Latest news with #AIC-CCMB
The Hindu
15-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
AIC-CCMB planning trials for Chikungunya vaccine with indigenously developed mRNA technology
CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) Atal Incubation Centre (AIC) is planning to go ahead with the next stage larger-scale trials of the indigenously developed mRNA vaccine technology for tackling Chikungunya. 'Chikungunya is a serious, major debilitating disease in India and it does not yet have a vaccine. We have already demonstrated the ability to make use of mRNA technology to develop vaccines with a 'Proof of Concept' (PoC) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our lab data trials show our Chikungunya vaccine works,' disclosed AIC-CCMB chief executive officer N. Madhusudhana Rao. Results of lab experiments The lab experiments conducted on animals showed that the vaccine candidate can produce antibodies against Chikungunya proteins. The next phase will be to infect the animals and check if the virus load has decreased upon injecting the developed vaccine, he explained. The CEO said the institute had also completed initial trials into a potential mRNA vaccine to prevent tuberculosis (TB). But, to go into the next stage of animal trials and more elaborate testing, adequate funding is required, for which different options are being explored. How vaccines work? Vaccines work by preparing and training the immune system to identify disease-causing microorganisms and eliminate them quickly when the system encounters them. In mRNA technology, the host cell's immune system is trained to evade the real infection by introducing mRNA of an important protein of the microorganism of concern into the host, said Mr. Rao. Interestingly, though AIC had developed the PoC for mRNA technology in less than a year and had announced the same two years ago, it did not elicit much response from either the Indian industry or foreign collaborators. 'There were a few firms which evinced interest in making use of our mRNA technology for vaccine research. But they never came back with concrete proposals. It is an accepted fact that firms spend millions to take licenses from abroad rather than spend a few lakhs on local technology,' said Mr. Rao, a former senior scientist of the CSIR-CCMB. Comirnaty (by Pfizer) or Spikevax (by Moderna) are based on mRNA technology for COVID and found to be extremely effective. The mRNA technology is considered chemically safe with no long-term challenges. The one developed in AIC-CCMB too is based on the existing mRNA vaccine model. It is as safe as the one approved by the US Food & Drug Administration Agency and had undergone a third party quality check, affirmed the CEO. mRNA works much better on viruses and vaccines can be developed for other diseases faster. 'It is unfortunate that there are few takers for our technology, though many are trying the same through different platforms. But we want to go ahead with our trials for the potential Chikungunya and TB vaccine candidates now with different partners,' added Mr. Rao.
The Hindu
18-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Research consumables supply center inaugurated at AIC-CCMB in Hyderabad; it cuts waiting time to get chemical agents
A special 'supply center' providing accessibility to essential research consumables for the life science research community in and around the (AIC-CCMB) Atal Incubation Centre-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology campus at Uppal in Hyderabad was inaugurated on Wednesday (June 18, 2025). CSIR-CCMB Director Vinay Kumar Nandicoori dedicated the centre set up by 'Thermo Fisher Scientific' to the researchers in the area including those working at Centre for DNA Fingerprinting & Diagnostics (CDFD), National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) and others, in the presence of AIC-CCMB CEO N. Madhusudana Rao. Steady supply of chemical agents Dr. Kumar said the supply centre promises to reduce the usual time lags in getting the necessary chemical agents like enzymes for research purposes, as steady supply will now be available. 'It will be good for the entire eco-system as procurements otherwise could be cumbersome,' he said. Thermo Fisher's director Jayabharath Reddy said they are committed to support scientific innovation and the new supply center will enable start ups and researchers at CCMB and surrounding institutions to gain access to critical research consumables. 'Specialised consumables have always been a challenge for researchers, sometimes losing months in the process of ordering to delivering. Our centre will be putting essential materials right on campus, enabling faster scientific breakthroughs,' he said The new centre is located adjacent to the company's Centre for Innovation (CFI) established at the AIC-CCMB. The CFI was set up for fostering collaborations and advancing scientific breakthroughs in life sciences. Earlier, AIC-CCMB and Thermo Fisher are also holding a three-day workshop on 'Cell Health Analysis' to enhance technical skills of the researchers in cell based assays used in biomedical research and drug discovery. 'Cell analysis is crucial in developing therapies for cancer and other diseases. This workshop gives researchers hands-on exposure to advanced tools,' said Dr. Rao.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Opinion: India is ready — are we? Why Utah should be doubling down on India
India isn't just rising — it's ready. After two weeks on the ground meeting with innovation hubs, manufacturing leaders and government partners from Mumbai to Hyderabad, it's clear that India isn't just a market to watch — it's the market to be in. Across sectors including medtech, aerospace, e-mobility and agriculture, India is demonstrating rapid growth, a collaborative spirit and serious ambition. With a government laser-focused on becoming a $5 trillion economy by 2029, a swelling consumer base and strong educational and research infrastructure, this is not just a timely moment but also a promising one for Utah companies to engage meaningfully with India. What stood out most is how embedded innovation is at every level of India's economy. At Hyderabad's T-Hub, the country's largest innovation campus, I met startups working on everything from 360-degree flight simulators for the eVTOL market to cutting-edge healthcare diagnostics. At the Atal Innovation Center - Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (AIC-CCMB), a biotech incubator based in Hyderabad's Pharma Hub, I saw how India is cultivating life sciences companies like Startoon Labs, which developed an FDA-cleared wearable patch for muscle diagnostics — a device physical therapists in the United States could start using tomorrow. India isn't developing abstract research and development concepts. These are real, export-ready technologies with teams behind them who are eager to collaborate. In fact, AIC-CCMB signed a memorandum of understanding with T-Hub to launch a life sciences program by June. More importantly, they expressed interest in forming a corridor between T-Hub and the Utah Innovation Fund to accelerate cross-border growth. We also met with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay and its innovation arms to explore collaboration opportunities with Utah universities, which is another step toward building long-term academic and commercial ties. It's time to shelve outdated assumptions about Indian manufacturing. From touring facilities of electrical component makers for India's fast-growing electric rail market to visiting high-quality e-bike producers like EMotorad in the city of Pune, I saw production lines that rival those in Utah. E-Motorad, for instance, is in talks to become a white-label supplier for some of America's largest big-box retailers. This presents a prime opportunity for U.S. manufacturers looking to diversify their supply chains outside of China. In conversations with India's national investment agency, Invest India, I learned they provide hands-on support — at no cost — for international companies looking to manufacture locally. That level of partnership, especially when backed by a pro-business government, is a game-changer for companies eyeing India as a production base to serve South Asia, the Gulf and even Africa. What makes these opportunities particularly real is the level of government engagement. Maharashtra, India's most industrialized state, accounts for nearly 40% of the country's GDP. World Trade Center Utah is working to open discussions with its chief minister for a business trip this November. That level of access could unlock opportunities in finance, aerospace, clean energy and more. I also had valuable discussions with the U.S. Commercial Service, which underscored the scale of India's medtech, aerospace and defense ecosystems. Major players like Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Safran are already there. As India ramps up its domestic capabilities through Make in India, it's encouraging strategic partnerships, not just contracts. This trip reinforced what many are starting to recognize: India isn't 'next.' It's now. If we want to help Utah companies stay globally competitive, we need to double down on our relationship with India — through innovation corridors, joint ventures, university and cultural partnerships, and bilateral business delegations. India is open for business and eager for partners who are in it for the long haul. World Trade Center Utah is returning in November. Join us.
The Hindu
22-04-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
CSIR-NGRI seeks industry collaboration for three major science projects
CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) has unveiled three major science projects which could help in development of renewable energy resources in the country, informed director Prakash Kumar on Tuesday. Addressing the scientific community and industry at the launch of the two-day startup conclave being held at the CSIR-IICT campus, the director disclosed that the institute was working on geo-thermal energy systems across the country as a renewable resource, hazard mapping the Himalayas and geophysical study of the Ladakh region. These research initiatives offer scope for collaborative opportunities between the industry and academia, he said. About 70 start-ups are participating in the two-day conclave with the theme — catalysing innovation, connecting ecosystems. Three Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) were also signed during the meeting. First is a pact between Atal Incubation Centre (AIC-CCMB) and CAiRL to support innovative deep-science based interventions with emerging AI tools and technologies to bridge collaborations between research institutes, incubators, innovators and start-ups. This engagement will accelerate the inclusiveness of AI and relevant advanced platforms into the start-up ecosystem. Second is again between AIC -CCMB and Bioscience Alliance (BSA), a California based non-profit organization formed for the purpose of facilitating the development of the life science and biotech industry there. Along with the BSA, AIC-CCMB is partnered with The County of Ventura 2nd District & Economic Development Collaborative Ventura County, Ventura County California to create a pipeline of start-ups for soft launching in both the territories. CSIR-NGRI and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited signed another pact for deep bore hole seismic studies at Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidyut Pariyojana site of NPCIL. CSIR-IICT had a MoU signed for establishment of CBG plant based on AGR (Anaerobic Gas Lift Technology) with ARK BioEnergy Private Limited.
