A landmark Letter of Intent (LoI) has been signed to establish the Centre of Excellence for CRISPR Innovation and Translation (CoE-CIT), aimed at advancing cutting-edge CRISPR technologies and translating laboratory discoveries into real-world clinical applications.
The initiative is a public–private partnership between the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bengaluru, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), and CRISPRBITS Pvt. Ltd., Delhi, a biotechnology company specializing in CRISPR-based affordable diagnostics. This collaboration marks one of the first of its kind in India, bridging academia and industry.
The CoE-CIT will leverage JNCASR’s expertise in fundamental biomedical sciences and CRISPRBITS’ experience in applied gene-editing and translational platforms to address the “bench-to-bed” challenge in medical research. The Centre aims to create a replicable model for academic-industry partnerships, boosting India’s biotechnology and innovation ecosystem while delivering tangible societal and clinical benefits.
“It is an exciting milestone for JNCASR to establish this Centre in partnership with CRISPRBITS, known for developing intelligent molecular platforms for scalable, affordable health solutions. Combining our strengths in genetics, molecular biology, chemical biology, and computational biology, this partnership will pave the way for impactful innovations in health sciences and national missions,” said Prof. Umesh V Waghmare, President of JNCASR.
The signing ceremony of the Expression of Interest was attended by Prof. Umesh V Waghmare and Dr. Vijay Chandru, Co-Founder & CEO of CRISPRBITS Pvt. Ltd., marking the official launch of this transformative collaboration.
