Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) has commenced two sophisticated projects namely National Bio-safety level 4 Containment Facility for Human Infectious Diseases and Clinical Research Facility for Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicines.

Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Kapil Sibal, here on Saturday, laid foundation stone for these two projects involving Rs 100-crore. The projects will come up on a 5-acre plot, provided by the Andhra Pradesh government at Uppal Industrial Development Area on Taranaka-Uppal main road.

The Department of Science and Technology and Industrial Research will jointly provide funding for both these facilities.

While speaking on the occasion, Sibal welcomed the development of science in Hyderabad, which has already been developed with a number of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies being established. These new facilities under the CCMB would further improve the facilities in the city.

The CCMB scientists would do basic research on HIV, drug-resistant tuberculosis, various types of hepatitis and Japanese encephalitis. They were the causes of major public health problem faced in the country. The CCMB had already recruited a number of scientists and they had already initiated frontline research programmes in this area. More scientists would be recruited, he said.

Many leading pharmaceutical companies agreed to collaborate with the CCMB scientists for development of new diagnostic methods and therapeutic vaccines and drugs. Bio-safety level-4 Facility is designed for handling microrganism that cause human diseases.