Government takes over Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology

New Delhi, Aug 2 (IANS) Kerala’s Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB) will now be run by the central government, the cabinet decided here Thursday.

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi told newsmen the cabinet presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh decided “to place RGCB as an autonomous institute under the administrative control of the Department of Biotechnology”.


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Following the implementation of the decision “the RGCB will be the only central institute in the area of biotechnology in Kerala”, said Dasmunsi adding “the takeover will have a major role in implementing relevant biotechnology projects in the state as well in the entire southern region.”

The RGCB aims at researching about cancer, human genetics, protein engineering, molecular reproduction, molecular microbiology, and neurobiology and plant molecular biology.

The minister said this would also help RCGB develop into “a national research centre for bio-drug discovery programmes based on the knowledge of traditional systems of medicines prevalent in Kerala”.

It will also help the country “to utilize the institute expertise in cell and molecular biology for developing diagnostic and prognostic markers for disease”.

The move may also help “to provide adequate research and teaching facilities for human resource development in biotechnology,” said Dasmunsi.

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