New Delhi, May 5 (IANS): The All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) Delhi on Tuesday said it has constituted task force for research under Dean (Research) to oversee various initiatives for encouraging and facilitating COVID-19-related research.

In a press statement the AIIMS said, "The Director AIIMS has constituted task force for COVID-19 research under Dean (Research) to oversee research projects. AIIMS was amongst the first to launch a call on March 21 for intramural proposals on COVID-19 research and fast track project evolution by holding weekly ethics committee and Institutional Review Board (IRB) meetings."

Most of the research projects involve collaboration between different departments looking at diverse aspects of COVID-19 as the institution has the advantage of having both basic science experts as well as clinical experts. Till date 49 research projects have been sanctioned. It is also participating in international trials.

The repertoire of projects range from newer methods of in silico drug designing, epidemiological and public health aspects, assembling clinical cohorts with protean manifestations and immunophenotyping patients from asymptomatic to those with varying degrees of severity, artificial intelligence, effect of disease on health care workers, effect of COVID on non-COVID related patient consultations, rapid diagnosis and intervention trials related to repurposing of drugs and equipment related innovations.

"The potential for innovative research at AIIMS is huge considering the diversified in-house expertise and broad spectrum of patients admitted at AIIMS," it stated.