Page 78 - Tata-Trusts-Annual-Report-2022-23
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TATA INSTITUTE FOR                                          real-time virus circulation at a community level, thereby
                                                                                        providing a science to policy perspective, a first
                             GENETICS AND                                               comprehensive study in India where real-time data was

                             SOCIETY                                                    utilised by the municipal government for making
                                                                                        policy decisions.
                             The Tata Institute for Genetic and Society (TIGS) was
                                                                                       • Olfactometer set-up for vector control: TIGS has
                             founded in 2017 by the Trusts, as a non-profit research
                                                                                        developed and set up a dual-choice olfactometer that
                             institute for developing solutions to challenges in human
                                                                                        will help screen a wide range of natural compounds. To
                             health and agriculture, to achieve health equity and
                                                                                        facilitate natural compound screening based on Indian
                             nutrition security in India. TIGS is a programme-driven
                                                                                        traditional knowledge, TIGS has combined this assay
                             institute with the vision of applying cutting-edge science
                                                                                        with  a  computer-controlled  air  delivery  system.
                             and technology in genetics and genomics to solve societal
                                                                                        Together, it allows TIGS to deliver natural compounds in
                             problems in  the  country.  Its  research  activities  are
                                                                                        a precise manner to the  mosquitoes and assess their
                             grouped into the following three programmes; namely:
                                                                                        behaviour towards it. This set-up helps in finding better
                             (a) Infectious Diseases; (b) Rare Genetic Disorders; and
                                                                                        and safer repellents and attractants to control
                             (c) Crop Improvement.
                                                                                        vector-borne diseases.
                             KEY ACHIEVEMENTS                                          • Integration of TIGS into the Bangalore Life Science

                                                                                        Cluster (BLiSC): TIGS became an integral part of BLiSC,
                             • Environmental surveillance for SARS-CoV-2:  In India,    comprising the National Centre for Biological Sciences
                               tracking the COVID-19 pandemic relies heavily on testing   (NCBS), Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative
                               symptomatic   individuals  for  the  presence   of       Medicine (inStem) and Centre for Cellular and Molecular
                               SARS-CoV-2 RNA and counting the positive tests over      Platforms (C-CAMP). A unique hub of excellence for
                               time.  Many   SARS-CoV-2    infected  persons  are       biological research in India, BLiSC develops best
                               asymptomatic and are generally not tested by RT-qPCR,    practices for inter-institutional collaborations and
                               leading to underestimation of COVID-19 cases. Infected   infrastructure sharing.
                               and even asymptomatic individuals start to shed the
                               virus via faecal route 4-7 days in advance of symptoms   • Recognition by the Academy of Scientific and
                               and  clinical  testing,  which  means  the  increase  in  viral   Innovative  Research  (AcSIR):  TIGS  is  hosting  a PhD
                               load in sewage water ahead of reported cases can work    program in collaboration with the AcSIR, to create the
                               as an early warning system. TIGS, in collaboration with   next generation of innovators through research. The
                               Biome Environmental Trust, National Centre for           doctoral projects are focused on harnessing modern
                               Biological Sciences (NCBS), has led a longitudinal study   advancements  in  science  for  directly  addressing  the
                               (ongoing since August 2021) across 28 Bengaluru sewer    most pressing needs of society.
                               shed sites, under the Bangalore Water Supply and
                               Sewage Board (BWSSB), capturing data from more than     • Collaborative  networks    and    multi-stakeholder
                               11 million people, as a key partner of the Brihat Bengaluru   engagements: To take forward the outcomes of its
                               Mahanagara   Palike  (BBMP).   TIGS’s  model    of       research, TIGS ensures stakeholder buy-in from the
                               wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) complements          beginning, and has begun collaborative work with over
                               the routine diagnostic surveillance by capturing near    30 di erent agencies, including  the government and




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