The Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (BRIC-RGCB) has earned a major national endorsement by being selected as one of four Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) hubs for the Metagenomic Syndromic Surveillance Programme under India’s National ‘One Health Mission’. This initiative seeks to solve the persistent challenge of undiagnosed acute febrile illness, encephalitis, diarrhoeal diseases, and respiratory infections.
Aiming to Decode Unresolved Infectious Diseases
The programme integrates clinical syndromic screening with unbiased metagenomic sequencing. By doing so, it enables the simultaneous detection of known, rare, and even novel pathogens that often escape traditional diagnostic methods. Moreover, this approach promises to accelerate the identification of elusive disease-causing agents across the country.
National Collaboration to Strengthen Surveillance
The project will move forward through a multi-institutional collaboration involving the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Tata Institute for Genetics and Society (TIGS), Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), ICMR–NIE Chennai, and the ICMR Headquarters. Together, these institutions aim to create a robust, unified surveillance network.
RGCB’s Key Role in Acute Febrile Illness Surveillance
As the designated NGS hub for acute febrile illness (AFI), RGCB will contribute its advanced sequencing and data-analysis strengths housed within its Bio Safety Level-3 (BSL-3) facility. According to RGCB Director (Additional Charge) Dr. T. R. Santhosh Kumar, the centre will leverage expertise in viral genomics, host–pathogen interactions, and high-throughput sequencing to process thousands of samples from national surveillance sites.
Generating Real-Time Pathogen and AMR Insights
Furthermore, RGCB’s efforts will produce a real-time genomic snapshot of circulating pathogens and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles. These insights will help national agencies detect emerging threats earlier and respond more effectively.
Leadership and Scientific Direction
As per the press release, senior scientist Dr. Rajesh Chandramohanadas will lead the project. He is from the Division of Pathogen Biology and serves as faculty-in-charge of the BSL-3 Lab at RGCB. His team will play a central role in driving high-quality data generation and analysis.
Advancing India’s One Health Preparedness
Through this nationwide consortium, the initiative will generate transformative insights into India’s infectious disease landscape. It will strengthen epidemic intelligence, support the development of indigenous diagnostic panels tailored to Indian pathogen diversity, and enhance preparedness against future outbreaks. Ultimately, it marks a significant step toward building a unified One Health framework that connects human, animal, and environmental health.