RGCB’s Second Campus to be Named after M S Golwalkar

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
The second campus of Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), which will be a major knowledge centre and hub for mid and high level innovation, is ready for dedication to the nation, Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr Harsh Vardhan announced here today.

“I am happy to understand that this research facility will be named as “Shri Guruji Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar National Centre for Complex Disease in cancer and Viral Infection,” he said while addressing a curtain raiser session of the Sixth edition of India International Science Festival (IISF) scheduled for December 22-25, 2020. The curtain raiser was organized by RGCB.

The upcoming campus will be a unique knowledge centre and hub for mid and high level innovation, founded on deep and advanced level technical platforms, multi-disciplinary courses that will seed growth and innovation, he said in his video message, adding that it is envisaged to be developed in three phases.

Dr Harsh Vardhan said the campus will strive to begin a state-of-the art “Advanced Centre for Molecular and Cellular Therapeutics” that will offer cutting edge technologies, therapies, clinical trials for cancer vaccines and immunotherapeutics. It will also have facilities for therapies such as stem cell replacement, Gene therapy, molecular tumor, targeting and imaging.

The minister said the second campus will also offer to investors, entrepreneurs, biotech and bio pharma companies a state of the art research facility incorporating a unique “test and prove” platform. It will provide all pre-clinical, analytical, toxicological and biological assays to validate a biotech or biological products, besides offering incubation facilities for startups.

“This will contribute to the development of biotechnology in the country, for sure,” he said.

The Minister said India will overcome the hurdles posed by the outbreak of the COVID-19 as the scientists in the country are working very hard and nothing can stop the nation’s onward march.

Noting that “AtmaNirbhar” is the key word for IISF 2020, he said “ the call coined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a vision that the country is following in all good spirit, and I am sure that we will achieve this very soon.”

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Renu Swarup, Secretary Department of Biotechnology, said IISF is a unique event as it celebrates the journey of science in the country by bringing together all those related to realm.

“The pandemic has given us challenges as well as opportunities in the conduct of the event. Since we embrace virtual platform this year, we can virtually connect lot of people and it will reach out to more students”, she added.

Jayant Sahasrabudhe, National Organising Secretary, Vijnana Bharati, said new themes like “science and performing arts” has been added to the IISF this year, considering their scientific and cultural significance.

Dr Chandrabhas Narayana, Director, RGCB, presided over the ceremony. Chandra Prakash Goyal, Joint Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, was present.

IISF 2020is being organized by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in collaboration with Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Department of Biotechnology, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Vijnana Bharati.