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With a rich history, MRI looks to the future with commitment
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Director Dr. Suranga Dolamulla
125 years of service not only to Sri Lanka but also South Asia, says Director Dr. Suranga Dolamulla
By Kumudini Hettiarachchi
Dengue mosquitoes from the past as old as the 1920s, a colony of cockroaches from the present, snow-white rabbits, a flock of sheep ensconced within premises in the very heart of bustling Borella, along with state-of-the-art machines, advanced technology and trailblazing work and research.
The Medical Research Institute (MRI), soon to have a name-change to the ‘National Reference Laboratory Centre for Bio-medical and Applied Health Research’ to reflect its true worth, has been doing what is best for Sri Lanka and its people for 125 years.
The very first two-storey building commissioned in 1937. Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara
As the MRI with its building sprawl over five acres, a stone’s throw from Borella junction, celebrates its 125th anniversary, Director Dr. Suranga Dolamulla journeys back in time to its humble origins and then focuses on the current work of national and international importance and finally onwards to the future.
The origins go back to 1900, when well-known wealthy entrepreneur and philanthropist, Gate Mudliyar Jeronis William Charles (J.W.C.) de Soysa donated land for the ‘Soysa Bacteriological Institute’ to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, for then Ceylon was a British colony.
The Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) machine used for DNA and RNA gene sequencing
With acting Directors heading the Bacteriological Institute, it was in 1902 that the first permanent head sat in the main chair. He was Italian researcher of international repute, Dr. Aldo Castellani, Professor of Pathology, who had discovered the aetiology (cause) of sleeping sickness rampant in Africa and spread by the bite of the tsetse fly vector which inflicts the Trypanosoma protozoa on humans.
“From the inception of the institute, it conducted wide and varied field research and laboratory testing covering bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites for the first time in the country,” says Dr. Dolamulla, describing how in 1909, a Vaccine Unit to manufacture smallpox and anti-typhoid vaccines was established, while in 1936, the famous French-based Institut Pasteur forged links with the Bacteriological Institute.
Great strides had been made in the journey forward of the Bacteriological Institute, with the commissioning of a two-storey building in 1937, followed by it being renamed the MRI in 1946; designated as the National Reference Laboratory for Diagnosis of Syphilis in the Southeast Asia region in 1950; a Colombo Plan Technical Co-operation Scheme being set in motion in 1956; the Medical Laboratory Technologists’ (MLTs’) School being set up by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1959; and the Modern Laboratory Complex being gifted by the Japanese government in 1990.
Now the MRI, one of the oldest healthcare institutions in South Asia, is the only National Reference Laboratory in the country, says Dr. Dolamulla, ticking off the valuable contributions being made by this vibrant hub.
Its 19 specialized units deal with virology, microbiology, mycology (fungi), parasitology, molecular biology, immunology (immune system), haematology (blood, bone marrow & lymphatic systems), rabies, pathology, clinical pharmacology, radio-immunoassay, natural products, clinical nutrition, animal research, entomology (study of insects), food & water; chemical pathology; and the MLT & Entomology Schools.
In the MRI’s Animal Centre
According to its Director its major activities include National Surveillance Programmes; assistance not only towards eradication and elimination of diseases (such as malaria) but also to bring down morbidity (rate of those affected by a disease) and mortality (deaths) in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and cancers; the National Control Laboratory (NCL) for Vaccines and Sera; quality testing of mosquito repellent sprays, lotions, creams, coils and mats imported to the country; National Quality Control Programmes & National External Quality Assessment Services (NEQAS); and teaching & training of undergraduates, postgraduates, MLTs, entomologists and those engaging in laboratory science.
The MRI has a 24-hour food and water testing and safety surveillance service for the country, he says, explaining that all batches of imported food and water items are also assessed for quality and safety. This is while the Animal Centre for Research and Breeding provides internationally designated laboratory animals for research purposes.
Dr. Dolamulla turns the spotlight on immunological research conducted at the MRI as well as consultative services on rabies for the public throughout the year (all 365 days), while also detailing important National Surveillance Programmes for iodine deficiency in pregnant mothers and children; thalassaemia; dengue; polio; measles & rubella; influenza, Japanese encephalitis; antimicrobial resistance (AMR); and leptospirosis, to name some.
When taking into account the levels of laboratories and investigations performed in Sri Lanka on a scale of 1 to 5, the MRI is at the top at Level 5, the only one occupying that place, says Dr. Dolamulla with justifiable pride, adding that it also conducts specialized clinics in immunology, haematology, rabies and nutrition including nutritional assessments and advice.
The 1921 dengue mosquito from Horana-Ingiriya and (inset) breeding current mosquitoes for research
With the vision for the future being to reach for the stars by securing higher standards set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), another dream, slowly but surely becoming a reality, is the establishment of Sri Lanka’s one and only BSL-3 (Biosafety Level 3) Laboratory to study infectious agents or toxins that may be transmitted through the air and cause potentially lethal infections, where researchers perform all experiments in a biosafety cabinet.
“It is made possible through pandemic funding, with the Asian Development Bank providing the infrastructure, the World Bank, the instruments and the WHO the technical input,” says Dr. Dolamulla.
A journey begun 125 years ago, the MRI which collaborates with international partners and is truly at the service not only of Sri Lanka and its people but also of South Asia, looks to the future with hope, dedication and commitment.
The flock of sheep at the MRI in the heart of Borella
| Trailblazing research The MRI conducts a minimum of 20 medical research projects per year, many of which are published in national and international peer-reviewed journals. | |
| On the cards…. It is an anniversary year of celebration for the MRI with religious ceremonies in January setting the right tone.
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