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Madhan Mohan, T.
- The Largest Distributed Network of Bioinformatics Centres in the World:Biotechnology Information System Network (DBT-BTISNET)
Authors
1 Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai, IN
2 Apex Bioinformatics Centre, Department of Biotechnology, New Delhi, IN
Source
Current Science, Vol 110, No 4 (2016), Pagination: 556-561Abstract
The spread of bioinformatics centres across India is primarily due to the extensive infrastructure and network that was initiated way back in 1980s by S. Ramachandran, the first Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, and is being supported at 168 locations across the country. Presaging the dawn of bioinformatics globally as an integration of informatics and biology, the seeds were sown by the linkage set up by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) led by N. Seshagiri (Director General of NIC), in a remarkable collaboration with DBT. As with biotechnology, strong teaching initiatives by DBT at the post-graduate level across the country helped in the growth. The recent bioinformatics certification examinations and the consequent fellowships are part of a seminal exercise that tries to provide standards in an area which saw unregulated mushrooming growth in the last decade.
Unlike in the USA and Europe, where bioinformatics was nucleated by sequence analysis, in India the strong crystallography and biophysics structural background from the tradition of G. N. Ramachandran resulted in the initial tilt of bioinformatics in India towards structural perspectives. The Biotechnology Information System Network (BTISNET) captured through development of a plethora of databases by the centres distributed across the country recording the diversity of biological resources in the country. The advent of mega sequencing and the large-scale import of genomics and proteomics technologies resulted in the growth of many bioinformatics groups and companies, several of which have connections to the centres of the BTISNET.
Following the bioinformatics policy document, the recent years have seen the nurturing of the North Eastern Bioinformatics Network and also international collaborative ventures with countries in Asia and Europe. The trend of an admixture of experimental and computational biology approaches that are needed for systems and synthetic biology is becoming common and signals the next phase of expansion and integration of the bioinformatics network.
Keywords
Bioinformatics Centres, Computational Biology, Infrastructure and Network, National Databases.Full Text
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- Role of DBT in Promoting Biotechnology-Based Development in North East India
Authors
1 North Eastern Region Biotechnology Programme Management Cell (A programme of DBT, Government of India), A-258 First Floor, Defence Colony, New Delhi 110 024, IN
2 Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology (Government of India), CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110 003, IN
Source
Current Science, Vol 110, No 4 (2016), Pagination: 562-572Abstract
Since 2009-2010, DBT has been making concerted effort towards development of North Eastern Region (NER) of India. Under its Twinning Programme, >300 collaborative research projects are currently underway, between NER institutions and those from rest of the country. Advanced diagnostic infrastructure established in medical colleges/institutions in NER has enhanced quality of disease diagnosis and patient care. Network projects on organic farming, Jhum cultivation, and value addition on cash crops and animal products have benefited the farmers of NER. Centres/ Units of Excellence and Biotech Hubs, established across NER, are promoting quality research, education and training in biosciences.DBT awards National and Overseas Associateships to NER scientists for advanced training at leading institutions in India or abroad. DBT's Visiting Research Professorship programme allows eminent scientists to mentor young faculty in NER institutions. In a unique initiative to motivate young students, DBT provides support for setting up basic biotechnology labs in senior secondary schools in NER. All in all, DBT's NER programme has been relentlessly fostering quality research in biosciences, creating a large pool of skilled manpower, and establishing high-end infrastructure facilities in various areas under biotechnology. Green shoots of biotechnology-led development in NER are now strikingly visible.Keywords
Biotechnology, Centres of Excellence, Research and Development, Network Programmes.Full Text
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