National Institute of Technology-Rourkela (NIT-R) is now all set to launch its Centre for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (CBCB) on the campus. The CBCB project is entitled for data analysis to develop novel disease biomarkers and therapeutic strategies for the same. 

This initiative of NIT Rourkela for setting up Centre for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (CBCB) will be sanctioned by the Department of Biotechnology under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.

NIT Rourkela Bioinformatics Centre called CBCB will focus on animal bioinformatics, and help livestock farmers. The center will also use various developed tools and data analysis techniques. 

The Bioinformatics Centre’s main goal will be to develop novel tools and techniques which will further help the analysis of the transcriptome, proteome, secretome, and microbiome data of the mammary gland.

Additionally, the Centre for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology will also use the reproductive tissues in order to help formulate the disease biomarkers and various useful therapeutic strategies.

Referring to the initiative, Principal Investigator and Coordinator of the project Prof Mukesh Kumar Gupta said, "Mammary gland disease mastitis affects the quantity and quality of milk among the cattle population".

"By addressing mastitis, the quality and quantity of milk can be enhanced to ensure income growth of cattle farmers and improved milk quality would also have good implications on human health" he further added. 

The center will also focus on addressing the extensive research on male infertility, and male germline stem cells. The research will further improve the breeding and value addition of the livestock. CBCB is further planning on collaborating with veterinary institutions in Jammu and Ludhiana for the sharing of data and samples for research purposes. The collaboration between the two parties is expected to function in a month. 

Additionally, NIT Rourkela plans to collaborate with Odisha University of Agriculture Technology for future research purposes, Principal Investigator and Coordinator of the project Prof Mukesh Kumar Gupta stated.