ICMR-NIV Pune Launches HPC Facility to Boost Genomic Research and Pandemic Response

Marking a major leap in India’s public health advancement, the Indian Council of Medical Research – National Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV), Pune, has launched a cutting-edge High-Performance Computing (HPC) facility aimed at enhancing genomic research and bolstering pandemic preparedness.

On Wednesday, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) marked a major advancement in India’s public health research by inaugurating its first High Performance Computing (HPC) facility at the ICMR-National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune.

The computing cluster, ‘Nakshatra,’ was officially inaugurated by Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Secretary of the Department of Health Research (DHR) and Director General of ICMR, as stated in an official release. Established under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), the HPC facility stands as the foundation of a new project called the High-Performance Computing Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) Hub.

The newly launched HPC infrastructure promises to revolutionize the way scientists analyze complex genomic data, allowing for faster and more accurate tracking of emerging pathogens. With increasing concerns over global health threats, this facility is expected to play a pivotal role in the early detection, genomic surveillance, and response planning for infectious diseases.

The initiative seeks to transform the processing of genomic and bioinformatics data by overcoming the limitations of traditional computing systems that became evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, the statement added.

Speaking at the inauguration of the computing facility, the Director General of ICMR praised the institute for taking a timely and strategic step toward realizing the 'Viksit Bharat 2047' vision by enhancing the nation’s genomic surveillance and data analysis capabilities.

He emphasized that advanced computing resources are essential for technology-driven pandemic preparedness and managing future public health crises.

Dr. Naveen Kumar, Director of ICMR-NIV, emphasized the crucial role of the HPC cluster in facilitating rapid, data-driven responses to outbreaks. Meanwhile, Dr. Sarah Cherian, Principal Investigator and Group Leader of the Bioinformatics and Data Management Group, provided a detailed overview of the cluster’s features and its importance in advancing genomic research.

As per the official statement, the newly launched HPC cluster includes twelve compute nodes, providing a combined total of 700 cores and 1 petabyte of storage.

The infrastructure is designed to handle advanced bioinformatics workflows, such as next-generation sequencing (NGS), transcriptomics, phylogenetics, metagenomics, and structural bioinformatics.

Initially, the facility will cater to five ICMR institutes nationwide, serving as a central repository for sequencing data. According to the statement, the facility will soon extend support to Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDLs), establishing the institute as a central hub for outbreak investigations and pandemic preparedness, while also propelling advancements in AI-driven drug and vaccine discovery.

Emphasizing the benefits of the HPC facility, ICMR described it as a “national investment in speed, precision, and preparedness.” The statement noted that by accelerating the analysis of complex genomic data, the facility enhances India’s ability to identify emerging disease threats, improve outbreak response, and advance AI-driven vaccine and drug development.

(Input From Various Sources)

(Rehash/Mradula U Naik/MSM)