Animal cell biobank in India: Union Minister Jitendra Singh inaugurated the country’s first state-of-the-art Animal Stem Cell Biobank and Animal Stem Cell Laboratory at the National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB) in Hyderabad.
Spread over 9,300 sq ft and built at a cost of ₹1.85 crore, the cutting-edge facility will focus on regenerative medicine and cellular therapies for livestock. It houses a stem cell culture unit, a 3D bioprinter, a bacterial culture lab, cryostorage, autoclaves, advanced air handling systems, and uninterrupted power backups to support research in disease modelling, tissue engineering, and reproductive biotechnology.
The National Biopharma Mission (NBM) of DBT–BIRAC will support the expansion of the facility, enabling the biobanking of animal stem cells and their derivatives.
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Hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “futuristic vision” and the rollout of the Biotechnology BioE3 policy, Singh said proactive initiatives like these position India as an early leader in biotechnology. “Like in human beings, the world has begun looking for regenerative medicine and cellular therapies for livestock too,” he said, adding that the facility will strengthen India’s capabilities in this emerging sector.
Singh noted that the future global economy will see greater integration of human, animal, and plant domains, and India is already making significant progress in this direction. He emphasised that biotechnology will drive the next industrial revolution, shifting the economy from manufacturing to regenerative and genetic processes, and India is well-positioned for the transition.
During the event, the minister also launched five innovative veterinary diagnostic tools aimed at transforming animal health management and supporting the ‘One Health’ approach, which recognises the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.
