Date: 2026-05-14Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Ministry of Tribal Affairs, CSIR and IGIB Organized Workshop on “BIRSA 101” — India’s First Indigenous CRISPR-Based Gene Therapy for Sickle Cell Disease
**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, in collaboration with CSIR and IGIB, organized a workshop on May 14, 2026, to showcase "BIRSA 101," India’s first indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy for Sickle Cell Disease. The initiative, funded with Rs. 3.75 crores, is part of the month-long *Janjatiya Garima Utsav* aimed at leveraging technology for tribal welfare. Key action items include the transfer of the technology framework to the Serum Institute of India for collaborative clinical trials and manufacturing.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**The "BIRSA 101" Initiative**
* Represents India’s first indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy designed to treat Sickle Cell Disease (SCD).
* Specifically targets the elimination of SCD, which disproportionately impacts tribal populations across India.
* Named after Bhagwan Birsa Munda, the project has received financial assistance of approximately Rs. 3.75 crores from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
**Scientific and Research Milestones**
* CSIR-IGIB is advancing capabilities in precision medicine, national genome sequencing, and disease genomics through programs like Ayurgenomics and the GUaRDIAN initiative.
* The project utilizes CRISPR-based gene-editing technologies developed as part of an indigenous therapeutic pathway since 2017.
* The Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) is actively working to preserve and protect tribal medicinal knowledge systems.
**Operational and Manufacturing Framework**
* The technology framework for "BIRSA 101" has been transferred to the Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. for clinical and manufacturing development.
* Progress is being made in establishing clinical trial infrastructure and navigating regulatory processes.
* A dedicated GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) facility is being utilized to develop the manufacturing ecosystem for the therapy.
**Healthcare Delivery and Advocacy**
* The initiative emphasizes "last-mile" affordable healthcare delivery through collaborations between government agencies and scientific institutions.
* Advocacy efforts focus on early diagnosis, awareness generation, and expanding access to current medicines like Hydroxyurea alongside emerging therapies.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Tribal Affairs**
**Impact**
Provides critical financial backing and policy alignment to ensure technological advancements reach underserved tribal regions.
**Action Required**
Continue monitoring project progress and facilitate institutional collaborations to ensure the therapy remains affordable for tribal communities.
**CSIR and CSIR-IGIB**
**Impact**
Acts as the primary research and development engine for indigenous genomic and gene-editing solutions.
**Action Required**
Manage the phased progress of clinical trial infrastructure and oversee the technical integrity of the technology transfer.
**Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd.**
**Impact**
Selected as the industrial partner for the collaborative development, clinical testing, and mass manufacturing of the therapy.
**Action Required**
Implement the transferred technology framework to scale up production and navigate the clinical trial process.
**Tribal Communities and SCD Patients**
**Impact**
Primary beneficiaries of an indigenous, affordable, and potentially curative treatment for a disease that heavily affects their population.
**Action Required**
Participate in early diagnosis and awareness programs to facilitate the effective implementation of the new therapeutic pathway.
Key Entities Referenced
BIRSA 101: India’s first indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy initiative developed for the treatment and elimination of Sickle Cell Disease.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: The primary government ministry providing financial assistance and policy support for healthcare interventions focused on tribal welfare.
CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB): The lead scientific research institute responsible for developing the indigenous gene-editing therapeutic pathway.
Janjatiya Garima Utsav 2026: A month-long national celebration and initiative dedicated to highlighting technological achievements and innovation-led transformation in tribal development.
Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd.: The collaborative partner responsible for the manufacturing development and clinical trial framework of the gene therapy technology.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs
Ministry of Tribal Affairs, CSIR and IGIB
Organized Workshop on “BIRSA 101” — India’s
First Indigenous CRISPR-Based Gene Therapy
for Sickle Cell Disease
Workshop held under Janjatiya Garima Utsav 2026 — a
month-long celebration of the Journey of Viksit Bharat
inspired by the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra
Modi
Posted On: 14 MAY 2026 9:11PM by PIB Delhi
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, in collaboration with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
(CSIR) and CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), organized a workshop on
“BIRSA 101”, India’s first indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy for Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), at
CSIR-IGIB, New Delhi on 14th May 2026 under the ongoing celebrations of Janjatiya Garima Utsav
2026.
Janjatiya Garima Utsav is a month-long celebration of the Journey of Viksit Bharat inspired by the vision
of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The first week of the Utsav is dedicated to “Technology
as a Development Driver”, highlighting innovation-led transformation and technological achievements
accelerating tribal development and welfare.
“BIRSA 101”, named after Bhagwan Birsa Munda, marks a significant milestone in India’s emerging
biotechnology and genomic research ecosystem. The initiative advances the Government of India’s
continued efforts towards the elimination of Sickle Cell Disease, which disproportionately affects tribal
populations across several regions of the country. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has supported the project
with financial assistance of approximately Rs. 3.75 crores as part of its continued efforts to strengthen
research, innovation and affordable healthcare interventions focused on tribal welfare.Smt. Ranjana Chopra, Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, highlighted the importance of leveraging
advanced scientific research and indigenous innovation to improve healthcare accessibility for tribal
communities and emphasized the need for strong collaboration between scientific institutions and
government agencies to ensure last-mile affordable healthcare delivery.Dr. Souvik Maiti, Director, CSIR-IGIB, presented the institute’s major scientific initiatives in genomics,
sequencing and translational biomedical research, highlighting India’s growing capabilities in precision
medicine, national genome sequencing and disease genomics. The presentation covered key programmes
including Ayurgenomics research, the GUaRDIAN initiative for rare genetic disorders, the Indian Breast
Cancer Genome Atlas (IBCGA), PHENOME India, Indian gut microbiome studies and India’s genomic
response during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
Smt. Viswajanani Sattigeri, Director, CSIR-TKDL, presented the work being undertaken under the
Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) to preserve and protect India’s traditional medicinal
knowledge systems, including vast tribal knowledge traditions.
A detailed technical presentation on BIRSA 101 and CRISPR-based gene-editing technologies was
delivered by Dr. Debojyoti Chakraborty, tracing the progress of the Indian initiative since 2017 and
outlining efforts towards developing an indigenous and affordable gene-editing therapeutic pathway for
Sickle Cell Disease.The Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs also interacted with Sickle Cell warriors and patient advocates
Shri Gautam Dongre and Ms. Farhat Naz, who shared their personal journeys and highlighted the
importance of early diagnosis, awareness generation, wider access to medicines such as Hydroxyurea and
continued healthcare support in underserved areas.
Participants were also briefed on the phased progress of clinical trial infrastructure, regulatory processes
and collaborative arrangements with premier medical and research institutions. The workshop highlighted
the transfer of the technology framework to Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. for collaborative clinical and
manufacturing development.
The Secretary and other Senior officials from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs later visited the GMP
manufacturing facility associated with the initiative and reviewed the manufacturing ecosystem, research
infrastructure and technological capabilities being developed under the programme.
The workshop underscored the importance of indigenous scientific innovation, institutional collaboration
and technology-driven healthcare solutions in addressing critical healthcare challenges affecting tribal
communities, while advancing the vision of an inclusive, empowered and technologically driven Viksit
Bharat.***
RN
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