Bengaluru-based biotechnology startup CrisprBits has inaugurated a CRISPR gene editing and diagnostics laboratory in Bengaluru.

The new facility includes advanced infrastructure laboratory features with dedicated spaces for lyophilisation (a process used to keep reagents stable at room temperature), cell and tissue culture, bacterial culture, molecular biology research, and cleanroom operations.

Additionally, the laboratory includes a specialised gene editing section and a tissue culture area designed to support stem cell research. A state-of-the-art LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System) and intelligent systems for smart design of CRISPR guides round out the technology platforms at the CrisprBits innovation centre.

Incubated initially at the Center For Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) for the past four years, the startup has been focusing on developing a rapid point-of-need molecular diagnostics platform. In the next few months, CrisprBits aims to launch several key tests in affordable rare disease diagnostics and hospital acquired infections (HAI) including antimicrobial resistance tests using the platform.

CrisprBits will continue its operations at C-CAMP in the near future, on several collaborative gene editing projects. Over the next 6 months, CrisprBits plans to introduce novel applications of CRISPR in building iPSC (Induced pluripotent stem cells) models for rare diseases and targeted editing of cell lines and microbes important for industrial microbiology applications are in progress.