The Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council–Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (BRIC–CDFD) marked its 30th Foundation Day at its Hyderabad campus on Wednesday, with Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Punya Salila Srivastava, attending as the Chief Guest.

The programme opened with a welcome address and an overview of the institute’s progress by CDFD Director Ullas Kolthur Sitharam, who outlined key research milestones and contributions over the past three decades. In her keynote address titled “Ayushman Bharat: An Overview of the Initiatives,” Srivastava presented a detailed account of the government’s healthcare roadmap, stressing the goal of Universal Health Coverage. She explained the four pillars of Ayushman Bharat—Health and Wellness Centres, Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, and the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission—highlighting their role in strengthening preventive and affordable healthcare.

An interactive session followed on rare diseases, medical genetics, biosimilars and their applications, with inputs from CDFD scientists. Directors of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, National Institute of Nutrition and AIIMS Bibinagar briefed the Secretary on their ongoing research, programmes and future priorities.

Srivastava also toured CDFD’s advanced research facilities and interacted with faculty and researchers.