IIT-Madras to set up Cancer tissue biobank
A cancer tissue biobank would be set up on the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) campus, the institute announced on Tuesday.
The biobank, a first of its kind community-based venture, will be the result of a collaborative effort between the department of science and technology (DST), Government of India, and IIT-M.
The DST has awarded Rs 27.81 crore towards the opening this facility at IIT-M. This project will be headed by S Mahalingam of department of biotechnology at the institute.
IIT Madras initiated the biobanking process with Cancer Research and Relief Trust (CRRT), Chennai, and aims at collaborating with several institutions and organizations.
The project also aims at attracting voluntary contribution of cancer tissues by patients, doctors and institutions. Measures will put in place for appropriate collection, transport and storage of such tissues in centralized tissue bank.
This effort has become important with the advent of genomic medicine. This community-based venture will help reflect on cancer incidence, diagnostics and treatment outcomes.
Research institutions with appropriate regulatory approval may have an access to these stored tissue samples and they can identify suitable drug targets and biomarkers. This is aimed at discovering 'personalized treatment' with less side effects, early detection and prevention of cancer.
IIT-Madras has provided a complementary funding of Rs. 3.9 crore in addition to the support from the DST. It will also provide 10,000 sq ft space exclusively for biobank with required storage and security facilities and has an infrastructure to accommodate 25,000 cancer tissue samples initially over a period of five years. Super resolution imaging system, cell sorting facility and next generation sequencing facilities will also be housed in the biobank.
IIT-M will be involved in training, education and research of the next-generation biobanking process. Upon standardizing the system and process within the central facility at Chennai, this process will be duplicated at nodal stations in peripheral areas.
The biobank, a first of its kind community-based venture, will be the result of a collaborative effort between the department of science and technology (DST), Government of India, and IIT-M.
The DST has awarded Rs 27.81 crore towards the opening this facility at IIT-M. This project will be headed by S Mahalingam of department of biotechnology at the institute.
IIT Madras initiated the biobanking process with Cancer Research and Relief Trust (CRRT), Chennai, and aims at collaborating with several institutions and organizations.
The project also aims at attracting voluntary contribution of cancer tissues by patients, doctors and institutions. Measures will put in place for appropriate collection, transport and storage of such tissues in centralized tissue bank.
This effort has become important with the advent of genomic medicine. This community-based venture will help reflect on cancer incidence, diagnostics and treatment outcomes.
Research institutions with appropriate regulatory approval may have an access to these stored tissue samples and they can identify suitable drug targets and biomarkers. This is aimed at discovering 'personalized treatment' with less side effects, early detection and prevention of cancer.
IIT-Madras has provided a complementary funding of Rs. 3.9 crore in addition to the support from the DST. It will also provide 10,000 sq ft space exclusively for biobank with required storage and security facilities and has an infrastructure to accommodate 25,000 cancer tissue samples initially over a period of five years. Super resolution imaging system, cell sorting facility and next generation sequencing facilities will also be housed in the biobank.
IIT-M will be involved in training, education and research of the next-generation biobanking process. Upon standardizing the system and process within the central facility at Chennai, this process will be duplicated at nodal stations in peripheral areas.
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