IIT-Bombay centre aims to address local issues

Focus on niche areas or problems which have a local or Indian connect and attracting top faculty and researchers globally are the two primary areas chalked out by the advisory council of the Wadhwani Research Centre in Biosciences and Bioengineering (WRCBB), being set up at IIT Bombay. 

The institute signed a memorandum of understanding with the Wadhwani Foundation in 2008 to set up WRCBB. Romesh Wadhwani, an IIT-B alumnus, had announced a gift of $5 million to set up the centre. 

The advisory council of WRCBB was formally constituted and met for the first time on Thursday. The council has eminent scientists, academicians and industry experts on board. The centre will work in close association with IIT-B’s School of Biosciences and Bioengineering. 

“Our first meeting was aimed at chalking out a vision for the centre. The institute can carve a niche for itself by addressing and focusing on specific problems of local regions or those of a national nature, which are otherwise not on the radar of global researchers,” said Ajay Kela, president and CEO of Wadhwani Foundation.

For instance, he said, efforts can be directed towards infectious diseases like TB or malaria, which are common in our country and regions in Asia.