Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in partnership with National Centre for Laboratory Animal Sciences (NCLAS) of National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Hyderabad is planning to set up 'The National Animal Resource Facility' of international standards with an investment of over Rs 100 crore on a 100 acre site at Turkapally near Hyderabad.

Many pharmaceutical companies seem to have shown interest in funding for the project, which will be a public-private initiative. The facility is expected to give a boost to the biotechnology sector. The work on the project is likely to begin within two months and is slated for completion by mid 2007.

The pharma and biotech industries can use the drug and vaccine testing centre for carrying out research activities, by paying user charges. The charges are likely to be one tenth of what is being charged by foreign centres for the same kind of facilities. High standards will be maintained as the animals will be 'genetically defined' and pathogen-free, since they will be maintained under quality control conditions.

The resource facility will have full-fledged labs including X-Ray rooms and surgical theatres and large canine exercise areas. ICMR is said to have designed a road map for setting up the new facility.

NCLAS is currently meeting the breeding and experimentation needs of over 180 institutions in the country. Apart from breeding and supplying of animals, the center regularly undertakes quality control of laboratory animal feed and checks the health and genetic background of laboratory animals under its care.

The objectives of NCLAS is to breed and supply genetically and microbiologically defined laboratory animals, to import and supply selected strains of laboratory animals for biomedical research, development of natural mutants for study of human diseases, conducting research in laboratory animal sciences, human resource development by organizing regular training courses, to disseminate information and to serve as a national reference centre and nodal agency on matters related to laboratory animal science and technology.