BRIC-National Institute of Plant Genome Research - Dedicated to advancing Plant Science & Genomics - under BRIC (http://bric.nic.in), Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. The National Institute of Plant Genome Research (formerly known as National Centre for Plant Genome Research) is an autonomous institution aided by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of
India. The formal announcement was made on November 30th 1997. This Institute has already placed India among the major contributors to plant genomics. It is hoped that in coming years, the ongoing efforts of NIPGR will allow India to emerge as one of the most important national and international resource institutes for material, knowledge and technologies in the areas of functional, structural, evolutionary and applied genomics of plants, including crop plants. Genomics research is providing bridges between different branches of natural sciences and as a result it has seen logarithmic growth over last two decades. All biology research has been permeated by genomics and new ways of tailoring crops for the economic production of grains, vegetables, fruits, fibers, beverages, herbal medicines, pharmaceuticals and industrial molecules are emerging. The world is on the eve of bountiful harvests for mitigation of hunger and malnutrition and heralding of healthy living. NIPGR aims to contribute in the achievement of such hopes arising out of the current pace of genomics research. The Institute started to function in the year 1998 with the mandate to undertake, promote and co-ordinate research, train workers and to serve as information resource in identified aspects of plant genomics to build a frontline institution. NIPGR is poised to contribute towards frontier areas of Plant Biology such as, Computational Biology, Genome Analysis and Molecular Mapping, Molecular Mechanism of Abiotic Stress Responses, Nutritional Genomics, Plant Development and Architecture, Plant Immunity, Molecular Breeding, Transgenics for crop improvement and other emerging areas based on plant genomics. The research programme aims to contribute to the understanding of the structure, expression and function of genes along with arrangement of genes on plant genomes and manipulation of plant genes / genomes to breed improved varieties of food and industrial crops for high yields and of better quality products. NIPGR was established to contribute in the achievement of such hopes as a part of national effort for meeting the challenges in the midst of fast pace of international genomic research and grasping of opportunities on long-term basis. The entire working community of NIPGR is committed to make the institute a premier Institution for plant genomic research in the country. The objectives and purposes of NIPGR are given below. Objectives
To undertake, aid, promote, guide and coordinate research of high caliber in basic and applied plant molecular biology;
To provide and promote effective linkages on a continuing basis between various scientific and research agencies / laboratories and other organizations working in the country on plant genes, development and related areas;
To utilize molecular biology approaches along with tissue culture and genetic engineering technology to identify important genes and manipulate these for generating transgenic plants with improved agronomic characters and pathogen / stress resistance;
To take up any fundamental work related to gene-regulation and mapping that would aid in achieving above mandate;
Development of molecular markers for monitoring important traits;
Production and testing of transgenic plants;
Identification of genes that are vital for the survival of the pathogens so that those could be targeted for pathogen combating;
To impart advance training at different levels in the field of plant genetic engineering and genome analysis; and
To undertake collaborative programmes with International Institutes those are engaged in plant genome research and develop close linkages.
