History
The Post Graduate and Research Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics was incepted in the year 2002 and has now stepped into its 23nd year of reign marking the arena, with the aim of promoting the young minds into advanced higher education and research proteges. In 2018, the undergraduate programme B.Sc., Biotechnology was started. In 2020, the Department was subsumed under School of Life Sciences and offers four programs in Biotechnology (B.Sc., M.Sc., M.Phil. and Ph.D.). In 2022, the five-year integrated M.Sc. Bioinformatics was started. The Department successfully amalgamates the Life Sciences by establishing advanced Molecular Biology and Microbiology Laboratories and a Centralized Instrumentation Facility funded by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India under the FIST scheme. This facility satiates the researcher's aspirations by highly regulating the ongoing research that also extends the arena to all faculties and researchers of all Life Science Departments from other institutions.
The Department is fully equipped with sophisticated laboratories to provide better teaching and research ambiance for students, scholars and faculty. The laboratories encompass the following:
Lab facilities
Molecular Biology Laboratory
Microbiology Laboratory
Post Graduate Laboratory
Animal Cell Culture Facility
Plant Tissue Culture Facility
Animal House Facility with ethical clearance
Centralized Instrumentation Facility
Bioinformatics Laboratory
Computational Facility with commercial software viz., SeeSAR
Uniqueness
The global insight of Biology, in this 21st century - which stands as a cipher for “INNOVATION ERA”, is being transformed from purely lab-based science to an information science as-well, called Bioinformatics, the field of science in which biology, computer science, and information technology amalgamates to form a single discipline. On this accord, it is noteworthy to say that India is the first country to establish a Biotechnology Information System (BTIS) network to create an infrastructure that enables it to harness, biotechnology through the application of Bioinformatics. The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), has provided with an economic distributed network of this infrastructure development project. Holy Cross College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli, is one such Institution that allied with DBT, where a Bioinformatics Infrastructure Facility (BIF) was established in 2006 with the financial support of DBT, New Delhi.
DBT-BIF CENTRE
The Bioinformatics Facility Centre, funded by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, in 2006 promotes research and education in bioinformatics by integrating biological sciences with advanced computational tools. Now in its 19th year, the Centre focuses on higher research and manpower development, offering services in Computer-Aided Drug Design, Structural Bioinformatics, Database Development, Systems Biology, and Molecular Modelling to neighbouring institutions. With a 750 Mbps internet connection available 24/7, the Centre supports faculty, researchers, and students. Its staff collaborates with the Research Department of Biotechnology for both research and teaching. The College also enhances its capabilities by providing Life Sciences Laboratory facilities for wet lab research in Phytotherapeutics, ensuring comprehensive support for the Centre's growth.
Key Features
Advanced Computational Resources
Comprehensive Software Suite
Research Support
Collaborative Research
Education and Training
The DAISY GOLD MEDAL ORATION AWARD, in commemoration of research contribution by Late Dr. P. Daisy, recognise and honours young researchers for their significant contributions in academic, medical, or scientific research. Recipients deliver an oration, making it a prestigious accolade for excellence and innovation.
Vision
To provide a versatile and protean platform by providing hands-on training for Biotechnology education, and research.
To create a fairer, prosperous and zealous student community to excel profoundly in the arenas of Biosciences.
Mission
To propel high-quality Biotechnology education towards excellence and new greater heights in research and innovation.