Nagaland Minister discusses roadmap for expanding lavender related Agri-entrepreneurship (See 'Corp Brief') MECON Achieves Miniratna Category-I Status with Net Worth Surpassing Rs 535 Crore (See 'Corp Brief') India achieves Major Milestone with Approval of Country's First Procedure for Helicopter Operations (See 'Corp Brief') CCI approves acquisition of equity of Royal Challengers by a consortium (See 'Corp Brief') Trade Marks - While Section 9(1)(a) bars registration of marks devoid of distinctive character, distinctiveness is to be assessed w.r.t the goods & not in abstract; composite marks must be evaluated as a whole: HC (See 'Legal Desk') CCI approves acquisition of shares in Krazybee Services and Finnovation Tech by Mars Equity Dragon Fund (See 'Corp Brief') CCI approves combination of 7 SPVs by Anantam Highways to Build India Infrastructure Fund (See 'Corp Brief') CCI okays combination of Nippon Life by DWS Group GmbH (See 'Corp Brief') CGST Delhi observes GST Pakhwada 2026 with stakeholder outreach (See 'Corp Brief') Arbitration and Conciliation - Writ court's intervention is unwarranted where arbitral award is reasoned, plausible and not perverse in any manner: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Railways approves Rs 499 Crore Mansi-Saharsa Doubling Project (See 'Corp Brief') Five New Sub-Regional Offices of ESIC to be set up across India (See 'Corp Brief') Govt extends full customs duty exemption on critical petrochemical products (See 'Corp Brief') Contempt of Court - Contempt jurisdiction cannot be invoked based on expansive or alternative interpretation of Court's orders - only clear, explicit & willful disobedience can be penalised: HC (See 'Legal Desk') CEA organizes All-India Electrical Safety awareness programme (See 'Corp Brief') Regional industries must become partners in Viksit Bharat journey: RM (See 'Corp Brief') Union Minister reviews MSME Schemes in Ladakh (See 'Corp Brief') Competition Act - Allegation pertaining to a service dispute between a user & a platform service provider w.r.t. subscription management, cancellation of service & compensation, does not come under ambit of Section 4 of the Act: CCI (See 'Legal Desk') MPEDA to organise Second National Seafood Skill Olympiad during Seafood Expo Bharat 2026 (See 'Corp Brief') India's Space and Biotechnology Sectors present new collaboration opportunities: MoS (See 'Corp Brief') IPR - After pronouncement of final judgment and decree under Order XX CPC, Court becomes functus officio and cannot grant liberty for post-decree impleadment of mirror/redirect/alphanumeric websites: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Office of Principal Scientific Adviser signs MoU with Data Security Council of India (See 'Corp Brief') Telangana strengthens Clean Cities Through Behaviour Change and Citizen Action (See 'Corp Brief') IPR - If essential and dominant feature of earlier mark is fully contained in later mark, and later mark is only pluralized form that conveys same meaning, later mark can be held deceptively similar: HC (See 'Legal Desk') JP Nadda To Release Guidelines For 'Anaemia Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan' Today (See 'Corp Brief') A&C - Restraint on alienation of assets cannot be imposed when such relief was neither specifically sought nor argued in Section 17 application: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Environment Minister inaugurates workshop on tiger reintroduction in Sariska (See 'Corp Brief') JP Nadda to unveil healthcare programme for children up to three years (See 'Corp Brief') A&C - Scope of scrutiny u/s 11 is confined to prima facie examination of existence of arbitration agreement & does not extend to adjudication of disputed questions of fact or law: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Tech Innovation and disruption in Construction Industry (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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