Lok Sabha Question No. 417 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-27
Subject: National Institute of Biomedical Genomics (NIBMG)
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Shri Jagannath Sarkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No: 417 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.11.2024

## National Institute of Biomedical Genomics (NIBMG)

417 Shri Jagannath Sarkar:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY िवǒान और ŮौȨोिगकी मंũी

be pleased to state:

- (a) the  current  research  projects  being  undertaken  at  the  National Institute of Biomedical Genomics  (NIBMG)  and  their  impact on healthcare and disease prevention in India;
- (b) the  specific  contributions  of  NIBMG  in  the  field  of  genomics  that have led to advancements in personalised medicine and genetic research in India;
- (c) whether the Government has plans to expand the infrastructure or initiate new research programmes at NIBMG in light of emerging global trends in genomics and biotechnology; and
- (d) the  extent  of  collaboration  between  NIBMG  and  international research institutions for joint studies and exchange of knowledge in the field of genomics?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR THE MINISTERY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

## िवǒान एवं ŮौȨोिगकी मंũालय क े राǛ मंũी ( ˢतंũ Ůभार ) (डॉ. िजतेÛ ġ ͧसंह)

(a) The  Biotechnology  Research  and  Innovation  Council  (BRIC)National  Institute  of  Biomedical  Genomics  is  devoted  to  enable genomic  medicine  i.e.  to  elucidate  the  genetic  underpinnings  of  all major  human  diseases,  particularly  those  that  are  of  public-health importance in India, translate research findings to reduce the burden of  disease.  The  research  projects  undertaken  by  the  Institute  aim  to

provide  a  clear  understanding  of  the  disease  and  health;  enabling prediction, prevention, therapy and gain of biological knowledge. The Institute works on cancers, complex diseases, infectious diseases and statistical and computational genomics. Some  of the  prominent projects currently  ongoing at BRIC-NIBMG  are  on  oral  cancer, cervical cancer, breast, pancreatic, colon and lung cancer.

Additionally,  BRIC-NIBMG  is  coordinating  the  recent  One  Day  One Genome Initiative which is aimed at harnessing the Indian microbial potential  of  India  in  line  with  the  BioE3  policy.  Furthermore,  BRICNIBMG is a major centre conducting the Genome India program. This initiative is  aimed  at  creating  a  comprehensive  genetic  database  of the  Indian  population  that  can  contribute  to  the  understanding  of genetic diversity, disease susceptibility and  population health in Indians.

(b) BRIC-NIBMG strives to translate the scientific knowledge  to transform  human  health,  focusing  on  health  and  disease  issues  that are of high relevance to our nation. Some of the specific contributions of BRIC-NIBMG in the field of genomics that have led to advancements  in nalyzing ed  medicine  and  genetic  research  in India are as follows:

- i. A database on mutations in oral cancer in Indian patients have been made freely available to promote translational research. A gene panel has been developed for early diagnosis of oral cancer and leads on development of potential novel therapeutic interventions to treat oral tumours and prevent relapse, are being intensely pursued. A 3D organoid model and cell lines have been developed from oral tumours of Indian patients which will facilitate research on novel therapeutic targets.
- ii. Clinical isolates are being tested with the method, which is more rapid compared to the culture-based method being currently practiced in the clinic. In the ongoing Indian Tuberculosis Genome Sequencing Consortium, the institute has already sequenced 3,053 drug resistant Mtb genomes.
- iii. BRIC-NIBMG has undertaken the first GWAS on women delivering preterm birth in South-East Asia and identified population specific and trans-ethnic SNPs in the GARBH-Ini cohort. A panel of SNPs predicting the risk of PTB have been developed and their potential in early triaging of women at high risk of spontaneous preterm birth is being investigated. Vaginal microbial taxa associated with preterm birth were identified in Indian women providing clues to understand role of vaginal dysbiosis in enhancing preterm birth.
- iv. BRIC-NIBMG scientists have identified 6 SNP/gene signature in Indians that are associated with NAFLD, as well as a 28 gene transcriptomic 'signature' that changes during progression from mild to advanced stages of the disease.
- v. Statistical models and software tools for nalyzing and integrating genomic data have been established and disseminated to accelerate discovery in biomedical genomics.
6. (c) The  infrastructure  of  BRIC-NIBMG  is  being  expanded  to

maintain  the  eminent  position  of  the  Institute  in  genomics  and biotechnology. In particular, many new facilities have been established and existing ones are being augmented. Some of important facilities are given below.

- i. A BSL3 facility has been established. This facility enables BRICNIBMG scientists to study infectious agents that can cause serious or potentially lethal diseases.
- ii. An animal research facility is being established and is on the verge of completion.

(d) BRIC-NIBMG  has  been  engaged with international research organizations  and  participated  prominently  in  international  research initiative.  The  institute  has  been  a  prominent  founding  member  of International Cancer Genome  Consortium  (ICGC)  , Human  Cell Atlas(HCA),  Asian  Immune  Diversity  Atlas  (AIDA),  Multi  Omics  of Mothers and Infants (MOMI) Consortium, Indo- French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research (CEFIPRA) and various international initiatives  on  SARS-CoV-2  genomics  surveillance  including  one  of BRICS countries (NGS-BRICS). Some of the international collaborations in which BRIC-NIBMG is involved in include Welcome Trust  Sanger  Institute  (UK),  ,  Broad  Institute  of  MIT  and  Harvard (USA),  University  of  Chicago  (USA),  Cincinnati  Children's  Hospital Medical Center (USA), University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) (USA),  Genome  Institute  of  Singapore  (Singapore),  RIKEN  (Japan), Mahidol  University  (Thailand),  Samsung  Genome  Institute  (South Korea), National Laboratory for Scientific Computation - LNCC/MCTI (Brazil), Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Russia), Beijing Institute  of  Genomics  (China),  Stellenbosch  University  (South  Africa) and ICDDR, B (Bangladesh).

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