Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotech in Kerala made autonomous

New Delhi, Aug 2 (UNI) The Centre today declared the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB) in Thiruvananthapuram as an autonomous institute under the administrative control of the Department of Biotechnology to promote advanced research in cancer, neurobiology and other frontier areas of the subject.

The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi told reporters.

RGCB would be the only central institute in the area of biotechnology in Kerala. The takeover would have a ''major role'' in implementing relevant biotechnology projects both for the state and for the region as a whole.

Among the aims and objectives of RGCB are transnational cancer research, human genetcs, protein engineering, molecular reproduction, molecular microbiology, cancer research, neurobiology and plant molecular biology.

The institute would be a national research centre for bio-drug discovery programmes based on the rich knowledge of traditional systems of medicine prevalent in Kerala.

The institute's expertise would be utilised in cell and molecular biology for developing diagnostic and prognostics markers for disease, drug development and utilisation of biomarker data for developing diagnostic kits for better and early disgnosis of cancer and infectious diseases.

The takeover would facilitate adequate research and teaching facilities for human resource development in biotechnology by offering doctoral programmes and short term courses and training for post-graduates in science, medicine and engineering.

The institute would interact and develop collaborative research programmes in these specified areas with other reputed national and international organisations.

UNI