The Hindu Business Line : Avesthagen to build Rs 125-cr Parsi database

Bangalore March 20 Avestha Gengraine Technologies Pvt Ltd has announced a new project, Avestagenome, to build a complete genetic, genealogical and medical database of the minuscule but high-profile Parsi community.

The Rs 125-crore project will be conducted over five years and will be steered by eminent community members including industrialists, scientists, clinicians and others, according to a company release here.

Dr Villoo Morawala Patell, Founder and Managing Director of the Bangalore-based Avesthagen, said, "Avestagenome is a path-breaking project which would be instrumental to establish linkage between genes, disease and environmental factors. It would help us predict diseases and would play a catalytic role in development of new therapies and diagnostics."

"Parsi Zoroastrians, who now number about 69,000 in India, are an in-bred population resulting from the discouragement of inter-community marriages. Such in-bred populations are required to more accurately implicate inherited genes for diseases," the release said.

The database would provide vital information on the Parsi community as also for all humanity.

Avesthagen and its partners will collect samples from the community members along with complete genealogical and medical information. The samples will be processed at Avesthagen's sophisticated genomics facility to identify the causative genes.

Avesthagen's bio-informatics channels will statistically analyse the data and create the database.

NEW PREMISES

It has begun construction of Avesthagen-One, its new 14-storey `leafy' corporate headquarters and R&D centre, at the International Technology Park, Whitefield, near here.

The 2,50,000-sq ft building will be five times larger and has been designed by Hafeez Contractor.

Currently, the 250-strong Avesthagen operates from a 50,000-sq ft premises at ITPL and plans to add 400 more in 6-9 months.

More Stories on : Announcements | Science & Technology

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