Mahatma Gandhi University VC complaints lack of money to run the university

Dr A.V. George, Vice-Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University has supported the decision to  open off campus centers despite opposition from the Governor.

Dr A.V. George, Vice-Chancellor of the university has spoken out about the Governor’s reasons  in seeking explanations on the off campus centers. MG University recently started off campus  centres which have come under fire. A letter signed by Governor Nikhil Kumar asks for  clarifications from the Vice-Chancellor on why the Governor’s special powers should not be  invoked in cancelling off campus centres.
Dr George has replied to this saying “The Governor has given us 15 days for a reply. We will  send him a reply mentioning the said factors,”.

He explained that the university needed initiatives like off campus centres,because the  government grant allotted was minimal.  He stated to the present media “With the grants we  get, it’s hard to run the university. The MG University, compared to the Kerala and Calicut  universities, has more institutions under it.But when it comes to the funds, we get far less. To  sustain the activities of the university, we have been compelled to initiate off campus centres.  The university will otherwise be forced to shut down, due to the lack of funds,”.

He also claimed that a top official has instigated the Governor into demanding an explanation  saying “We would not have gone in for such projects had the government given us an  additional Rs 5 cr every month for running the university,”.

The Vice-Chancellor also made it apparent that the government only enquired after the  university had finalized everything. He also clarified that the university can start off campus  centres without the permission of the government. He stated “Prior permission is needed only  in the case of creating new posts. No provision of the University Act stipulates that the  government’s permission is needed to start off campus centres. In this case, we got the  government’s intimation quite late,”.

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India Breakfast Habits Study-Hunt for the nutritious Indian Breakfast

Three idlis, a bowl of sambhar and a tumbler of filter kaapi -- Chennai's traditional breakfast is  not just a gastronomical delight for many but also the most nutritious morning meal compared  to those in other metros.

'India Breakfast Habits Study', a survey conducted in four metros, found that Chennai has the  best breakfast 'nutrient profile' in the country.

The study covered other metros like Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata on a sample size of 3,600  subjects, split across 8 to 40 years age group, and described 'alarming' figures of nutritional  inadequacy in our country.

"Although people in India are increasingly becoming health conscious, this doesn't reflect in  their eating behaviour. Changing lifestyles and behavioural patterns result in meal skipping or  inadequate food intakes particularly at breakfast time," said Malathi Sivaramkrishnan, research  director, college of home science, Nirmala Niketan, Mumbai, who conducted the study funded  by multinational food manufacturing company Kellogg's.

The nutrition scale was assessed based on the adequacy of carbohydrates, energy, proteins,  fats and calcium. "While there have been many studies on the number of people skipping  breakfast, very little has been done on the content of the meal and its nutritional value," said  Malathi.

The study found that 79% of those surveyed in Mumbai had nutritionally inadequate  breakfasts, followed by Delhi and Kolkata at 76% and 75%. In Chennai only 60% reported that  their breakfast was nutritionally inadequate.

"Kolkata's traditional breakfast has excess maida which has a lot of carbohydrates, very little  protein and no fibre at all. Delhi's parathas are too oily and Mumbai doesn't have a typical  breakfast as such. People eat bread mostly, which just has carbohydrates," said Malathi.

Nutritionists say the nutrient value in rural areas down south is even greater as many of them  consume ragi. "Ragi is rich in Vitamin B, fibres, protein, calcium, iron and phosphorus," said  Meenakshi Bajaj, dietitian and coordinator at Academy of Clinical Nutrition, Madras Medical  College.

She described the more popular idli and sambhar as a "complete meal".

"The rice and urad dal in idlis complement each other, making it a complete protein. The  vegetables and dal in the sambhar are good supplements," she said.

The study found that one in four Indians skip breakfast. Although the number of those skipping  meals were fewer in Chennai, 'skimping' (eating inadequately) was more prevalent.

Nutritionists say the effect of skipping and skimping meals is more or less the same. "Only the  intensity will be lesser in the latter," said Bhuvaneshwari Shankar, chief dietitian of Apollo  Hospitals.

It was also found that in Chennai nearly 50% of the housewives, 30% of the elderly and 20%  working adults have only a beverage for breakfast.

Ekatha Ann John, TNNView full article

Only IISc Ranks In Top 500 Universities In The World

India does not have a single university in Top 300 according to Academic Ranking of World Universities. And the IITs that we tout so much about, not a single one makes its appearance in Top 500!

Indian Institute of Science is the only Indian university to make the appearance on ARWU rankings, that too ranked around three-hundreds-and-something.

The worst part is, on a global level, Indian higher education levels are actually falling rather than coming up. According to ARWU, In 2005, India had 3 universities ranked in top 500, the number fell to 2 in 2006 and in 2011 it came down to one. If the fall in our education levels continue, we many not see any Indian universities in top 500 in next couple of years.

ARWU’s methodology of ranking includes 4 main parameters – Quality of Education, Quality of Faculty, Research Output and per capita academic performance of an institution.

If you look at Top 10, Harvard University has maintained its position of being the Top University in the world and they have been on the top since the inception of these rankings.

Stanford, UC Berkeley, MIT and Cambridge University complete the Top 5 universities in the world. Cambridge and Oxford are the only two universities which are not from US in the Top 10 rankings. Infact, 17 of the top 20 universities in the world are all from US. Here are the rankings of Top 20.

The rankings for India look even more bad, if you compare our neighbors China – The latter has 42 universities in Top 500 compared to India’s sole IISc.

Independence Day special-Dr.VA Shiva: The True Story of an Indian Patriot-His struggles to improve Indian Science

Va Shiva:-
Dr. VA Shiva Ayyadurai, born in Bombay, India, grew up in the small village of Muhavur in the state of Tamil Nadu in India, hearing the stories of heroes of the Ramayana, where good vanquishes evil, from his grandmother who was a Siddhar and farmer. When he left India, his goal was to one day return and free his people.

Read the story of Va.Shiva & Indian Science at http://innovationdemandsfreedom.com/

What happened to him is just tip of the icerberg in CSIR. 

"My outcry as a result of this shocking news. I'm frustrated with the way system (Research organisation like CSIR,DBT,DST,ICMR,BARC,ICAR & DRDO etc...) has been placed and functioning. 

Country once a cradle of civilization and rich land of innovation and creativity for thousands of yers but now bureaucracy,caste system, shit politics,ill-adapted standards,nepotism suppressed the freedom for innovation and totally changed the ecosystem to do scientific research and innovate for masses. 

Just look at the indicators WEF Innovation index (41),Global competitiveness index (59), Cornell-INSEAD & WIPO study Global innovation index(66). Almost in all parameters we are way behind the BRIC, Emerging &Third-world economy.

There is no issue with economy or lack of funds to support but its in people's mind/cultural shift. We need a systemic revolution to change the ecosystem.We need a radical rethink in recruitment of scientists & technologist,research freedom,HR investment,entrepreneurial funds,Incubators,system of accountability,value creation strategies etc.Truly, we need a disciplined person or community (patriotic)who love his/their motherland & passionate to innovate for people of India. Once, my guru Sir Ken Robinson told that "Current education system squanders creativity and modelled on old industrial age of doing things".

The Scientific and Technological Advancements of Ancient India

A talk by an IIT Bombay Alumni about the Disoveries and Inventions in the ancient India.

Madras University to fill 350 vacant teaching posts

350 vacancies with 150 faculty posts, including 91 assistant professors and 50 associate professors will be filled by the University of Madras.

150 faculty posts, including that of 91 assistant professors and 50 associate professors will be filled by the University of Madras. A massive recruitment drive will be conducted by them from the first week of July. Their previous recruitment drive in 2001 ran into trouble after a commission appointed by the state government found that a large number of ineligible candidates had been selected. 

There are a total of 350 vacancies in the university according to Vice chancellor R Thandavan who stated to the present media "Half of them will be filled in two months as it is mandatory for us to meet the minimum faculty criteria set by the University Grants Commission (UGC). This has to be met before the next National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) review," he said. 

UGC norms dictate the presence of a minimum of four permanent teaching faculty in a department and eight in advanced departments or advanced research centres. As of now Madras university does not meet the UGC standards. A syndicate meeting on August 21 will confirm the recruitment process. However professors and senior officials of the university administration are concerned that brokers and politicians will interfere in the recruitment. A recent syndicate meeting refused to assent to the VC's request for independent powers to initiate recruitments. 

A senior official stated that lobbying has already begun while another said "It was money, power and political influence that played in the 2001 recruitment. If the VC does not ensure a transparent selection process, free from political influence, several meritorious applicants are likely to be overlooked this time too,". 


"There is an active presence of brokers in the university. A former syndicate member who has no academic background but entered the syndicate as a nominee of a former governor is coordinating the 'business' of selling seats. His team is persuading the VC's office to facilitate the sale of posts as well as trying to bag multi-crore construction projects in the university,".

NET Eligibility coaching and placements
Courtesy-Edu leaders

Indian Science&Technology -A neglected portfolio?!

Indian science is in a crisis. The country’s brightest graduates shirk from science for other careers.

A science minister needs to address the crisis in Indian science not by mere words, but by a visible and wholehearted push. Photo: Pradeep Gaur/Mint.



          On 21 August, the government appointed its fifth science minister in three years. Vayalar Ravi—a veteran of several portfolios in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government—took charge after the death of Vilasrao Deshmukh. Deshmukh, in turn, had succeeded Pawan Kumar Bansal, who after a tenure of just over six months, had returned to the water resources ministry in July last year. After the UPA was re-elected in May 2009, Prithviraj Chavan held this post before Kapil Sibal. It is deplorable that of all the ministries, it is this one where little political investment is made.

                While it can be argued that factors, extraneous to science, may be responsible for this ministerial churn, it’s unassailably true that in recent times the day-to-day functioning of the ministry doesn’t really depend on the presence of a minister. It isn’t a ministry that the political class aspires to. 

     Unlike other departments led by members of the Indian Administrative Service, the secretaries of science ministries—the department of science and technology, biotechnology and the ministry of earth sciences—were all, once, practising scientists. This, many scientists believe, is essential for implementing their projects.

            While a continuation of a policy laid by Nehru, this was in an age where the fruits of science were certainly for the ordinary citizens, but scientists themselves were a rarified class unanswerable to public scrutiny. Today, that’s no longer the case.

        Globally, private industry plays a significant role in pushing science and technology forward and a key reason why India lags behind world’s scientific power houses is because it still remains rarified and inaccessible. An elected representative, therefore, has the opportunity to give Indian science greater visibility. Sadly, no minister has made use of this opportunity.

         Indian science is in a crisis. The country’s brightest graduates shirk from science for careers in management and across sectors—from computer science to meteorology—the shortage in PhDs and research professionals is appalling. 

            The China Meteorological Agency has 80,000 meteorologists and India’s Met department has barely 6,000, and this is when weather forecasting remains a key concern for India’s economy. These are isolated examples: the crisis in Indian science is much deeper. A science minister needs to address this not by mere words, but by a visible and wholehearted push.

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/t7lJxQjnz00hyhfADYoHHO/A-neglected-portfolio.html

Fewer Indian students joins science, technology courses: UK

    The reduced number of Indian students this year has led to concerns in some British universities over the financial viability of courses and departments particularly in the subjects of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

       As universities report a drop of between 20 and 30% of Indian students in the forthcoming academic year starting later this month, the drop has caused much concern over the future of STEM courses that have been popular among postgraduate Indian students.

         In oral evidence presented to the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee of parliament, senior figures in higher education and industry noted the concern among vice-chancellors about the impact of less Indian students on the financial viability of STEM courses and departments.

       The committee, which published its report on 'Overseas Students and Net Migration' last week, recommended that Indian and other non-EU students should be removed from overall immigration figures since most of them return home after their courses.

           The recommendation, however, was rejected by the government keen to cut immigration from outside the EU.

             Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK, which represents all universities and higher education institutions, told the committee that vice-chancellors were "particularly concerned" about the impact of less Indian students on STEM subjects.

    She said: "I think it is too early to draw apocalyptic conclusions about the closures of departments, but the trends are not good.

      It is particularly apparent now, because of the reduction of Indian students - students coming from the Indian subcontinent to study STEM subjects -that is where there are already questions being asked about the sustainability of certain subjects".

      She said: "We are also seeing an actual reduction in student intake from some countries, particularly from India, particularly in the postgraduate market, and for some universities that is quite marked".

       Dandridge said some universities were particularly concerned about the impact of reduction of international student numbers on specific subject areas, especially STEM, where, "although they are manageable this year, the reductions may affect -may affect--the viability of some subjects in the future".

Jobs in Research
Source-http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/Fewer-Indian-students-hit-science-technology-courses-UK/articleshow/16322761.cms

QS World University Ranking- World's top university: Massachusetts Institute of Technology dethrones Cambridge

       UK universities have taken four of the six top slots in a global university "league table" for 2011-12.

       With US's Massachusetts Institute of Technology leading the list, UK's Cambridge, which was top last year, stood second and Harvard University ranked third in the QS World University Rankings, based on a number of criteria.

     University College, London (UCL), Oxford and Imperial took fourth, fifth and sixth places respectively.

     Seventh place was awarded to Yale University, followed by University of Chicago, Princeton University and the tenth position to California Institute of Technology.

        Ben Sowter, of QS Research, warned higher fees and new visa rules could see UK universities struggle next year. Students trying to get ahead of a trebling in fees for English undergraduates had produced a surge in applications to start university in autumn 2011, Sowter told BBC News.

     "We won't know for sure until the 2012 results come in, but we may see a drop off next year," he said.

     He also said tougher visa rules for international students could deter some from applying to UK universities.

       Just 40% of UK employers agreed visa regulations had helped them hire international graduates - globally the figure was 70% said Sowter. The UK government has been widely criticized by MPs within the past week for tightening the student-visa system. The QS rankings rate the world's top 400 universities.

Jobs in Research
Source-TOI

Bihar gets two central universities

   Union Cabinet cleared the decks for setting up two Central Universities in Bihar by approving the proposal to amend the Central Universities Act.

    Union Cabinet cleared the decks for setting up two Central Universities in Bihar by approving the proposal to amend the Central Universities Act. This is only the second exception made by the Centre for setting up two central universities in a particular state, the first being Jammu and Kashmir.

     The Union Cabinet approved amending the Act after the Human Resources Development (HRD) Ministry took a decision to set up a central university in Motihari in addition to the one already proposed in Gaya.

        A team of HRD official including Joint Secretary Amit Khare had visited Bihar last month to assess the prospects of a second Central University in the state. The Act had a provision for setting two central universities in Jammu and Kashmir as a special case. The government's decision for setting up a central university in Motihari had put an end a prolonged slugfest over the issue.

     The Ministry has, however, said there would be no additional allocation for Bihar and the Rs 240 crore meant for the state for the central university would now be divided among the two varsities. (Source: igovernment)

Court issues notice to Centre over UGC chairman’s appointment

The PIL (public interest litigation) filed by CS Kalra, a retired professor, also pointed out that the present acting chairman of UGC, Ved Prakash, has been holding the post for more than three years in violation of the University Grants Commission Act.

Delhi High Court issued notice to Centre to respond on a petition seeking direction to fill the seat of UGC chairman which has been lying vacant since February last year.While hearing the petition, a bench of Acting Chief Justice AK Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw directed the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) and University Grants Commission (UGC) to respond on the plea within three weeks.

The PIL (public interest litigation) filed by CS Kalra, a retired professor, also pointed out that the seats of Secretary and Financial Adviser are lying vacant since 2005. He alleged that the government was deliberately delaying the recruitment for the post.

Kalra also alleged that the present acting chairman of UGC, Ved Prakash, has been holding the post for more than three years in violation of the University Grants Commission Act. "A major fraud has been perpetrated on the system by first selecting Prof. Ved Prakash as vice-chairman of the UGC from March 3, 2009 without giving any advertisement for the post," he said.

Kalra further alleged that the HRD ministry allowed Ved Prakash to continue as acting chairman for more than 14 months even though his tenure ended March 2, 2012. The government counsel, however, said that Ved Prakash was allowed to further continue in the post to maintain continuity. (Source: igovernment)

Human Embryonic Stem Cells Available for Research

National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health (NIRRH-ICMR) Mumbai would like to make the  following stem cell lines available for research across India who may be interested.

Two well characterized human embryonic stem cell lines KIND-1 and KIND-2 (Kumar et al 2009) are  available at Stem Cell Biology Department, NIRRH for basic research. These have been derived on human  feeders and show good propensity to differentiate into endoderm (KIND-1) and mesoderm (KIND-2)  (Nagvenkar et al, 2011). The cell lines have also been adapted to feeder free conditions.

Those interested in obtaining these stem cells may send a request along with two page write up on the  proposed research work to Dr. Deepa Bhartiya (Scientist E), e-mail id: bhartiyad@nirrh.res.in ;  deepa.bhartiya@yahoo.in . All requests will be considered by a joint committee of ICMR and DBT, and a  MOU need to be signed.

TN-SET to have multiple objective-type questions

For the first time, the State Eligibility Test (SET) will have multiple choice questions. According to C Swaminathan, Vice-chancellor of Bharathiar University, “All the three papers of the SET examination proposed to be held on October 7 will be in objective mode. This decision was taken following the University Grants Commissions (UGC) decision to conduct the National Eligibility Test in objective mode from June 2012.” Earlier, the UGC has conducted the last NET in objective mode on June 24. All the three papers of SET consisted of only objective type questions.

Last time, the university conducted the SET examination for 27 subjects. However, this time, it could be conducted for a few more subjects. “A team of experts from UGC and faculties of Bharathiar University will frame the question papers for the SET examination,” Swaminathan added. This time, the UGC has decided to issue application forms through online. SET will he conducted in 10 cities including nine in Tamil Nadu and one in Puducherry. The Bharathiar University conducted the last SET on August 14. Even though 50,629 applied for the test, only 41,164 wrote it. Among them, only 1,396 candidates (3.39 %) cleared the test.

Bio-manufacturing to be next big wave in Indian Biotech

Association of Biotechnology Led Entrepreneurs (ABLE) views bio-manufacturing activities to continue to be the next big wave for the Indian biotechnology industry. The segment would give the stakeholders the much-needed confidence to channel all resources to strengthen the basic infrastructure and surge ahead. Bio-manufacturing activities is projected to catapult the industry turnover to a staggering Rs.80,000 crore from the current Rs.20,000 crore within the next 10 years.

According to Dr P M Murali, president, Association of Biotechnology Led Entrepreneurs (ABLE) and MD-CEO, Evolva, “Bio-manufacturing will play a major role in driving the next phase of growth with oncology drugs being the focus area.” Also, he stated, within the next three years, researchers would have access to an extensive genomic data base being built to develop tailored and targeted drugs for several life style disorders.

Speaking at the recently concluded Global Investors Meet 2012 in Bangalore, Dr Murali pointed out that India had manpower and manufacturing prowess and the big advantage is our information technology (IT) know-how that led to confluence of life sciences and engineering to develop bio-informatics and nano sciences. However, he hinted that the paucity of infrastructure has been stunting the growth story of Indian biotechnology.

Against this backdrop he called upon various stakeholders more so the potential investors to make appropriate moves and become part of the growth story. With bio-manufacturing accounting for around 60 per cent of the total earnings of the Indian biotech industry the return on investment could only be expected to be massive in the years to come, he added.

Commenting on oncology drugs, he said, most of the research is aimed at developing targeted personalized medicines and bio-manufacturing will be the way forward. Bio-pharma majors are allocating 15 per cent of their turnover into oncology R&D. In fact, 30 per cent of the drug pipeline of global majors constitutes oncology drugs. In 2009, 48 of the leading bio-pharma drugs went off patent which accounts for over half of the biotech drugs. There is a huge opportunity and India is already recognized as the bio-manufacturing hub for the development of oncology drugs.

Bio manufacturing covers production of monoclonal antibodies, biosimilars and vaccines. The industry’s scope for oncology drug research and development is promising because of its existing efforts in oncology drug development, strengths in organic chemistry synthesis, fermentation technology and large volume production capacity. Bio-manufacturing of oncology drugs have accrued benefits. The segment has an unmet medical needs having high growth and leading to be the most profitable therapeutic area. Currently oncology drug production is driven by low volumes and high pricing. The only way for global companies to decrease cost and increase volumes would be to invest in India.

Currently bio-manufacturing alone generates 25-30 per cent growth and it comes from the companies located in the southern states: Biocon, Shanta, Bharat Biotech, Indian Immunologicals, Dr Reddy’s and Merck Serono, partnership to co-develop biosimilar compounds in oncology, primarily focused on monoclonal antibodies (MAbs).

India and US collaborates for Diabetes research

 

On June 12, 2012, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius (center) and India’s Honorable Ghulam Nabi Azad, Minister of Health and Family Welfare (second from right), signed a joint statement on collaboration on diabetes research. They were witnessed by Dr. Griffin P. Rodgers, director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (left), Dr. V.M. Katoch, Secretary of India’s Department of Health Research and Director-General, Indian Council of Medical Research (second from left), and the Honorable Krishna Tirath, India’s Minister of State for Women and Child Development (right). The signing took place at the Hubert H. Humphrey Building in Washington, D.C.

    Indian and US have signed an agreement to collaboration in Diabetes Research. The agreement was signed between Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare and Kathleen Sebelius, US Secretary, Health and Human Services during the bilateral meeting between India and the US.

The primary aim of this collaboration is to initiate a health research relationship between the two countries to generate a better understanding of the molecular and biological mechanisms underlying diabetes, to characterize the genetic, social and environmental determinants, and to identify innovative approaches for improving prevention and treatment of diabetes.

The two countries will promote and develop cooperation in the field of basic, clinical, and translational research in the areas of diabetes mellitus, on the basis of reciprocity and mutual benefit. Joint efforts will also focus on developing cost-effective tools and approaches to translate research results into policies and actions to improve the public health.

As part of this collaboration joint research programs in diabetes will be developed by the Indian Council of Medical Research and the Department of Biotechnology of the Ministry of Science and Technology, with National Institutes of Health of the Department of Health and Human Services, United States. 

The main areas of cooperation will include identification of genetic and environmental etiologic factors and pathogenic mechanisms underlying development of diabetes and its complications; development of improved approaches and diagnostic tools to identify those with and at risk of diabetes and its complications; development and evaluation of innovative, sustainable intervention strategies for the prevention and/or treatment of diabetes and its associated co-morbidities; development and testing new treatment methodologies, including point of care and telemedicine technologies, diabetes self-management approaches, and improved technologies for insulin delivery and monitoring of glycemic control; study of the impact of social, economic, cultural and environmental factors on diabetes risk and management etc.

A Joint Steering Committee (JSC) will also be formed that will communicate regularly to identify new areas of cooperation, evaluate progress, and ensure the joint program operates smoothly, etc. The agreement between India and the US is significantly beneficial in view of the rising burden of Non Communicable Diseases in both countries.

This is the eighth agreement between the two countries in the field of health and medicine. Diabetes is a debilitating disease that affects tens of millions of people in the U.S. and India, and it is amongst the leading causes of death worldwide. In addition to the substantial human health costs, the estimated total financial cost for diabetes in both countries is staggering, and projected to increase substantially in coming years.

Karnataka plans biotech finishing schools in other States

Mr D. V. Sadananda Gowda, Chief Minister of Karnataka; the Union Minister for Tourism, Mr Subhod Kant Sahai; Mr Murugesh R. Nirani, Minister for Large and Medium Industries, at the MoU signing ceremony at the Global Investors Meet 2012 in Bangalore on Thursday.

The Government of Karnataka will replicate its biotechnology finishing schools in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Odisha.

The Department of IT, Biotechnology and Science and Technology of the Government of Karnataka, at present, runs 12 finishing schools across the State and will help other States to set up such schools, Mr M. N. Vidyashankar, Principal Secretary to the Government, Department of IT, BT and S&T, toldBusiness Line on the sidelines of the Global Investors Meet (GIM) 2012.

The schools train biotechnology graduates in skills required for the industry and the first batch of students will be graduation soon, Mr Vidyashankar said, adding that all students of the current batch have been placed in the industry. Meanwhile, the Department is also working on a 50-crore nano park close to Bangalore to support research in nano technology for biotechnology companies and start-ups, Mr Vidyashankar said. “We came out with global bids and have shortlisted two companies — a Bangalore based company and a US-based company — to set up shop at the park and work on a public-private partnership model,” Mr Vidyashankar said.

He added that the Government has allotted 50 acres for the park and will soon increase it to 100 acres. Also, as part of its initiatives to promote the biotechnology and pharma sectors, the Government of Karnataka will soon announce the Karnataka Pharmaceuticals Policy 1.0, Mr Vidyashankar said. The sector, on the first day of the GIM 2012, attracted investments worth Rs 27,000 crore and the Government has signed Memorandum of Understanding with four companies.

CSIR plans to set up `Institute of Synthetic and Systems Biology'

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) plans to set up a novel National Health Research Institute that will promote public health by simply tweaking people's food habits.


To be called the Institute of synthetic and systems biology, it will study the different regional food patterns in order to connect their food with the nature of disorders prevalent in these places.

According to Prof. Brahmachari, making simple changes in what we eat can prevent or control some of the diseases. In the bargain, it can reduce consumption of medicine. Some of these include diabetes, digestive disorders, skin diseases and cholesterol.

Director General , CSIR informed press of plans to set up a new institute called 'the Institute of synthetic and systems biology" and is looking for a suitable place.It aims to minimize or replace medication with right kind of foods by dipping into the vast traditional Indian knowledge systems. Apart from taking a hard look at regional food consumption patterns, the institute will drive home the importance of micro-nutrients in promoting health. “There is ample bacteria in the gut and the scientists are now trying to understand the foods that will help design bacteria within the human body to control many diseases. There are a number of nutritional pathways. Researchers are viewing the foods specific to each state and their genetic impact on people of those region,” said Prof. Brahmachari and added that this is where Systems Biology comes into the picture where the science of metabolites and haemostatic functions can be modified in the body itself.


After the Green Revolution of the 1960s and the food glut that followed, now is the time to bring back the consumption of traditional foods. They are known to control disorders affecting the digestive system, which is said to be where many diseases manifest, he said.

For instance, regular and controlled consumption of traditional meal of rice and curd will cure or keep away many digestive disorders at bay. In fact, curd or yogurt is now globally accepted as a probiotic.

CSIR has already invested around Rs.80 crore to undertake the Ayur Genomics research initiative. Its scientists look at traditional medicine and genomics for discovery of predictive markers for preventive and personalized medicine.

The new Institute would leverage studies from this centre.

“Evidence-based Ayurveda has a holistic approach to understand the complexities of diseases and to investigate the principles of preventive medicine through the integration of Indian System of Medicine with genomics,” he said.

“With System biology, we have recognized the genome variations in the human body and its vulnerability to diseases. In fact the human body is itself a metabolic factory. If more triglycerides are secreted, then there are ways to negate its impact with the intake of certain foods by bio-transforming the recombinant nutrients activated through an internal mechanism. This is where the new Institute of Synthetic and Systems Biology would transform the treatment modalities to focus primarily on disease prevention, Prof Brahmachari said.

ABS- Hyderabad gets new classroom at Mythrivanam, Ameerpet

We are happy to announce that all our programs at Hyderabad will be conducted in the following  new classroom and ABS at Hyderabad is partnering  with IKYA and  is re-branded as ABS-IKYA. All our programs at Hyderabad and Andhra Pradesh will be run by IKYA.

                  ABS-IKYA

                  403,4th Floor,

                  HMDA Mythrivanam

                  Ameerpet,Hyderabad- 500 038

                  087904 66878 / 09840526816

Biocon plans Biocon training academy

          Biopharma major Biocon is planning to set up an academic institution called Biocon Academy next fiscal, in an attempt to resolve the acute human resource crunch in the industry, caused by poor standards of biotechnology education. 

       “We are planning to set up a “Biocon Academy” within our campus. Fresh graduates will have the opportunity to participate in a year long programme, which will include classes by leading academia as well as an internship, which I believe will be extremely useful,” Biocon chairman and managing director, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw told.

       “We are talking to the IITs, Amrita Institute, and all leading names and we will try to set this academy up by next fiscal,” Mazumdar-Shaw added. Last year, Karnataka state department of IT&BT, along with the Association of Biotech Enabled Enterprises (ABLE), had launched “finishing schools” in 10 Karnataka universities and colleges, to improve the employability of fresh biotech graduates.

“Finishing schools”, monitored by ABLE and accredited to a university, would hone skills of graduates, to bridge the tremendous gap that exists between education received, and the expectation of employers in the sector. While this is in its first year of implementation, Mazumdar-Shaw feels that the students would stand to gain more if such training were to be conducted within the industry, than solely within academia. “The skills shortage needs industry action. Take for example what Infosys has done at its Mysore campus, through which it is catering to its own needs, as well as to the needs of the industry as a whole,” she emphasized.

Courtesy-Financial Express

DBT to invest Rs.200 cr to set up ‘iStem’ at NCBS for stem cell training, research

The department of Biotechnology has chipped in Rs.200 crore to establish a the ‘iStem’ at the Bangalore campus of National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) which will focus on training and basic research.

The first dedicated institute for stem cell forms a part of the national ‘bio-cluster’ or an industry interaction platform of which NCBS and the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) are part. It will work in co-ordination with the NCBS and C-CAMP to form the Bangalore bio cluster where it will develop technology and enable entrepreneurship initiatives. The effort would also be to comprehend the mechanism of stem cells and its potential to treat degenerative diseases.

Stem cell therapy holds considerable promise as an adjuvant if not as an alternate therapy. But the medical fraternity needs to offer therapy backed by scientific data proving its safety and efficacy. Therefore setting up of ‘iStem’ will give a boost to research and training, according to experts

The research and application of therapies using adult bone marrow autologous and allogneic cell transplant has been in vogue for the last five yeaRs.Now the government of India through the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) had laid down guidelines for stem cell research and therapy in 2007 but now the guidelines which have been further modified after industry input are in the final phase of approval.

Globally, Osaris Inc. is well on schedule with stem cell products in place to go for Phase II b and phase III trials. In India, it is Stempeutics which is part of the Manipal Group received the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) clearance for its Investigational Medicinal Product “Stempeucel” to conduct phase II clinical trials. The human studies are for patients suffering from osteoarthritis, diabetes mellitus – type2, liver cirrhosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

In the last few years, there has been considerable growth in the stem cell therapies with leading hospitals using stem cells to adopt treatment adhering to patient consent and highest quality practices. These include International Stemcell Services Limited, Manipal Hospital, Narayana Hrudayalaya, Jain Institute of Vascular Sciences (JIVAS), BGS Global Hospital in Bangalore, Medanta Medicity in Delhi, Sion Hospital in Mumbai PGI Chandigarh among otheRs.There are extensive research efforts on at the CMC Vellore, LV Prasad Eye Institute at Hyderabad National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), at New Delhi and Centre for Cell and Molecular Biology (CCMB) at Hyderabad.

Industry estimates that the global stem cell market in 2010 was around Rs.900 crore ($20 billion). It is the adult stem cell therapy which accounts for over 60 per cent of this market. In India the market is valued at around Rs.500 crore.

Courtesy-PharmaBiz