By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, July 4: More than 100 participants from various departments at NEIGRIHMS were recently sensitised on biosafety regulations and their implications for biomedical research during a one-day orientation programme organised by the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBSC).
According to a statement, the programme aimed to educate faculty members, senior resident doctors and postgraduate students about India’s biosafety regulations, their significance and the need for compliance while conducting biomedical research involving potential pathogens capable of causing infections in humans, animals and plants.
Addressing the gathering, NEIGRIHMS Director Prof. Nalin Mehta, highlighted the importance of biosafety in ensuring the health and well-being of laboratory workers.
He said that NEIGRIHMS is committed to research and development for the benefit of the community and workplace safety in research is given paramount importance at our centre.
Prof. Mehta also lauded the efforts by Prof. Vandana Raphael, Chairperson, IBSC, NEIGRIHMS and Dr. Pranjal Pratim Saikia, Member Secretary of IBSC, in organising such events and promoting research-oriented environment amongst the faculty and staff of the institute.
On the other hand, Director of Research (Veterinary) at Assam Agricultural University (AAU), Prof. Probodh Borah, elaborated on the various risks associated with working with hazardous microorganisms.
He advocated the need to prioritise occupational safety for researchers and laboratory workers and detailed the necessary measures to prevent unintentional exposure to pathogens.
Prof. Borah also highlighted the guidelines issued by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) to ensure the safe use and prevent the misuse of recombinant DNA technology and hazardous microorganisms in research and development activities.
It may be noted that the NEIGRIHMS Institutional Biosafety Committee was constituted in 2024 and is registered with the DBT under the Ministry of Science and Technology.