Media Release

Udupi, Sep 15: The Centre for Inborn Errors of Metabolism at Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Manipal, has inaugurated the Core Metabolic Lab, a state-of-the-art fully certified Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (Triple Quadrupole) platform for in vitro diagnostics. Sponsored by the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), the lab was inaugurated by Dr Sharath K Rao, pro vice chancellor (Health Sciences), MAHE, in the presence of senior administrators and faculty members.

The event was graced by dignitaries including Dr Anand Venugopal, chief operating officer, MAHE; Dr Harish Kumar, director, corporate relations, MAHE; Dr Raviraja N S, senior director, research, MAHE; Dr Anil K. Bhat, dean, KMC Manipal; and Dr Avinash Shetty, medical superintendent, Kasturba Hospital Manipal.

The core metabolic lab operates as part of the Centre for Inborn Errors of Metabolism, a collaborative initiative between the Departments of Paediatrics and Biochemistry at KMC, Manipal. Its core mission is to provide gold-standard diagnostic and management services for Inborn Errors of Metabolism (IEMs) and preventable childhood diseases, including malnutrition spectrum disorders, adult metabolic diseases, and to advance clinical research across diverse medical fields. The procured instrument is India’s first fully certified Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (Triple Quadrupole) platform for in vitro diagnostics, compliant with European guidelines. We take pride in being the launch site for this medical device series by Thermo Fisher Scientific in South Asia.

Speaking at the inauguration, Dr Leslie Edward Lewis, professor and head of Paediatrics at KMC and Coordinator of the Centre, highlighted the vision behind the initiative. He is supported by Dr Ravindra Maradi, head of Biochemistry; Dr. Varashree B S, professor of Biochemistry and co-Coordinator; and Dr Krishnananda Prabhu R V, professor of Biochemistry. who will serve as the founding pillars of this state-of-the-art facility.

The lab also announced the launch of an extended newborn screening (NBS) panel, covering 54 parameters, as well as advanced testing for Total Metanephrines and Normetanephrines. Plans are underway to expand into Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in the near future.

The facility, which serves as the South Asia launch site for Thermo Fisher Scientific’s medical device series, positions Manipal among the select group of just six to seven laboratories in India offering such high-end diagnostics. Services will be provided at affordable costs while maintaining the highest standards of quality, transparency, and timely reporting.

With its long-term vision of becoming a comprehensive metabolomics laboratory capable of universal newborn screening and serving as a tertiary referral centre for IEM disorders in Coastal Karnataka, the Core Metabolic Lab represents a major milestone in advancing clinical diagnostics and research in South India.