llumina has donated $1m in sequencing capabilities to the Molecular Diagnostic Reference Laboratory

To support the broader genomic surveillance effort across India and help expand SARS-CoV-2 sequencing capabilities in the region, Illumina has donated one million dollars in sequencing capabilities to the Molecular Diagnostic Reference Laboratory, Kasturba Hospital, in the Municipal Corporate of Greater Mumbai.

Kasturba Hospital, which will examine how variants of the virus are being spread across India, was the initial hospital in Mumbai to sequence SARS-CoV-2 this year.

Chief Executive Officer of Illumina, Francis deSouza, stated: “Illumina believes in democratization of access to sequencing and we are committed to helping the regions of the world that carry most of the infectious disease burden to build genomics capabilities. This donation will help to make NGS technology and expertise accessible in Mumbai, supporting the region and contributing to genomic surveillance in India more broadly.

Laboratory Director from the Molecular Diagnostic Reference Laboratory at Kasturba Hospital, Dr Jayanthi Shastri, stated: “We are grateful for Illumina’s support in the pandemic fight.”