HUBLI: The Government has sanctioned a research centre for DNA diagnostics to be set up at the Department of Applied Genetics in Karnatak University at a cost of Rs. 3 crore.

Addressing presspersons here on Tuesday, acting vice-chancellor of Karnatak University A. Murigeppa said the main objective of the research centre was to identify hereditary disorders prevalent in north Karnataka region and to conduct advanced research into diagnosis, prognosis and prevention of such disorders by way of pre-natal diagnosis, post-natal diagnosis and screening of newborns for specific disorders.

The research centre would be set up with the guidance of B. Vijay Chandra, Head, Department of Anatomy, Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), T.A. Shepur, Head, Department of Paediatrics, KIMS, M.L. Kulkarni, Head, Department of Paediatrics, JJM Medical College, Davangere, and K. Thangaraj, senior scientist, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad. P.B. Gai, professor and coordinator of Department of Applied Genetics, would head research centre, Dr. Murigeppa said.

Dr. Gai made a slide presentation on the objectives of the centre and the areas of research that it would be dealing with. The centre would be set up within six months, he said.

Approval

Dr. Murigeppa said the university had sent a proposal to the University Grants Commission seeking grants for establishing a central computing facility on the Karnatak University campus for which in principle approval had been given.

KLE Society's PC Jabin College of Hubli and Lingaraj College of Belgaum had been given autonomous status by the University Grants Commission and the university had recommended the case to the Government, he said.

Dr. Murigeppa said the University Grants Commission had sanctioned Rs. 4.05 crore to the university under the 10th Plan.

Of this, Rs. 1.62 crore had been released in two instalments to the university, which had been distributed among central facilities.

Steps to send proposals

For taking up projects under the 10th Plan grants, the university had initiated steps to send proposals to the University Grants Commission under various guidelines, including special courses for women, construction of women hostels, upgrading computer centre in the university and others, he added.

On the academic achievements of the university, he said two postgraduate teachers had received Commonwealth scholarships and 16 had received financial assistance for advance research in various fields.

While S.R. Inamdar, reader in the Department of Physics, had received the "C.V. Raman Young Scientist Award", R.R. Biradar, lecturer in the Department of Economics, was awarded the Young Labour Economist Award.

Dr. Biradar had also received the Sir Ratan Tata Fellowship for this year, he added.

Memorandum

He said the university had entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited, Kaiga Generating Station, for collaboration in research works. At present, 13 department research projects and 53 individual major research projects were on in various departments, he said.

Registrar Vinay Luthra and Registrar (Evaluation) Sanjay Shettennavar were present.

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