The Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS) and SUM Hospital, Bhubaneswar, has established Odisha’s first comprehensive i house Molecular Diagnostics and Genomics Laboratory, strengthening the state’s capabilities in precision medicine and advanced disease diagnostics. The facility is expected to improve the diagnosis, classification and monitoring of complex cancers, blood disorders and inherited genetic diseases while reducing dependence on laboratories outside the state.

The laboratory is equipped with cutting edge genomic technologies, including Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), Fluorescence In Situ Hybridisation (FISH), Cytogenetics, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Real-Time PCR and Sanger Sequencing. These platforms enable clinicians to detect genetic mutations with greater accuracy, supporting personalised treatment decisions and faster clinical interventions.

According to the hospital, the in house facility will provide comprehensive molecular testing for a broad range of conditions, including solid tumours, haematological malignancies, rare genetic disorders and hereditary diseases. By offering advanced genomic testing within the hospital, patients are expected to benefit from shorter turnaround times, quicker diagnosis and more timely initiation of targeted therapies.

The launch reflects the growing adoption of precision medicine in India, where genomic technologies are increasingly being integrated into cancer care, rare disease diagnosis and personalised treatment planning. Healthcare experts believe in house genomics laboratories can significantly improve patient outcomes by enabling clinicians to identify disease causing genetic alterations and tailor therapies accordingly.

Experts also noted that access to advanced molecular diagnostics remains limited in many parts of India. The establishment of Odisha’s first in-house genomics laboratory is expected to strengthen the state’s healthcare infrastructure, enhance research capabilities and improve access to high end diagnostic services for patients across eastern India.

The initiative marks a significant milestone in Odisha’s healthcare landscape, reinforcing the role of genomics and precision medicine in delivering faster, more accurate and patient centric clinical care.