Systems Biology is an emerging holistic approach to decipher the complexity of biological systems by combining various- omics approaches such as genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, proteomics, metabolomics together with modelling, synthetic biology and high-performance computational analysis (data/ network biology). This is based on the understanding that a biological system does not function as an independent entity, rather continuously interact with environment and other systems.
Although Systems Biology is a big area, the Center of Excellence in Genomics & Systems Biology (CEGSB) at ICRISAT will be working initially on three research modules, drawing on expertise within ICRISAT as well as from outside. After having extensive consultations and interactions with several collaborators with complementary expertise, we already have following partners on board: (a) The Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen, UK, (b) Genomics and Molecular Biomedicine, University of Copenhagen, Denmark, (c) BGI-Research, Shenzhen, China and (d) Molecular Systems Biology/Vienna Metabolomics Centre, University of Vienna. Discussions are underway and we hope to have several other partners on board soon.
A collaborative network/ environment of Systems Biology with key internal and external partners.
CEGSB will undertake systems biology research under following three modules:
- Research Module I: Gut microbiome for improving human nutrition,
- Research Module II: Crop-soil microbiome interactions for plant nutrition and crop yield, and
- Research Module III: Trait biology for enhancing precision and efficiency of crop breeding.
