A team of doctors from the State-run Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) will be a part of a global research aimed at studying the effects of Covid-19 on the nervous system and brain of survivors, doctors from the Ranchi-based hospital said on Sunday. Experts from the United States of America and at least four European countries will also participate in this research, they added.
The research will be conducted under the guidance of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and an American research agency, the National Institute of Health (NIH). RIMS Director, Padmashree awardee, Dr. Kameshwar Prasad will head the team of doctors from Ranchi during the research, RIMS sources said.
The team of doctors from RIMS participating in the research includes the coordinator of RIMS’ Covid-19 task force, Dr. Prabhat Kumar. Besides, Dr. Surendra Kumar and Dr. Ganesh Chauhan, who have been treating patients at RIMS since the Covid-19 pandemic hit Jharkhand, will also be a part of the research team.
“Many Covid survivors have complained of neurological disorders after recovery. The research will be aimed at studying how the virus affects the nervous system of survivors gradually after recovery and what are the major symptoms,” said Dr. Prabhat Kumar.
According to the official website of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, a part of the US’ NIH, “In some people, response to the coronavirus has been shown to increase the risk of stroke, dementia, muscle and nerve damage, encephalitis, and vascular disorders. Some researchers think the unbalanced immune system caused by reacting to the coronavirus may lead to autoimmune diseases, but it's too early to tell.”
The effect of Covid-19 on the neurological system of members of the tribal community in Jharkhand could also be a part of the research, a doctor from RIMS said. Doctors from the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany and Italy are also likely to participate in this research. As of now, RIMS is the only Indian healthcare facility selected to participate in this research, a source from the institution said. Several such scientific researches were being conducted across the world to study the long-term impact of SARS-CoV-2 on people belonging to different ethnicity and geographical locations, he added.