The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology ( hi, कोशिकीय एवं आण्विक जीवविज्ञान केंद्र, IAST: ''Kośikīya evam āṇavik jīvavijñāna kendra'') or CCMB is an Indian fundamental

life science Life is a quality that distinguishes matter that has biological processes, such as signaling and self-sustaining processes, from that which does not, and is defined by the capacity for growth, reaction to stimuli, metabolism, energy t ...

research establishment located in

Hyderabad Hyderabad ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana and the ''de jure'' capital of Andhra Pradesh. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River, in the northern part of Southern India ...

that operates under the aegis of the

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research ( IAST: ''vaigyanik tathā audyogik anusandhāna pariṣada''), abbreviated as CSIR, was established by the Government of India in September 1942 as an autonomous body that has emerged as the ...

. CCMB is a designated "Centre of Excellence" by the Global Molecular and Cell Biology Network,

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...

. The center collaborates with the

University of Nebraska Medical Center The University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) is a public academic health science center in Omaha, Nebraska. Founded in 1869 and chartered as a private medical college in 1881, UNMC became part of the University of Nebraska System in 1902. R ...

for translational research on

glaucoma Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that result in damage to the optic nerve (or retina) and cause vision loss. The most common type is open-angle (wide angle, chronic simple) glaucoma, in which the drainage angle for fluid within the eye rem ...

. In addition, the centre receives funding for specific collaborative projects from establishments outside India, such as the

National Institutes of Health The National Institutes of Health, commonly referred to as NIH (with each letter pronounced individually), is the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and public health research. It was founded in the late ...

Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School (HMS) is the graduate medical school of Harvard University and is located in the Longwood Medical Area of Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1782, HMS is one of the oldest medical schools in the United States and is consi ...

and the

Massachusetts Institute of Technology The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private land-grant research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Established in 1861, MIT has played a key role in the development of modern technology and science, and is one of the ...

in the United States, the

Imperial Cancer Research Fund Cancer Research UK (CRUK) is the world's largest independent cancer research organization. It is registered as a charity in the United Kingdom and Isle of Man, and was formed on 4 February 2002 by the merger of The Cancer Research Campaign and t ...

and

Cambridge University The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209 and granted a royal charter by Henry III of England, Henry III in 1231, Cambridge is the world' ...

in the United Kingdom, the India-Japan Science Council and the University of Ryukyus in Japan, Centre Nationale de la Recherche Scientifique and the

Pasteur Institute The Pasteur Institute (french: Institut Pasteur) is a French non-profit private foundation dedicated to the study of biology, micro-organisms, diseases, and vaccines. It is named after Louis Pasteur, who invented pasteurization and vaccines ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

and the

Volkswagen Volkswagen (),English: , . abbreviated as VW (), is a German motor vehicle manufacturer headquartered in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, Germany. Founded in 1937 by the German Labour Front under the Nazi Party and revived into a global brand post-W ...

Foundation in

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

History

CCMB was set up initially as a semi-autonomous Centre on 1 April 1977 with the Biochemistry Division of the then Regional Research Laboratory (presently,

Indian Institute of Chemical Technology The CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology is a national-level research center located in Hyderabad, Telangana, India under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). IICT conducts research in basic and applied chemistry, bio ...

, IICT) in

Habsiguda Habsiguda is a neighbourhood in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. It is located at the eastern end of the city between Tarnaka and Uppal. It forms Ward No. 7 of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation. History of Habsiguda The origin of the name ...

, Hyderabad forming its nucleus and Dr P M Bhargava heading the new Centre. Earlier, the Governing Board of the

(CSIR)

New Delhi New Delhi (, , ''Naī Dillī'') is the capital of India and a part of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT). New Delhi is the seat of all three branches of the government of India, hosting the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parliament Ho ...

, the apex body which constituted 44 research institutions (now 38) in the country, approved the proposal in 1976 to establish such a Centre in view of the importance of research in the frontier and multi-disciplinary areas of modern biology. During 1981–82, the CCMB was accorded the status of a full-fledged national laboratory with its own Executive Committee and Scientific Advisory Council. With major expansion plans, it was decided to relocate the centre to a spacious campus.

Former directors

The list of former directors.

Research

The ongoing research programmes at the CCMB are in three major categories – high quality basic research in the frontier areas of modern biology, research relevant to societal needs, and application-oriented research towards commercialization. These include the areas of evolution & development, gene regulation in

prokaryote A prokaryote () is a single-celled organism that lacks a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles. The word ''prokaryote'' comes from the Greek πρό (, 'before') and κάρυον (, 'nut' or 'kernel').Campbell, N. "Biology:Concepts & Conne ...

s and eukaryotes, host-parasite interactions,

membrane biology Membrane biology is the study of the biological and physiochemical characteristics of membranes, with applications in the study of cellular physiology. Membrane bioelectrical impulses are described by the Hodgkin cycle. Biophysics Membrane biop ...

protein structure Protein structure is the three-dimensional arrangement of atoms in an amino acid-chain molecule. Proteins are polymers specifically polypeptides formed from sequences of amino acids, the monomers of the polymer. A single amino acid monom ...

, stem cell biology,

neurobiology Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system (the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system), its functions and disorders. It is a multidisciplinary science that combines physiology, anatomy, molecular biology, developme ...

, bioinformatics,

functional genomics Functional genomics is a field of molecular biology that attempts to describe gene (and protein) functions and interactions. Functional genomics make use of the vast data generated by genomic and transcriptomic projects (such as genome sequencing ...

, ecology and ecosystems.

Annexe I – LaCONES

The Laboratory for Conservation of Endangered Species is an annexe with the aim to conserve the Indian wildlife by using modern biological techniques and assisted reproductive technologies. It has worked extensively with various departments of the

Government of India The Government of India (ISO: ; often abbreviated as GoI), known as the Union Government or Central Government but often simply as the Centre, is the national government of the Republic of India, a federal democracy located in South Asia, ...

to curb wildlife crime. They have helped identify the source of animal meat in cases of doubt, sources of smuggled animals, and study stress among wild animals via non-invasive measures. They have helped the Directorate of Aerospace Safety to identify the reason on bird hits, and help them in canopy engineering of their airports. They host the National Wildlife Genetic Resource Bank with currently 250 genetic samples of animals, collected from zoos across the country. They can contain up to 17,000 samples. In the past few years, they have worked with the

Nehru Zoological Park Nehru Zoological Park (also known as YouTube Zoo or Zoo Park) is a zoo located near Mir Alam Tank in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. It is one of the most visited destinations in Hyderabad. History Nehru Zoological Park's construction was started ...

, Hyderabad to protect the mouse deer from extinction. In August 2018, they started with the phased release of these animals into their original habitats of Amrabad Tiger Reserve.

Annexe II – Medical Biotechnology Complex

CCMB carries out molecular diagnostic tests for 30 genetic disorders and wildlife forensics its medical biotechnology complex, also known as Innovation Hub (iHUB). It also hosts th
Atal Incubation Centre-CCMB (AIC-CCMB)
to support early stage life science startups. This initiative is supported by NITI Aayog and

Atal Innovation Mission The premiership of Narendra Modi began on 26 May 2014 with his swearing-in as the prime minister of India at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. He became the 14th Prime Minister of India, succeeding Manmohan Singh of the Indian National Congress. Modi' ...

. They have been supporting startups working in drug discovery, drug repurposing, vaccine development, diagnostics, nutrition and nanomaterial development. They now host a Meity Startup Hub to incubate startups that look into big data in life sciences/healthcare sector.

PhD program in CCMB

To join CCMB's PhD program one needs to apply for their application test followed by interviews. Most students join in with their own fellowships from CSIR, UGC, DBT, ICMR, or DST. There are two rounds of intake each year, one in January (interviews are held in December), and the other in July (interviews are held in June). Most alumni from CCMB's PhD program have continued in academia or joined the life science industry in India and abroad. They are present in premier research and educational institutes of India including

IISc The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) is a public, deemed, research university for higher education and research in science, engineering, design, and management. It is located in Bengaluru, in the Indian state of Karnataka. The institute wa ...

, IISERs,

NISER The National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) is an autonomous premier public research institute in Jatani, Odisha, India under the umbrella of Department of Atomic Energy, Govt. of India. The institute is a constituent ...

and

IITs The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are central government owned public technical institutes located across India. They are under the ownership of the Ministry of Education of the Government of India. They are governed by the Instit ...

and many central and state universities.

Collaborations

The centre actively collaborates with life scientists in India and abroad. The list of national collaborations run with premier research institutes as well as universities. This list of present and past collaborations include
Tata Institute of Fundamental ResearchinStemICAR-Indian Institute of Rice ResearchUniversity of HyderabadCSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative BiologyICAR-National Research Centre on Meat
among multiple others. The centre has collaborated with the

for translational research on

In addition, the centre receives funding for specific collaborative projects from establishments outside India, such as the

and

in United States, the

and

in United Kingdom, the India-Japan Science Council and the University of Ryukyus in Japan, Centre Nationale de la Recherche Scientifique and the

and the

Foundation in

Technological achievements

The first DNA Fingerprinting picture reported in Indian judiciary

Developed the DNA Fingerprinting Technology in India; and made India the third country in the world to have its own fingerprinting technology * Developed the universal primer technology that can identify the species of source animal from any animal product * Discovered the heart disease mutation, carried by 6 crore people among Indians * Developed the first genetically engineered, gene knockout mouse in India * Demonstrated the first

artificial insemination Artificial insemination is the deliberate introduction of sperm into a female's cervix or uterine cavity for the purpose of achieving a pregnancy through in vivo fertilization by means other than sexual intercourse. It is a fertility treatment ...

in spotted

deer Deer or true deer are hoofed ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. The two main groups of deer are the Cervinae, including the muntjac, the elk (wapiti), the red deer, and the fallow deer; and the Capreolinae, including the re ...

* Developed a systematic screening and validation programme for anti-cancer drugs in India * Discovered the uniqueness of Indian population through genomic studies * Discovered the origin of the Andaman tribes * Commercially delivered,

recombinant DNA Recombinant DNA (rDNA) molecules are DNA molecules formed by laboratory methods of genetic recombination (such as molecular cloning) that bring together genetic material from multiple sources, creating sequences that would not otherwise be fo ...

technology based diagnostic kit for detection of pathogens causing ophthalmic infections * Discovered high yielding and Bacterial Leaf Blight (BLB) disease resistant Improved Samba Mahsuri

rice Rice is the seed of the grass species '' Oryza sativa'' (Asian rice) or less commonly ''Oryza glaberrima'' (African rice). The name wild rice is usually used for species of the genera '' Zizania'' and '' Porteresia'', both wild and domesticat ...

* Discovered native bacteria, Indibacter alkaliphilus used to generate enzymes and bio-molecules in the industrial biotechnology sector * Discovered the functionality of microsatellites (simple sequence repeats) among non-coding DNA * Discovered the gene CPA1, which causes chronic

pancreatitis Pancreatitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is a large organ behind the stomach that produces digestive enzymes and a number of hormones. There are two main types: acute pancreatitis, and chronic pancr ...

, in collaboration with Asian Institute of GastroenterologyScientists from CCMB and AIG Discovered Gene Causing Chronic Pancreatitis
/ref>

Societal Relevance of CCMB

* CCMB's students have formed an instrumental workforce in Indian academia. * CCMB's present and past scientists have also been important in founding and leading many research and educational institutes in India. This includes establishment of th
Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics
(CDFD) in Hyderabad after the success of DNA fingerprinting technology as an accepted form of evidence in Indian judicial system. Other institutes includ
InStemIISER-PuneIISER-Tirupati
an
LV Prasad Eye Institute
* CCMB incubated India's first biotechnology company,

Shantha Biotechnics Shantha Biotechnics Limited is an Indian biotechnology company headquartered in Hyderabad, India. It is the first Indian company to develop, manufacture and market recombinant human healthcare products in India. The company is a wholly owned s ...

Ltd in the 1990s, and helped them develop their recombinant vaccine against Hepatitis-B, affordable for Indian masses. * The elite varieties of rice development project aims to help farmers in multiple states of India. The current Improved Samba Mahsuri rice in the market is suited for areas affected by bacterial blight infection. * CCMB has solved multiple high-profile criminal cases of murders, assassinations and rape using the DNA fingerprinting technology. This includes cases of Rajiv Gandhi, Beant Singh, Naina Sehwal,

Priyadarshini Mattoo Priyadarshini Mattoo (23 July 1970 – 23 January 1996) was a 25-year-old law student who was found raped and murdered at her house in New Delhi on 23 January 1996. On 17 October 2006, the Delhi High Court found Santosh Kumar Singh guilty on bo ...

Swami Shraddhanand Swami Shraddhanand (22 February 1856 – 23 December 1926), also known as Mahatma Munshi Ram Vij, was an Arya Samaj sannyasi and an Indian Independence activist who propagated the teachings of Dayananda Saraswati. This included the establishment ...

a's wife and Swami Premananda. * The DNA fingerprinting technology also helped in identification of the victims of

Singapore Airlines Singapore Airlines ( abbreviation: SIA) is the flag carrier airline of the Republic of Singapore with its hub located at Singapore Changi Airport. The airline is notable for highlighting the Singapore Girl as its central figure in corporat ...

plane crash in 2000. * The genetic disorder testing facilities offer services at nominal rates, and benefits patients from

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

as well as the neighbouring countries. * CCMB trains people in industries as well as for industries through its skill development programs. * CCMB trains forest and judiciary officials in understanding the

DNA fingerprinting DNA profiling (also called DNA fingerprinting) is the process of determining an individual's DNA characteristics. DNA analysis intended to identify a species, rather than an individual, is called DNA barcoding. DNA profiling is a forensic tec ...

technology and the universal primer technology, and how to effectively use them for justice. * The state of the art instrumentation facilities at CCMB is open for users outside the institute at reasonable costs. * It is attempting to develop affordable techniques for lab-grown meat. * It has been instrumental in the fight of

COVID-19 in India The COVID-19 pandemic in India is a part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 () caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (). As of , according to Indian government figures, India has the second-highest n ...

. It is one of the testing centres for patient samples in

Telangana Telangana (; , ) is a state in India situated on the south-central stretch of the Indian peninsula on the high Deccan Plateau. It is the eleventh-largest state and the twelfth-most populated state in India with a geographical area of and 3 ...

. It also aims to contribute in the basic understanding of the

SARS-CoV2 Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) is a strain of coronavirus that causes COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019), the respiratory illness responsible for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The virus previously had a p ...

biology to help develop vaccines and drugs.

Awards and honours

In recognition for its contribution to modern biology, CCMB has been chosen as a Centre of Excellence by

Global Network for Molecular and Cell Biology (MCBN), and has been designated as a South Centre for Excellence for Research and Training by the Third World Academy of Sciences TWAS, Italy. Many prestigious international and national awards have come to CCMB including the CSIR Technology Award (four times) and

FICCI The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) is a non-governmental trade association and advocacy group based in India. History Established in 1927, on the advice of Mahatma Gandhi by Indian businessman G.D. Birla an ...

Award for outstanding achievements in Science & Technology. CCMB scientists have 1

Padma Bhushan The Padma Bhushan is the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, preceded by the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan and followed by the Padma Shri. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is given for "distinguished service ...

, 4

Padma Shri Padma Shri ( IAST: ''padma śrī''), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is conf ...

, 3

Infosys Prize The Infosys Prize is an annual award given to scientists, researchers, engineers and social scientists of Indian origin (not necessarily born in India) by the Infosys Science Foundation and ranks among the highest monetary awards in India to r ...

, 11

Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Sir Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar OBE, FNI, FASc, FRS, FRIC, FInstP (21 February 1894 – 1 January 1955) was an Indian colloid chemist, academic and scientific administrator. The first director-general of the Council of Scientific and Indust ...

awardees along with 14 JC Bose, 3

Third World Academy of Sciences The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) is a merit-based science academy established for developing countries, uniting 1,000 scientists in some 70 countries. Its principal aim is to promote scientific capacity and excellence for sustainable deve ...

, 24

Indian Academy of Sciences The Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore was founded by Indian Physicist and Nobel Laureate C. V. Raman, and was registered as a society on 24 April 1934. Inaugurated on 31 July 1934, it began with 65 founding fellows. The first general meet ...

, 20 National Academy of Sciences, and 21

Indian National Science Academy The Indian National Science Academy (INSA) is a national academy in New Delhi for Indian scientists in all branches of science and technology. In August 2019, Dr. Chandrima Shaha was appointed as the president of Indian National Science Acade ...

fellows. 10 CCMB scientists have become Directors of educational or research institutes and 6 Vice-Chancellors or Deans in universities or educational institutes of India.

Reaching CCMB

The main campus of CCMB is located on the inner ring road of Hyderabad, connecting the areas Secunderabad and Uppal. CCMB can be reached very conveniently by the city road transport buses and the new

Hyderabad metro The Hyderabad Metro is a rapid transit system, serving the city of Hyderabad, Telangana, India. It is the second longest operational metro network in India after the Delhi Metro (285 stations) with 57 stations and the lines are arranged in a ...

Notes and references

{{authority control Molecular biology institutes Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Research institutes in Hyderabad, India 1977 establishments in Andhra Pradesh Biosafety level 4 laboratories

History

Former directors

Research

Annexe I – LaCONES

Annexe II – Medical Biotechnology Complex

PhD program in CCMB

Collaborations

Technological achievements

Societal Relevance of CCMB

Awards and honours

Reaching CCMB

See also

Notes and references