SAIL, RITES sign MoU for diesel locomotive leasing and maintenance (See 'Corp Brief') Paswan calls for countering Misinformation on Processed Foods (See 'Corp Brief') Misc - If public authority holds any information in form of data, statistics, abstracts, etc. an applicant can have access to same under RTI Act subject to exemptions u/s 8: IBBI (See 'Legal Desk') Horticulture output reaches 367.72 million tonnes in 2024–25: Chouhan (See 'Corp Brief') SEBI - Contention of Noticees cannot be accepted as ground to seek exoneration qua their liability regarding failure to comply with regulatory limits: SEBI (See 'Legal Desk') HLC on banking to align financial sector growth to Viksit Bharat (See 'Corp Brief') Infra Risk Guarantee Fund to instil confidence in private developers (See 'Corp Brief') Shares buyback to be taxed as capital gains for all categories of shareholders (See 'Corp Brief') IIFT achieves 1st Position in Times B-School Ranking 2026 (See 'Corp Brief') Centre to enable States to establish regional medical hubs for tourism (See 'Corp Brief') Budget lays emphasis on scaling up manufacturing in 7 strategic sectors (See 'Corp Brief') Competition Act - intervention of CCI not warranted where allegations contained in Information are vague, sweeping & unsupported by material particulars necessary to establish contravention of Sections 3 or 4 of the Act: CCI (See 'Legal Desk') Interest accrued on motor accident compensation will no longer attract TDS (See 'Corp Brief') FM proposes uniform MAT Treatment for non-resident opting for Presumptive Tax (See 'Corp Brief') Tax certainty for non-resident individuals (See 'Corp Brief') Govt. revised criteria for Inter-Group loan exclusion from 'Dividend' definition (See 'Corp Brief') FDI Limit in Insurance Sector raised to 100%, subject to full domestic investment of premiums (See 'Corp Brief') Govt to facilitate ICAI, ICSI, ICMAI to run short-term know-how courses for youth (See 'Corp Brief') Government to set up 'BharatTradeNet' as Unified Digital Platform for international trade (See 'Corp Brief') Sovereign Gold Bond Capital Gains exemption to apply only to original holders at maturity (See 'Corp Brief') CSIR-NIO's Vizag Centre to play key role in offshore energy: MoS (See 'Corp Brief') FEMA - Statement recorded u/s 37 of FEMA did not amount to confession of criminal offence: HC (See 'Legal Desk') International Olympic Academy Director impressed by India's vision for sports (See 'Corp Brief') WB ranks India among top 5 in terms of private investment in infra (See 'Corp Brief') SEBI - In absence of explicit permission/exemption with respect to RFQ requirements, Noticee should have suspended its services if it was not feasible to engage large amounts of funds into working capital: SEBI (See 'Legal Desk') Survey: India should focus on application-based AI tools (See 'Corp Brief') IBC - NCLT can't decide title disputes over assets, including IPRs such as trademarks, unless they have direct & proximate nexus with insolvency resolution process: SC (See 'Legal Desk') UNCTAD ranks India as leading economy in trade partner diversification (See 'Corp Brief') The Securities Markets Code, 2025: Strengthened Enforcement, Weakened Accountability? (See 'CORP EINSICHT')

India's First Ferret Research Facility dedicated to Nation

Published: Feb 04, 2025

By TIOLCorplaws News Service

NEW DELHI, FEB 04, 2025: INDIA'S commitment to cutting-edge biomedical research and innovation took a significant leap forward with the dedication of the nation's first Ferret Research Facility, the launch of the GARBH-INi-DRISHTI data repository, and the execution of a key technology transfer agreement. The events, held at the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) in the NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana, were presided over by Dr. Rajesh Gokhale, Director General, Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council and Secretary, Department of Biotechnology on 3rd Feb 2025.

The newly inaugurated THSTI Ferret Research Facility, a state-of-the-art establishment adhering to the highest biosafety and research standards, marks a pivotal moment in India's fight against infectious and non-communicable diseases. This pioneering facility will serve as a crucial resource for vaccine development, therapeutic testing, and research into emerging infectious diseases, significantly bolstering India's pandemic preparedness strategy and positioning the nation at the forefront of global scientific endeavors.

Dr. Gokhale also launched GARBH-INi-DRISHTI, the DBT Data Repository and Information Sharing Hub at THSTI. This groundbreaking platform, developed under the GARBH-INi program, provides access to an unprecedented wealth of clinical data, images, and biospecimens collected from over 12,000 pregnant women, newborns, and postpartum mothers. As one of South Asia's largest maternal and child health databases, GARBH-INi-DRISHTI will empower researchers worldwide to conduct transformative research aimed at improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes. Its foundation lies in collaborative efforts across India's leading research institutions and hospitals, representing a powerful synergy of expertise.

Furthering the drive to translate research into tangible benefits, THSTI executed a Technology Transfer Agreement with M/s Sundyota Numandis Probioceuticals Pvt. Ltd. This agreement facilitates the commercialization of THSTI's innovative, genetically defined synthetic microbial consortium, Lactobacillus crispatus . Isolated from the reproductive tracts of women enrolled in the GARBH-INi cohort, this consortium holds immense promise for nutraceutical applications, promoting overall health and well-being through targeted microbiome-based interventions.

Prof. GanesanKarthikeyan, Executive Director of THSTI, highlighted the institute's strategic role in shaping India's biotech ecosystem, emphasizing its contributions to fostering a robust environment for research and commercialization.

Dr. Gokhale lauded THSTI's commitment to translational research, recognizing the Ferret Facility as a landmark achievement placing India among select nations with such capabilities. He commended the development of GARBH-INi-DRISHTI, emphasizing its potential to empower researchers nationwide in improving birth outcomes. Dr. Gokhale also underscored the importance of technology transfer agreements in driving the biomanufacturing ecosystem and applauded THSTI's efforts in forging industry partnerships for commercialization. These combined initiatives represent a powerful confluence of scientific advancement, data-driven research, and industry collaboration, propelling India towards a healthier and more prosperous future.

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