The Hindu Business Line : Focus on gene chips & proteomics, says Kalam

The President, Mr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, with (from left) the Senior Director, Sun Microsystems, Mr Bhasker Pramanik; the CDFD Director, Dr Seyed Hasnain; and the Andhra Pradesh Governor, Mr Susheel Kumar Shinde, at the inauguration of the new CDFD, Sun Micro Centre of Excellence for Bioinformatics near Hyderabad on Friday. - Satish H.

Hyderabad , Aug. 5

INDIA has the potential to tap research opportunities in proteomics and bio-chips that can help understand biological processes and treat diseases. This is possible even though the country has missed the opportunity to partner in the human genome project, according to the President, Mr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

He said the Indian biomedical community needed to build partnerships in the ongoing Proteomics Project. He asked scientists to work on tuberculosis, heart related ailments and sickle cell anaemia.

Protemics is the study of proteins (our basic building blocks) expressed by the genome of a cell and would help tackle many diseases that confront mankind.

Mr Kalam addressed senior scientists after inaugurating the Centre for DNA Finger Printing and Diagnostics (CDFD) and Sun Microsystems Centre of Excellence in Medical Bioinformatics and exhorted them to accelerate the national programme on proteomics with partnership from industries and R&D laboratories. He suggested that it be pursued on a mission mode.

After inaugurating the CDFD-Sun Centre, Mr Kalam suggested that the centre take up five major projects. These include characterisation of TB-HIV pathogens and work on related drugs, study genetic reasoning for higher incidence of cardiac diseases among Indians, creation of database on stem cell research, initiate work on sickle cell disease through genomic study as it affects about 25 lakh Indians, and evolution of telemedicine bioinformatics network for education, training and collaborative research.

The Director of CDFD, Dr Seyed E. Hasnain, said that the centre has emerged as a leading research agency in DNA-related research and has transferred technology to about a dozen institutions. It has created a national database for genetics and has partnered with companies like TCS.

The Senior Director of Sun Microsystems, Mr Bhaskar Pramanik, recalled the meeting he and the President of Sun Microsystems, Mr Scott McNealy, had with Mr Kalam about three years ago where they were advised by the President to change the name from Sun Microsystems to Sun nano technologies since that is the future. Though the company has not changed the name, it lays significant thrust on emerging technologies, including nano tech through strategic partnerships.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page