Current Research Projects - ENVIS Centre on Env Biotechnology, KU

SUMMARY OF SUBJECT RELATED RESEARCH PROJECTS

(Other than parent organization)

1. ITRC, Lucknow

The Institute is a multidisciplinary research laboratory comprising six R&D areas and eight supporting technical services sections. Director is the executive head of the Institute and is advised and supported by a Research Council and a Management Council. To consolidate the research and development activities of the institute and to focus on niche areas, Research Council has approved the following five groups:

Nanomaterial Toxicology
Environmental Toxicology
Food, Drug & Chemical Toxicology
Regulatory Toxicology
Systems Toxicology & Health Risk Assessment

2. Department of Biotechnology, JNU

The competitive and vibrant Ph.D. programme in basic and applied biotechnology embarks on creating a strong academic research foundation in the following cutting-edge areas of Biotechnology:

• Molecular biology and Genetic engineering

• Molecular biology of infectious diseases

• Immunology

• Protein Engineering, Protein stability, conformation and folding

• Biochemical engineering, optimization of recombinant protein production and Metabolic Engineering

• Transcription control and gene regulation in prokaryotic and mammalian systems

• Structural biology and bioinformatics

• Molecular basis of human viral diseases

• Molecular Cell biology

• Cancer cell biology: Diagnostics and vaccines

3. TERI, New Delhi

A major player in the biotechnology boom, India is rapidly striding ahead with its discoveries and innovations touching every aspect of the lives of its citizens. At the leading edge of this transition is TERI's Environmental and Industrial Biotechnology Division, which has proven itself to be a viable player in the biotechnology arena. In its relentless quest to harness India's bio-potential, the Division conceptualizes and produces an array of ready-to-use and commercially viable products that are consumer-friendly, cost-effective, and environmentally sound.

The Division's highly specialized and experienced research teams attained new heights in studies related to biotechnology and bioresources. Their discoveries and refinements of existing technologies have been lauded at both the national and global levels.

4. NEERI, Nagpur

Environmental Biotechnology Division directs its scientific endeavor towards research, development and application of biotechnology based solutions for environmental problems and sustainable development. The motivation of the division is to pursue multidisciplinary R&D in fundamental and applied areas of environmental biotechnology by exploiting knowledge base from microbiology, biochemistry, chemistry, molecular biology, chemical and environmental engineering disciplines. The division aims at developing eco-friendly biotechnological processes targeting societal and industrial needs to address issues related to restoration of environmental quality, bioremediation/waste treatment, waste to wealth, climate change mitigation etc.

The major R&D thrust areas of the division are: environmental biotechnological process development for VOC/odour control, CO2 sequestration and renewable energy/resource recovery from waste; plant tissue culture for ecological capital buildup; bioprocess intensification and engineering analysis.

5.Agharkar Research Institute, Pune

The Microbial Sciences Division is actively engaged in developing microbial processes for removal of metals, dyes and pesticides from wastes and production of vitamins enzymes, amino acids, etc., and basic studies on anaerobic bacteria and extremophiles.

Center for Nanobioscience (CNB)
Metal-microbe interactions
Microbial degradation of toxic chemopollutants
Production of Industrially Important Biochemicals
Enzymes of alkaliphilic and thermophilic bacteria
Biogas Technology

6.Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh

MANDATE OF IMTECH

To provide integrated research, development and design base for microbial technology.
To undertake basic and applied research and development programmes in established and newly emerging areas of relevant biotechnology including genetic engineering.
To optimise the existing microbial processes currently available and in use in the country.
To develop and maintain gene pool resources and genetic stocks of microbial cultures and other cell lines. This could also serve as a reference centre to assist other centres.
To establish facilities for biochemical engineering, instrumentation development including microprocessor systems, a computer centre and development of mathematical models for process parameters.
To establish facilities for design of process equipment and bioreactors.
To impart training in microbiology, microbial technology and biochemical engineering.
To conduct training and refresher courses for research workers and technologists.
To establish documentation and information retrieval and dissemination facilities and a data bank to meet the needs of the Institute.
To establish and maintain effective linkages with industry and educational institutions.
To develop capabilities for producing design and engineering packages for industrial plants.

7. National Institute of Ocenography, Goa

Bioprospecting and biotechnology of marine microorganisms

Objectives:

Collection of the samples from different marine ecological niches using thirty selected media
Enrichment and isolation of pure cultures using different growth media
Preparation and preservation of ~1000 pure cultures /month from marine ecosystem
Sending these cultures for screening for biomolecules having anti-cancer, anti-diabetes, anti-inflammation and anti-infective activity at Nicolas Piramal Research Laboratory in Mumbai
Preparation of genomic DNA from collected sediment/marine samples
Preparation of metagenomic library from selected samples and screening of metagenomic clones for biomolecules having anti-cancer, anti-diabetes, anti-inflammation and anti-infective activity

8. Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi

The ICAR has a number of target area to improve the crop productivity over the years. Agricultural Biotechnology is one of the potential area for meetings the futures challenges of food security of the country

The time tested and socially accepted first and second generation biotechnologies will be made use of to speed-up breeding processes and to reduce investments on research for increasing yields, minimizing production risks, for sustaining environment and for meeting consumer taste and preferences.

The science part of the transgenic research would be continued and further strengthened. Priority would be given to those commodities and traits for developing trans-genics that have shown low probability of research success in the past through conventional efforts.