Coronavirus strain successfully isolated by RMRC Lahowal

In a major breakthrough, Regional Medical Research Centre for rast region (ICMR-RMRC, Dibrugarh) situated at Lahowal has successfully separated Coronavirus strain. Health Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma made anuncement in Guwahati on Wednesday. 

RMRC Lahowal is third government laboratory in country, after NIV (ICMR Lab), Pune and CCMB (CSIR lab), Hyderabad and 4th lab overall after Bharat Biotech (Pvt Biotechlogy lab at Hyderabad), to isolate virus in tissue culture. 

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Assam's Health Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma said that it is a landmark achievement for State. "It is a very good news for State at a time when some people of State are raising questions on Covid-19 cases in State and low mortality rate," he said, adding that this news on International Doctor's Day, is a befitting tribute to all COVID warriors of State. 

"This is a major breakthrough. On a auspicious day like this (International Doctor's Day), I think this is biggest gift for any doctor," Dr Sarma said. 

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In a statement issued by RMRC Lahowal, y said that a team led by Dr Biswajit Borkakoty has isolated isolated COVID-19 virus (SARS-CoV-2) in VERO-CCL81 cell line in BSL-3 level lab available at ir institute. 

"In layman’s term significance of COVID-19 virus isolation by team of scientists from RMRC, Dibrugarh, is that live and viable SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19 virus) can w be produced in laboratory in abundance and as and when required," Dr Biswajit Borkakoty stated. 

"This is important for development of inactivated COVID-19 vaccine where virus grown in laboratory are inactivated by heat or chemical and purified for use as vaccines after pre-clinical and clinical trials," he added.

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It may be mentioned that RMRC Lahowal has been supporting state of Assam and or NE states in fight against COVID-19. Till w centre has provided almost 50,000 diagstic test reports of COVID-19 for people of this region. research centre is engd in various biomedical research work including, on new COVID-19 pandemic.

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