INSACOG facility at IBSD, Imphal
Date : 10th July, 2021 - Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development -

INSACOG facility at IBSD, Imphal on 10th July, 2021

Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium sequencing (INSACOG) facility at IBSD, Imphal

Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Manipur a institute under the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India has been able to establish the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) facility at IBSD, Imphal, which is the first time such an effort has been made in this part of the country.

The facility is being inaugurated today Sri N Biren Singh,Honorable Chief Minister of Manipur in presence of Dr. S. Ranjan Singh, Hon’ble MLA (Advisor) Heath to CM, Dr. Rajesh Kumar Chief Secretary, Govt. of Manipur, Shri V.Valnam, Principal Secretry Heath, Dr. K.Rajo Singh, Director Health Services, Prof. Pulok Mukherjee, Director IBSD, Imphal, other dignitaries.

Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), an autonomous research institute under the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India having its center at Gangtok Sikkim and nodes at Aizwal Mizoram and Shilong, Meghalaya, has been engaged in research activities and numerous outreach programmes to fulfill is mission objectives of Scientific management of the bioresources in the Indian region falling within the Indo-Burma biodiversity.

IBSD has been the instrumental in co-operating with the state Government since the outbreak of the pandemic. The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) is a multi-laboratory, multi-agency, Pan-India network to monitor genomic variations in SARS-CoV-2 by sentinel sequencing effort.

Needless to say, the sequencing plateform/ laboratory within Manipur will be a big leap in our collective fight and understanding of the novel coronavirus that has affected all aspects of our lives. Through this INSACOG network the whole genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 virus across the nation, aiding the understanding of how the virus spreads and evolves.

Any changes to the genetic code, or mutations, can be observed in the samples and provide information to aid public health response to identify the new variants evolving from mutation. Recently, IBSD Imphal, has been approved as one of the regional sequencing laboratories under the pan-India INSACOG network. Team IBSD constituting with the leadership of its Director, Prof. Pulok K Mukherjee, Scientists Dr Nanaocha Shrma (PI), Dr Indira Devi, Dr Pardeep Bhardwaj (Co-PI) and other researchers has been working to establish this facility with support from the Department of Biotechnology, Govt of India.

In view of the increasing realization of disease spread and with the possibility of a third wave, this INSACOG facility has been established to increase the sequencing efforts in this part of the country. In addition, as the reported cases of reinfection and vaccine breakthroughs being recorded, these samples for sequencing assumes importance.

INSACOG also aims to focus on sequencing of clinical samples to understand the disease dynamics and severity. There was no genome sequencing facilities in this part of the country, where IBSD is taking the lead role to establish the facilities with all the instruments required including the sequencing platform for the COVID virus. Now the samples will be tested in the INSACOG sequencing facility at IBSD Campus, Takyelpat, Imphal, where genome sequencing of SARS CoV 2 will be performed for not only Manipur but also for other states of North eastern region of India.

Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD)
Department of Biotechnology,
Government of India,
Takyelpat, Imphal