CrisprBits Opens CRISPR Gene Editing Centre in Bengaluru

CrisprBits Private Limited, a biotechnology startup, has inaugurated a CRISPR gene editing and diagnostics laboratory in Bengaluru. 

The new facility includes advanced infrastructure laboratory features with dedicated spaces for lyophilisation (a process used to keep reagents stable at room temperature), cell and tissue culture, bacterial culture, molecular biology research, and cleanroom operations. 

Additionally, the laboratory includes a specialised gene editing section and a tissue culture area designed to support stem cell research. 

The CrisprBits innovation centre features a state-of-the-art Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and advanced intelligent systems for the smart design of CRISPR guides, completing its cutting-edge technology platforms.

Speaking about the launch of the new facility, Vijay Chandru, co-founder & director of CrisprBits,  said, “The state-of-the-art CRISPR gene editing laboratory and diagnostics will better equip us to meet critical needs and develop solutions that have significant commercial and social impact.” 

CrisprBits was founded in 2020 by Vijay Chandru, Sunil Arora, Rajeev Kohli, Bharat Jobanputra, and Aditya Sarda with a vision of innovating for the well-being of humans and the planet. 

The women-led executive and scientific team comprising Vaijayanti Gupta,  Reety Arora, and Vandana Hegde has an impressive track record in genomic science, molecular diagnostics, and gene editing. 

Under the guidance of the founding team and an exceptional science advisory board, the team aims to drive the company toward new applications of CRISPR technology.

Incubated initially at the Center for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (CCAMP) for the past four years, the startup has been focusing on developing a rapid point-of-need molecular diagnostics platform. 

In the next few months, CrisprBits aims to launch several key tests in affordable rare disease diagnostics and hospital-acquired infections (HAI), including antimicrobial resistance tests using the platform. 

CrisprBits will continue its operations at CCAMP shortly on several collaborative gene editing projects. 

Over the next six months, it plans to introduce novel applications of CRISPR in building iPSC (induced pluripotent stem cell) models for rare diseases. Targeted editing of cell lines and microbes important for industrial microbiology applications is also in progress.

CrisprBits’s OmiCrisp

Earlier in 2024, CrisprBits introduced OmiCrisp, a CRISPR-based testing platform designed for rapid diagnosis and surveillance of SARS-CoV2. The startup mentioned that OmiCrisp’s capability is not only to detect the virus but also to distinguish variants of the Omicron lineage from other known variants of concern.

A comprehensive study, conducted with support from Blockchain for Impact, validated OmiCrisp with impressive results. The study showcased OmiCrisp’s effectiveness in discerning single-base changes even in poor-quality sewage samples. 

The CRISPR-based test demonstrated a remarkable 99% accuracy in detecting the Omicron lineage in both clinical and wastewater samples.