INSACOG

INSACOG (Indian SARS-CoV-2 Consortium on Genomics^[1] or Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genetics Consortium^[2]) is the forum set up under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare by the Government of India on 30 December 2020, to study and monitor genome sequencing and virus variation of circulating strains of COVID-19 in India.^[1][2][3] Initially it was tasked to study the virus variant Lineage B.1.1.7 earlier found in United Kingdom in December 2020.

Indian SARS-CoV-2 Consortium on Genomics

Consortium overview
Formed	December 30, 2020; 3 years ago (2020-12-30)
Type	Consortium under Government of India
Status	Active
Parent department	Department of Biotechnology
Website	dbtindia.gov.in/insacog

INSACOG works as a consortium of 38^[4] national laboratories for genome sequencing located in different parts of India.^[5] All these 10 laboratories are required to share 5% of positive samples to INSACOG for further research and studies. A National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) nodal unit maintain a database of all samples of the new variants. Two national genomic sequencing database centers are appointed 1) National Institute of Biomedical Genomics and 2) CSIR Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology.^[6] In its early research INSACOG identified virus variant Lineage B.1.617 referred to as a double mutation variant.^[7][8]

See also

• GISAID

References

1. "Genome Sequencing by INSACOG shows variants of concern and a Novel variant in India". Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. 24 March 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
2. Das, Krishna N (16 May 2021). "Top Indian virologist quits government panel after airing differences". Reuters. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
3. Pulla, Priyanka (28 February 2021). "India's Genome Sequencing Program Is Finally Good To Go – So What's the Hold Up?". The Wire. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
4. "INSACOG | Department of Biotechnology". Government of India Ministry of Science & Technology. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
5. "INSACOG | Department of Biotechnology". Government of India Ministry of Science & Technology. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
6. Dey, Sushmi (29 December 2020). "10 labs to be regional hubs for genome sequencing". The Times of India. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
7. Koshy, Jacob (8 April 2021). "Coronavirus | Indian 'double mutant' strain named B.1.617". The Hindu. Retrieved 2021-04-19. Though these mutations have individually been found in several other coronavirus variants, the presence of both these mutations together have been first found in some coronavirus genomes from India.
8. Ghoshal, Devjyot; Das, Krishna N (3 May 2021). "EXCLUSIVE Scientists say India government ignored warnings amid coronavirus surge". Reuters. Retrieved 17 May 2021.