Latest news with #BIRAC
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Miltenyi Biotec, BIRAC partner to boost cell and gene therapy capabilities
Miltenyi Biotec India and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) have signed a letter of intent for a collaboration aimed at enhancing India's capabilities in cell and gene therapy through capacity building, advancing clinical research and to solve unmet medical needs by local manufacturing of cell therapies. The LOI was signed at the BIO International Convention 2025, which opened this week in Boston, they said in a joint release on Wednesday. German cellular research, cell therapy and cell manufacturing solutions provider Miltenyi Biotec in February had announced plans for a cell and gene therapy centre of excellence in Hyderabad. The partnership with BIRAC is to build national capabilities and upskill scientific talent by implementing structured training and capacity-building programmes for clinicians, researchers and technicians in CGT manufacturing, analytics, and quality control. It is also to expand translational research efforts through co-development of academic and multi-centre studies and set up point-of-care (PoC) CAR-T centres across India using automated manufacturing platforms to enable cost-effective and scalable access to personalised CGT treatments. Their partnership with also promote targeted cell therapy research and support local innovation through the identification and mentoring of Indian startups thus aligning with the Make in India mission by enhancing domestic production of critical and manufacturing components and by supporting development of national CGT COEs. 'Together, we are exploring how to address current unmet needs in medical science, particularly in areas like autoimmune and rare diseases by enhancing access through innovative mechanisms such as point-of-care CAR-T and graft engineering,' MiltenyiBiotec India MD Priya Kapoor-Hingorani said.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
BIRAC in pact with Miltenyi Biotec India to boost India's capabilities in cell & gene therapy
HYDERABAD: In a move aimed at beefing up India's leadership in cutting-edge biotherapeutics such as cell and gene therapy (CGT), the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) has signed a strategic letter of intent (LOI) with Miltenyi Biotec India Private Limited to boost India's capabilities in CGT through capacity building, advancing clinical research and solving unmet medical needs by local manufacturing of cell therapies. The LOI was signed at the BIO International Convention 2025 that kicked off in Boston this week. Through the partnership, Miltenyi Biotec and BIRAC plan to build national capabilities and upskill scientific talent through structured training and capacity-building programmes for clinicians, researchers, and technicians in CGT manufacturing, analytics, and quality control. The collaboration also aims to expand translational research efforts through co-development of academic and multi-center studies, focusing on next-generation therapies to solve India's unmet medical needs in malignancies, autoimmune diseases and rare diseases. It will also establish point-of-care (PoC) CAR-T centers across India using automated manufacturing platforms such as Miltenyi's CliniMACS Prodigy system to enable cost-effective and scalable access to personalised CGT treatments. The initiative will also promote targeted cell therapy research and support local innovation through the identification and mentoring of Indian startups in line with the 'Make in India' mission by enhancing domestic production of critical and manufacturing components, and supporting the development of national CGT centers of excellence. Commenting on the partnership. Priya Kapoor-Hingorani, managing director, MiltenyiBiotec India, said, 'The potential of India draws us. Our partnership with BIRAC focuses on updating and upskilling scientists to strengthen the country's scientific capabilities and infrastructure. Together, we're exploring how to address current unmet needs in medical science, particularly in areas like autoimmune and rare diseases by enhancing access through innovative mechanisms such as point-of-care CAR-T and graft engineering. ' BIRAC managing director Dr Jitendra Kumar said the LOI was inked with Miltenyi, an MNC that is known for its expertise in CGT, as India is aspiring to become a global leader in this space and to achieve that goal it requires a strong foundation of skilled manpower.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Defence Forces bank on Fibroheal-IISc's Hemostatic Sponge to tackle critical injuries
New Delhi: Medical professionals in the Indian armed forces are placing their trust in a homegrown, patented hemostatic sponge to control bleeding caused by accidental, surgical, and field injuries among soldiers. The product, FIBROPLUG , was jointly developed by Fibroheal Woundcare and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, with support from he Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council ( BIRAC ), a public sector undertaking under the Department of Biotechnology (DBT). Under its SBIRI scheme, BIRAC contributed 80 per cent of the funding required for the development of the device. The company has reported a significant increase in product orders from the defence establishment, with more than 3,000 units dispatched in the last five days, and additional orders currently pending. 'The innovation demonstrates the catalytic effect of targeted support and collaboration on India's innovation ecosystem. Through our SBIRI and PCP schemes, BIRAC is proud to have enabled the translation of cutting-edge research into an affordable, world-class healthcare solution addressing the critical need for rapid haemorrhage control ,' said Jitendra Kumar, Managing Director, BIRAC. FIBROPLUG is a patented hemostatic sponge made from a novel bio-composite of silk, chitosan, and silica, designed to create a protective barrier over wounds and enable rapid bleeding control. According to the company, the product is priced at nearly one-fourth the cost of imported alternatives, making it a cost-effective and efficient tool for accidental, surgical, and field injuries—ideal for frontline use during large-scale humanitarian and defence operations. Fibroheal launched the sponge in 2023 and is currently manufacturing it at a capacity of 5,000 units per month.
The Hindu
25-04-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
India's first indigenously developed HPV test kits for cervical cancer screening validated
The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), through its Grand Challenges India (GCI) initiative at BIRAC, has announced the successful scientific review and validation of India's first indigenously developed Human Papillomavirus (HPV) test kits for cervical cancer screening. These test kits, developed by Molbio Diagnostics Limited, Bangalore, and Mylab Discovery Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Pune, are a significant leap forward in improving cancer diagnostics in the country. The HPV point-of-care test kits underwent rigorous validation by a research team at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, in collaboration with the National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (NICPR), Noida, and the National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health (NIRRCH), Mumbai. The validation process also included a partnership with the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The kits, which employ a chip-based RT-PCR testing method, facilitate rapid and decentralised detection of eight high-risk HPV genotypes - accounting for over 96% of cervical cancer cases worldwide. This technological advancement provides an affordable and efficient solution for widespread cervical cancer screening, particularly in resource-limited settings. Jitendra Kumar, Managing Director of BIRAC, underscored the critical importance of accessible and accurate diagnostic tools. 'The validation of Truenat® HPV-HR Plus (Molbio) and Patho detect (Mylab) marks a significant achievement in enhancing cervical cancer screening for women across India. This initiative highlights the strength of indigenous innovation in driving early detection and saving lives,' he stated. Cervical cancer continues to be a major health challenge in India, accounting for nearly 25% of global cases. With more than 1,23,000 new diagnoses and approximately 77,000 deaths annually, it remains the second most prevalent cancer among Indian women, despite being preventable through timely screening. In line with the Global Declaration for Cervical Cancer Elimination, the World Health Organization (WHO) advocates for the transition to HPV testing in all countries. The WHO's goal is to ensure that by 2030, 70% of eligible women will be screened through HPV testing at age 35 and again at age 45, with only two tests required over a lifetime.
