Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology

What Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology does

Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (BRIC-RGCB) is an autonomous research institute under the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, operating from three campuses in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The institute conducts frontier biotechnology research across nine programs including Cancer Research, Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes Biology, Pathogen Biology, Regenerative Biology, Plant Biotechnology and Disease Biology, Neurobiology, Transdisciplinary Biology, and Social Interventions, while delivering translational services in clinical diagnostics, DNA forensics, and academic training. Its technical infrastructure spans a state-of-the-art DBT-SAHAJ National Facility for Mass Spectrometry (Orbitrap Eclipse Tribrid MS, Synapt XS HDMS Q-TOF, MALDI-TOF/TOF), a certified Biosafety Level-3 containment laboratory, advanced bio-imaging (Olympus FV3000, Leica SP8 WLL, Nikon A1R MP multiphoton, IVIS Spectrum), transmission electron microscopy (Thermo Talos F200i), and Sanger and next-generation sequencing platforms.

RGCB serves four primary customer categories: patients and healthcare providers through its Laboratory Medicine and Molecular Diagnostics (LMMD, ICMR VRDL Grade 1) and Medical Laboratory Services (10 main centers plus 62 collection points at CGHS rates); law enforcement and judicial agencies through its ISO/IEC 17025:2017-accredited Molecular Forensics and DNA Technologies unit; scientific researchers nationwide through fee-based access to core facilities; and students through PhD, MSc, and short-term training programs. The institute's unique regulatory position as the only DST-affiliated laboratory in India holding NABL ISO 15189-2012, NABH, and ILAC accreditations enables internationally accepted diagnostic reports.

Revenue mechanics are predominantly government-funded via DBT/BRIC annual allocations, supplemented by professional service fees from diagnostics (CGHS-rate pricing with BPL concessions), forensic DNA services (₹9,800-₹35,000 per case), core facility access (₹980-₹12,000/hour), and training programs (₹3,776-₹60,000). The institute operates a KRIBS-BIONEST bioincubator supporting biotechnology startups, participates in national consortia including INSACOG and the WHO Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance Group, and maintains memberships with the National One Health Mission's BSL-3/4 laboratory network, positioning it as a critical node within India's public health and biotechnology infrastructure.

Name

Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology

Legal name

Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology

Website

https://rgcb.res.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (BRIC-RGCB) is a DBT/Government of India autonomous research institute in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, conducting biotechnology research across nine disease areas and delivering accredited clinical diagnostics, DNA forensics, core facility services, and graduate training programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biotechnology Research Services

NAICS

Medical Laboratories (621511), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Biomedical Sciences & Medical Research Institutes (University-Based) (EDAHAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Clinical Research & Trial Central Laboratories (HLAFAMAL)

Keywords

• Biotechnology research
• Molecular diagnostics
• DNA forensics services
• Biomedical training programs
• Clinical laboratory services

Headquarters

HQ city

Thiruvananthapuram

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Medical Laboratory Services: Clinical laboratory testing services providing hematological, microbiological, immunological, and biochemical investigations. RGCB MLS operates 10 main centers and 62 collection/report centers across Thiruvananthapuram district. All investigations are priced at CGHS-approved rates with concessions for BPL patients. Revenue generated from diagnostic testing services provided to patients, government hospitals, and empaneled private facilities under CGHS.
2. Laboratory Medicine and Molecular Diagnostics: Advanced molecular diagnostic services including 69+ viral disease tests, bacterial infection testing with genetic analysis for antibiotic resistance, next-generation sequencing for cancer and cardiovascular disease, and pharmacogenomic analysis. Revenue generated from high-complexity diagnostic testing services.
3. Molecular Forensics & DNA Technologies: DNA fingerprinting and forensics services for judicial, crime investigation, and law enforcement agencies. Services include paternity testing (₹35,000 for 3 samples), forensic samples (₹16,800/sample), wildlife forensics species identification (₹9,800/sample), and DNA barcoding/sequencing. Commercial and non-commercial pricing tiers applied.
4. Research Consultancy Services & Molecular Platforms: Pre-clinical testing of novel molecules for therapeutic efficacy using standardized in vitro and in vivo assays. Services include lifetime imaging, cellular imaging, and molecular screening. Charged at competitive not-for-profit service rates to support the scientific community.
5. Training and Education Programs: Graduate school programs (PhD, MSc Biotechnology), postdoctoral training, and short/long-term skill development training programs in bioinformatics, biotech instrumentation, medical lab services, molecular diagnostics, molecular forensics, and mass spectrometry. Training fees range from ₹3,776 to ₹60,000 depending on program duration and type.
6. Core Facility Services: Chargeable access to shared research infrastructure including genomics sequencing, mass spectrometry, bio-imaging, flow cytometry, electron microscopy, and BSL-3 facility. Services priced for academia, industry, and overseas clients with differential pricing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BRIC-RGCB operates as a government autonomous research institute offering a portfolio of biotechnology services: clinical molecular diagnostics (LMMD handling 220+ tests), NABH-accredited medical laboratory services via hospital-embedded units and 62 collection centers, ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited DNA forensics, shared access to advanced core facilities (genomics, mass spectrometry, bio-imaging, BSL-3, TEM), PhD and MSc academic programs, training and internship programs, and research consultancy. Services are delivered across three campuses in Thiruvananthapuram to government agencies, hospitals, courts, researchers, students, and individual patients.

Product overview

BRIC-Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology is an autonomous institute under the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, operating as a biotechnology research and innovation council. The institution offers a comprehensive portfolio of core research facilities and services including Laboratory Medicine and Molecular Diagnostics (handling 220+ disease diagnostics with NABL/NABH/ILAC accreditation), Medical Laboratory Services (NABH-accredited clinical labs across multiple collection centers), Molecular Forensics and DNA Technologies (ISO 17025:2017 accredited DNA fingerprinting for judicial and wildlife forensics), Genomics Facility (Sanger sequencing with AI-enabled bioinformatics), Bio-imaging Facility (advanced microscopy including TEM, confocal, multiphoton, and high-content imaging), DBT-SAHAJ Mass Spectrometry Facility (proteomics, metabolomics, lipidomics), BSL-3 Containment Laboratory (for high-risk pathogen research), Research Consultancy Services, and an accredited Central Library. Academic offerings include PhD and MSc programs across eight research disciplines. The institute also provides training programs and health checkup packages through its service centers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Laboratory Medicine and Molecular Diagnostics (LMMD) ICMR Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) Grade 1 facility handling over 220 infectious and non-infectious disease diagnostics. The only lab in India under DST with NABL ISO 15189-2012, NABH, and ILAC accreditations. Offers viral disease tests, bacterial infection testing with genetic analysis for antibiotic resistance, next-generation sequencing for cancer and cardiovascular diseases, and pharmacogenomic analysis. Designed for healthcare providers, hospitals, and patients requiring globally accepted accredited reports.
• Medical Laboratory Services (MLS) NABH-accredited clinical laboratory providing hematological, microbiological, immunological, and biochemical investigations on automated platforms at CGHS-approved rates. Operates 10 main centers and 62 collection/report centers across Thiruvananthapuram district. Services patients, government hospitals, and empaneled private facilities under CGHS. Includes BPL patient concessions.
• Molecular Forensics and DNA Technologies (MFDT) / Regional Facility for DNA Fingerprinting (RFDF) ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited facility providing human DNA fingerprinting services for judicial and law enforcement agencies. Services include paternity testing, forensic analysis, rape case investigation, missing persons identification, wildlife forensics species identification, DNA barcoding of plants, animals, and microbes, and genetic diversity analysis. Differential commercial and non-commercial pricing tiers applied.
• Genomics Facility Sanger DNA sequencing facility using 3730xl DNA Analyzers (48 and 96-capillary systems) providing high-precision DNA sequencing and genotyping solutions for academia, clinics, and industry. Supports fragment analysis genotyping and offers AI-enabled bioinformatics analysis. Processes up to 96 samples in a two-hour run with up to 12 plates daily, with read lengths up to 800 bp routine and up to 1400 bp with optimized protocols.
• Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) Facility Thermo Scientific Talos F200i S equipped with 20-200kV accelerating voltage and 4k x 4k ceta 16M camera, supporting basic TEM imaging, STEM, CRYO-EM, and tomography applications. Available to researchers across India at differential pricing for academia, industry, and overseas clients.
• Bio-imaging Facility Advanced imaging facility featuring IVIS Spectrum in vivo small animal imager, high-speed flow cytometer sorters (FACSAria III, Beckman Coulter Astrios EQ), confocal laser scanning microscopes (Olympus FV3000, Leica SP8 WLL), multiphoton confocal imaging (Nikon A1R MP), and high content imaging system (ImageXpress Confocal HT.AI). Supports flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, multiphoton imaging, and high-content screening applications.
• DBT-SAHAJ National Facility for Mass Spectrometry National facility offering proteomics, metabolomics, and lipidomics platforms with instrumentation including UltraFlextreme MALDI-TOF/TOF (Bruker), Synapt XS HDMS Q-TOF (Waters), Orbitrap Eclipse Tribrid MS (Thermo Fisher), and TSQ Altis Plus Triple Quadrupole MS (Thermo Fisher). Targeted lipidomics panels cover 309 lipid molecules across 25 lipid classes plus 2 metabolites related to one-carbon metabolism. Differential pricing for academia, industry, and overseas clients.
• Research Consultancy Services and Molecular Platforms Pre-clinical testing services for novel molecules including standardized in vitro and in vivo assays. Offers Lifetime Imaging Facility, Cellular Imaging Facility, and Molecular Screening Facility with consultation from expert scientists. Charged at competitive not-for-profit service rates to support the scientific community.
• Biosafety Level-3 (BSL-3) Facility RCGM, KPCB, and IBSC-certified modular BSL-3 facility for research on Risk Group-3 pathogens. Supports emerging and re-emerging viral disease studies, antiviral and vaccine development, and outbreak preparedness. Participates in the National One Health Mission (NOHM) BSL-3/4 network. Equipped with negative-pressure air handling, controlled access, pass-through autoclaves, certified biosafety cabinets, and continuous surveillance.
• Comprehensive Central Library Depository of international books and journals on life sciences with 12-hour continuous service. Provides access to over 900 e-journals and e-books through DeLCON membership, online public access catalogue (OPAC), and electronic document delivery service.
• RGCB Graduate School - PhD Program Doctoral program in biotechnology with research programs spanning Cancer Research, Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes Biology, Pathogen Biology, Regenerative Biology, Plant Biotechnology and Disease Biology, Neurobiology, Transdisciplinary Biology, and Social Interventions. Admissions through online counselling for students from across India.
• RGCB MSc Biotechnology Program Master's program in biotechnology conducted under BRIC-RGCB in collaboration with University of Kerala. Designed for postgraduate students seeking advanced training in biotechnology research and applications.
• Training and Internship Programs Short-term and long-term training programs covering Biotech Instrumentation, Bioinformatics, DNA Fingerprinting, Flow Cytometry, Molecular Diagnostics, and Computational Biology. Includes hands-on training on specialized facilities with tiered pricing by program duration ranging from ₹3,776 to ₹60,000. Online application portal with fee payment and faculty matching.
• Health Packages Preventive health checkup packages including Health and Wellness Package (₹1,900 with FBS, HbA1C, lipid profile, LFT, RFT, CBC, urine analysis, calcium, phosphorus, iron, TFT, vitamin D), age-specific packages, diabetic maintenance panels, tumor markers, rheumatic profile, viral markers (PCR), coagulation profile, and special investigations. Targeted at individual patients seeking preventive diagnostics.

Quantifiable outcome

• LMMD handles 220+ infectious and non-infectious disease diagnostics as one of 6 ICMR Grade 1 VRDL laboratories in India
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KRIBS-BioNest (Bioincubation Centre)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKRIBS-BioNest is the bioincubation centre housed at Campus III (KINFRA Hi-Tech Park). BRIC-RGCB and its bioincubation center KRIBS-BioNest participate together in national science expos and events. BioNest supports startup companies in the biotechnology sector by providing infrastructure and mentorship.
• National One Health Mission (NOHM) - National Network of BSL-3/4 LaboratoriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRGCB BSL-3 facility is a participating centre in the National One Health Mission's program for strengthening R&D towards integrated disease control and pandemic preparedness. The initiative aims to establish a national network of BSL-3/4 laboratories for outbreak investigation and pandemic preparedness, with major agencies DBT, ICMR, DHR, DAHD, and ICAR contributing laboratories. RGCB contributes through its high-containment infrastructure and metagenomics NGS surveillance.
• INSACOG (Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLMMD is an active member and contributor in INSACOG, where different variants of COVID-19 virus are sequenced and analysed for variant detection and reporting. This partnership connects RGCB with DBT, ICMR, and CSIR-led national genomic surveillance efforts.
• WHO Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLMMD is a participating centre with WHO's antibiotic resistance surveillance group, contributing data and research to global antibiotic resistance monitoring efforts.
• Kerala Health Services DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRGCB MLS operates 62 sample collection and report centers across Primary Health Centers and Family Health Centers in TVPM district under a Government Order with Kerala Health Services. Special collection centers also operate at SCTIMST, Govt Ayurveda College, Govt Homeo Hospital, and Govt Siddha Hospital.
• Kerala Forest DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWildlife forensics services provided to Kerala Forest Department for species identification from confiscated samples to enable prosecution of offenders in poaching cases. Collaboration also includes DNA barcode database development for captive animals at Thiruvananthapuram Zoo for wildlife forensics evidence.
• CGHS (Central Government Health Scheme)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRGCB MLS was selected for empanelment under CGHS Trivandrum for diagnostic services to central government employees and beneficiaries, following committees formed by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
• Zoological Gardens, Department of Museum & Zoos, ThiruvananthapuramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to develop DNA barcode database of captive animals in Thiruvananthapuram Zoo, including endemic and threatened species of the Western Ghats and migratory birds, for use in wildlife forensics.
• BRIC (Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRGCB is an institute of BRIC under the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. BRIC serves as the parent council coordinating research and innovation activities across biotechnology institutes in India.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS): DBT-funded biology research institute in Bangalore with doctoral programs and advanced core facilities. Closely comparable to RGCB on the academic biomedical research, training, and shared-infrastructure dimensions.
• Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD): Autonomous DBT institute providing DNA fingerprinting for judicial/law enforcement and molecular diagnostics for disease. Most directly comparable to RGCB on the MFDT/RFDF forensics and infectious-disease diagnostics dimensions, with similar funding structure and accreditation posture.
• National Institute of Biomedical Genomics (NIBMG): Autonomous institute under DBT focused on biomedical genomics, cancer genomics, and translational research with PhD programs. Directly comparable on genomics research mandate and DBT-affiliated institute structure.
• Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI): DBT autonomous institute focused on translational and clinical research including vaccines and infectious diseases, with BSL-3 facilities. Peer on translational research, public-health mandate, and DBT-funded operational model.
• Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB): Premier DBT autonomous research institute in Hyderabad running multi-disciplinary biomedical research, doctoral programs, and diagnostic services. Closest peer to RGCB in governance structure (DBT autonomous), research breadth, and academic offering.
• Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB): CSIR autonomous lab performing genomics, diagnostics, and translational biology with doctoral programs. Peer to RGCB on genomics-led diagnostics, infectious-disease research, and academic training.

Broad incumbents

• Dr. Lal PathLabs: India's largest listed diagnostics chain with pan-India network of NABL-accredited labs and routine/specialty testing at scale. Competes with RGCB MLS in CGHS-empanelled routine diagnostics with much broader geographic reach.
• Metropolis Healthcare: Pan-India NABL/NABH-accredited diagnostic chain with extensive service menu across routine, specialty, and hospital-lab management. Comparable to RGCB on accreditation tier and diagnostics menu, with far larger geographic footprint.

Regional players

• IISER Thiruvananthapuram: Premier research-and-teaching institution in Thiruvananthapuram offering BS-MS/PhD programs in biological sciences with advanced instrumentation. Comparable on local life-sciences academic competition and shared talent pool.
• Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST): Autonomous Institute of National Importance under the Ministry of Science & Technology based in Thiruvananthapuram, with hospital services, biomedical technology, and a sample-collection partnership with RGCB MLS. Regional peer with overlapping diagnostics and biomedical device mandate.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RGCB_Trivandrum
• Facebookfacebook.com/RgcbTrivandrum

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology