Biochemistry and Genetics Lab
The laboratory at PHFI is equipped to deal with all aspects of clinical biochemistry and basic genetics research. The lab is equipped with: Chemistry analyzers c311, immunochemistry analyzer e411 from ROCHE, D-10 from Bio-Rad, Electrolyte analyzer from Caretium, microplate reader from Bio-Rad, Spectrophotometer from Thermo, Gas chromatography from Agilent. For performing molecular biology experiments, the lab is equipped with: Thermal cycler from ABI, NanoDrop from Thermo, Gel documentation system from Alpha Imager, agarose electrophoresis setup from Bio-Rad and Refrigerated macro centrifuges from Eppendorf. To support the research work, the lab has additional equipments like: Sonicator, Milli-Q water purification system from Millipore, table top centrifuges from Remi, water baths, incubator-shaker, electronic weighing balance, autoclave, UV cross linker, single and multi-channel micropipettes etc. All the equipments are regularly maintained and calibrated.
The biochemistry component of the laboratory was established to study the cardio-metabolic risk markers in various studies; however, it is now expanding its horizons to various other aspects of research, eg. nutritional biochemistry. The biochemistry laboratory since its inception has performed more than 7,50,000 tests in approximately 60,000 samples. The laboratory is a part of external quality control program by RIQAS for Lipids, Clinical Chemistry, Glycosylated haemoglobin, urinary micro albumin and UKNEQAS for Insulin assays. It is also part of EUIP program from CDC, Atlanta for Iodine assay.
The genetic component of the laboratory was established to build a low cost and high quality resource for basic molecular genetics work at PHFI. Various bio-specimens such as capillary and venous whole blood, buffy coats, dry blood spots, saliva from various studies are processed here for DNA extraction using various manual methods and commercial kits; quantified and processed for downstream applications. So far DNA has been extracted from approximately 15000 samples. The laboratory also has the capacity to perform low-throughput genotyping work.
The bio-repository at PHFI has 25 ultra-low deep freezers (-80) and 4 deep freezers (-20) for storage of samples collected for various epidemiological studies. There are around 4,00,000 aliquots of blood components and urine samples from more than 35,000 participants from different studies stored in the deep freezers. The freezer area has a power back-up support for 24×7 supply of electricity and the area is always maintained at ambient temperature.
All the work is performed by science graduates and post graduates with training in Medical Laboratory Technology and Biotechnology with many years of experience. There are Standard Operating Protocols (SOPs) for various laboratory processes which are diligently followed along with Good Laboratory Practices.
Library Facilities
PHFI has a central library with more than 4000 printed books and 450 educational CD’s, reports and manuals from diverse disciplines. Apart from this, e-resources are available at the library and include an Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) which is an e-catalogue database of library resources through the Koha library management system. All library resources are catalogued in MARC 21 format in Koha. Access to an institutional digital repository is available through a platform maintained by ‘D-space’ which is an open source software.
Central Research Data Repository
A Central Research Data Repository is aimed to provide a centralized platform to enable greater access to data generated by PHFI researchers to PHFI users and other researchers across the globe is under process.