What are the steps taken by ICMR to enhance genomic surveillance and pandemic preparedness?
ICMR establishes a high performing computing facility for this purpose.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has taken several steps to enhance genomic surveillance and pandemic preparedness, including the establishment of a high-performing computing facility. The key measures are:
- Establishment of a state-of-the-art High-Performance Computing (HPC) facility at ICMR-National Institute of Virology, Pune, to analyze large-scale genomic data efficiently.
- Strengthening the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) for coordinated genomic surveillance across the country.
- Integration of genomic data with epidemiological and clinical information for effective tracking of emerging variants and pathogens.
- Development of bioinformatics tools and AI-based platforms for rapid analysis and prediction of outbreaks.
- Capacity building and training programs for scientists and healthcare professionals in genomic techniques.
- Collaboration with national and international agencies to share data and best practices for pandemic preparedness.
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