NIBEC DBT-supported Facility For Viral Immunogenicity Testing
National Immunogenicity & Biologics Evaluation Center, a facility supported by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) was inaugurated in Pune.
For assessing the clinical immunogenicity of viral vaccines, a facility, the National Immunogenicity & Biologics Evaluation Center (NIBEC) has begun operations after it was inaugurated through an e-inauguration. The Minister of State; Government of Maharashtra, Dr. Vishwajeet Kadam presided the e-inauguration ceremony, and the facility was inaugurated virtually by Dr. Renu Swarup, Secretary, DBT, Government of India. The facility is established jointly by BIRAC-DBT, the Government of India through the National Biopharma Mission, and Bharati Vidyapeeth University through the Interactive Research School for Health Affairs (IRSHA), its constituent unit.
NIBEC has laboratories of different biosafety levels, it has 10 BSL-1, 4 BSL-2, and 1 BSL-3+ laboratory. It carries out key immunogenicity evaluation tests developed, standardized, and validated for SARS-CoV-2 viruses, chikungunya, and dengue viruses, like the Microneutralisation assay, Plaque Reduction Neutralization Test (PRNT), IgM, and IgG ELISA. The facility set-up in about 10,000 sq ft. The laboratory has already begun to closely associate with institutes engaged in vaccine developments nationally and internationally, and with leading vaccine manufacturing companies in India.
Via video conference, Secretary
, DBT, Dr. Renu Swarup inaugurating the facility said that considering the clinical immunogenicity testing of vaccine candidates particularly with the vaccine for COVID-19 under development in the country, she has very high expectations from NIBEC. She added saying that the development of indigenous vaccines in the country will be accelerated by having domestic capabilities maintaining international standards in this space.Acknowledging and thanking the support of BIRAC and DBT, the Minister of State; Govt of Maharashtra, Dr. Vishwajeet Kadam, speaking on the subject said that it is heart-warming to have support from the Government in the establishment of such a facility at IRSHA.
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NIBEC DBT-supported Facility in Pune for testing viral immunogenicity
