The newly certified facility features state-of-the-art infrastructure and advanced biosafety engineering, including specialized containment architecture, negative pressure environments with directional airflow, and high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration systems. Secure access controls and stringent operational protocols define the facility’s rigorous safety framework. The certification followed a comprehensive evaluation of laboratory design, engineering controls, biosafety management systems, standard operating procedures, personnel competency, and emergency preparedness.
This establishment was accomplished under the leadership of Dr. Chiranjay Mukhopadhyay, Director of the Manipal Institute of Virology (MIV), with collaborative support from Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MCOPS), Manipal School of Life Sciences (MSLS), and Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT). Serving as a dynamic platform for interdisciplinary collaboration, the facility brings together microbiologists, virologists, clinicians, epidemiologists, and public health experts. It is set to play a vital role in regional preparedness by offering specialized training in high-containment laboratory operations and outbreak response strategies.
Dr. H. S. Ballal, Pro Chancellor of MAHE, described the certification as a defining moment, noting that it is among the first stand-alone, state-of-the-art BSL-3 facilities within a premier private university in India, poised to contribute to the national BSL-3 consortium. Lt. Gen. (Dr.) M. D. Venkatesh, Vice Chancellor, VSM (Retd.) MAHE, stated that the facility will empower researchers to conduct critical studies on airborne and high-risk pathogens, including pathogen isolation, vaccine development, and aerosol transmission research. Dr. Sharath K. Rao, Pro Vice Chancellor of Health Sciences, added that the facility is poised to emerge as a center of excellence for advanced infectious disease research in southern India.
As an Institution of Eminence ranked 3rd in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), MAHE continues to offer over 400 specializations across multiple streams and international campuses. This achievement places MAHE within a select group of Indian institutions equipped with certified BSL-3 laboratories, reinforcing its leadership in biomedical innovation and strengthening India’s biomedical research ecosystem against global infectious disease threats.
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