Workshop on BIRSA 101, India's first indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy for sickle cell disease
On 14 May 2026 the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, CSIR and CSIR-IGIB held a workshop in New Delhi on BIRSA 101, India's first indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy for sickle cell disease, named after Bhagwan Birsa Munda.
Summary
BIRSA 101, India's first indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy for sickle cell disease, was the subject of a workshop organised by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs with CSIR and the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) at CSIR-IGIB, New Delhi, on 14 May 2026. The therapy is named after Bhagwan Birsa Munda, and sickle cell disease disproportionately affects tribal populations in several regions. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has supported the project with about ₹3.75 crore. The workshop was held under Janjatiya Garima Utsav 2026, and participants were briefed on clinical trial infrastructure and regulatory processes.
Key facts
- Therapy
- BIRSA 101 — first indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy for sickle cell disease
- Developer
- CSIR-IGIB, New Delhi
- Named after
- Bhagwan Birsa Munda
- Funding
- About ₹3.75 crore from Ministry of Tribal Affairs
- Workshop
- 14 May 2026, under Janjatiya Garima Utsav 2026
Practice MCQs 2 questions
'BIRSA 101', discussed at a workshop in May 2026, is:
Show answer
Correct answer: D — India's first indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy for sickle cell disease
BIRSA 101, named after Bhagwan Birsa Munda, is India's first indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy for sickle cell disease.
Which CSIR laboratory is associated with BIRSA 101, the CRISPR-based gene therapy for sickle cell disease?
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Correct answer: B — CSIR-IGIB, New Delhi
The workshop on BIRSA 101 was organised with CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) at CSIR-IGIB, New Delhi.