Union Minister Jitendra Singh inaugurated a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facility for cellular therapy at the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) in New Delhi. The institute said the new facility will strengthen advanced translational research and accelerate the development of cell-based therapies for metabolic and liver diseases.
ILBS Proposes National Centre for Metabolic Diseases
During the event, ILBS also proposed setting up a National Centre for Liver and Metabolic Diseases. The institute said the centre would bring together research, clinical care, education, innovation, and public health initiatives under one platform. The proposal was presented during the anniversary celebration of the Liver and Metabolic Disease Network (InFLiMeN), which was attended by policymakers, scientists, and international collaborators.
Focus on Early Prevention
Meanwhile, Singh highlighted that metabolic disorders have emerged as a major public health challenge in India. He stressed the need to address paediatric obesity and metabolic diseases through early prevention and also expressed support for establishing the proposed national centre at ILBS.
As per The Economic Times, ILBS Director Shiv Kumar Sarin said India must tackle the growing burden of metabolic diseases through coordinated efforts focused on the five “P’s”—Problem, Population, Policies, Physicians, and Products.
Experts Call for Collaborative Research
Furthermore, Rajesh S. Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, emphasised the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration in research. Former NITI Aayog member Vinod Paul also called for early-life screening and long-term monitoring to reduce the burden of metabolic disorders.
The programme concluded with 17 scientific groups reaffirming their commitment to jointly advance research on liver and metabolic diseases across the country.