Contact: Dr. Hassan Basheir, Director
P.O. Box 2404, Khartoum – Sudan
St. Mohammed Nageeb – Eddaim
Tel: 249- 11 – 466373
Fax: 249 – 11 – 770701
Background:
In response to the initiative UNIDO call in 1981, National Centre For Research (NCR) was entrusted to establish a body to tacktle biotechnological research. In 1983, National Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Advisory Group was setup under the umbrella of the NCR. In 1993 The Committee for Biotechnoloy and Genetic Engineering was initiated to promote and coordinate research and development efforts at specific centers of excellence, research institutions and universities.
Objectives:
- To execute applied research and studies in the field of biotechnology and genetic engineering to enhance sustainable development.
- To promote and coordinate research and development efforts at specific centres of excellence selected from the existing governmental research institutions and universities.
- To design a National Biotechnology Programme ( NBP) which operates both vertically in fostering research and development in biotechnology in stepwise fashion i.e., from simple research programme ( fermentation) to more sophisticated ( genetic engineering research ).
- To build up infrastructural support in laboratory, database, critical mass and biotechnology expertise.
- To create a network of relevant satellites in the country and promote collaboration with national and international institutions.
Organization and Staff:
A. Departments:
- Microbiology and Tissue Culture
- Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
- Applied Biotechnology
B. Man-power:
- 5 Senior Researchers
- 7 Researchers
- 4 Technicians
Current activities:
- Propagation of some important crops through different techniques of tissue culture.
- Isolation, identification and application of micro-organisms [yeast, fungi and bacteria] having industrial or other technical importance, e.g. Agrobacterium sp..
- Identification of wheat genotypes by Rapid Amplified Polymophic DNA (RAPD)
- Upgrading of Sorghum grain and bran by solid state fermenation and chemical hydrolysis for us as animal and poultry fodder