CDFD - On an innovation drive

P Ram Kumar - Hyderabad

Compassion, when coupled with science, can realise its highest ideal ie; improving the quality of life of the average citizen. This is the lifeline of the activities at the Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD), one of the premier research institutions of India at Hyderabad. Promoted in 1998, the CDFD has grown and gained international recognition for its quality services in DNA fingerprinting and diagnostics for genetic diseases.

New building of CDFD coming up at Gandipet, near Hyderabad

The centre continues to record an increase in the number of cases for DNA fingerprinting, including those for establishment of paternity, identification of individuals, rape, determining biological relationship and wildlife and plant identification. The CDFD activities are broadly divided into genetics, molecular and cell biology, molecular pathogenesis and bioinformatics. ‘‘We are committed to achieving world-class excellence in basic research and simultaneously endeavouring to transfer the benefits of modern biology to every section of the society,’’ says Dr Seyed Hasnain, the first director of the CDFD.

Two of his colleagues, who applied for the prestigious research grant of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of the US, have been given half a million dollar grant for a period of five years. Dr Hasnain says, ‘‘Further, five of my colleagues have been short-listed for grant of one million pound of Wellcome Trust Foundation of UK.’’

The CDFD, with a manpower of over 100, has been allotted a budget of Rs 6 crore per annum. It gets an additional Rs 6 crore as mural grants. An amount of over Rs 1 crore goes towards salary and the rest is spent on research works in the centre.

Database

The CDFD has generated a database for tuberculosis. It has data for over 2000 clinical isolates in the world. As part of ongoing studies on multiple drug resistance in TB, the centre has mapped mutations present in the Indian patient isolates of M tuberculosis with respect to resistance to the four drugs - rifampicin, isoniazid, streptomycin and ofloxacin.

Bioinformatics

The CDFD bioinformatics related services is yet another strength at the CDFD. The European molecular biology network nodes at the centre represents one of the two such nodes outside Europe. More than 25 data banks have been set up on CDFD’s web servers which can be accessed by anyone over the Internet.

Given its leadership role, the CDFD has proposed to the Centre the setting up of a national DNA-profiling advisory committee, duly gazetted body of experts drawn from law, human rights and the community of scientists. This panel will be mandated with the twin objectives of setting uniform standards for DNA fingerprinting in the country to ensure quality control and quality assurance and draft an appropriate legislation relating to DNA fingerprinting for enactment. ‘‘With its twin commitments to excellence in genetic typing and medical diagnostics services, and basic and applied research, the CDFD hopes to take its place as a force to reckon with in the demanding agenda of globally competitive research in the new millennium,’’ adds

Dr Hasnain.