About Us
The unit of medical genetics was established in 1976 at the Institute for Research in Reproduction. The unit was made an independent center of ICMR in 1986 and was then lodged at the Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for children until the end of 1999. It was shifted back and located back at the Institute of Research in Reproduction. Since its inception, the center has catered to the needs of families having children with mental retardation and multiple malformations. The major activity of the center is to run an effective clinic where couples are counseled regarding the recurrence risk of genetic disorders and the availability of prenatal diagnosis.
Situated in Mumbai, Maharashtra, the Genetic Research Center (GRC) is the ICMR’s only center which offers medical genetic services to individuals with genetic disorders. Diagnosis is based on a unique combination of clinical and laboratory (cytogenetic, biochemical, and molecular) methods. Research at the center is aimed at understanding the molecular etiology associated with abnormalities observed in utero, genetic conditions in the neonatal, pediatric & adolescent population, and in couples with poor reproductive outcomes. The center carries out extensive genetic counseling to empower couples to take an informed decision for further management and for creating awareness among members of the extended family to minimize the occurrence of these disorders in the community.
The Centre actively organizes workshops on genetic counseling and advanced laboratory methodologies for medical students, clinicians, and postgraduate trainees, including M.Sc. and Ph.D. scholars. It recently conducted a focused one-month annual training program, sponsored by the Department of Health Research (DHR) from 2021 to 2025, aimed at capacity building in medical genetics. This program successfully trained 128 clinicians from across India. A total of over 500 medical doctors have been trained to date through five Continuing Professional Development programmes accredited by the Maharashtra Medical Council.
In addition, the Centre offers structured summer and winter training programs for MBBS, M.Sc. students, focusing on hands-on, technique-based learning in medical, cytogenetics and molecular genetics. To support knowledge dissemination, the Centre conducts community awareness sessions for the general public & has also developed educational manuals and informational pamphlets for doctors, paramedical staff.
The Centre is part of a Department of Biotechnology (DBT)-funded mission program on pediatric rare genetic disorders and serves as a NIDAN Kendra under the DBT-supported UMMID-NIDAN initiative. It has recently completed a comprehensive study on congenital malformations using an integrated evaluation approach. Multicentric research projects focusing on fetal growth restriction and on poor ovarian response in the Indian population are also currently being undertaken at the Centre.
People
| Permanent Staff | Designation |
| Dr. Shailesh Pande | Scientist E and Head |
| Dr. Shaini Joseph | Scientist D |
| Mrs. Shiny Babu | Sr. Technical Officer (2) |
| Mr. Harshvardhan Gawde | Sr. Technical Officer (3) |
| Dr. Mrs. Neha Minde | Sr. Technical Officer (2) |
| Mr. Desavath Chinna Naik | Technical Assistant (Lab) |
| Mr. Kisan Mali | Laboratory Assistant |
Projects
Projects (Ongoing):
| Sr.No. | Title | Funding Agency |
| 1 | Mission Program on Pediatric Rare Genetic Disorders: PI-Dr. Shailesh Pande | DBT |
| 2 | Establishment of Centre for Maternal & Child Genetics at ICMR-NIRWoH, Mumbai under UMMID initiative: PI-Dr. Shailesh Pande | DBT |
| 3 | Establishing a predictive algorithm for Fetal Growth Restriction in Indian population: a prospective cohort and a nested case-control study: PI-Dr. Shaini Joseph | ICMR Intramural |
| 4 | Exploring the genetic factors influencing poor ovarian response associated with IVF failures: PI- Dr. Shaini Joseph | ICMR Intramural |
| 5 | Identification and characterization of genetic factors associated with multiple morphological abnormalities of sperm flagella (MMAF): PI –Dr. DVS Sudhakar, Site PI-Dr. Shailesh Pande | ICMR-NIRWoH |
| 6 | Exploring the novel monogenic causes in histological subtypes of idiopathic non-obstructive azoospermia: PI –Dr. DVS Sudhakar, Site PI- Dr. Shailesh Pande | DBT |
Projects (Completed):
| Sr.No. | Title | Funding Agency |
| 1 | Comprehensive genetic evaluation of fetus in antenatally detected abnormal pregnancies with fetal malformations: Outcomes, benefits and limitations-a Pilot Study: PI-Dr. Shailesh Pande | ICMR-Extramural |
| 2 | Deciphering the Functional Significance of Candidate Genes Associated with PolyCystic Ovary Syndrome Identified from Network Analysis: PI-Dr. Shaini Joseph | ICMR-NIRRH |
| 3 | Support to Indian Institutes for imparting training (Operations Research in Public Health): PI- Dr. Shailesh Pande | ICMR-DHR |
Contact Us
Telephone: +(91-22)24192154/ +(91-22) 24192141
Email Id: grc[at]nirrch[dot]res[dot]in/projectgrc[at]nirrch[dot]res[dot]in
| Name | Designation | Email Id | Phone no |
| Dr. Shailesh Pande | Scientist E | pandes[at]nirrch[dot]res[dot]in | +(91-22)24192154 |
| Dr. Shaini Joseph | Scientist D | josephs[at]nirrch[dot]res[dot]in | +(91-22)24192173 |