Molecular Medicine is a highly specialised part of Medicine. It explains the fundamental principles vital to an understanding of molecules that are keys to the normal functioning of the body and those related to the fundamental mechanisms of diseases. It also deals with the manipulation of these molecules to improve diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. Human genome, gene regulation and expression in health and disease and genetic engineering are important parts of Molecular Medicine. Within these categories emerge the clinical and molecular genetics of inherited disorders as a major part.

Aims of the Centre

1. To provide diagnostic services for heritable syndromes and disorders including chromosome, DNA, and biochemical analyses
2. To provide clinical genetics services and specialty clinics for evaluation, diagnosis, counseling, and education for the adult and pediatric population
3. To provide screening in consultative and/or treatment of disorders included in newborn screening programs
4. To provide prenatal genetics services in pregnancy including pre-conception counseling, risk assessment, teratogen information, and prenatal diagnosis
5. To identify and describe the patterns of birth defects and to assess the impact of congenital malformations upon infants, families, and to collaborate with others to determine factors involved in their etiologies in order to develop insights into primary prevention
6. To promote laboratory participation in quality assessment schemes
7. To provide Research and Educational facilities in Molecular Medicine, Clinical Genetics and Gene Therapy
8. To interact with national, regional and international matching institutes to provide complementary services for rare disorders and collaborate in building of registries
9. Establish a reference library of genetic disorders to serve clinical practice, education and research

Functional Units

• Diagnostics services
1. MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS UNIT
2. CYTOGENETICS UNIT
3. METABOLIC AND BIOCHEMICAL UNIT
• Clinical genetics
1. COMMUNITY GENETICS UNIT
2. PRENATAL DIAGNOSTIC UNIT
• Research and education Unit