The Centre for Genomic Application (TCGA), India's first and only public-private partnership venture in genomic and proteomic applications, is all set for an aggressive marketing campaign to attract business from Indian research organisations across the country. Aiming at a 100 to 200 clientele in another one year, the TCGA is expecting to market itself as the best facility for high-end biology research.
According to K Narayanasamy, CEO, TCGA, the services consist of a wide array of complete solutions in genomics and proteomics services like High Throughput DNA sequencing, High Throughput Genotyping, Oligo nucleotide synthesis, Microarray services and Proteomics services.
Inaugurated on May 11, 2004, the TCGA is a collaboration between the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, (a CSIR organization), supported by DST and Institute of Molecular Medicine (a Chatterjee Group company). The company is currently drawing its major chunk of work from the SNP consortium consisting of IGIB, IICB, CDRI, CCMB and IMTECH. "We do sequencing and also validations for them," Narayanasamy said.
Apart from this government consortium, there are about 12 customers like Reliance Life Sciences and University of Delhi who have found TCGA extremely useful. The TCGA now intends to expand its network beyond a few institutions to every university and research institution in the country. "Only 30 per cent of our capacity is being utilized now. We need to build up our customer base to make optimum use of the facilities we have. The not-for-profit organisation should break even in a year's time. Universities, state research organisations can all approach us for their services. The researchers attached to these institutions can showcase our facilities for approval of research projects and sanction of research grants," Narayanasamy asserted.
The TGCA would also approach organisations which are taking care of people affected with genetic disorders. "We are going to have talks with Mental Health Research Organisation, agencies that specialises on speech disorder cases etc. We can help them build up a genetic database that may help discover new treatments for the disorders. Our mandate is to bring Indian science into global focus by coming out with solutions for India specific problems," he added.
TGCA has also offers from foreign institutions. Narayanasamy said that at least six multinational companies have shown interest in associating with them. "We offer world class services at a comparatively cheaper cost. That is the attraction. However, we don't intend to sell our services highlighting the cost factor. We are not marketing our facility as a low cost facility. The cost factor has been overplayed. There is a very strong domestic market. We do not want to do low cost outsourcing for multinationals. As our people and quality of service remain good, we would charge our rates. Still it would be cheaper when compared to other countries," he claims.
The TGCA has been in the process of developing protocols for various applications all these months. Now that the protocols are all in place, the institution is all set to go for big business. "We have developed our own protocols and our own software. We have 5 PhDs, and 12 masters in life sciences already in our rolls," Narayanasamy said. The present facility is temporary and would be shifted to a 50,000 sq ft area in a year. The Chatterjee group is putting in about Rs 15 crore to build up the infrastructure.
The new facility is coming up in a 50,000 sq ft area. 12-15 crore would be invested. It should be ready in a year. Such facilities are common in US, he said.