The Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), Bhubaneswar has been identified as one of the 16 centres in the country for establishment of bio-repository for Covid-19 clinical samples.
While the current focus of the fight against coronavirus has been on early diagnosis and containment of infection, the Government of India is emphasising on research and development efforts to innovate the much-needed interventions. For development and validation of new diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines, access to various kinds of clinical samples from Covid-19 patients is required.
The Centre has decided to establish 16 bio-repositories across the country, including one at Bhubaneswar. These repositories have been mandated for collecting, storing and maintaining clinical samples (oropharyngeal/nasopharyngeal swabs, bronchoalveolar lavage, sputum, blood, urine and stool) of Covid-19 patients. The designated bio-repositories would use the clinical samples for research and development purpose in their institutes.
In addition, they are also authorised to share the samples with academia, industry and commercial entities involved in development of diagnostics, therapeutics, vaccines, etc., after scrutinising the purpose of the request and ensuring benefit to the country.
ILS Director Dr Ajay Parida has expressed his happiness over the institute being identified for establishing a bio-repository. In the coming days, the designated bio-repositories would develop uniform Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for sample collection, transportation, aliquoting, storage and sharing.
The purpose of sharing clinical specimens by each bio-repository and their intended use would be examined by the National Oversight Committee as well as the Institutional Human Ethics Committee.
“This is very good news for Odisha and ILS; and the State Government will fully support this initiative,” said Pradipta Mohapatra, ACS, Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of Odisha.