a 100-bed hospital. “We shall now also have emergency services and a blood bank,” said MN Roy, chairman, IILDS.A bio-bank that will preserve samples of blood and tissue was inaugurated on Friday. Dr Shiv Kumar Sarin, founder Institute of liver & Biliary Sceinces New Delhi pledged to support the institute in training manpower. “IILDS is the second of its kind in the country. The institute should also start liver transplant services. But I suggest that connectivity with the city be improved. May be a petition can be signed so that the approach road can be improved,” said Sarin.Liver Foundation project director Parthasarathi Mukherjee said around 80,000 OPD patients and 3,000 indoor patients have been treated at the centre so far.

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