The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) will set up a new Institute of Translational Research during the 11th Plan to take up studies on genetic makeup on a continuous and dedicated mode with a view to develop preventive measures against major diseases.
The focus of the Institute, likely to come up in Hyderabad, will be on various areas of biological research, especially cell biology, developmental biology, stem cell biology, cancer biology etc, DST sources said.
The Institute, expected to be operational by the end of the 11th Plan, would aim at application of knowledge of modern biology into clinical care, systematic collection and analysis of large amounts of clinical data, and development of ways and means for personalized medicines.
It would also focus on development of specific stem cell populations to treat a variety of illnesses such as Parkinson's disease, type 1 diabetics, retinal degeneration, myocardial infarction, spinal cord damage and multiple sclerosis among others.
On the molecular diagnosis area, it would work for developing new diagnostic markers, tools, methods and providing services, along with genetic counselling. The Institute also would train scientists to mobilize adequate manpower for such institutes in other parts of the country.
However, the government for the next financial year has just set apart only Rs one crore for the preliminary works of this project which may require over Rs 1000 crore to be fully operational on global standards. The Centre had in principle sanctioned Rs 360 crore towards the project sometime back.
Andhra Pradesh Government has allotted 150 acres of land and made a request to set up the Institute at Turkapally near Hyderabad. It is expected to be on par with such institutes in the US in terms of quality standards. It is expected to give a boost to the pharma and biotech research, sources said.