Bengaluru: A collaboration between Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council’s Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (BRIC-inStem) in Bengaluru and CMC Vellore has resulted in the country’s first human gene therapy trial for haemophilia, officials announced on Thursday.
Haemophilia is a genetic blood disorder in which blood doesn’t clot normally, causing abnormal bleeding.
Union science and technology minister Jitendra Singh reviewed progress in the work during an inspection of facilities at BRIC-inStem. “This is a milestone in India’s scientific journey,” he said, highlighting the institute’s contributions to preventive and regenerative healthcare.
Singh toured BRIC-inStem’s Biosafety Level III laboratory, a critical national facility for studying high-risk pathogens under India’s One Health Mission. “The pandemic taught us that we must always be prepared. Facilities like this will keep us ahead of hazards.” The newly launched Centre for Research Application and Training in Embryology (CReATE) came in for praise for its work on addressing birth defects and infertility through developmental biology research.
