LV Prasad Eye Institute gets state-of-art Ophthalmic Research Biorepository

A state-of-the-art Ophthalmic Research Biorepository was inaugurated at the Kallam Anji Reddy Campus of LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) on Monday. LVPEI is the first institute in the country to have this facility.

The facility has been set up with support from Prof. Krothapalli Ravindranath, retired dean, SV University, Tirupati.

Biorepositories are collections of human tissue for future research on disease mechanisms, therapeutics, and diagnostics. The Prof. Krothapalli Ravindranath Ophthalmic Research Biorepository has been set up in the operational complex of the institute that is at par with international standards. The facility is well equipped with infrastructure required for cryopreservation (storage of ophthalmic tissues) like -80°C, -20°C, and 4°C freezers; liquid nitrogen for snap freezing; and specially-trained technical staff to handle the samples.

Dr. Sayan Basu, the network director, Prof. Brien Holden Eye Research Centre (BHERC), LV Prasad Eye Institute, said, "We are immensely grateful to Prof. Krothapalli Ravindranath for his generous contribution and his keen interest in supporting ophthalmology research at LVPEI. The study of these preserved tissues will help in developing innovative and breakthrough therapies for treating blinding diseases. It will majorly help in preservation and sanctity of invaluable patient samples, developing a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of both common and rare diseases, and coming up with new insights for managing rare eye diseases."

Prof. Krothapalli Ravindranath; Prof. Geeta K. Vemuganti, dean, School of Medical Sciences, University of Hyderabad; and Dr. Sudha S. Murthy, director, clinical support, Datar Cancer Genetics, were also present on the occasion.