Microbiology

Overview:

The Department of Microbiology is NABL certified and provides comprehensive diagnostic services in Bacteriology, Mycology, Mycobacteriology, Parasitology, Serology, and Virology. It has a separate Molecular Virology unit for testing respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, and for viral load testing of CMV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Measles, HSV-1/2, EBV and VZV. The department also operates a 24×7 Emergency Laboratory in the New Emergency Block and regularly assists the STD Laboratory of the Department of Dermatology.

The department is committed to reducing infection rates through induction training programs for residents and nursing officers, annual point-prevalence surveillance, laboratory-based pathogen and antimicrobial resistance surveillance, guidance on empirical antibiotic therapy, and targeted surveillance for device-related infections and outbreaks. Essential services include microbiological testing of water samples and screening of healthcare workers.

The department is actively involved in teaching MBBS, MD Microbiology, PhD, BSc MLT, BSc Nursing, and PTT students. It also offers excellent opportunities for research in microbiology, immunology, genetics, and molecular biology while promoting patient safety, infection control, and rational antibiotic use policies. Aligned with the institution’s motto, the department maintains strict safety standards, formulates hospital infection control policies, encourages interdisciplinary collaboration, supports academic and research activities, and strives to minimize nosocomial infections while ensuring healthcare services for patients.

Infrastructure:

Location of Department:

Main Laboratory at 5^th floor, VMMC Building,
Emergency Laboratory at 01^st floor, New Emergency Block (Room No. 107)

Layout of Main Laboratory at 5^th floor, VMMC Building

S. No.	Assigned to (English)	Assigned to (Hindi)	Quantity Required
1	Room No. 501 Practical Hall	कमरा नं. 501 प्रैक्टिकल हॉल	01
2	Room No. 502 Practical Hall	कमरा नं. 502 प्रैक्टिकल हॉल	01
3	Room No. 503 Office	कमरा नं. 503 कार्यालय	01
4	Room No. 504 Infection Control Nurses room	कमरा नं. 504 संक्रमण नियंत्रण नर्स कक्ष	01
5	Room No. 505 Hepatitis Laboratory	कमरा नं. 505 हेपेटाइटिस प्रयोगशाला	01
6	Room No. 506 Faculty Room	कमरा नं. 506 संकाय कक्ष	01
7	Room No. 506A Technical Staff (Female)	कमरा नं. 506ए तकनीकी कर्मचारी (महिला)	01
8	Room No. 507 Faculty Room	कमरा नं. 507 संकाय कक्ष	01
9	Room No. 508 Faculty Room	कमरा नं. 508 संकाय कक्ष	01
10	Room No. 508A Post Graduate Laboratory	कमरा नं. 508ए स्नातकोत्तर प्रयोगशाला	01
11	Room No. 509 Faculty Room	कमरा नं. 509 संकाय कक्ष	01
12	Room No. 510 Media Room	कमरा नं. 510 मीडिया रूम	01
13	Room No. 511 Molecular Biology Laboratory	कमरा नं. 511 आण्विक जीवविज्ञान प्रयोगशाला	01
14	Room No. 512 Microbiology Museum	कमरा नं. 512 सूक्ष्मजीव विज्ञान संग्रहालय	01
15	Room No. 513 Microbiology Library	कमरा नं. 513 सूक्ष्मजीव विज्ञान पुस्तकालय	01
16	Room No. 514 Microbiology Demonstration Room	कमरा नं. 514 सूक्ष्मजीव विज्ञान प्रदर्शन कक्ष	01
17	Room No. 515 Faculty Room	कमरा नं. 515 संकाय कक्ष	01
18	Room No. 515A Respiratory Viruses Laboratory	कमरा नं. 515ए श्वसन विषाणु प्रयोगशाला	01
19	Room No. 516 Residents Room	कमरा नं. 516 रेजिडेंट्स रूम	01
20	Room No. 516A Sterilization Room	कमरा नं. 516ए रोगाणुनाशक कक्ष	01
21	Room No. 516B Washing Area	कमरा नं. 516बी धुलाई क्षेत्र	01
22	Room No. 522 Cold room	कमरा नं. 522 कोल्ड रूम	01
23	Room No. 523 Faculty Room	कमरा नं. 523 संकाय कक्ष	01
24	Room No. 525 Bacteriology Laboratory	कमरा नं. 525 जीवाणु विज्ञान प्रयोगशाला	01
25	Room No. 526 Bacteriology Laboratory	कमरा नं. 526 जीवाणु विज्ञान प्रयोगशाला	01
26	Room No. 527 Mycology & Infection Control Laboratory	कमरा नं. 527 कवक विज्ञान और संक्रमण नियंत्रण प्रयोगशाला	01
27	Room No. 528 Serology & Immunology Laboratory	कमरा नं. 528 सीरम विज्ञान & प्रतिरक्षा विज्ञान प्रयोगशाला	01
28	Room No. 528 Parasitology Laboratory	कमरा नं. 528 परजीवी विज्ञान प्रयोगशाला	01
29	Room No. 529 Research Laboratory	कमरा नं. 529 अनुसंधान प्रयोगशाला	01
30	Room No. 530 Mycobacteriology Laboratory	कमरा नं. 530 माइकोबैक्टीरियोलॉजी प्रयोगशाला	01
31	Room No. 531 Virology Laboratory	कमरा नं. 531 विषाणु विज्ञान प्रयोगशाला	01
32	Sample receiving area	नमूना प्राप्त करने का क्षेत्र	02

Dated 20.07.2026 - Directory of Tests, Department of Microbiology

Sr. No.	Name	Designation
1	Dr. Deepthi Nair	Consultant, Professor & HOD
2	Dr Malini R Capoor	Consultant & Professor
3	Dr. Shilpee Kumar	Professor
4	Dr. Monika Matlani	Professor
5	Dr. Vikramjeet Dutta	Professor
6	Dr. Gopi Tamilarasan	Professor
7	Dr Bhawna Sharma	Professor
8	Dr Mohit Bhatia	Assistant Professor
9	Dr. Pragyan S. Panda	Associate Professor
10	Dr. Rushika Saksena	Assistant Professor
11	Dr. Mehvash Haider	Assistant Professor
12	Dr. Biswajeet Sahoo	Assistant Professor
13	Dr. Madhavi Kirti	Assistant Professor (Contract)
14	Dr. Ruma Das	Assistant Professor (Contract)
15	Dr. Apoorva Sharma	Assistant Professor (Contract)

Dated 20.07.2026 - Directory of Tests, Department of Microbiology

RESEARCH

A) THESIS

(i) ONGOING

Dr. Dharsshana S, “Etiological Profile and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern of Anaerobes in Pyogenic Liver Abscess in a Tertiary Care Hospital”, Guide: Dr. Bhawna Sharma.
Dr. Alka Verma, “Standardization of Direct Disk Diffusion (DDD) Test from Positively Flagged Blood Culture Bottles for Salmonella Typhi”, Guide: Dr. Rajni Gaind.
Dr. Moumita Chakraborty, “Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases in Patients with Haematologic Malignancies by Conventional, Biomarkers and Molecular Methods”, Guide: Dr. Malini R. Capoor.
Dr. Samripa Paul, “Prospective Study of Antibiotic De-escalation Practices in ICU Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital”, Guide: Dr. Rajni Gaind.
Dr. Ajaz Ahmed Khan, “Diagnostic Accuracy of Anti-tissue Transglutaminase and Anti-deamidated Gliadin Peptide Antibodies for Diagnosis of Celiac Disease in Pediatric Population in North India”, Guide: Dr. Monika Matlani.
Dr. Palash Kumar Shah, “Diagnostic Modalities for Detection of Tuberculous Meningitis in Pediatric Population”, Guide: Dr. Deepthi Nair.
Dr. Praroop Garg, “Microbiological Profiling of Non-resolving Pneumonia in Immunocompetent Patients – Does Tuberculosis Play an Important Role?”, Guide: Dr. Deepthi Nair.
Dr. Manish Kumar, “Role of Serum Biomarkers in Diagnosing Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis in Patients with Chronic Liver Disease”, Guide: Dr. Monika Matlani.
Dr. Subhasharee, “Prevalence of Occult Hepatitis B Virus Infection among Patients with Newly Diagnosed Malignancy at a Tertiary Care Hospital”, Guide: Dr. Shilpee Kumar.
Dr. Albin Joseph, “Sexually Transmitted Coinfections among Individuals Practising High-risk Behaviour in a Tertiary Care Sexually Transmitted Disease Facility”, Guide: Dr. Sumathi Muralidhar.
Dr. Nawin Adhithya Kala Palraja, “Species Distribution and Antifungal Susceptibility Profile of Cryptococcosis Cases in Immunocompromised and Immunocompetent Patients”, Guide: Dr. Malini R. Capoor.
Dr. Vanlalruati, “Species Distribution, Biomarkers and Antifungal Susceptibility Profile of Candidemia Cases in Adult Patients of Intensive Care Unit”, Guide: Dr. Malini R. Capoor.
Dr. Aaditya Kumar Bhardwaj, “Comparison of the TrueNat Assay with Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction for the Diagnosis of Hepatitis B Virus Infection”, Guide: Dr. Shilpee Kumar.
Dr. Sachit Anand, “Comparison of Dried Blood Spot with Plasma for Hepatitis B Virus DNA Detection using Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction”, Guide: Dr. Shilpee Kumar.
Dr. Jadhav Shivani Shivdas, “Seroprevalence and Clinical Profile of Suspected Chikungunya in Patients Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital”, Guide: Dr. Monika Matlani.
Dr. Velu Priya M, “The Current Trends and Serological Profile of Dengue Patients at a Tertiary Care Hospital”, Guide: Dr. Monika Matlani.
Dr. Ajeet Kumar, “Microbiological Profile of Adult Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Admitted in Intensive Care Units”, Guide: Dr. Vikramjeet Dutta.
Dr. Nidhi Punia, “Etiological Profiles and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns of Anaerobes in Bacterial Vaginosis in a Tertiary Care Hospital”, Guide: Dr. Bhawna Sharma.

B) FUNDED SPECIAL GRANTS/PROJECTS DURING THE YEAR

(i) ONGOING

"Automated Cartridge-based molecular assay for the screening and confirmation of Tuberculosis infection from saliva samples in low resource settings" ongoing since 19/02/2024 – Rs. Rs.10,56,022/- per year for 03 years – Co-PI – Dr. Deepthi Nair
“Advanced Centre for clinical evaluation of diagnostics of national importance” ongoing since 16/04/2024 – Approx. Rs. 15 crore per year for 5 years – PI – Dr. Deepthi Nair
ICMR funded project at PGIMER, Chandigarh- Development and Evaluation of Long-Read targeted-Next-Generation-Sequencing (LRtNGS) assay for detection of sexually transmitted infections and antimicrobial resistance in high-risk populations in India – A multicentric study"-2025-2028 – Co-PI – Dr. Sumathi Muralidhar
“National Programme on containment of Antimicrobial Resistance”, Since 2015 and ongoing, Funded by Ministry of Health and Family welfare, Grant Rs 20,86,600 per annum - Dr. Gopi Tamilarasan, Dr. Pragyan S. Panda, Dr. Biswajeet Sahoo, Dr Rushika Saksena,

Indexed Publications of Individual faculty during 01/01/2025 – 31/12/2025

		Dr. Manju Bala	Contributed to National Guidelines on Quality Management System (QMS) for Laboratories under the National AIDS and STD Control Programme (NACP) published in November 2025. Contributed to National HIV Counselling and Testing Guidelines published by NACO. National Guidelines for Elimination of Vertical Transmission of HIV and Syphilis published by NACO. Contributed to Facilitators’ Guide for Training of Medical Officers on STI, RTI and HIV Services published by NACO and NHM. National Technical Guidelines on Sexually Transmitted Infections and Reproductive Tract Infections published by NACO. Chapter on “Laboratory Diagnosis of Genital Ulcer Diseases” in the IASSTD & AIDS Textbook of Sexually Transmitted Infections.
		Dr. Deepthi Nair	Pongiyannan L, Nair D, Gupta NK. Evaluation of Xpert MTB/Rif Versus Mycobacterium Growth Indicator Tube 960 for Rifampicin Resistance Detection in Extrapulmonary Isolates. Int J Mycobacteriol. 2025 Oct 1;14(4):370-374. doi: 10.4103/ijmy.ijmy_169_25. Epub 2025 Dec 18. PMID: 41411386.
		Dr. Sumathi Muralidhar	Sangeeta Kulkarni, Varsha Kale, Pallavi Vidhate, Suvarna Sane, Sumathi Muralidhar, Rohit Chawla et al. Assessment of the suitability of the dried blood spot (DBS) samples for detection of Treponemal antibodies using in vitro assays. Indian J Med Res. 2025;161:152-58. DOI: 10.25259/IJMR_1195_2024. Niharika Dhattarwal, Geeti Khullar, Avneet Monga, Aradhana Bhargava, Niti Khunger, Sumathi Muralidhar. Syndromic and Aetiological profile of patients attending STD Clinic during Covid-19. Indian Journal of Postgraduate Dermatology. 2025. Abhay Goyal, Abhishek Lachyan, Sumathi Muralidhar, Anshuman Dash, Niti Khunger, Sanjay Kumar, Harsh Madhavi. Assessing the effectiveness of HIV counseling and testing programs: A retrospective study at an Apex Regional STD Centre in North India. Journal of Pediatrics Research Reviews and Reports. 2025;7(5):1-2. Shiva Verma, Pragyan Swagatika Panda, Sumathi Muralidhar, Santhosh Rajan, Niti Khunger. Traditional versus reverse algorithm for diagnosis of syphilis- an Indian perspective from a national referral laboratory for sexually transmitted infections. Indian journal of sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS. 2025;46(1):25-30. Devanshi Sharma, Sumathi Muralidhar, Naveen Chandra Joshi, Ruchi Singh. An unsettling surge in Multi drug-resistant and Extensively drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae –insights from a national reference centre for sexually transmitted infections in India. Sexually Transmitted Diseases.2025; Sumathi Muralidhar, Priyanka Verma, Abhishek Lachyan, Prashant Gupta, Sonam Sambyal, Anupam Anveshi, Niti Khunger. Lessons learned from implementing a surveillance program for sexually transmitted infections (STI) in a large population. Majmaah Journal of Health Sciences.2025;13(3): 156-170. Sumathi Muralidhar, Anupam Kumar Anveshi, Prashant Gupta, Abhishek Lachyan, Priyanka Verma, Niti Khunger. Empowering excellence in surveillance: Strengthening and capacity building through supervisory monitoring visits. 2025;69(1):S78-S80. Sumathi Muralidhar, Abhishek Lachyan. Preparedness for sexually transmitted infection surveillance in India: the role of collaborative efforts in strengthening national efforts. Indian Journal of Public Health. 2025;69 (1): S75-S77. Sumathi Muralidhar, Devanshi Sharma, Naveen Chandra Joshi, Mansi Panchal, Sanchita Karmakar. Escalating Antimicrobial Resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae Over Four Years: Impressions of a National Reference Laboratory. Annals of VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital. 2025;1 (1): 1-5. Abhay Goyal, Abhishek Lachyan, Sumathi Muralidhar, Niti Khunger. Venereal disease research laboratory test-reactive syphilis cases from 2018 to 2022 in North India:Trends across pre-, during-, and post-Covid periods. Journal of Skin and Sexually Transmitted Diseases. 2025; 1-4.
		Dr. Malini R. Capoor	Malini R Capoor, Textbook on Social and Preventive Medicine14 Chapter: Laws related to hospital waste management, NIHFW, MoHFW, 2025 Kathuria S, Kuchana P, Khunger N, Yadav P, Sharma S, Gautam D, MR Capoor, Yadav K, Shree SC. Variable presentattions and treatment outcomes of cutaneous histoplasmosis in immunocompetent individuals. The National Med J India, 2025 Kathuria S, Parag S, Capoor MR. Mycetoma Due to Rare Fungus. Indian Journal of Postgraduate Dermatol , volume 3, 2025 Capoor MR. Hospital waste management (p82-89), Chapter 16, Hospital Manual, April 2025, DteGHS, MoHFW, p 1-220 Vasistha M, Motwani M, Khanna G, Capoor MR. Revisiting clinico-mycological and immunological profile of fungal rhinosinusitis during COVID-19 pandemic, Ind J Med Microbiol 2025 Madan N, Tekchandani V, Das S, Capoor MR. Nonpathogenic fungal contaminants in cytopathology specimens: Beware the imitation, J Cytology 2025(International) Capoor MR, Goenka S. Fungal Zoonosis. In Manual of zoonotic diseases of public health importance, NCDC, MoHFW,2025 Technical Guidelines for surveillance and reporting of healthcare associated infections in District hospitals. MoHFW, NHSRC, 2025
		Dr. Monika Matlani	Kashyap, S., Matlani, M., Rajan, S., Divya, & Dogra, V. (2024). Screening of Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) in Stool Samples in Hospitalized Patients: A Study from a Tertiary Care Hospital. Journal of Disease and Global Health, 15–22. https://doi.org/10.56557/jodagh/2024/v17i18722 Loick P. Kojom Foko, Joseph Hawadak, Monika Matlani, Anandi Goel, Vineeta Singh,Low circulation of bacteria Leptospira spp. in an urban area from North India: A post-COVID-19 two-year surveillance investigation, The Microbe,Volume 8,2025,100484,ISSN 2950-1946,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microb.2025.100484 PUBMED Volume 8, September 2025, 100484 Kojom Foko LP, Goel A, Matlani M, Hawadak J, Singh V. Epidemiology of Plasmodium spp. gametocyte carriage in Delhi, India. Parasitol Int. 2025 Dec;109:103103. doi: 10.1016/j.parint.2025.103103. Epub 2025 Jun 3. PMID: 40472965. PUBMED Matlani M, Goel A. Materno-fetal impact of scrub typhus in pregnancy: Clinical profiles, laboratory parameters and biomarkers. J Family Med Prim Care. 2025 May;14(5):2081-2082. doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_978_24. Epub 2025 May 31. PMID: 40547761; PMCID: PMC12178478 PUBMED
		Dr. Mohit Bhatia	Chakraborty D, Bhatia M, Gupta P, Nagaraj G, Shamanna V, Srinitha P, Ashwini KV, Ravikumar KL. Assessment of the Diagnostic Accuracy of the Modified Hodge Test and Modified Carbapenem Inactivation Method for Identifying Carbapenem Resistance Mechanisms in Klebsiella pneumoniae: A Whole Genome Sequencing-Based Exploratory Study. Cureus. 2025 Mar 9;17(3): e80312. doi: 10.7759/cureus.80312. PMID: 40206936; PMCID: PMC11979672. Bhatia M, Shamanna V, Nagaraj G, Gupta P, Omar BJ, Singh A, Anand P, Gk H, Ravikumar KL. Genomic characterization and antimicrobial resistance profile of Salmonella spp. clinical isolates: A single-centre hospital-based exploratory study from Uttarakhand, India. Microb Pathog. 2025 Aug; 205:107686. doi: 10.1016/j.micpath.2025.107686. Epub 2025 May 9. PMID: 40349994. Govekar S, Singh A, Goel A, Singh YR, Jha T, Puri O, Bhatia M. Utility of laboratory biomarkers as mortality predictors for melioidosis: A systematic review. J Lab Physicians. 2025;17: 293-9.doi: 10.25259/JLP_188_2025
		Dr. Pragyan S. Panda	Verma S, Panda PS, Muralidhar S, Rajan S, Khunger N. Traditional versus reverse algorithm for diagnosis of syphilis - An Indian perspective from a national referral laboratory for sexually transmitted infections. Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS. 2025 Jan-Jun;46(1):25-30. doi: 10.4103/ijstd.ijstd_132_24. Epub 2025 Jun 9. PMID: 40546351; PMCID: PMC12180856 Anand S, Panda PS, Joe Thomas B, Vats K, Haider M, Rynga D. Staphylococcus aureus: prevalence and shifting antibiotic landscape in clinical samples from a tertiary care hospital. Int J Community Med Public Health [Internet]. 2025 Aug. 30 [cited 2025 Dec. 10];12(9):3986-90. Available from: https://www.ijcmph.com/index.php/ijcmph/article/view/14184
		Dr. Rushika Saksena	Sharma A, Saksena R. Swab, Aspirate, or Biopsy? A Retrospective Comparison of Microbial Yield and Concordance in Suspected Pyogenic Infections. Surg Infect (Larchmt). Published online September 19, 2025. doi:10.1177/10962964251381238 Gautam D, Saksena R, Meghna C. A Rare Presentation of Genitourinary Melioidosis: Isolation of Burkholderia pseudomallei From a Prostatic Abscess in a Patient From Puducherry. Cureus 17(8): e90443. DOI 10.7759/cureus.90443 Raina S, Gautam D, Kumar R, Sisodia K, Mukhopadhyay C, Kaur H, Ashiq M, Saksena R. Unearthing the burden of melioidosis in North India – an emerging threat in a non-endemic region. Curr Res Microb Sci. 2025 Jan 17:8:100344. Doi: 10.1016/j.crmicr.2025.100344. Saksena R, Parida A, Jain M, Gaind R. Antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance: Knowledge, Attitude and Practices survey of medical students to evaluate undergraduate training curriculum. Access Microbiol. 2025 Jan 8;7(1):000638.v4. doi: 10.1099/acmi.0.000638.v4.
		Dr. Mehvash Haider	Hawadak J, Goel A, Matlani M, Haider M, Kojom Foko LP, Singh V. Malaria epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and concurrent infections in Delhi, India: A hospital-based study. J Infect Public Health. 2026 Jan;19(1):103010. doi: 10.1016/j.jiph.2025.103010. Epub 2025 Oct 15. PMID: 41108901

Events organized by the Department of Microbiology:

	NABL reaccreditation of the Department of Microbiology in July 2025
	Pre-conference workshop during National MicroCon 2025:” AMR: Diagnostics, monitoring, surveillance and external quality assurance in bacterial identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) (on 29^th October 2025 Diagnostic Mycology: Basics to advanced molecular approaches (on 29^th October 2025 Melioidosis: Hands-on workshop for phenotypic and genotypic identification of B. pseudomallei on 29^th October 2025
	Various activities during “World AMR Awareness Week” from 18^th to 24^th November 2025
	BMWM National workshop: Preconference “National Workshop on Safeguarding Public Health and the Environment by VMMC-SJH and CAHO (Consortium of Accredited Hospitals Organization) under aegis of CAHODIAGNOSTICON on 18.01.2025 at VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi. Deliberations by experts from CPCB, MoHFW, HISI, CAHO, VMMC &SJH.
	Scientific Chairperson Coordinator: BMWM Preconference Workshop, National HISI, SGPGI, Lucknow, 5.02.2025, 6-8 Feb 2025
	BMWM National workshop: Under aegis of MoHFW organized Biomedical Waste Management Workshop, 19.03.2025 for nodal officers BMWM of Delhi State & NCR, was inaugurated by DGHS, ,ADGHS. Speakers from CPCB, MoHFW, VMMC & SJH
	Organised Fungal Disease Awareness Week 15 Sept -19Sept 2025, VMMC & SJH with faculty from WHO, PGIMER, AIIMS, ILBS, GTB
	National workshop : Diagnostic Mycology : From Basics to molecular under aegis of national IAMM, 29 Oct 2025, MICROCON, New Delhi
	Kayakalp workshop for kayakalp nodal officers of VMMC & SJH with NHSRC: April 2025 & Oct 2025 under Swacthatha Pakhwada
	Initiated molecular testing for Cytomegalovirus for transplant patients, congenital infections and other syndromes.
	Organizing committee member of the “Fungal Diseases Awareness Week” in September, 2025.
	Organizing committee member of the “Clinical Trials workshop” conducted by MRU (VMMC & SJH) & DHR-ICMR
	4^th March 2025- Organised the One Day HIV EQA Workshop for linked ICTC Laboratory Technicians of 23 centres, at Apex Regional STD Centre, Safdarjung Hospital.
	6^th – 7^th March 2025- Organised a Two Day Online STI Workshop for linked Regional STD Centres and State Reference centres of STI Laboratories, across the country- by Apex Regional STD Centre, Safdarjung Hospital.
	23^rd September 2025- Organised the One Day Refresher HIV EQA Workshop for linked ICTC Laboratory Technicians of 23 centres, at Apex Regional STD Centre, Safdarjung Hospital.
	25^th -29^th November 2025- Organized the Five-Day Capacity Building Training Workshop at Apex Regional STD Centre, for faculty and technical staff of 15 STI laboratories across the country.
	Preconference workshop conducted during MicroCon on 29^th October 2025 titled “MELIOIDOSIS: Hands-on Workshop for Phenotypic & Genotypic Identification of B. pseudomallei ”

Courses:

MBBS
Post Graduate (Microbiology)
Ph. D (Microbiology)

MBBS
Post Graduate (Microbiology)
Ph. D (Microbiology)
B.Sc. (Nursing)
- College of Nursing
- IGNOU
B. Sc. MLT
Certificate courses for Medical Record Officers, Technicians & Pre-Hospital Trauma Technicians.
Short Term Training

Achievements –

	NABL reaccreditation of the Department of Microbiology in July 2025
	Pre-conference workshop during National MicroCon 2025:” AMR: Diagnostics, monitoring, surveillance and external quality assurance in bacterial identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) (on 29^th October 2025 Diagnostic Mycology: Basics to advanced molecular approaches (on 29^th October 2025 Melioidosis: Hands-on workshop for phenotypic and genotypic identification of B. pseudomallei on 29^th October 2025
	Various activities during “World AMR Awareness Week” from 18^th to 24^th November 2025
	BMWM National workshop: Preconference “National Workshop on Safeguarding Public Health and the Environment by VMMC-SJH and CAHO (Consortium of Accredited Hospitals Organization) under aegis of CAHODIAGNOSTICON on 18.01.2025 at VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi. Deliberations by experts from CPCB, MoHFW, HISI, CAHO, VMMC &SJH.
	Scientific Chairperson Coordinator: BMWM Preconference Workshop, National HISI, SGPGI, Lucknow, 5.02.2025, 6-8 Feb 2025
	BMWM National workshop: Under aegis of MoHFW organized Biomedical Waste Management Workshop, 19.03.2025 for nodal officers BMWM of Delhi State & NCR, was inaugurated by DGHS, ,ADGHS. Speakers from CPCB, MoHFW, VMMC & SJH
	Organised Fungal Disease Awareness Week 15 Sept -19Sept 2025, VMMC & SJH with faculty from WHO, PGIMER, AIIMS, ILBS, GTB
	National workshop : Diagnostic Mycology : From Basics to molecular under aegis of national IAMM, 29 Oct 2025, MICROCON, New Delhi
	Kayakalp workshop for kayakalp nodal officers of VMMC & SJH with NHSRC: April 2025 & Oct 2025 under Swacthatha Pakhwada
	Initiated molecular testing for Cytomegalovirus for transplant patients, congenital infections and other syndromes.
	Organizing committee member of the “Fungal Diseases Awareness Week” in September, 2025.
	Organizing committee member of the “Clinical Trials workshop” conducted by MRU (VMMC & SJH) & DHR-ICMR
	4^th March 2025- Organised the One Day HIV EQA Workshop for linked ICTC Laboratory Technicians of 23 centres, at Apex Regional STD Centre, Safdarjung Hospital.
	6^th – 7^th March 2025- Organised a Two Day Online STI Workshop for linked Regional STD Centres and State Reference centres of STI Laboratories, across the country- by Apex Regional STD Centre, Safdarjung Hospital.
	23^rd September 2025- Organised the One Day Refresher HIV EQA Workshop for linked ICTC Laboratory Technicians of 23 centres, at Apex Regional STD Centre, Safdarjung Hospital.
	25^th -29^th November 2025- Organized the Five-Day Capacity Building Training Workshop at Apex Regional STD Centre, for faculty and technical staff of 15 STI laboratories across the country.
	Preconference workshop conducted during MicroCon on 29^th October 2025 titled “MELIOIDOSIS: Hands-on Workshop for Phenotypic & Genotypic Identification of B. pseudomallei ”

Awards of Faculties during 01/01/2025 - 31/12/2025

	Received “Award of Excellence” at ASTICON 2025 in Ahmedabad on 01.11.2025. Chairperson for NACO’s Expert Committee to formulate “Laboratory Guidelines on STI Testing” under NACP. Member of the Scientific Committee for National Conference of Indian Association for the Study of Sexually Transmitted Diseases & AIDS in 2025. Completed 11 Karmayogi courses online in January 2025. Member of expert committee to review guidelines on Quality Management System in HIV and STI testing under NACP. Member of ICMR Working group on STI in-vitro diagnostic kit evaluation. Member of expert committee to approve study design for validation of Real-Time CT/NG polymerase chain assay for the qualitative detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae using pool urine sample type in surveillance under NACP. Expert in Technical Specification Committee for procurement of HIV and STI diagnostic kits under National AIDS Control programme. Expert member of Technical Resource Group of the Lab Services Division, NACO. Internal Examiner for MD Microbiology Examination from 28^th to 29^th January 2025. Conducted EQAS of VDRL/RPR and TPHA test in February 2025 by sending PT panel to 35 Laboratories across India (18 Medical College and district level laboratories, 7 SSRTLS and 10 RSTRRLs). Provided expert inputs during National Consultation on formulation of NACP-VI Strategic Plan (2026-31) on 21.02.2025 at NIHFW, Delhi. Panelist during the session on “Strategies for enhanced Syndromic Case Management and various service delivery models envisioned under NACP-VI” during NACO’s Consultation on 17.06.2025. Performed retesting of samples received from other Regional and State STI Reference labs in India in February and August 2025. Deputed as Internal Examiner by GGSIPU for MBBS Annual Final Examination from 26^th to 30^th August 2025. Panelist during the session on Genital Ulcer Disease held in STI and Genital dermatoses - A Clinical & Diagnostic workshop on 28.09.2025 Delivered a lecture on "STI diagnostics - current perspective and future developments" during 49^th National Conference of IASSTD & AIDS on 31^st October 2025. Provided inputs to NACO in developing Syphilis EQAS digital platform in NACO-Prayogshala. Judge for free paper session during ASTICON on 1^st November 2025. Invited as Judge for Young Scientist Award Oral Presentations during the IAMM Delhi Chapter MICRO-D-CON 2025 during December 2025. Conducted proficiency testing for syphilis serology EQAS for 31 Labs across India comprising of Medical College and district level laboratories, SSRTLS and RSTRRLs in November 2025. Results were compiled and feedback regarding their performance was communicated to all the labs. In December 2025.	Dr. Manju Bala
	Awarded: Prestigious Center for Advanced Research (CAR), ICMR, for a period of five years, with a funding allocation of approximately ₹15 crores (₹4.9 crores received in the first year), National ICMR Award: Best Performing Center under the CAR ICMR DHR award for IVD diagnostic research SOP 2025 Award for outstanding performance as a faculty towards VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital – Dr. Deepthi Nair on Republic day	Dr. Deepthi Nair
	2025- Member of Institutional Ethics Committee since 2010. 2025- Appointed member of Technical Resource Group by ICMR for kit validation of Syphilis test kits in 2025. 17^th – 19^th March 2025- Invited expert and speaker at NACO QMS Workshop for various STI Laboratories across India- at Golden Palms Hotel in Patparganj, New Delhi. April 2025- Established the EGASP programme for submission of data on Gonococci to NACO and onward to WHO. May 2025- Appointed as Editor-in-chief of AVASH the medical journal proposed by Principal, VMMC. The first issue was released in September 2025. 17^th -18^th May 2025- NABL Accreditation- as Quality Manager of the Apex Regional STD Centre, applied for NABL Accreditation renewal of the STI laboratory. External assessment team sent by NABL performed the audit and NABL renewed the accreditation certificate from 11.07.2025 to 10.07.2029. 18^th July 2025- Invited by IAMM-India, to deliver a lecture for EGPGs on recent advances and AMR in STI pathogens. July 2025- Invited expert by NACO to be a part of the Editorial team to revise the National STI guidelines for the country in 2025. August 2025- Invited expert by NACO to be a part of the Editorial team to revise the QMS guidelines for STI laboratories in the country- 2025. August 2025- Contributed a chapter to the Text Book of STDs edited and published by Indian Association for the Study of STDs and HIV/AIDS. August 2025- Requested by faculty in Daulatram college, Delhi University to be a co-supervisor for PhD scholar, Mr. Tanishq Gauniyal. 23^rd September 2025- Organised the One day workshop on HIV-EQA for linked ICTC technicians for 23 laboratories. 28^th September 2025- delivered a video presentation and lecture as invited expert at the IADVL quarterly meeting at Eros Hotel, New Delhi. 1^st November 2025- delivered a lecture as invited faculty at ASTICON-2025 in Ahmedabad. 2^nd November 2025- Nominated and selected as North zone representative of IASSTD & AIDS for the fourth time. 4^th November 2025- delivered a lecture on AMR in Neisseria gonorrhoeae , as invited expert, at JNU, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. 22^nd December 2025- As Editor in chief and editor, presented and got the Annual report and AVASH journal released by dignitaries on dias, at Annual Day and Convocation of VMMC & SJH at Manekshaw centre, Delhi. 23^rd December 2025- Invited as expert by Tihar Jail Officials for health camp and sample collection of Tihar jail inmates for STI investigations.	Dr. Sumathi Muralidhar
	IMA , Delhi - Magnanimous award for excellence in Healthcare 2025, 11 May 2025 – Dr. Malini R. Capoor Kayakalp Award third prize in Category A Hospitals – Dr. Malini R. Capoor Vidharbha IAMM: Arvind Kurhare & Rajaram Powar VAMM Guest Oration award : 2025, Vidharba Association of Medical Microbiologists – Dr. Malini R. Capoor RNSS : Pride of Nation award, 2025, Rashtria Nari Shaskatikaran Sangh award, New Delhi – Dr. Malini R. Capoor Dr. Malini R. Capoor - Vice President: Indian Society of Medical Mycology	Dr. Malini R. Capoor
	Judge for MEDSICON-2025 online debate competition. Organizing committee & speaker on the topic “Non-resolving pneumonia due to viral etiology” during Fungal diseases awareness week in September, 2025. Resource Faculty for MBBS 2025 Batch Foundation Course. Guest speaker at a conference on “Frontiers in Antimicrobial Research: Research, Practice and Policy” at Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Science, Faculty of Life Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi-110025; Lecture topic: From culture to cure: A case discussion on Antimicrobial Resistance, Diagnostic Stewardship & Hospital Infection Control in ICU” (07/11/2025). Organizing committee member of Clinical Trials workshop conducted by MRU (VMMC & SJH) & DHR-ICMR	Dr. Mohit Bhatia

Awards and Achievements of Residents during 01/01/2025 to 31/12/2025 –

	1^st November 2025- Dr. Abhilasha Negi- PG Derma (Supervisor- Dr. Sumathi Muralidhar)- received an award for her presentation at ASTICON-2025 at Ahmedabad-31^st Oct to 2^nd Nov. 2025. 1^st November 2025- Ms. Devanshi Sharma- PhD scholar of Dr. Sumathi Muralidhar, received full funding and scholarship for training on next generation sequencing and other genetic topics at Bangkok, in Feb. 2025. 1^st November 2025- Ms. Devanshi Sharma -PhD scholar of Dr. Sumathi Muralidhar, bagged the gold medal and first prize in Govindan Nair Memorial award for achievement in STI research. 1^st November 2025- Dr. Albin Joseph (1^st Year MD Microbiology PG –Supervisor –Dr. Sumathi Muralidhar) received IUSTI Scholarship award of Rs. 20,000/- for best Oral presentation at ASTICON-2025 at Ahmedabad. 20^th December 2025- Ms. Devanshi Sharma received the first prize for her poster presented at IAMM-DCON-PhD category award, at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.	Dr. Sumathi Muralidhar
	Oral presentation in International Conference – Improving diagnosis of active undifferentiated fevers by using predictive analysis: The role of clinical features and biomarkers, 6^th World Congress on Infectious Diseases & Antibiotics – 2025 – Dr. Anandi Goel, Dr. Monika Matlani, Dr. Deepthi Nair, Dr. Shilpee Kumar	Dr. Monika Matlani, Dr. Deepthi Nair, Dr. Shilpee Kumar
	Best free poster award (MD) – IAMM, Delhi Chapter, 03^rd May 2025, Anaerobic sepsis and across diverse clinical scenario: A case series from a tertiary care centre in North India, Dr. Praroop Garg, Dr. Bhawna Sharma	Dr. Bhawna Sharma
	Poster presentation entitled “Pulmonary Nocardiosis with Tuberculosis and Klebsiella Co-infection in an Immunocompetent Host” in 4^th South Asian Melioidosis Congress (SAMC), 2025 – Dr. Praroop Garg	Dr. Mohit Bhatia Dr. Deepthi Nair
	Financial Grant for MD, thesis entitled “Microbiological profiling of non-resolving pneumonia in immunocompetent patients” under HRD scheme of DHR, Dr. Praroop Garg, Dr. Deepthi Nair	Dr. Deepthi Nair
	IAMM Delhi Chapter - Young scientist award – Dr. Ajaz Ahmad Khan for oral presentation – “Defying the Dogma of Biopsy: Exploring the utility of Serology in avoiding biopsy in Celiac Disease in Paediatric population”	Dr. Monika Matlani
	Poster presentation entitled "Clinico-Microbiological Profile of Respiratory Viral Infections in Adults with preexisting pulmonary Conditions: A Hospital-Based Observational Study” in 3rd international Conference of the World Society for Virology 2025, from 6th May to 8 May 2015 at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. – Dr. Apoorva Sharma	Dr. Mohit Bhatia
	Dr. Hitha Haridas received the Best Poster – Meghna Krishan Baveja Award on Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the Micro-D-Con 2025 – First Chapter Meet, IAMM Delhi Chapter held on 03-05-2025 for the poster titled “Outbreak of Colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in Paediatric Hemato-oncology Unit of a Tertiary Care Hospital.”	Dr. Rajni Gaind