KD NEWS SERVICE
SRINAGAR, July 1: In a landmark development for healthcare in Jammu and Kashmir, Meem Pathlabs, in collaboration with HaystackAnalytics, has launched the Kashmir Valley’s first Genomic Centre of Excellence (GCE) in Srinagar, ushering in a new era of genomics-based infectious disease diagnostics in the region.
The facility, inaugurated on July 1, is expected to significantly strengthen diagnostic capabilities by enabling faster, more accurate and comprehensive detection of infectious pathogens, bringing advanced molecular testing closer to patients and clinicians across the Valley.
The newly established centre will offer infexn®-NGS, HaystackAnalytics’ next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based infectious disease diagnostic platform, which integrates high-throughput sequencing technology with advanced software infrastructure and standardized laboratory workflows. Designed to provide comprehensive genomic insights, the platform enables laboratories to detect a wide range of infectious pathogens with greater precision, helping clinicians make timely and informed treatment decisions.
The Genomic Centre of Excellence is part of a specialized deployment model developed by HaystackAnalytics to enable partner laboratories to establish on-site genomics-based infectious disease testing capabilities. Through its collaboration with Meem Pathlabs, the company aims to decentralize access to sophisticated genomic diagnostics, ensuring that patients in the Kashmir Valley can benefit from world-class diagnostic technologies without relying on laboratories located outside the region.
The launch is expected to improve access to comprehensive pathogen detection for clinicians across Jammu and Kashmir, reducing turnaround times for complex infectious disease testing while supporting evidence-based patient care. By making advanced genomic diagnostics locally available, the centre is poised to enhance the region’s capacity to diagnose challenging infections, identify multiple pathogens simultaneously and strengthen overall disease surveillance.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Mahua Dasgupta Kapoor, Director of Medical Affairs at HaystackAnalytics, said the Srinagar facility represents another significant milestone in the company’s mission to make advanced genomic diagnostics accessible across the country.
“The Srinagar Genomic Centre of Excellence is another important milestone in our vision of bringing advanced genomic diagnostics to every corner of India. We are delighted to bring this vision to life and partner with Meem Pathlabs to strengthen infectious disease diagnostics in Kashmir,” she said.
Dr. Inara Abeer of Meem Pathlabs described the collaboration as a transformative step for healthcare in the Valley, emphasizing that the initiative extends beyond the launch of a new laboratory.
“For us, this collaboration is about far more than launching a new diagnostic facility. It is about bringing a new standard of infectious disease diagnostics to the Kashmir Valley. Establishing the first Genomic Centre of Excellence in Srinagar demonstrates that advanced genomic technologies can reach every part of the country, giving clinicians access to the tools they need while bringing timely, high-quality diagnostics closer to the communities they serve,” she said.
The establishment of the centre reflects the growing role of genomics in modern clinical diagnostics, particularly in the management of infectious diseases where rapid and accurate pathogen identification has become increasingly critical. Unlike conventional diagnostic methods that often target specific organisms, next-generation sequencing enables comprehensive analysis of multiple pathogens in a single test, improving diagnostic accuracy and facilitating more effective treatment strategies.
For Jammu and Kashmir, the launch marks a significant step towards strengthening the region’s healthcare infrastructure by making cutting-edge genomic technologies available locally. Beyond improving patient care, the initiative is expected to support clinicians with timely genomic insights, reduce dependence on referral laboratories outside the Union Territory and reinforce efforts to build a more resilient and technologically advanced diagnostic ecosystem.
The collaboration between Meem Pathlabs and HaystackAnalytics also underscores a broader commitment to ensuring that advanced healthcare innovations are accessible beyond metropolitan centres, bringing high-quality diagnostics within reach of communities across the Kashmir Valley.
