Hyderabad, Sat, 9 Feb 2008


The hub of biotechnology in India, Hyderabad will have two premiere institutes; Center for Stem Cells Research and Therapy (CSCR T) and National Animal Resource Facility for Biomedical Research (NARFBR).


Vice-President Mohammed Hamid Ansari on Thursday laid the foundation stone for the institutes at the inauration of the fifth edition of the Global Bio business forum –Bio Asia -2008, which will add glory to the state capital in the field of biotechnology.


Development of CSCR is being taken by Centre for Stem Cell Sciences (CSCS) in association with Liver Research and Diagnostic and government of Andhra Pradesh with an investment of Rs 1.5 billion, which will use adult stem cells to provide therapies for ailments related to liver pancreas, heart, bone and other disorders, while Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) with an investment of Rs 5 billion is developing NARFBR.


The first phase of NARFBR will be completed by 2009 with an investment in this phase at 2.5 billion.


The Vice President also inaugurated Biotechnology Incubation Center with the joint initiative of Andhra Pradesh and government of India. This unique incubation centre has research and development laboratories, multi-utility plant, analytical & quality control centre and training for human resource.


Ansari hailed this city of biotechnology for already having several foremost institute like Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD), Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) and Institute of Life Sciences.


“The presence of these world-class facilities, several educational institutes, such as the University of Hyderabad, and the presence of innovative industrial entrepreneurs and bright young professionals should make this part of the country an important source of innovation and invention,” he added.


Developing Hyderabad with state of art institutes will help utilizing the number of scientific manpower which remains unutilised.