The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : DNA training academy to be set up in Hyderabad

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 05, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

DNA training academy to be set up in Hyderabad

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: A national DNA training academy is being set up here to train jurists, law enforcement personnel and also offer regular courses, including a two-year master's programme on DNA fingerprinting.

This was disclosed to reporters by Syed E. Hasnain, Director, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD), after participating in the FICCI-sponsored "National consultation on draft national biotech development strategy" here on Wednesday. The academy would be set up on its new campus at Gandipet.

Capsule courses

It would impart training in finer aspects of DNA fingerprinting through capsule courses to jurists, practising advocates, police personnel and students.

The aim was to sensitise people on all aspects of DNA fingerprinting, including the legal perspective. He said DNA typing would become a big industry in the near future and the courses to be offered by the academy would help in creating trained manpower to man DNA typing laboratories

The UGC was being approached to confer deemed university status on the proposed institute. CDFD would also have a tie-up with NALSAR.

Call to innovate

Earlier, speaking at the meeting, Dr. Hasnain stressed the need for providing quality education in biotechnology. He said the expertise gained in biotech should be leveraged with other areas, including IPR and financial management.

Krishna M. Ella, Chairman FICCI Biotech Committee, said that innovation and HRD would play a key role in India emerging a leader in the biotech sector. Academic institutions should re-orient courses to produce entrepreneurs and suggested training programme for handling IPR-related litigation.

A. Ashok, Director, Biotechnology, Andhra Pradesh Government, said complete logistical and manpower support would be offered to the proposed DNA training academy.

Deepanwita Chattopdhyaya, CEO, ICICI Knowledge Park, suggested accreditation system for biotechnology parks and wanted the proposed technology transfer cells set up in BT parks.

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