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National Institute of Biomedical Genomics NIBMG
The emerging discipline of genomics is fast becoming an integral part of medicine. It has tremendous potential to address health problems in developing countries. Understanding genomic underpinnings of diseases results in early and more precise risk-prediction, 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-naïve and drug-naïve. 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. 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.
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