To strengthen the flow cytometry community and build technical expertise across India, the BD–NCBS Centre of Excellence (CoE) was established in 2007 as a collaborative initiative between  Becton, Dickinson Company (BD Biosciences) and the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS). The Centre was created to address the growing demand for structured training, technical support, and knowledge dissemination in the rapidly expanding field of flow cytometry.

Flow cytometry has become an essential technology in modern biological and biomedical research, enabling high-throughput, multiparametric analysis of cells and particles. Recognizing the increasing adoption of this technology across research laboratories, hospitals, and biotechnology industries in India, the BD–NCBS CoE was envisioned as a national hub for education, training, and collaborative learning in cytometry. Since its inception, the Centre has been actively conducting regular basic and advanced training programs, workshops, and specialized courses designed for a diverse group of participants including students, early-career researchers, clinicians, medical technologists, and industry professionals. These programs aim to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application by combining lectures, live instrument demonstrations, and extensive hands-on training sessions.

Participants are introduced to the core principles of flow cytometry including fluidics, optics, fluorescence detection, and instrument configuration. The training programs also cover critical topics such as experimental design, sample preparation, multicolour panel development, compensation strategies, troubleshooting, and best practices for data acquisition and analysis. Through guided sessions on modern flow cytometry platforms and analysis software, participants gain practical experience in designing experiments, acquiring reliable data, and interpreting complex cytometry datasets.

Over the years, the BD–NCBS CoE has trained hundreds of participants from universities, research institutes, medical colleges, and industry laboratories across the country. The Centre has played an important role in promoting standardized practices, improving technical competence, and fostering a collaborative cytometry network in India. Through this long-standing partnership between BD Biosciences and NCBS, the BD-NCBS Centre of Excellence continues to serve as a national platform for capacity building, advanced training, and knowledge exchange, supporting the growing community of researchers and clinicians who rely on flow cytometry for cutting-edge scientific and clinical applications.

For more details contact

Dr. H. Krishnamurthy (krishna@ncbs.res.in) or Dr. M. Sarvajith (sarvajithm@ncbs.res.in)