Two Indian scientists get $100,000 grant each

Two unique ideas from India -- one a non-surgical and completely reversible alternative to tubectomy and another the development of a biodegradable polymer to coat copper T intrauterine devices -- have won the prestigious Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation grant for being "novel ideas to improve global health". 

Both these projects, the first by Prof Sujoy Guha of the IIT, Kharagpur and the other by Abi Santosh Aprem of HLL Lifecare Ltd will each receive $100,000 in grant to help further their research work. 

Prof Guha has found a novel drug -- a magnetic polymer which, when inserted through the vagina and placed inside the fallopian tube of a woman with the help of radio frequency, kills or incapacitates both sperm and ovum passing through it. 

The procedure -- Transcervical Reversible Female Contraception -- has shown 100% efficacy in small animal trials like on rats and rabbits and will go into trials on large animals like goats in a few months before being tried on humans in a year. 

It has several benefits over tubectomy. While tubectomy is a surgical procedure and a permanent method of contraception where the fallopian tubes (FT) are blocked so that the ova or eggs are prevented from travelling to the uterus from the ovary, Prof Guha's procedure is non-surgical and reversible. 

This means whenever a woman wants to conceive, the drug compound placed inside the tube is removed, restoring the woman's fertility. 

Prof Guha told TOI, "The FT is inside the peritoneal cavity (PC) which is very susceptible to infection. Tubectomy can only be done in an operation theatre by a trained gynecologist. It is also irreversible. In my procedure, there is no entry into the PC and no surgical incision is required. It is safe and the drug FerroCept can be removed whenever the woman wants to conceive." 

So how long can the drug protect against pregnancy? "We just need to insert the drug through the vagina into the uterus. The novel compound is delivered to the fallopian tubes in liquid form, changed to a semi-solid form with an external application of radio frequency. The compound can stay inside the FT for the entire reproductive period of the woman," he added. 

Meanwhile, Aprem's project attempts to eliminate the side-effects associated with copper T intrauterine devices (IUD) by coating the copper with biodegradable polymers. The polymers could prevent bulk shedding of copper ions that cause bleeding, cramping and pain, leading to increased acceptance of this highly effective contraceptive device. 

The IUD is a long-term birth control method. It is a small, T-shaped plastic device that is wrapped in copper or contains hormones. The IUD is inserted into the uterus but has risks. About 12% of women have the copper IUD removed because of increased menstrual bleeding or cramping. In 1 out of 1,000 women, the IUD will get stuck in or puncture (perforate) the uterus. About 2% to 10% of IUDs are pushed out (expelled) from the uterus into the vagina during the first year. 

The Foundation announced 67 grants to support projects in 16 countries with ideas as diverse as a TB vaccine delivered in a traditional Asian bean dish, a mobile phone tool to identify complications for community health workers caring for pregnant women and newborns, and solar powered, therapeutic blankets of light for newborns suffering from jaundice.