1st Asian CEPI Pre-clinical Network Facility inaugurated in Faridabad

The Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) 's first Asian "Pre-clinical Network Facility" was inaugurated by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, and MoS Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Dr Jitendra Singh in Faridabad, Haryana, on 16 July 2024.

CEPI’s first Asian and 9th Lab in the World 

The Faridabad-based Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC) – Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) or BRIC-THSTI is the first laboratory in Asia and 9th in the world to be accredited by the  Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.

The CEPI labs are in Europe, Australia, and the United States of America.

Why was BRIC THSTI Chosen?

The BRIC-THSI was chosen for its capability to handle the Biosafety Level -3(BSL3) pathogen. 

BSL-3 Lab conducts research on microbes that can cause serious or potentially lethal diseases through inhalation. Common examples of microbes found in BSL-3 labs include COVID-19, yellow fever, and West Nile virus bacteria causing tuberculosis, etc.

The Experimental Animal Facility in the Faridabad-based BRIC-THSTI is one of the largest small animal facilities in the country. It has a housing capacity of about 75,000 mice, including immune-compromised mice and other species such as rats, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, etc.

About the  BRIC-THSTI

The Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC) – Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) was set up in 2009.

It comes under the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of  India.

The institution adopts an interdisciplinary approach, combining the fields of medicine, science, engineering, and technology to create translational knowledge. Translational knowledge means using the knowledge of relevant stakeholders to improve public health, especially the health of the most disadvantaged people.

Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)

The Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) was founded in 2017 in Davos, Switzerland, to develop vaccines against future epidemics.

It is a venture of the world's public, private, philanthropic, and civil organisations. It focuses on developing vaccines against respiratory diseases such as Ebola Virus Disease, Lassa virus, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus, Nipah virus, Rift Valley Fever virus, and Chikungunya virus. 

It is also developing a library of vaccine candidates for use against known and unknown pathogens.