Department of Bioinformatics

The Centre for Bioinformatics, Pondicherry University funded by DBT, Government of India has been upgraded as a Centre of Excellence in Bioinformatics in Teaching and Research by the Department of Information Technology, Govt. of India, New Delhi (DIT). In the past the Centre has received generous funding support from DBT. The Centre started offering an M.Sc., program in Bioinformatics in 2007 with the funding from the University Grants Commission (UGC) under its scheme of “Innovative Programme - Teaching & Research in Interdisciplinary and Emerging Areas”. The centre is offering Ph.D., Programme in Bioinformatics. From the academic year 2010-2011, the centre has started a Network M.Sc., Computational Biology teaching programme fully funded by DBT in collaboration with Madurai Kamaraj University and Anna University. This programme will be first of its kind in the country. The Centre is offering modular courses from July 2009 in various areas in Bioinformatics to various personnel from the Industry and educational institutes under the Centre of Excellence Project. The centre offered Advanced P.G. Diploma in Bioinformatics fully supported by DBT between 2001 – 2008.
The Centre has so far organized 25 National Level Seminars and Training Programs. The Centre took lead in organizing National Seminars in emerging fields like Intellectual Property Rights in Bioinformatics and Biotechnology and Nanosciences & Nanobiotechnology. The Centre has periodically arranged lectures by many eminent scientists working in the areas of bioinformatics and biotechnology. Several professionals from Industry have also delivered lectures on the opportunities and challenges in the sector of Bioinformatics. All the students, research scholars and faculty are provided modern computing facility and around the clock separate 11 Mbps dedicated internet connectivity in addition to the regular connectivity provided by the University. The Centre has developed a separate wet lab facility and is in a process of establishing a cell culture facility. Most of the past students have got placements in various leading & research institutions and industries.

In the past few years, the Centre has taken up research activities in the areas of sequence analysis, molecular modeling, database development etc., and several papers have been published in peer-reviewed international and national journals. Recognizing the progress made by the Centre, DBT upgraded the Centre to a full Centre level in 2002 and several new positions were sanctioned and additional funding was allocated.

The Centre is identified as a Centre of Excellence in Bioinformatics Teaching and Research by the Department of Information Technology, Govt. of India, New Delhi in 2007 and awarded a special grant of around 3.79 crores. The Centre has taken up research projects and offering Modular courses under this Grant.
The Centre has so far received grants to the tune of Rs. 4 crores from DBT and 30 lacs from the UGC in addition to Rs.3.79 crores from the DIT.

The University is extending full support for the development of the Centre and the Centre will achieve newer heights and will soon become a leading centre for Bioinformatics teaching and research in this part of the world.