National Institute of

Biomedical Genomics
(NIBMG)
Kalyani, Nadia
West Bengal

An Autonomous Institute
of
Department of Biotechnology
M/o Science & Technology
Govt. of India
New Delhi

Preamble:
The emerging discipline of genomics is fast becoming an integral
part of medicine.
problems

in

It has tremendous potential to address health

developing

countries.

Understanding

genomic

underpinnings of diseases results in early and more precise riskprediction, that opens up the possibilities of prevention and therapy.
India has a multitude of genetically diverse, unadmixed and isolated
population groups, large population and family sizes. There have been
phenomenal improvements in India within the past decade in the
availability of medical technologies for diagnosis and clinical evaluation.
These facts make India a fertile ground for gene-hunting, and
validation of results from genome-wise association and linkage studies
obtained elsewhere. Further, India is experiencing an epidemiological
transition. Infectious and early childhood diseases are declining and
the prevalence of non-communicable diseases is increasing. This phase
of transition can be exploited for estimating gene-environment
interactions.

In addition, large sections of the Indian society are

vaccine-nave and drug-nave. This feature is very useful for studying

host-immune

response

to

vaccines

and

pathogens,

and

for

pharmacogenomic studies. Taking cognizance of these, discussions

were initiated to undertake

a concerted and focused effort in

conducting research, translation, capacity-building & service in

biomedical genomics through establishment of a dedicated institute.
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Current research and capacity-building efforts in the country in

biomedical genomics are sub-optimal to make genomics based medicine
a reality.

The grand vision is to provide predictive, preventive,

personalized, and therapeutic health care through the use of genomic

knowledge.
The establishment of the National Institute of Biomedical
Genomics (NIBMG) was taken up by the Department of Biotechnology
(DBT), Ministry of Science & Technology, as per the commitment made
in the National Biotechnology Development Strategy. A detailed
expert consultation process both at national and international levels
resulted in convergence of ideas which greatly helped to draw the
strategic plan and design the proposal for creation of the Institute
appropriately. The Union Cabinet has accorded approval on February
23, 2009, towards establishment of this institute at Kalyani (near
Kolkata), District Nadia, West Bengal.

To enhance knowledge on human health & disease through

genomics.
Translate the knowledge using appropriate technologies
for promotion of well-being and improvement of geneticsbased health care.

Mission:
To create necessary physical infrastructure to serve as
the expert base for the principles and practice of
biomedical genomics.
To conduct and promote cutting edge research in
biomedical genomics for better understanding of public
health need
Capacity building in biomedical genomics.

Objectives:
(a) To conduct and promote cutting-edge research in biomedical
genomics of current and future medical relevance for the nation.
(b)To provide basic research evidence using biomedical genomic
approaches for betterment of public health programmes and
services.
(c) To establish state-of-the-art infrastructure for genomic and
proteomic analyses, with the explicit goal of improving public
health in India through use of genomic knowledge and
technologies.
(d)To seed research, education, translation and service networks
among clinicians and researchers from different disciplines for
promotion of better public health through the establishment of
genomics infrastructure in hospitals and medical colleges.

(e) To anchor young talent on the national soil and build capacity in
Biomedical

Genomics,

through

organizing

specialized

Post

Graduate courses, specialized training programmes and Ph.D.

courses in Medical Biotechnology, Human Genetics, Molecular &
Genetic Epidemiology and to facilitate their early participation in
research, translation and services for promotion of geneticsbased healthcare.
(f) To have academic affiliation with a University / Deemed
University or seeking a Deemed University status for award of
degrees.
(g) To enable better understanding of new medical biotechnologies
to permit faster but more discriminating uptake by health care
providers.

Programmes & Activities:

1.

Research Programmes of the Institute will focus on large-scale

genetic epidemiological studies on diseases of relevance to India,

which

will

include

mapping

genes

for

diseases

and

disease-

susceptibilities, estimating gene-environment interactions, evaluating

mutational spectra, host-pathogen interactions, mechanisms of disease
precipitation, etc. Various inter-disciplinary Cores that will comprise
advanced technology platforms and skilled manpower will form
backbone of the Research Programme, include:

i)

Clinical Core that will comprise of clinicians responsible

for collection of high-quality information on each patient
which is crucial so that clinical subgroups of patients can
be formed to reduce heterogeneity.

ii)

BioSpecimen Core for standardizing and streamlining the

process of bio-specimen collection, processing and storage
will form the bedrock of basic research and facilitate
rapid translation process.

iii)

Clinical Biochemistry & Pathology Core for generating

high

quality

activities.

data
High

from

research

quality

clinical

and

translational

biochemistry

and

pathological data or known biomarkers of the major

diseases are essential for defining clinical sub groups.
Faculty of this core will work in close collaboration with
accredited pathology laboratories.
iv)

Genomics Core that will undertake cuttingedge research

in genomics as susceptibility to every common and chronic
disease is determined by many genetic variants.

It is

essential to precisely map these genetic variants and

chromosomes and to estimate relative risks conferred by
each of these variants to the disease under study. This
core will also be engaged in identifying candidate genes to
be searched for variants and carrying out genotyping of

DNA samples, and will work closely with Statistical and

Computational Biology Core.
v)

Proteomics Core that will aim to carry out cuttingedge

research in proteomics which can lead to identification of
biomarkers. This research can also find alterations in
proteins among patients and identification of candidate
genes in which a search for variants needs to be mounted.
The Genomics and Proteomics Cores will also provide
expert consultations to diagnostic centres and biotech
industry in the development and implementation of biomarker based diagnostics as a potential translational
activity of the Institute.

vi)

Molecular and Cellular Biology Core that will aim to

understand of the process of pathogenesis and to identify
possible drug targets. It is also important to perform
detailed molecular and cellular biology experiments for
functional biology studies of relevance to both basic and
translational research. In addition, it will also undertake
research in frontier areas such as stem cell biology and
tissue re-engineering.

vii)

Statistical & Computational Biology Core that will engage

in statistical design of studies undertaken, database
design and maintenance, statistical and bio-informatic
analyses,

and

development

of

new

statistical

and

computational methodologies. It will also perform in-silico

screening of molecules from the view point of translation
of research findings.

Clinical

Biochemi
stry &

Educat
ion &
Outrea
ch

Patholo
gy

Molecul
ar &
Cellular
Biology

NIBMG
Genom
ics

Populat
ion
Science
s

Inter-disciplinary
Cores

Statistic
al &
Computati
onal

Biology

2.

Proteo
mics

Biospecim
en &
Clinica
l
Resour
ce

Training & Education Programme

The need to impart education in Biomedical Genomics is of paramount

importance, both for basic and translational research. The Institute
will impart under-graduate and graduate training programmes in the
following courses.
Refresher & Special Courses will be conducted for students
and faculty members of colleges including medical colleges and
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Universities which will comprise of different modules. These will

be upgraded to certificate and Degree courses over time. The
courses could be on design of genetic epidemiological studies,
molecular identification of diseases, analysis of case control
studies, linkage analysis etc. to be conducted jointly with medical
schools/ universities.
Certificate
Counselling:

Course

in

Medical

Genetics

and

Genetic

The importance of genetic counseling is stellar in

medical genetics practice.

Concurrently NIBMG will start

courses in medical genetics as well as these are complimentary to

each other. Genetic counselling is a specialized multi-disciplinary
activity and requires knowledge of genetics, modern biology,
probability, psychology, ethics, etc.

At present clinicians and

biologists often provide genetic counseling which is inappropriate

from both academic and ethical standpoints.

Therefore

introduction of the Course is important. The demand for medical

geneticists and genetic counsellors in India is bound to increase
as DNA based diagnostics and genetic screening will become
more popular in future.
Certificate Course on Methodology of Clinical Trials:

India

has become an attractive destination for the conduct of Clinical

Trials considering the fact that our population groups are very
diverse and vast majority is drug nave; and more importantly on
cost considerations. The design and conduct of various phases

of clinical trials is a specialized activity, both in terms of

statistical and medical content. Further, there are ethical and
legal issues associated with the conduct of clinical trials. The
demand for expertise in the design and conduct of clinical trials
is rapidly increasing in India. The Institute will fill this demand
by conducting a certificate course, in collaboration with relevant
institutions.
Gifted Student Programmes:

Undergraduate and graduate

students will be specially nurtured and mentored by the faculty

members of NIBMG by integrating them into research projects
and training them to meet deadlines and on creation of
intellectual property. These programmes will be conducted
jointly with relevant and appropriate institutions.
Industry Training Programme: Training programmes in medical
biotechnology and genetics will be conducted for relevant
biotech industries, including the pharmaceutical industry.

3.

Alliances
Recognizing the facts that medical genetics cuts across various
disciplines of science, and it is not possible to bring in all the
expertise required for cutting-edge research and education in
medical genetics, a Star Alliance will be formed to create synergy
and symbiosis, as described below. The synergy will arise from the
value-addition provided by various partners of NIBMG.

It is

believed that ultimately these alliances will become so interwoven

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that NIBMG and its partners will become completely dependent on

each other for carrying out their research.

Such symbiotic

relationships are essential to good science.

Education Alliance
With Colleges, including Medical Colleges, Universities
and Institutes

Translation &
Services
Alliance

Clinical
Alliance

With Hospitals &

District-level
Health Centres

NIBMG
STAR
ALLIANC
E

With Clinics, Diagnostic Labs,

Labs, Pharma and Biotech
Industry

Synergy and
Symbiosis

Molecular Biology
Alliance
With Institutions & Universities;
Biotech service-providers & Industry

Statistical &
Computational
Biology Alliance
With Research Institutions, Software
Industry

Education Alliance: This alliance is required for the success of the

educational programmes to be implemented by NIBMG. This alliance
will primarily comprise of colleges and universities in eastern and
northeastern India. Refresher and Special courses will be conducted
for students and faculty members of colleges and universities in a
modularized way. These courses will be upgraded to Certificate and

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Degree Courses over time and will be conducted jointly with relevant
institutions.

Clinical Alliance:

Since it will not be possible to retain in-house

super-speciality clinicians, this Alliance will comprise super-speciality

clinicians from other hospitals to provide expert clinical advice.

Bio-specimen Alliance: This Alliance will be formed with all hospitals

and district health centres in the epidemiological hinterland of
NIBMG.

Molecular Biology Alliance: This Alliance will be formed with relevant

departments of the universities and institutions. Alliance will also be
forged with service-oriented centres, in order to gain access to
certain technologies and expertise that may be unavailable in NIBMG.

Statistical & Computational Biology Alliance:

This alliance will be

formed with some major for collaboration and also to provide expert
advice and guidance.

Organization Structure:
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The

Institute

will

be

an

autonomous

body

under

the

administrative control of the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry

of Science & Technology, Government of India. The legal status of the
institute will be a society registered under the Societies Act XXI of
1860 and will be governed by the Governing Body. The Finance,
Scientific Advisory, Clinical Translation Advisory Group and Building
Committees shall be advisory bodies to the Governing Body. Advice on
research, education and translation programmes will be provided by a
Scientific Advisory Group and a Clinical Translation Advisory Group.

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ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE
Governing Body

Scientific Advisory
Committee

Research Alliance
with
Hospitals and
Other Institutions

Director

Associate
Director
of Research

Associate Director
of Training &
Education

Leaders of
Research Cores

Faculty Members

Clinical Translation
Advisory Committee

Associate Director
of Translation
Services

Alliances with
Hospitals,
Diagnostic
Labs

Leaders of Translation
& Service Cores
Education Alliances
with
Medical Colleges,
Universities & Other
Educational
Institutions

Faculty Members

Location:
West Bengal offers a diverse epidemiological hinterland and a patient
base that extends to the north-eastern region of India. The state
has been in the forefront of medical and human genetics research
imparts high-quality education and harbours high-end knowledge base.
The location of NIBMG at Kalyani, District Nadia, West Bengal to
provides requisite environment to perform cutting edge research.
The proposed location is within the cluster of hospitals and
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institutions like Indian Institute of Science Education & Research

(IISER) and West Bengal University of Technology (WBUT) in the
vicinity. Besides, Kolkata has many renowned institutions and hospitals
of relevance for research and education in Biomedical Genetics, which
will provide important sources for down stream linkages with the
NIBMG.

This National Institute will be on a 30-acre campus,

comprising academic buildings, laboratories, auditoria, faculty and

student housing and guest houses.

Map of India

HARANA
DE

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Map of West Bengal

16

Map of Nadia

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Map of Kalyani

NIBMG

Current Status:
The Union Cabinet has been accorded approval.
Actions have been initiated for Society registration,
constitution of various committees, Staff appointment,
interim space, building construction etc.
For further details please contact:
Nodal officer
Email: nibmg.dbt.knwbind@gmail.com
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