ILS Bhubaneswar one among 10 institutions in country for genomic surveillance for Covid-19

Prameyanews English

Published By : Prameya News Bureau | December 30, 2020 IST

New Delhi, Dec 30: In the backdrop of the emergence of a newly identified variant of the novel SARS Corona Virus in the UK, South Africa and some other parts of the world, Department of Biotechnology (DBT) along with ICMR, CSIR and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare have developed the strategy and roadmap of the National SARS CoV2 Genome Sequencing Consortium (INSACOG). The overall aim of the proposed Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium is to monitor the genomic variations in the SARS-CoV-2 on a regular basis through a multi-laboratory network. This vital research consortium will also assist in developing potential vaccines in the future. The consortium will ascertain the status of new variant of SARS-CoV-2 (SARS-CoV-2 VUI 202012/01) in the country, establish sentinel surveillance for early detection of genomic variants with public health implication, and determine the genomic variants in the unusual events. INSACOG is a consortium of 10 labs namely DBT-NIBMG Kalyani, DBT-ILS Bhubaneswar, ICMR-NIV Pune, DBT-NCCS Pune, CSIR-CCMB Hyderabad, DBT-CDFD Hyderabad, DBT-InSTEM/ NCBS Bengaluru, NIMHANS Bengaluru, CSIR-IGIB Delhi, and NCDC Delhi. Dr Renu Swarup, Secretary DBT informed that as guided by the National Task Force, INSACOG will have a high level Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee Co-Chaired by Secretary, DBT and Secretary, M/o H&FW and representation of ICMR, CSIR and other Govt. agencies. The Steering Committee will provide support, guidance and oversight the progress of the consortium and it will have a Scientific Advisory Group for scientific and technical evaluation and progress monitoring. DBT-NIBMG is Co-ordinating Unit of Genome Sequencing Consortium and will closely work with a Nodal Unit of NCDC on activities like SOPs, data annotation, date analysis, data release etc. NCDC will maintain a database of all samples of the new variants of public health significance. The data will be epidemiologically analysed, interpreted and shared with state/district for investigation, contact tracing and planning response strategies. All the genomic sequencing data will be maintained in a National database at two sites, DBT-NIBMG, Kalyani and CSIR-IGIB, New Delhi.

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