A major factor which aided the growth of the biotech and biopharma industry in Gujarat is the pro-active steps taken by the state government through the Gujarat State Biotechnology Mission (GSBTM).
GSBTM, the state government-run biotech initiative to boost the sector through the support to the industry, had initiated a wide spectrum of activities including the compilation of the database needed for the industry to identify potential fields for operation and hands -on training to provide skilled manpower for the industry.
The mission has initiated a set of projects including Gujarat Genomics Initiative (GGI), Gujarat Seed Gene Bank (SGB), Virtual Institute of Bioinformatics (BITVirtual), Genetic Diagnostic Centre (GenDiCE) and Marine Bio-Resource centre (MBRC). Out of these projects, the Gendice and the BITVirtual are to support the biopharma industry directly by providing a database of population with genetic disease and for providing skilled manpower for biotech related research respectively.
The mission, set up under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat, has initiated a project to set up genetic diagnostic centres recently to provide a set of services to the population and to support the drug discovery research in the state, in collaboration with the Gujarat University. The mission has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the university and started the first Gendice in the latter's premises, using its already operational genetic diagnostic centre established in 1979.
In the long run , the mission plans to set up at least one centre at each district in Gujarat for the people to avail diagnostics services related to genetically inherited disease, said a source from GSBTM. As per the MoU, the university will provide the land and building for the centre while the mission will provide sophisticated equipment and manpower to run the facility with an allocated government fund of Rs 2 crore for the first three years. The board of management, which consists of higher officials from both the university and the GSBTM will review the project after three years and will consider the future plans later.
An advisory committee with eminent scientists in genetic engineering from various parts of the country has also been constituted for proper guiding. Once fully operational, the centre will invite research proposals from funding agencies in genetic discovery segment. This service will be in addition to the set of cost-by-cost based services offered by the centres to the population in the state. Though not designed as a profit -making venture , the government has designed the project as a self -sustainable model with a futuristic view.
In order to optimise use of the GenDiCe the mission is launching helplines for general public and seminars for doctors related to importance and requirements of genetic diagnostics. The centre is planning to provide helplines both on-line and a toll-free number, which would be widely advertised for maximum reach, for the common public as part of efforts to spread awareness about the importance of genetic diagnostics to curb certain related disease otherwise ignored by them.
“Certain health disorders could be identified early only through genetic analysis. For instance, disease like thalassemia and down syndrome could be tracked down through genetic diagnostics, but awareness about such testing methods are less known to public. Our plan is to spread awareness among public as well as train doctors and health workers on genetic diagnostics,” said Madhvi Joshi, joint director, GenDiCe and sector specialist, pharma & healthcare, GSBTM.
The mission will also display a list of common symptoms which calls for genetic testing, through primary health centres and community health centres across the state. The helpline will be providing more information to laymen thus enabling the mission to reach out to more people to make them aware of the need for early diagnosis of genetic disorders.
The mission has developed an extended hands- on - training programme for doctors and researchers on genetic testings for which certain skills are not usually provided for routine tests. The 15-day multi-institutional workshop is expected to take place in September 2010, along with a seminar for doctors on genetic diagnostics, she added.
The mission has launched its first genetic diagnostic centre in collaboration with the Gujarat University in Ahmedabad, early this year for providing tools of biotechnology and modern techniques to improve the life of common masses. The government has sanctioned Rs 40 lakh for setting up the organizational structure of the centre, according to GSBTM reports. The mission has issued Rs 93 lakh out of total Rs 198 lakh project estimate as first year financial support to the centre and the centre has already recruited technical manpower.
The genetic studies would not only diagnose genetic disorders using advanced technologies but also identify genetically predisposed population who are at high risk for the disease, which is lacking in the state presently. No such data for the region is available at present and the study would be first step towards a community based genetic study in Gujarat state. This would not only benefit patients for redesigning their treatment but also will be valuable for the forth coming generations in terms of having vital knowledge about their genetic status for any given disorder and also in managing prophylactic treatment for the same, said the mission.
Further, the mission has also initiated efforts to bring in all the biotech companies in the state under a single platform by supporting formation of an industry association for the biotech companies in the state. The association, which may have the similar nature of the pharma association in Gujarat, would work with the Biotech Mission on various issues faced by the industry for better performance in future.
There are around 116 companies active in state biotechnology segment including pharma and healthcare biotech, agriculture biotech and industrial biotech. Out of this, almost 60 to 65 companies are working on biotherapeutic segment. The biotherapeutic industry in the state is estimated at a turnover of around Rs 450-500 crore, according to the GSBTM Biotech Status Report published earlier.
The mission has also supported various institutes to conduct research on biotechnology in the past. According to GSBTM website, the mission has extended support of Rs 453 lakh to 16 R&D projects to institutions like CSMCRI, Bhavanagar, Dept. Microbiology & Biotechnology, MS University, Baroda, Gujarat Forest Research Institute, Gandhinagar, School of Science, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, GCRI, Ahmedabad, Bioscience Department, Saurashtra University, Rajkot, Hemchandracharya University, Patan, Shree M & N Virani Science College, Rajkot, S P University, Vallabh Vidyanagar and Bio Chemistry Dept, MS University, Vadodara.
The mission has also supported various institutes to establish dedicated research facilities like microarray facility and more than 28 major scientific instruments including protein purification system, RT-PCR, PCR etc along with more than 134 minor instruments in the state. Besides a dedicated facility for cancer diagnostics has been established at Gujarat Cancer Research Institute (GCRI), which is for the first time in India.
The mission, in collaboration with a group of professional clinical research experts, has also established a clinical research training institute, “Shivrath Center of Excellence In Clinical Research” to provide hands on training for the professionals in clinical research management and execution, last year.
"The mission has a vision to attract interest of more firms to set their operations in Gujarat. This requires adequate skilled manpower for the companies to begin their works successfully.
We are interested in developing skilled manpower for clinical trials, research and other related areas in biotech sector," Akshay Saxena, mission director, GSBTM had siad earlier.
Of late, more activities from the mission has been on the education and training segments, through its collaborations with various universities in the state and by using its virtual bioinformatics training module.
The GSBTM has given support to courses like mbtEACH, a multi-institutional teachers training program in molecular biology and bioinformatics to the institutions having "state-of-art" molecular biology facilities and a phase two project of mbtEACH for industrial training in collaboration with the institutes.
Besides, a stem cell training programme to support institutes in organising and imparting stem cell training to the researchers, faculties and scientist of Gujarat, a mentees' bridge – a research mentoring programme for biotechnology researchers, faculties and scientists to develop competitive research proposals supporting the initiation of an externally recognized and funded research programs and an Omics Learning Centre to extend support to the institutions having "state-of-art" molecular biology facilities for organising hands-on training program to its students under Gujarat Genomics Initiative, an umbrella program of state government for molecular biology research and training.
Moreover, the GSBTM is also actively pursuing one of its first project of setting up a biotech park in Savli, Vadodara. The state government had initiated offering land in Savli Biotech Park since April-May 2006 vide the Pre-launch Land Allotment Offer for Phase I. The entire infrastructure for Phase I of the Savli Biotech Park has been developed by GIDC, and GSBTM has been marketing land for the Phase I of Savli Biotech Park.
The Rs 2000 crore biotech park is developed by the Gujarat Akruti-TCG Biotech Ltd (GATB Ltd), a joint venture company of GSBTM, Government of Gujarat in collaboration with the Mumbai-based Akruti City Ltd and The Chatterjee Group (TCG) Ltd. While the first phase of the park would be developed by the mission, the second and third phases are to be completed by the private partners, as per the agreement.