MAHE’s laboratory gets Union Government’s recognition

Department of Biotechnology under the Union Government has granted its certification to the Biosafety Level – 3 Laboratory of the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) at Manipal.

Department of Biotechnology under the Union Government has granted its certification to the Biosafety Level – 3 Laboratory of the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) at Manipal.

“It enhances MAHE’s research, diagnostic, and training capabilities. The certification underscores MAHE’s adherence to internationally accepted biosafety and biosecurity standards,” a release from MAHE quoted its Pro-Chancellor H. S. Ballal as saying.

The facility will serve as a dynamic platform for interdisciplinary collaboration among microbiologists, virologists, clinicians, epidemiologists, and public health experts. In addition to enabling cutting-edge research, it will play a vital role in strengthening national and regional preparedness by offering specialised training in biosafety practices, high-containment laboratory operations, and outbreak response strategies.

The newly certified facility is equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure and advanced biosafety engineering. It features specialised containment architecture, negative pressure environments with directional airflow, high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration systems, secure access controls, and stringent operational protocols, the release added.

The establishment and certification of this advanced facility were accomplished under the leadership of Chiranjay Mukhopadhyay, Director, Manipal Institute of Virology (MIV), Manipal.

The Vice-Chancellor of MAHELt. Gen. M. D. Venkatesh added: “The advanced facility will empower researchers to undertake critical studies on airborne and high-risk pathogens and to conduct critical work such as pathogen isolation, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, molecular diagnostics, vaccine and drug development, host–pathogen interaction studies, aerosol transmission research, and evaluation of biosafety protocols.”