Rise in Emerging Infectious Disease Demands Increased Research and Health Laboratory Infrastructure in India

RICHMOND, Va. and HYDERABAD, India, Aug. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis and malaria, have long been of national concern in India, a trend that continues today. Arguably, one of the best means of preparedness to deal with current and future disease outbreaks is the fortification of public health, research and drug manufacturing capabilities. India's awareness and growing economic status allow for such preparedness to fend off the next public health incident, part of which should be focused on increasing India's health and research infrastructure and capacity.  

A major component of public health and research infrastructure necessary to evaluate and respond to these epidemic diseases is biocontainment laboratories. Various public, academic and private institutions in India operate biocontainment, or biosafety, labs, such as BSL2, BSL3 and BSL4.  Further, many existing facilities in India can be upgraded quickly and cost-effectively to achieve higher biosafety standards. India boasts some of the highest-quality biomedical laboratory facilities in the world, and is known for being an international hotbed of biopharmaceutical production. With the imminent rise of infectious diseases in India and abroad, research, health and manufacturing facilities necessary to combat these plagues will reach new levels of demand.    

Recently, a new partnership between Integrated Cleanroom Technologies Ltd. (ICLEAN; Hyderabad, India) and Alliance Biosciences (U.S.) has been developed to support the increasing demand for research and health biosafety laboratories. The result of this partnership is a unique blend of biosafety and engineering expertise, married with ICLEAN's capabilities of diverse laboratory design and construction. Alliance Biosciences, known internationally for their design and consultation surrounding high-containment biological research, clinical and diagnostic facilities, and ICLEAN - India's premier EPC (engineering, procurement, construction) firm in the biopharmaceutical industry, envision this partnership will benefit public health facilities, academic research institutions and biopharmaceutical corporations.

"I am very excited to work with ICLEAN on design-build biocontainment laboratory projects," said Dr. Ryan Burnette, Director of the U.S.-based engineering and biosafety firm, Alliance Biosciences.   "India's need for biocontainment, clinical and diagnostic capacity and infrastructure continues to grow. This partnership with ICLEAN provides all the components necessary to deliver quality facilities to the health and research sectors in India."

"India needs and deserves to have in-country expertise for the design, construction and operation of these critical biosafety labs," said TV Prasad, Director of India-based ICLEAN. "We are privileged to have the opportunity to offer both the public and private sectors our expertise and commitment to quality biosafety laboratory facilities and operations."

"This truly creates a one-stop shop for design, construction and project management of biosafety labs in India," stated Burnette. "It is the perfect example of two parties with independent expertise coming together to offer the full suite of capabilities for the betterment of health and research."

For further information, please visit www.alliancebiosciences.com; [email protected], or www.icleantech.com; [email protected].  

About Alliance Biosciences

Alliance Biosciences is the leading biosafety consulting firm in the U.S., addressing the various needs of the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and R&D industries. Serving a diverse clientele in academia, the private and public sectors, Alliance Biosciences provides high-containment laboratory design (BSL -1/2/3/4) guidance, facility inspections and recommendations, operational audits of documentation and SOPs, risk assessments and custom biosafety training curricula. The firm is a division of Alliance Engineering, Inc., enabling the efficient translation of client needs from concept through construction. Led by internationally recognized industry experts, Alliance Biosciences delivers a truly full-service, turnkey approach to biosafety program management.  www.alliancebiosciences.com

About Integrated Cleanroom Technologies

ICLEAN is strategically located at Hyderabad, India with a fully computerized state-of-the-art facility that provides the best practical engineering solutions to meet the divergent requirements and specifications of customers with special focus on ensuring the highest quality, reliability and superior service right from the concept through commissioning and validation. The 150,000 sq ft manufacturing facility, with an installed capacity to manufacture 300,000 sq.m /annum, is designed to produce prefabricated modular clean rooms conforming to strict global standards.  www.icleantech.com

SOURCE Alliance Biosciences