SARANSH (META program): Advancing systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy in India -2025
The Technical Resource Centre of ICMR-NIRT, Chennai, successfully conducted the in-person contact sessions of the SARANSH 2.0 META Program (Methods & Evidence Synthesis for Test Accuracy Studies) from 24 to 28 November 2025.
The event was inaugurated by Dr. Narendran, Scientist-F (Medical) and Head, Dept. of Clinical Research, in the presence of Dr. Raghunandhan, Former Professor, Madras Medical College. Thirty-one mentees, selected from over 120 applicants, are participating in this program, working in teams on five systematic reviews addressing priority health issues in Low-and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). The mentees completed their review protocols, registered in PROSPERO, developed QUADAS-2 tools and data extraction forms, and engaged in hands-on training in meta-analysis for diagnostic test accuracy studies.
The program aims to strengthen skills in planning, conducting, and reporting high-quality systematic reviews of diagnostic tests relevant to LMIC settings. Ongoing mentorship will be provided to the mentees until March 2026, with a focus on QUADAS-2 assessment, advanced meta-analysis, and preparation of manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed journals. This initiative is supported by funding from the Department of Health Research (DHR) and aims to build sustainable national capacity in diagnostic test accuracy evidence synthesis.
The valedictory session was graced by Dr. Srinath Sathyanaryana, Director of ICMR-NIRT, who congratulated the mentees and emphasized the critical role of evidence synthesis in advancing healthcare research. Furthermore, he acknowledged and expressed his appreciation for the Technical Resource Centre (TRC) team, recognising their efforts in organising and conducting a well-structured and impactful training programme.
This course is conducted under the leadership of Dr. Leeberk Raja, Scientist - E and Principal Investigator of the Technical Resource Centre, ICMR-NIRT, and is co-directed by Dr. Jefferson Daniel, Associate Professor at CMC Vellore. The ICMR-NIRT acknowledges the significant contributions of the TRC team, including Dr Mukesh Kumar, Scientist-C (Medical), Dr Vignes Anand, Scientist-C (Medical), and Dr Adhin Bhaskar, Scientist-C. The event was coordinated by Dr Sharon Suresh, Research Associate at the Technical Resource Centre, ICMR-NIRT.
