Jamia Millia Islamia launches two-year MSc in Virology programme

NEW DELHI: Multidisciplinary Centre for Advanced Research and Studies (MCARS), Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) has launched a two-year MSc in virology programme. The course will offer theoretical knowledge on various domains of viruses such as pathogenic viruses, their diagnostic methods, antiviral drug designing, molecular pathways of viruses and recently developed therapies such as immunotherapies and vaccines. Eligible students can apply for the MSc in virology course on the official website of JMI – jmi.ac.in by October 10.

During the two-year masters programme, students will undergo practical and hands-on-training. They will get to learn how to detect the viruses using current state-of-the art technologies like RT-qPCR, genome sequencing and CRISPR-Cas Diagnostic methods besides other assays such as immunophenotyping, flow cytometry, mass spectrometry and fluorescent microscopy, as per an official statement from JMI.

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The course curriculum has been designed by the academicians in the field who have expertise in various domains of virology, biotechnology, microbiology, biochemistry, infectious disease biology, computational and structural biology, it added.

Explaining the initiation of the MSc programme, course coordinators Jawed Iqbal, Mohan C Joshi and Tanveer Ahmad said that India has a high-demand of trained professionals especially in the field of virology. After the onset of COVID-19, MCARS was at the forefront in developing robust diagnostic methods and treatments. The faculty members of MCARS developed the world's first Saliva based SARS-CoV-2 detection using CRISPR-Cas technology. That innovation became the foundation for this masters course as we have witnessed over the last two years that there are huge supply chain constraints, particularly in terms of the trained professionals who could develop and perform these diagnostic assays.

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Iqbal, a virologist further said that MCARS has a collaboration with the major research institutes, hospital and clinical laboratories in the country which will help students to gain more practical insights about the viral disease pathogenesis in particular.

Professor Mohammad Zulfequar, Director MCARS said that students will be trained by the best faculty members who have vast expertise in various domains of virology and biotechnology.