The Institute of Life Sciences (ILS) with research laboratories spread over 120,000 sq ft (Phase I) is nearing completion on a 20-acre site within thecampus of University of Hyderabad. Scientific activity at ILS will begin during January-March, 2007.ILS will carry out both internal and industry sponsored research. ILS will seek an additional 10 acres land from the University in due course of time.

Dr Reddy's Laboratories contributed Rs 10 crore initially and a further Rs 10 crores subsequently towards setting up the research facilities. The APState Government has simultaneously announced Rs 10 crores and has already released a sum of Rs 2 crores towards this initiative.

The Phase I of ILS will have four modules including a research directorate and support facilities. These modules will be operational in a phased manner during 2007-08. ILS will be developed as a world class research organization along the lines of Weizman Institute of Science, Israel Scripps Research Institute, USA.

ILS is planning to appoint soon thought leaders, principal investigators and senior scientists.ILS has organized a meeting on March 25, 2006 atHyderabad where 35 young scientists from across the country met and discussed major challenges in promoting modern life science research.

The Institute is being developed on a public-private partnership route. The mission of ILS is to improve human health through the application of integrated disciplines of life sciences. ILS has been accorded recognition as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (SIRO) by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. This recognition enables obtaining competitive research grants and importing equipment and consumables at concessional duties.

ILS will pursue advanced scientific research with a purpose, Dr A Venkateswarlu Director of ILS said. ILS has initiated talks with Indian and overseas pharma companies for cooperation and collaboration, including companies like Novartis, Novo Nordisk and Sun Pharma, he informed.An Intellectual Property Management unit will be established at ILS, to ensure that IPs of collaborating partners with the Institute are protected.

The Institute of Life Sciences was formed in 2004, as a not-for-profit-company. The Board of Directors at ILS comprises- Dr K Anji Reddy, chairman, Dr Reddy's Laboratories as the chairman of the Board; Prof D Balasubramanian, Director of Research, LV Prasad Eye Institute; Vice-Chancellor, Dr Syed E Hasnain (Ex-Officio), University of Hyderabad;Lakshmi Parthasarathy, Secretary, Industries, Government of AndhraPradesh; GV Prasad, Vice-chairman and CEO, Dr Reddy's Laboratories; and Dr A Venkateswarlu, director of ILS.

A Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) will also be constituted with eminentscientists in Life Sciences drawn from across the globe. The SAB will adviseon scientific programs, help establish a road map for ILS and also extendassistance to network scientific thought leaders, review scientific progressand attract top scientists to work at ILS.

The objectives of establishing ILS is to understand molecular mechanisms involved in development and progression of disease, translate this understanding into creation of new knowledge for discovering novel therapies, integrate chemical and biological sciences in pursuit of fundamental scientific advances, train researchers to meet growingscientific challenges of Life Sciences Industry and provide a platform for interaction and collaboration between industry and academia, Dr Venkateswarlu explained.

Research at ILS will embrace an array of disciplines in life sciences such as genomics, proteomics, medicinal chemistry, discovery biology, molecular biology, molecular modeling and drug design and pharmacology. The research will focus on finding solutions for cancer, infections diseases andmetabolic / cardiovascular disorders.