About IGIB
Institute of Genomics and Integrative
Biology (IGIB) was formerly known as
Center for Biochemical Technology.
The mission statement of the Institute
of Genomics and Integrative Biology
(IGIB) reads: "To translate concepts
developed in Basic Biological research
to commercially viable technologies for
health care." The Institute has changed
its focus and activities with changing
times while staying within the purview
of this mission statement. In a
remarkably smooth makeover, IGIB has
navigated this change by molding its
existing strengths, absorbing new
technology and information, thereby
creating areas of expertise in the new
context, all in the span of few years.
It is an Institute, where scientists,
physicians and academicians can
interact, complimenting each other, and
generate new knowledge, develop
technologies, and extend them for the
benefit of society.
Institute of Genomics and Integrative
Biology is one of the premier institutes
carrying out research, leading to
generation of new knowledge and
development of technologies in various
areas of modern biotechnology and
biological sciences, such as allergy and
infectious diseases, molecular
pathogenesis and recombinant DNA
technology, while the main focus is on
Genomics and Bio informatics. The
Institute had already attained
excellence over the years in the areas
of Recombinant DNA Technology, Allergy,
Immunology, Lectins, Peptide and Nucleic
Acid chemistry, besides development of
biochemical products and processes based
technologies. In the new millennium, we
enter a new era of Genomics that
promises to completely transform both,
biology and medicine. With the release
of the Complete Human Genome sequence,
it has become important to utilize our
core strength and develop niche areas to
conduct globally competitive research,
for the benefit of human health.
Anticipating the arrival of human genome
sequence, our Institute has already
initiated a major research program in
Functional Genomics in mid 1997. In the
process, a need for speedy collaboration
with various Institutes within the
country was realized. The networking
enabled us to take up new challenges,
utilize multidisciplinary Skills rapidly
by filling up the knowledge gap and to
compete for future science of the world.
India has a strategic advantage to carry
out research in molecular medicine
because of its vast and diverse genetic
pool. It provides us unique opportunity
to discover the functional significance
of human genome sequences through
mutation analysis. The rich genetic
resource could be used for population
polymorphism scanning instead of gene
knock out studies in model organisms to
understand the relation of sequence to
function. Thus, functional polymorphism
scanning constitutes a major activity of
Functional Genomics in the Institute.
Anticipating the massive impact of this
knowledge of Genomics, clubbed with the
existence of vast and diverse Indian
genetic pool which provides a unique
opportunity to discover functional
significance of the human genome
sequences, the Institute has been
transformed from an isolated laboratory
working in the area of biochemical
research, to a network laboratory, with
special focus on genomics and genome
informatics. Recently, IGIB has emerged
as one of the leading institutes,
working on Functional Genomics and
Genome Informatics in India.
The Institute has gathered highly
qualified IT professionals, interested
in Biology, to develop novel softwares
for genome analysis. The Institute has
over 40 Bioinformatics professionals
working on various projects from disease
specific database development to in
silico drug target identification. This
activity is under going an expansion in
the tenth plan, and a new campus has
been planned, where, 40,000 sq ft area
will be dedicated to computational
activity. See the Organization Structure
IGIB has made many significant
contributions to the Indian Science, and
is globally acknowledged, in certain
areas of specialization. The long list
of research publications of high average
impact factor, and the patent portfolio,
are testimony to the scientific caliber
of the 40+ member scientists team of
this institute. The research activities
of the institute are business driven, in
this new era of Biology, with
significant industrial collaborations,
and knowledge alliances, on the anvil.
IGIB is the first National Laboratory of
its kind to create a unique joint
venture, "Genomed" a knowledge alliance
with an Indian pharma company, Nicholas
Piramal India Limited (NPIL), Mumbai.
The Institute is also involved in
creating bioinformatics manpower with
the help of Industrial support.
The Centre for Genomic Application (TCGA),
a core share facility for genomics and
proteomics services, has been created at
IGIB recently. TCGA is a Public-Private
Partnership Project, and is a
collaboration between IGIB and The
Chatterjee group. It provides research
facilities, infrastructure, and work
ambience of international quality, to
support R&D institutions, universities,
and affiliated to industry, to carry out
cutting edge research and to make new
discoveries. In future, TCGA plans to
render incubation laboratories for start
up entrepreneurs and discoverers by
making available laboratory facilities,
to scientists of national and
international fame, to implement their
vision.
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