The division of Biological Products had rare distinction of developing almost all veterinary biological available in India.
In 1913 a branch of institute as the Imperial Serum institute came in existence at Izatnagar for large scale
production of biologicals not only to meet the demand
of India but also exported to neighboring countries on
no-profit no-loss basis. In 1936 with the reorganization
of the Institute, it was renamed as Division of Biological
Products and engaged in the production and timely supply of
standard biologicals for controlling various diseases,
enriching the livestock and poultry resources, helping
farmers, and giving a boost to rural economy of the country.
Thus, vaccine and diagnostics produced at Division had
a great impact and worth mentioning remarkable contribution
in eradication of two dreaded
diseases African Horse sickness and Rinderpest. Since 1951 this
division had four functionally viable units and they
were a) Bacterial vaccine unit b) Viral vaccine unit c)
Diagnostic laboratories and d) Sera and supply section.
The division had shouldered the responsibility of producing
around 72 immunobiologicals. During early 1970’s other than
the production of important biologicals, research, teaching,
breeding of laboratory animals was also undertaken by the
biological products division. During the aforesaid period,
these immunobiologicals were also supplied to countries viz.
Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Burma, Ceylon, Malaya and
China. The entire requirement of vaccines and diagnostics
were met out by IVRI and state veterinary biological centers
in the country up to the year 1970. Subsequently through
capacity building of state veterinary biological units and
industries, the technologies for veterinary biologicals were
transferred for self-sufficiency in the country.
At present the divisional activities are directed towards research and development on improvement of biological products, up-scaling of technologies to production level, introduction of newer vaccines, diagnostics and other biological products, production and supply of veterinary biologicals. In addition, teaching of National diploma on biological products, undergraduate and postgraduate students of Veterinary microbiology and animal Biotechnogy and transfer of technology and business incubation on veterinary biologicals are other important activities undertaken by the division. The Division also organise the training programmes for the state biological production units through specialized short-term training courses, besides rendering advisory and consultancy services on veterinary biologicals.