Union Health Minister and Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya officially unveiled the ICMR-NARFBR (National Animal Resource Facility for Biomedical Research) in Hyderabad's Genome Valley on Saturday. The inauguration ceremony took place in the presence of C Malla Reddy, Minister of Labour and Employment for Telangana.
"For any society to move forward, research and innovation remain crucial aspects. India has given a push to indigenous research and this is reaping benefits for us now. ICMR-NARFBR has the potential to make India a key global player in Biomedical research in the 21st century. Through Provision of quality services in support of biomedical research & training with adherence to highest international standards for human & ethical animal care and use, this resource facility can play a crucial role in improving health and welfare of the nation", he stated during the event.
Dr. Mandaviya further emphasized on government's support for indigenous research and innovation in his address. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi placed a strong emphasis on developing domestic vaccines during the COVID pandemic. When the world was experiencing vaccine scarcity, India stepped up to the plate, and our scientific community showed its mettle by developing those vaccines. With the full support of the political leadership and the mobilization of stakeholders, India's scientific community created these vaccinations in one year, when the import of foreign vaccines would have required 5–10 years", he stated.
The importance of NARFBR can be determined by the fact that studying animals in biomedical research is essential for determining the origins, prognosis, and treatment of zoonotic diseases and agents. The NARFBR is touted to be a premier facility that will ensure the welfare, usage, and care of laboratory animals while doing research.
The newly constructed center will serve as a cutting-edge facility for animal research spanning fundamental, applied, and regulatory disciplines, in addition to ethical animal studies. It will support the development of new researchers' skills and establish procedures for pre-clinical testing of novel medications, vaccines, and diagnostics in the nation, along with quality assurance checks.
The facility, according to Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Director General of ICMR and Secretary of the Department of Health Research, is not only the greatest in the nation but also the largest in the world.
“From the availability of various animals for ethical research to strengthening various processes under one umbrella, NARFBR would be an asset for the country to deal with zoonotic diseases” he added.
