Manipal, March 26, 2026: Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), an Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University, has achieved a landmark milestone with the official certification of its state-of-the-art Biosafety Level-3 (BSL-3) Laboratory by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. This certification significantly strengthens MAHE’s capacity in advanced biomedical research, infectious disease preparedness, and global health security.
The newly certified BSL-3 laboratory is designed with cutting-edge infrastructure and advanced biosafety engineering. The facility features specialised containment architecture, negative pressure environments, directional airflow, high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration systems, secure access controls, and stringent operational protocols. The rigorous certification process evaluated laboratory design, engineering controls, biosafety management systems, standard operating procedures, personnel training, and emergency preparedness.
This achievement was realised under the leadership of Dr Chiranjay Mukhopadhyay, Director of Manipal Institute of Virology (MIV), with strong collaborative support from Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MCOPS), Manipal School of Life Sciences (MSLS), and Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT). The facility will act as a hub for interdisciplinary collaboration among microbiologists, virologists, clinicians, epidemiologists, and public health experts.
The BSL-3 laboratory will enable critical studies on airborne and high-risk pathogens. It will support pathogen isolation, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, molecular diagnostics, vaccine and drug development, host–pathogen interaction studies, aerosol transmission research, and evaluation of biosafety protocols. The facility also provides specialised training in high-containment laboratory operations, outbreak response, and biosafety practices, contributing to national and regional infectious disease preparedness.
Dr H S Ballal, Pro Chancellor, MAHE, stated, “This certification is a proud moment for MAHE. It highlights our commitment to scientific excellence, innovation, and public health. This is among the first stand-alone, world-class BSL-3 laboratories in a premier private university in India, poised to serve the nation and contribute to the national BSL-3 consortium.”
Lt. Gen. (Dr) M D Venkatesh, Vice Chancellor, MAHE, added, “This facility empowers researchers to undertake critical studies on high-risk pathogens and reinforces India’s biomedical research ecosystem while advancing global infectious disease preparedness.”
Dr Sharath K Rao, Pro Vice Chancellor, Health Sciences, MAHE, emphasised that the laboratory will foster multi-institutional and multidisciplinary research and is set to emerge as a centre of excellence for infectious disease research in southern India.
With this milestone, MAHE joins an elite group of institutions in India with certified BSL-3 laboratories, solidifying its leadership in biomedical innovation, infectious disease research, and global health security.
