Shillong, July 4: In a pioneering step towards strengthening research safety practices, the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBSC) of NEIGRIHMS successfully conducted a one-day orientation programme on “Biosafety Regulations and Their Implications on Bio-medical Research” in July 2025. The event marked the first of its kind in the institute and saw participation from over a hundred attendees, including faculty members, senior resident doctors, and postgraduate students from various departments.
The primary objective of the program was to raise awareness about the biosafety regulations in India, their significance, and the necessity of compliance by scientists engaged in biomedical research involving pathogens that can potentially infect humans, animals, or plants.
Delivering the inaugural address, Prof. (Dr.) Nalin Mehta, Director of NEIGRIHMS, emphasized the critical role of biosafety in ensuring the health and well-being of laboratory personnel. He reiterated NEIGRIHMS’s commitment to research and development for the greater good of the community, highlighting that workplace safety in research remains a top priority at the institute. Prof. Mehta also commended the efforts of Prof. Vandana Raphael, Chairperson of IBSC, and Dr. Pranjal Pratim Saikia, Member Secretary, for their dedication in organizing the program and fostering a research-oriented culture at NEIGRIHMS.
The event featured a keynote session by Prof. Probodh Borah, Director of Research (Veterinary) at Assam Agricultural University (AAU), who elaborated on the risks associated with working with hazardous microorganisms. Prof. Borah emphasized the importance of occupational safety and outlined precautionary measures necessary to prevent unintentional exposure to infectious agents. He also detailed the guidelines issued by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), the Government of India’s nodal authority on biosafety, to ensure the responsible use and regulation of recombinant DNA (r-DNA) technology and hazardous microorganisms in research.
It is noteworthy that the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBSC) at NEIGRIHMS was constituted in 2024 and is registered with the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.
