In a major breakthrough, ICMR-RMRC, situated at Lahoal, Dibrugarh has successfully isolated the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus in their BSL-3 lab. With this, it has become the third government lab in the country to achieve this feat.

Dr. Borkakoty and his team – scientists at the research centre – isolated the virus in VERO-CCL81 cell line in the BSL-3 level lab present at the institute. This development will help in the production of live and viable virus in the laboratory in abundance, which in turn would help in the development of inactivated vaccine.