The activities to be undertaken at the research and training unit for rare diseases include comprehensive genetic counselling facilities for around 2,500 families with rare disorders, to be evaluated annually; increase capacity of diagnostic testing, including exome sequencing; and develop training and service facility for prenatal diagnosis for early identification of genetic disorders in pregnancy
The Karnataka government has launched the research and training unit for rare diseases here to further strengthen diagnosis, counselling, and treatment, including developing service facility for prenatal diagnosis for early identification of genetic disorders in pregnancy.
The foundation stone for the unit, which is an extension of the Centre for Human Genetics (CHG), was laid by Dr Ashwath Narayan C.N., Minister for Higher Education; IT & BT, Science & Technology; Skill Development, Entrepreneurship & Livelihood, Government of Karnataka.
“It is a matter of pride that CHG has taken an active role in implementing the National Policy on Rare Diseases, 2021, and is also among the 8 Centre of Excellence in the country for R&D of Rare Diseases. Scientists’ long-term goal is to provide solutions for questions & challenges,” Dr Narayan said
“Having a history of treating about 2500 families with genetic disorders annually across states in the past 20 years, the centre also holds regular educational modules in Kannada, English, and Hindi, raising awareness of human genetic disorders in PU colleges across Karnataka,” the Minister tweeted.
The activities to be undertaken at the research and training unit for rare diseases include comprehensive genetic counselling facilities for around 2,500 families with rare disorders, to be evaluated annually; increase capacity of diagnostic testing, including exome sequencing; and develop training and service facility for prenatal diagnosis for early identification of genetic disorders in pregnancy. It will also provide hands-on training in laboratory genetics and incubate startups in developing low-cost therapies for rare disorders along with conducting regular educational modules in Kannada, English and Hindi for raising awareness of human genetic disorders, their early recognition, and treatments available, among pre-university college students in the state.
The research and training unit for rare diseases is an extension of the present CHG building, and will be around 40,000 sqft with three floors.
Prof. Jayarama S Kadandale, CHG Director, said, “The CHG has had an active role in developing the Rare Disease Policy at both the national and state levels. The National Policy for Rare Diseases announced by the Government of India in April 2021 has identified CHG (along with Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health) as one of eight Centres of Excellence in the country.”
The Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre (BBC) on the occasion also launched nine innovative products developed by startups, taking the number of such products to 45 over five years.
Dr Jitendra Kumar, Managing Director, Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre said, “The Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre has made its mark globally and is recognised as the best innovation centre in the country. It has launched 36 products in the past, and today, we have launched nine products. So, we have launched 45 products developed over five years. I think this is a good achievement for any institution, which has been incepted very recently.”
“We have generated around 2,000 employments, with the incubated companies here. Around 50 startups are being incubated, which makes us the largest biotech startup hub in the country,” he said.
- Advertisement -