Reliance Life Setting Up Biotech Lab Near Mumbai

Reliance Life Sciences (RLS) is setting up a biotechnology laboratory complex at Thane, near Mumbai. The company has already awarded a contract to Kvaerner Power Gas (India), an engineering and design construction firm, to set up research and development facilities on the site.

The facility is expected to be in place by the end of 2002. The setting up of the labs is a small step towards launching commercial operations for the company's cell biology initiatives, which will cover embryonic stem cells, haematopoietic stem cells, skin cells and tissue engineering.

A Reliance spokesperson declined to comment on the development.

The new complex will also support contract research jobs the company proposes to undertake. RLS has seven of the 64 lines of stem cells across the globe that were identified by the National Institute of Health in the US and which have received US Federal funding.

The Thane complex will come up in two phases. The first phase will involve setting up of labs for cell biology. This will involve an animal house for clinical trials, a greenhouse for plant biotechnology and other paraphernalia. Phase two will, however, involve the construction of other support systems critical for biotech laboratories.

Incorporated in January 2001, RLS has established a cell biology research centre in Mumbai. The centre is operated from Sir Hurkinsondas Nurrotamdas Hospital & Research Centre.

The Ambanis have invested approximately Rs 25 crore in setting up the centre at Sir H N Hospital. The Reliance group plans to invest close to $25 million over the next few years and is likely to scale up investments when the research results come up for commercial production.

The foray into biotechnology has a synergy with the group's existing business of polymers. The research centres are also developing new streams in polymers that are expected to be environment friendly.

RLS had earlier planned to set up three research facilities, one each for cell biology and plant biotech, with the third one being a composite facility.