DBT waiting for nod to set up 2 advanced institutes for research at cost of Rs.600 cr

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) is planning to set up two advanced institutes for research including an Institute of Chronic Disease and Biotechnology.

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) is planning to set up two advanced institutes for research including an Institute of Chronic Disease and Biotechnology to undertake, assist, promote, guide and coordinate basic and translational research of a high calibre for prevention and treatment of a broad range of diseases.

This proposal for setting up the institute at a cost of Rs.300 crore is waiting for the approval from the Planning Commission as it was forwarded as part of the proposals being considered for the current five year plan period, sources said.

Another proposal is for setting up Infectious Science and Biotechnology Institute in North East in collaboration with Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) in North Eastern Region. The allocation sought for this institute also is Rs.300 crore.

The first institute will specially focus on treatment and prevention of stroke, heart disease, hypertension, kidney disease, and diabetes. Some focused areas of research will include advanced cell based therapies, bioengineering, imaging technology and informatics, cardiovascular; bone and joint research, clinical engineering research, clinical research, clinical studies in health and disease, molecular biology and mechanisms of disease.

The mandate of the institute will be education and training leading to Ph.D. degree, organizing workshops, seminars, symposia, training, programmes of specialized nature and to serve as a national reference centre and provide consultancy services are other activities.

The institute in the North East will primarily target to pursue an integrated strategy involving research from the gene to population and including basic to applied to clinical research addressing specific needs of infectious diseases of the region.

The focus will be on infection research, covering a range of human and animal pathogens and using an array of approaches. These include looking at the impact diseases have on populations (epidemiology); the evolution of the pathogen, the immune response that develop to fight the pathogens and prevent disease, the molecular basis of pathogen virulence, all of which contribute to better diagnosis and treatment of disease, e.g. through vaccine and drug development.