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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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