The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Genome sequencing unit gets the nod

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Thursday, Jun 18, 2009
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Genome sequencing unit gets the nod

Special Correspondent

It will be set up at a cost of Rs. 32 crore

The Bio-IT initiative is a public-private venture
It will come up at Biotech Park in Electronics City

BANGALORE: The Centre has given approval for Karnataka’s Bio-IT initiative — Centre for Excellence in Genome Sequencing — to be set up at Biotech Park in Electronics City on the outskirts of Bangalore.

Principal Secretary, Information Technology and Biotechnology, Ashok Kumar Manoli told The Hindu that the Centre had given in-principal approval for the Bio-IT initiative, which is considered to be the only centre for competitiveness in Next Generation Sequencing in India.

“The Centre’s approval will be handed over during Bangalore Bio to be held in the city on Thursday,” he said. The Bio-IT initiative, which is public-private venture involving the Union Government, State Government and Strand Life Sciences, is tentatively named Centre for Excellence in Genome Sequencing.

“Next Generation Sequencing is one of the biggest challenges in biological sciences and holds a lot of promise,” he said and added that the facility would be established at a cost of Rs. 32 crore. “Bangalore was chosen for the prestigious venture on account of the congenial eco-system for such a centre”, Mr Manoli said.

According to experts, Next Generation Sequencing will enable researchers to identify diseases in humans and plants. The centre to come up at Institute of Bio Informatics and Applied Bio Technology (IBAB) will not only focus on human diseases relevant to India, but also bring down the time taken in drug discovery process.

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