Lok Sabha Question No. 930 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-18
Subject: COVID-19 Biorepositories in India
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Jayanta Kumar Roy, Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo, Bhola Singh, Vinod Kumar Sonkar, Raja Amareshwara Naik, Sukanta Majumdar, Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.  930 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18/09/2020

## COVID-19 Biorepositories in India

930.    DR. JAYANTA KUMAR ROY:

SHRI BHOLA SINGH:

SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR:

SHRI RAJA AMARESHWARA NAIK:

DR.SUKANTA MAJUMDAR:

SHRIMATI SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) Whether the Government has established the largest network of five dedicated COVID-19 Biorepositories in India; if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  successfully  completed  pan-lndia  1000  Genome sequencing of SARS- CoV-2; if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the sequence data has been released in Global Initiative on Sharing AlI Influenza Data (GISAID) for use by researchers across the Globe:
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the  details  and  status  of  Corona  virus  vaccine  development  along  with  its distribution and immunization plan; and
- (f) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## HON'BLE UNION MINISTER FOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, EARTH SCIENCES AND HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE

(DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a) Yes  Sir,  5  National  COVID-19  Bio-repositories  have  been  established  by  the Department of Biotechnology (DBT). This is a part of the Network of 16 COVID-19 biorepositories  established  in  the  country  by  Department  of  Biotechnology,  Indian Council of Medical Research and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. The

list  of  biorepositories  can  be  accessed  at  https://www.icmr.gov.in/cbiorn.html.  The repositories are collecting clinical and viral samples. So far, 44452 clinical samples and 17 viral isolates have been collected which are accessible to researchers and industry for developing diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines.

(b) Yes,  the  Pan  India  1000  SARS-CoV-2  RNA  Genome  Sequencing  has  been successfully completed and announced on 1st August, 2020 by the Department of Biotechnology. This was led by National Institute of Biomedical Genomics (NIBMGKalyani),  West  Bengal,  an  Autonomous  Institute  of  Department  of  Biotechnology, along with five other National clusters; clinical organizations and other hospitals.

(c) & (d) Yes, these sequences have been uploaded on Global Initiative on Sharing All  India  Influenza  Data  (GISAID)  for  use  by  researchers  across  the  globe.These sequences  have  been  uploaded  under  the  'Pan  India  1000  SARS-CoV-2  RNA Genome Sequencing Consortium'. The link for GISAID website is https://www.gisaid.org. These are now available for use by researchers.

(e) & (f) Nationally, nearly 30 vaccines candidates are under development, by both industry  and  academia.  These  vaccines  are  in  different  stages  of  pre-clinical  and clinical  development  of  which  3  candidates  are  in  advanced  stage  of  Phase  I/II/III trials  and  4  are  in  advanced  pre-clinical  development  stage.  Support is  also  being extended for development of vaccine associated research resources, establishment of clinical trial sites and notifying enabling regulatory guidelines.

A high level expert group is looking into matters related to vaccine distribution and immunization.  The  distribution  and  immunization  of  the  coronavirus  vaccine  are subject  to  availability.  Once  available  the  Corona  virus  vaccine  distribution  follows the  same route as for the  current  practice  of  vaccines  distribution under Universal Immunization Program (UIP).