India opens high-altitude military research centre in Kyrghyzstan

lambu

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India on Tuesday opened a mountain biomedical research centre in Kyrghyzstan to help better the lives of both military personnel and civilians, making it the first such joint project New Delhi has had with any country.

The centre, which has been built in Kyrghyz capital Bishkek, was jointly inaugurated by Kyrghyzstan President Roza Otumbaeva and Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony on the second day of the latter's three-day visit to the Central Asian nation.

"The Kyrghyz-Indian Mountain Biomedical Research Centre (KIMBMRC) will carry out research on the mechanism of short-term and long-term high altitude adaptation," a defence ministry release here said.

"It will also mobilise and synchronise the expertise of the two countries in the area of high altitude research," it added.

Scientists from the two countries will focus on molecular biology approaches to identify markers for screening of people for high altitude resistance and susceptibility to high altitude sickness and development of mountain maladies.

"The benefits of these studies will apply to a large population across the globe, as more and more people travel to the mountains every year. India's contribution to the project is Rs.6 crore," the release said.

The centre has a field station at Tuya Ashu, located at a height of 3,200 metre. Akpay Sarybaev, a leading cardiologist and expert in mountain medicine, has been nominated as the centre's director.

The proposal for joint collaboration in the area of mountain medicine and to establish the centre was mooted during talks between then Kyrghyz President A. Akaev and then Indian president A.P.J Abdul Kalam in November 2003.

"The realisation of that shared vision has finally culminated in the establishment of this centre. The joint endeavour of our scientists will provide a platform to utilise the expertise of both the institutes in a holistic manner to evaluate, as well as improve the performance and enhance the process of acclimatisation at high altitudes using psychological, biochemical and molecular research tools," Antony said at the event.

President Otunbaeva, in her address, thanked the Indian government for taking the initiative for setting up this world class institute in Bishkek.

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India opens high-altitude military research centre in Kyrghyzstan - The Economic Times
 

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