India’s First Ferret Research Facility inaugurates at THSTI in Haryana

Current Context: The Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) in Faridabad, Haryana, inaugurated India's first Ferret Research Facility on February 3, 2025.

• This state-of-the-art facility is designed to adhere to global biosafety and research standards.
• Key Points:
• Purpose: The facility will enable critical research on viral pathogens like influenza and SARS-CoV-2, bolstering India's pandemic preparedness.
• Research Focus: It will serve as a crucial resource for vaccine development, therapeutic testing, and research into emerging infectious diseases.
• Significance: This facility positions India at the forefront of global health security efforts.
• Additionally, THSTI also launched the GARBH-INi-DRISHTI data repository, which provides access to clinical data, images, and biospecimens collected from over 12,000 pregnant women, newborns, and postpartum mothers.

Question:

1. Where was India's first Ferret Research Facility inaugurated on February 3, 2025?

• A) Pune, Maharashtra
• B) Bengaluru, Karnataka
• C) Faridabad, Haryana
• D) Hyderabad, Telangana

Answer: C) The Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) in Faridabad, Haryana, inaugurated India's first Ferret Research Facility.