State plans Maharashtra Institute of Virology in Pune

In its efforts to strengthen diagnostic and research capabilities in the state, the Maharashtra public health department is all set to establish the Maharashtra Institute of Virology (MIV), along the lines of the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, officials in the know within the state government shared on Tuesday.

- Vicky Pathare

PUNE:

With an initial budget of ₹38 crore, this will be the state's first such lab.

An official from the health department, who was a part of the team involved in conceptualising the project, said MIV will be set up either by expanding the government's existing diagnostic laboratory in Camp or by developing a new facility within the campus of Aundh District Hospital. In either case, the institute will come up in an area of approximately 30,000 square feet. To start with, the laboratory will operate at Bio-Safety Level 2 (BSL-2) and subsequently upgraded to Bio-Safety Level 3 (BSL-3). Bio safety levels are conducted to test various pathogens.