Biotecnika Times - 9th April 2019 Edition

April 9th, 2019.

Vol. 03

NO 73

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CRISPR Research Trends & How to Build A Successful Career in CRISPR Page 3

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World’s First Computer-Generated Bacterial Genome Page 5

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April 9th, 2019 Vol. 03 NO 73

International CRISPR Congress 2019 – Registrations Open Hello BioTecnikans, After the Grand success of India’s biggest online conference on “Artificial Intelligence in Biotech & Healthcare Technology” in December 2018, BioTecNika now proudly announces yet another International conference on CRISPR – International CRISPR Congress 2019.

“CRISPR” IS THE LATEST BUZZWORD IN THE FIELD OF MEDICAL SCIENCE. CRISPR STANDS FOR “CLUSTERED REGULARLY INTERSPACED SHORT PALINDROMIC REPEATS” AND IT’S A WAY TO DELETE OR INSERT CERTAIN GENES, OR EVEN CHEMICALLY REPAIR DNA.

By Preety Suman

Goals of the conference: CRISPR Congress is one place that aims to bring all the latest advancements in the field of Crispr. In this scientific conference, we will be sharing • Present Papers the knowledge and thoughts through • Get Participation & Paper Prespresentations from the world-reentation Certificates nowned speakers. CRISPR Congress 2019 sessions cover all the aspects of Who must Attend CRISPR ConCRISPR techniques its novel appli- gress 2019: cations & advantages. Attendees can look forward to hearing the different • A student in their B.Sc, B.Tech, strategies taken, to improvise the onM.Sc, M.Tech, M.Phil, Ph.D.; going research and discuss how to • Teacher, Lecturer, Professor, overcome technical limitations in reScientist, Research Student, Ensearch development. trepreneurs & Biotech Enthusiasts.

CLICK HERE TO KNOW • All are Welcome. If you aspire MORE ABOUT THE CRISPR to work on cutting-edge research CONGRESS 2019 technologies of the FUTURE, you must attend this conference.

Benefits of Attending International CRISPR Congress 2019 : • Learn what CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology is!

• Understand the clinical and healthcare aspects of the CRISPR genome editing • Understand Characterization and applications of CRISPR • Understand how to implement the CRISPR screening technique in Drug discovery • Social, ethical and economic implications of CRISPR-based technology What you can do at this Conference: • Attend this Virtual Conference from Home • Interact with International Speakers & Fellow Attendees • Exclusive Networking Event • Visit Virtual Stalls

Highlights of the International CRISPR Congress 2019 • Date: 25th and 26th May 2019 • Venue: Online Virtual, Attend from Home/Office/Anywhere in the world • Time: 11 AM Onwards

Hurry! Grab your place now !!

Limited seats Register as an Attendee Present Your Research paper at International CRISPR Congress 2019 & Publish it in BioTecNika’s Journal

With 100+ thought-leaders converging, this will surely be an unrivaled Website Link: https://www.biotecopportunity for you to gain the latest nika.org/crispr-congress scientific insights into the ever-evolving CRISPR landscape and grow your For further clarifications call us collaborator network. on 080-5099-7000/ 18000-1200-1818

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April 9th, 2019 Vol. 03 NO 73

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CRISPR Research Trends & How to Build A Successful Career in CRISPR Since the end of the 20th century, CRISPR has been the most discussed topic in the scientific community. There are consistent predictions that this gene-editing technology has the potential to transform our planet.

COMPARED TO OLDER AND OTHER POPULAR TOOLS USED FOR GENETIC ENGINEERING, CRISPR-CAS9 IS CHEAP, EASY TO USE, PRECISE, AND REMARKABLY POWERFUL. THE APPLICABILITY OF CRISPR IS ALSO WIDE-RANGING FROM HUMAN BIOLOGY, AGRICULTURE, AND MICROBIOLOGY.

By Dr. Preeti Saini

Researchers are still trying to figure out how CRISPR can be used to change the world for the better. However, the power to alter DNA brings along many ethical questions and concerns. In this article, we will be looking at the latest CRISPR Research Trends and tips on how to build up a successful career in CRISPR. 1. Use of CRISPR To Treat Genetic Errors That Cause Disease One of the rare, genetic, heart diseases is Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), affecting roughly 1 in every 500 people worldwide. This occurs because of mutations in a number of dominant genes, which leads the heart tissues to stiffen, and gives rise to chest pain, weakness, and, in severe cases, sudden cardiac arrest.

Still, there is a hope, that in the due course of time, we will be able to use gene editing to cure this disease once and for all.

Attempts had been made in 2017 when the Oregon Health and Science University researchers used CRISPR to delete one of these defective genes in a number of viable human embryos. They injected 54 embryos with the CRISPR-Cas9 machinery 18 hours after fertilization. The results indicated that 36 of the embryos did not show any chance of developing the disease. Other 13 were having 50 percent chances of inheriting HCM. On further reducing the chances of inheritance, it was found that only one was a mosaic.

2. Algorithm-based approach to improve efficacy As per the report published in November 2018 in the leading journal Nature Biotechnology, CRISPR-Cas9

will enable scientists to predict the best sequences as a target to make gene editing more reliable, cheaper, less time consuming and more efficient. In this attempt, the researchers analyzed over 40,000 pairs of different target DNA and guide RNA deeply, and carried out CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing in different cells. It was analyzed that the repair depended on the exact sequence of DNA and guide and discovered that it was reproducible within the same sequence.

Thereafter, a machine learning computational tool, called FORECasT was generated, that enabled them to predict the repaired sequence, using the targeted DNA sequence alone.

a hopeful measure in this regard. In 2017, an experiment was carried out on mice to increase resistance to HIV. A team of Chinese researchers successfully implemented this by replicating a mutation of a gene that effectively prevents the virus from entering cells. This mutation has been found to occur naturally in a small percentage of people. Artificially it can be induced using CRISPR, which will considerably bolster HIV resistance in humans in the future. In another approach, scientists from North Carolina used CRISPR to engineer bacteriophages, to develop a proven, safe method for treating harmful bacteria.

REGISTER FOR INTERNA- 4. Recreation of species using TIONAL CRISPR CONGRESS CRISPR 2019 Harvard geneticist George Church In a similar attempt, a machine-learn- and his team have invested their valing algorithm in Delphi has been cre- uable 11 years to recreate the DNA ated that predicts how human and blueprint of the extinct mammoth. mouse cells respond to CRISPR-in- DNA from mammoths preserved in duced breaks in DNA. It was dis- Arctic permafrost has been used to covered that cells themselves repair discover that only 44 genes are sepabroken genes in precise and inevita- rating mammoths from elephants. ble manners, typically even returning mutated genes back to their healthy It is an attempt to save endangered version. In fact, the researchers were elephants they are trying to create harable to successfully correct mutations dier mammoth hybrids that is much in cells taken from patients with one more cold-resistant. The researchof two rare genetic disorders. ers also look forward to inserting non-mammoth genes, which will pre3. Elimination of the Pathogens vent them from growing tusks, to previa CRISPR Cas9 vent poaching, as well as new DNA to allow them to eat a wider diet.

Even after 38 years of discovery of HIV, scientists still haven’t found a cure. CRISPR can turn out to be 5. CRISPR Could Create New,

Better & Healthier Foods Mushrooms that do not turn brown have already been created with the help of CRISPR technology. Attempts have been made by the scientists from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York to edit the genes which determine fruit size, branching architecture and, the shape of the plant for a greater harvest in tomato.

Before that, we should know the difference between GM crops and gene-edited crops. While traditional GMOs are made by inserting foreign DNA sequences into a crop’s genome, makes precise alterations to genes in specific locations of the native genome.

The leading company, DuPont Pioneer is trying to bring its “waxy” gene-edited corn into the U.S. market by 2020. The U.S. Department of Agriculture regulation has already approved gene-edited mushroom, since it doesn’t contain genomes from viruses or bacteria, declaring it the first CRISPR-edited organism to be greenlit.

6. Possibility to Eradicate Mosquitoes Discoveries have given access to tackle the sleep menace ‘mosquito’ in the most astonishing ways. Scientists at the University of California, Riverside have disrupted target genes in

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multiple locations of the mosquito’s genes, using gene drive technology, by impairing the mosquito’s flight and vision. Success was achieved in postponing mosquito development, shortening the animal’s lifespan, retarding egg development, and diminishing fat accumulation. Other researchers at the Imperial College London, have tried another unique way to get rid of a female mosquito, by interfering with how they reproduce.

Current approaches in arthropods are based on delivering the gene-editing Cas9 on to eggs by embryonic microinjection, a tough and inefficient method that works in a mere a tiny low range of species. As per Jason Rasgon, faculty member of zoological science and unwellness medicine, Penn State school of Agricultural Sciences, microinjection will harm the eggs, and it needs costly instrumentality and coaching to implement.

To address these limitations, the researchers developed ReMOT Control—Receptor-Mediated Ovary Transduction of Cargo. This is the technique that will deliver a Cas9 system to the target by a simple injection into the blood of feminine arthropods, wherever it is often introduced into the developing eggs via receptors within the ovary. Rasgon explained that in ovary and egg maturation, mosquitoes and alternative arthropods synthesize food proteins, that are secreted into the blood and brought up into the ovaries. The assumption is to bypass the requirement for embryonic microinjection to attain ordering gene editing within the embryo.

7. Designer babies The first edit in the genes of a human embryo in vitro was made by China in 2015 using CRISPR + IVF, which sparked global outcry and pleas not to make a baby using the technology. As per the reports, a team at the Southern University of Science and Technology lead by He Jiankui had been recruiting couples so as to create the designer babies. They had planned to eliminate a gene called CCR5 hoping to make the offspring resistant to HIV, smallpox, and cholera. They have successfully brought two healthy, little Chinese girls named Lulu and Nana into the globe in November 2018. He Jiankui said that his team performed “gene surgery” on embryos created from their parents’ sperm cell and eggs to shield the youngsters from the human immunological disorder virus, HIV, that causes AIDS. Their father is HIV-positive.

Quick Tips On How to Build A

April 9th, 2019 Vol. 03 NO 73

Successful Career in CRISPR Indian Research Community is all set to adapt for this trending gene editing technology of CRISPR Cas9. In fact, a lot of research is already being conducted at Govt research labs and private biopharma companies with respect to CRISPR Research Trends – to tackle one re more issues faced globally related to health, agriculture and Food technology.

List of Research Institutes in India Where CRISPR research is being conducted: • IARI – Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) • NIPGR – National Institute of Plant Genome Research • JNU – Jawaharlal Nehru University • DU – Delhi University • NBRI – National Botanical Research Institute • NABI – National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute • JUIT – Jaypee University of Information Technology • ILS – Institute of Life Sciences, BBSR • NII – National Institute of Immunology • NBRC – National Brain Research Centre • IIT – Indian Institute of technology – All Locations • IIsc – Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru • NRCPB – National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology • CSIR-NEIST – CSIR North East Institute of Science and Technology • CSIR-IICB – CSIR Indian Institute of Chemical Biology • CSIR NCL – CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory • TIFR – Tata Institute of Fundamental Research • NCBS – National Center For Biological Sciences • CCMB – Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology List of Biopharma companies in India Where CRISPR research is being conducted: • • • • • •

Reliance LifeScience Thermo Fisher Bayer Syngene Merck GE Healthcare

A lot of job opportunities in this field exists for which you need to apply for vacancies in CRISPR related research projects at either research institutes or

Biotech companies. But all of these jobs require a minimum qualification of being a postgraduate with NET / GATE qualification if you are joining a research lab or preferably a PhD degree (given priority).

• So, the first step here is to grab a PhD position for yourself after clearing any of the exams that can help you get admission as well as guarantee you a fellowship. E.g. CSIR-JRF, ICMR-JRF, etc.

• You need to select for a potential guide, who himself is well aware of this new technique and can provide you with necessary facilities and guidance.

• Next, one should develop a research problem which has novel applications, that includes the use of CRISPR and which has not been standardized properly.

But always keep in mind that you require something to look upon, when in doubt. So, try to select a research problem, which may have been successfully implemented in some other way in some related model organism.

• Now, you should also have a basic understanding of genetic engineering and molecular biology protocols as well. E.g. like cloning, PCR, qPCR, RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, immunochemistry techniques like western blotting, immunofluorescence. If there is no possibility to keep all these techniques in your research work, you can always opt for hands-on training courses or workshops which can be availed from any of the reputed laboratories.

• It may require additional hand-on-expertise on mammalian cell culture- experience handling multiple cell lines, transfection, electroporation, transduction, generation of stable cell lines, single cell clonal selection, RNAi mediated gene knockdown, transient and stable

expression of proteins in mammalian cells.

• Again, in order to get experience in related techniques or CRISPR itself, you can join as a Junior Research Fellow in reputed laboratories.

• Once you have completed your M.Sc. / Ph.D. research work successfully, you can apply for a patent as well, along with the publications in reputed journals.

These publications will give you an upper hand while applying for the jobs.

• Moreover, you can apply for Postdoctoral positions in similar fields, as limited knowledge may give you perfection in a particular field, but it will not give you exposure. The more you learn, the better are the chances for you to get a salary hike or promotion or possibly a government job as a scientist.

Let me remind you that CRISPR will offer you highly paid jobs (Research associate Salary US $ 40000). Since his field is still in its infancy, you will get ample opportunities to prove yourself.

REGISTER FOR INTERNATIONAL CRISPR CONGRESS 2019 Recent developments have proven CRISPR to extremely versatile, precise and safe. However, the technology is still in its adolescence. Till date, we are facing technological and ethical hurdles that are not allowing us to feed the hunger-stricken planet, remove genetic disorders, or conserve extinct animal species back to life. But we are making progress in a satisfactory manner. But one thing is clear- CRISPR is a technology which in near future will be adapted globally looking to its diverse applications but of course, the practice should be done under strict guidelines to avoid its misuse.

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World’s First Computer-Generated Bacterial Genome National Center for Biotechnology Information in America holds an International database containing genome sequences of all organisms around the world. Recently, a new member: Caulobacter thesis-2.0 – World’s first fully computer-generated genome of a living organism has been added to the database.

THIS NOVEL DISCOVERY HAS BEEN MADE BY SCIENTISTS AT ETH ZURICH.

By Swarna Khushbu

C. ethensis-2.0 is based upon the genome of a well-studied and harmless freshwater bacterium, Caulobacter crescentus, and is found naturally in spring water, rivers and lakes around the globe. It doesn’t lead to any diseases. C. crescentus can also be a model organism widely utilized in research labs to examine the life span of germs. 4,000 genes are contained by this bacterium’s genome. Scientists demonstrated that only about 680 of these genes are crucial to the survival of the species in the laboratory. Compounds with this minimal genome are viable under lab conditions.

Beat Christen – Professor of Experimental Systems Biology at ETH Zurich, and his brother, Matthias Christen set out to synthesize this genome from scratch as a continuous ring-shaped chromosome. The task is regarded as a true tour de force: The bacterial genome presented by the genetics pioneer Craig Venter was the result of 10 years of work according to media reports. The project’s expense is thought to be 40 million in total.

Venter’s team created an exact copy of a natural genome, ETH Zurich scientists altered their genome utilizing a computer algorithm. Their motivation was twofold: one, to make it simpler to produce genomes, and two to find answers to fundamental questions of biology.

To make a DNA molecule as big as a genome, scientists should proceed step by step. In the case of the Caulobacter genome, the scientists at ETH Zurich synthesized 236 segments, which they pieced together. Matthias Christen stated that- The synthesis of these segments isn’t always simple.

Matthias Christen also stated thatDNA molecules not only possess the ability to adhere to other DNA molecules but depending on the sequence, they can also twist themselves into knots and loops, which can hamper the manufacturing process or render manufacturing impossible.

The scientists radically simplified the genome sequence without alter-

ing the actual genetic information in order to synthesize the genome segments in the easiest possible way and then piece together all sections in the most streamlined manner. There’s ample latitude for the simplification of genomes, because biology has for storing information, redundancies.

The algorithm developed by ETH Zurich Researchers makes use of the redundancy of the genetic code. Using this algorithm, the researchers computed the DNA sequence for construction and synthesis.

As a result, the scientists seeded many small alterations into the minimum genome, which in their entirety are, however, impressive: more than a sixth of all of the 800,000 DNA letters from the artificial genome were substituted, compared to “natural” minimal genome.

From a biological point, the rewritten genome is also interesting. Beat Christen added that- Their method is a litmus test to find out whether we biologists have correctly understood genetics, and it allows us to highlight potential gaps in our knowledge. Obviously, the rewritten genome can contain only information that the researchers have actually understood.

Additional information that is situated in the DNA sequence, and has not yet been understood by scientists this information would have been lost in the process of producing the new code.

For study purposes, the scientists generated also and strains of bacteria that contained the naturally occurring Caulobacter genome segments of the new genome. By turning off certain

genes in these bacteria, the researchers were able to check the functions of the genes. They tested each of the artificial genes in a multistep process.

In such experiments, the researchers found out that just about 580 of the 680 artificial genes were functional.

Christen stated that- With the knowledge, they have gained, it will, however, be possible for us to improve our algorithm and produce a fully functional genome version 3.

Matthias Christen stated that- Even though the current version of the genome isn’t yet perfect, our work nevertheless shows that biological systems are constructed in such a simple manner that in the future, they will be able to work out the design specifications on the computer based on our objectives, and then build them, And this can be done in a relatively straightforward way, as Beat Christen emphasizes: What took ten years with Craig Venter’s approach, our small group achieved with our new technologies within the time frame of one year with manufacturing costs of 120,000 Swiss francs.

One of the possible future applications are microorganisms that could be utilized for the production of complex active molecules or vitamins in biotechnology, such as. The technology can be employed universally for all germs, not Caulobacter.

Beat Christen stated that- As promising as the research results and possible applications may be, they demand a deep discussion in society about the purposes for which this technology can be used and, at the same time, about how abuses can be prevented.

It’s still not clear when the bacterium using an artificial genome will be generated –but it’s now clear that it can and will be developed. they have to use the time they have for intensive discussions among scientists and in society as a whole. We stand ready to contribute to that discussion, with all of the know-how they have.

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New Enzyme To Arrest Bacterial Growth Discovered By CCMB Scientists Center for Cellular & Molecular Biology (CCMB) Scientists has found a new enzyme which helps in breaking cell walls of bacteria and consequently, offers a potential for a new drug delivery route to arrest the anti-bacterial resistance through existing antibiotic drugs.

IN A PRESS CONFERENCE HELD ON TUESDAY, CCMB DIRECTOR RAKESH MISHRA AND SENIORS SCIENTIST MANJULA REDDY EXPLAINED – THAT FOR RESEARCH IT IS VITAL TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE CELLS GROW IN BACTERIA TO COMPREHEND THE RESISTANCE TO ANTIBIOTICS THAT WERE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE.

By Swarna Khushbu

Scientists all around the world are trying to understand this phenomenon. Dr. Reddy Labs has been analyzing the way e.coli bacteria cells operate, split and grow to understand diseases like cholera, leprosy, tuberculosis and so on.

Dr. Reddy along with her research scholar Ch. Pavan Kumar has been working on how the cell governs the machinery to construct the cell wall in the first place, identified the players on the other side of the process and discovered that the mechanism or enzyme through which the cell regu-

lates the growth of its wall.

Other bacteria, also, have the enzyme since the cell wall is fundamental for bacterial growth and division.

By blocking this ‘scissors’ enzyme’ from working – effective ways to target microbes can be figured out leading to the development of novel antibiotics.

In contrast, existing antibiotic drugs

functions by targeting the last stages in cell development to block cell growth like penicillin that hits on the machinery that creates the cell wall – a mesh-like structure of sugars and peptides.

Dr. Mishra and Dr. Reddy Concluded that – The Research done till now is very innovative. Now further they have to find out the molecule of the

enzyme endo-pepcidine and it needs to undergo drug trials to unravel a new mix of drugs to replace existing antibiotics though it’s tough to forecast a timeframe.

The above research by CCMB can be read at the latest issue of Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences, USA.

Bill Gates & Jeff Bezos Fund $15 million To Alzheimer’s Diagnostics The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Day One Fund headed by Jeff Bezos’ have mutually collaborated to fund $15 million into the Diagnostics Accelerator – a project that is part of – Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF). to be possible, but Randy Bateman, a researcher at Washington University in St. Louis, identified changes in Alzheimer’s patients’ blood in 2017 that has remained consistent and been verified by other researchers. Gates

By Preety Suman writes, “There is a fantastic chance a blood test will begin being used to On his site, GatesNotes, Bill Gates recruit patients into Alzheimer’s drug summarizes current advances in diag- trials within the next couple of years.” nosis Alzheimer’s, which is basically via a spinal tap or a brain scan–inva- Another approach to winning the sive and costly, respectively. And nor- battle against Alzheimer’s that Gates mally, people don’t look for diagno- is excited about is -linguistic. Rhoda ses till they start showing symptoms. Au heads neuropsychology for the He writes, “It’s hard to overstate how Framingham Heart Study, which has significant finding a trusted, afforda- tracked the health of the residents of ble, and easy-to-use diagnostic is for a single town for at least 70 decades.

Au with others is working on”digital stopping Alzheimer’s disease”.

One promising area is the blood test. markers,” that might identify flucThat was for quite a while not thought tuations in speech or writing hab-

THE MISSION OF THE DIAGNOSTICS ACCELERATOR IS TO DEVELOP EASY & INEXPENSIVE TESTS & SOLUTIONS TO TREAT ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE.

its which may behave as premature Alzheimer’s disease diagnostics.

A Part of the blog of Gates is regarding the ADDF’s Diagnostic Accelerator’s announcement today that it plans to tools for Alzheimer’s and related dementias. With financing from the Dolby family, Gates, co-founder Leonard Lauder, along with the Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation, the Diagnostics Accelerator app was created in July 2018.

Also, ADDF has recently made an announcement that funding for its Diagnostics Accelerator Digital Biomarker Initiative is now open to scientists and clinicians worldwide working in academic institutions, nonprofits, business partnerships, and biotechnology companies, as well as

new start-ups. Funding priorities include augmented and virtual reality platforms, sensors, applications, tablet, and mobile apps home systems, and portables.

Gates wrote, “We do not know yet if the voice-based approach will work.

It is still early in the research process, and we don’t even understand what changes in speech patterns we’re looking for yet. But I am excited about a potential future where identifying your risk of developing Alzheimer’s is as straightforward as a program on your phone which you could instruct

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to listen for warning signals on your speech.”

The recent collapse of Alzheimer’s medication aducanumab by Biogen and Tokyo-based Eisai underlines the problems of creating drugs to treat and prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

Howard Fillit, Founding Executive Director and Chief Science Officer of ADDF wrote at a blog, “I’d hope for this study as it had some promising effects in the prior phases of clinical development, demonstrating that the drug’hit its target’ and was able to remove beta-amyloid from the brain of patients. It was among the earliest clinical trials to ensure that every patient participating had plaques in their brains. The ADDF supported the initial biomarker approved to diagnose

Alzheimer’s–the beta-amyloid PET portant it is to develop a test that is scan–and we continue to invest in dependable, affordable and simple for Alzheimer’s, not only to possibly such essential tools.” stop the illness but to faithfully develHe points out that, though it would op drugs to deal with it. seem obvious that if you were con- Fillit wrote,”The Diagnostics Acducting clinical trials to remove celerator was created to deal with plaques in the brain you would want the absence of biomarkers to readito guarantee the patients actually needed plaques in the mind, “that has not been the case until recently. Researchers have instead used tests that quantify’downstream’ effects like brain volumes on MRI and results like memory issues as standards to enroll patients. Studies have indicated that around 30 percent of those enrolled in clinical trials didn’t, in fact, have plaques and maybe didn’t have Alzheimer’s at all.”

This clearly states exactly how im-

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ly and more especially to screen and diagnose patients, phase disease development, track response to therapy, and improve the rigor and efficacy of clinical trials–crucial to the development of powerful drugs for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.”

Edible Antibodies For Treating Gastrointestinal Disorders Antibodies are being used in therapeutic practice for the treatment of ailments. Oral to gut targeting of antibodies remains a challenge due to their inability to survive digestion and also attain tissues NOW, A NEW ANTIBODY TECHNOLOGY WHICH COMBINES THE BENEFITS OF ANTIBODY-BASED THERAPIES WITH THE EASE OF ORAL MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN DEVELOPED BY SCIENTISTS.

By Preety Suman

These antibodies are made using yeast via simple food manufacturing process. The antibody technology may have applications in fighting human and veterinary bowel infections, treating metabolic and inflammatory disorders, and also the development of food nutritional supplements that are microbiome-altering.

Conventional therapeutic antibodies designed to treat a multitude of ailments, including infectious diseases and cancer aren’t designed for oral ingestion for targets in the gut, as the digestive environment of the gastrointestinal tract may break down it. In addition to avoiding needles delivery of antibodies instead of systemic treatment can be preferred to minimize or prevent side effects. That is why scientists are focusing on technology that protects antibodies to deliver them undamaged to the target website from the gut.

An antibody structure that is easy but powerful enough to survive the

harsh environment was engineered by the scientists. What is more, the team also developed a process that uses either yeast cells or soybean seeds to produce these antibodies. They can remove the need for expensive purification procedures, by using existing technologies. The result is a powder with antibodies that can be added to foods and consumed orally, requiring no encapsulation.

The scientists were able to obtained proof-of-concept using the technologies in among the target species, young piglets susceptible to a diarrhea-causing infection via collaboration with the team of Eric Cox (UGent). Post-weaning diarrhea caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is an economically important disease in pig production globally. At the moment, the one thing that helps against this infection is that the use of antibiotics and it is a risk factor for antibiotic resistance’s issues and transmission of resistant germs between people and animals. This is a conundrum for pig producers, who want to overcome ETEC crises in the face of strict limitations on the use of antibiotics for livestock. The new antibody-based approach appears to be a highly effective and safe choice.

“The piglets that were supplied food supplemented with the new antibodies were protected against infection from ETEC in a pilot study,” Vikram Virdi states. Given these results, the

team is looking to further build the Compounds as a veterinary item.

Yet according to Nico Callewaert, who headed the yeast work, the applications are wider. “Considering that the human and pig guts are strikingly similar, the lab is currently researching this technology for preventing and treating individual bowel infections and reducing symptoms in gastric diseases like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Among the vital contributions might be in humanitarian projects, by way of instance, during post-disaster scenarios to combat outbreaks of gut diseases like cholera

caused nausea.” All in all, the flexibilities of this technology produces publication product chances for use in feed and food additives, nutraceuticals, biopharmaceuticals, and microbiome optimization.

The above study was published in Nature Journal with collaborating authors namely: Nico Callewaert from VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, Ann Depicker from VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology, Henri De Greve from VIBVUB Center for Structural Biology and Eric Cox from UGent Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

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Cabinet Approves Extension of Biomedical Research Career Programme

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Modi, has given green signal for the continuation of BRCP – Biomedical Research Career Program, and Wellcome Trust (WT) / DBT India Alliance past its first 10-year term (2008-09 to 2018-29) to a brand new five-year stage (2019-20 into 2023-24) with Department of Biotechnology (DBT) increasing its commitment to 2 times that of Wellcome Trust.

THE WHOLE FINANCIAL INFERENCE COMES OUT TO BE RS.1092 CRORE WITH DBT AND WELLCOME TRUST CONTRIBUTING RS.728 CRORE AND RS.364 CRORE EACH RESPECTIVELY.

By Preety Suman

Over a period of 10 years of financing at a 1:1 partnership, the Program has fulfilled its objectives of nurturing and developing the talent of highest global standards in biomedical research in India, which has resulted in significant breakthroughs and applications to meet social demands.

Biomedical Research Career Programme – BRCP has been success- locations geographically within India ful in attracting high-quality Indian where a world-class biomedical study scientists working abroad to return is undertaken. to India by increasing the number of

Next phase suggests the Programme would continue to create this capacity as also strengthen research and work towards fixing important health chal-

lenges. Continuation of those Program with an increased stake from the Government of India is very important to bring about such returns.

DBT To Initiate Pilot Project On Using AI For Cancer Predictive Tools Artificial intelligence (AI) has been another topic of the town after CRISPR cas9. Its wide applications in the field of research, healthcare & agriculture have amazed the scientific community over & over.

AS PER INDIAN EXPRESS – DR. RENU SWARUP, SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY (DBT), UNION MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SAID THAT THE FIRST AI PILOT JOB FOR PREDICTING MODELLING AND DIAGNOSIS OF CANCER IS LIKELY TO BE ROLLED OUT SHORTLY.

By Pretty Suman

AI aims to mimic cognitive capabilities and recent AI techniques have shown how physicians can make clinical decisions that are better with it.

Dr. Swarup is also the chairperson of Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), which is encouraging innovation and research in the biotech business with an emphasis on start-ups and SMEs and recently celebrated its 7th foundation Day. As per Dr. Renu Swarup: AI is bringing a paradigm shift in energy,

agriculture and healthcare.

together with academia and industry, she explained. “Now, all our startDr. Swarup said a proposal for de- ups are functioning 41 bio-incubator veloping AI models for predictive centers and while there’s adequate tools for cancer is already on the floor and is up for discussions. “We’ve got a great deal of cancer-related information and our partners at the national and global consortium of this cancer genomics program. So, the aim is to bring all these groups together and determine how we could bring from the AI version as a predictive tool for cancer,” said Swarup.

The cancer cohort at NIBMG in Kalyani – West Bengal’s Nadia district, is also working on clinical data with cancer hospitals.

With its application in diagnostics, AI can also be useful to extract information to assist doctors in inferring health risks and chalk out a contingency plan accordingly – apart from helping in reducing errors.

BIRAC was set up with a motto to connect start-ups and entrepreneurs

technology, we need to assist them to converge,” Dr. Renu explained.

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April 9th, 2019 Vol. 03 NO 73

Novartis To Acquire IFM Tre In $1.575 Billion Deal To Develop NLRP3 IFM Therapeutics (IFM) on 1st April 2019 announced its pact with Novartis wherein Novartis will acquire capital stock of IFM Tre, a subsidiary company of IFM which was launched in July 2018 focused on developing antagonists for treating inflammatory diseases.

IFM IS A PRIVATE BIOPHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY MANUFACTURING THERAPIES THAT MODULATE NOVEL TARGETS IN THE INNATE IMMUNE SYSTEM.

By Swarna Khushbu

Under this $1.575 billion deal, $310 million upfront payments will be received by IFM and will be eligible for up to $1.265 billion in milestone payments.

The acquisition will give Novartis complete rights to IFM Tre’s portfolio of NLPR3 antagonists, which consists of a single clinical and two pre-clinical applications: IFM-2427, a first-in-class, clinical stage systemic antagonist for an array of chronic inflammatory disorders including atherosclerosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH); a pre-clinical stage gut-directed molecule for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease; and a pre-clinical phase central nervous system (CNS)-penetrant molecule.

Jay Bradner, President of the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research stated that- IFM Tre’s compounds have shown they can fine-tune the immune system, offering a potentially potent approach for treating a

wide assortment of diseases associated with inflammation. They look forward to applying our deep expertise in this area to advancing these medications throughout the clinic and to patients that need them.

These conditions trigger the assembly of a multi-protein complicated known as an inflammasome, which then initiates an immune response.

While this response can be useful for fending off pathogens activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome is known to cause negative downstream effects and the onset and development of numerous diseases. IFM Tre’s programs target the immune system by suppressing the inflammation medi-

ated by the pathway, leaving immune pathways unsuppressed and free to create inflammatory responses to confront pathogens.

Gary D. Glick, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of IFM Therapeutics stated that- Since founding IFM in 2015 their staff has worked tirelessly to create a portfolio of next-generation small molecule medicines that exploit the innate immune system as a new therapeutic target.

Today’s announcement marks an important milestone in the development of next-generation therapies for serious inflammatory conditions. Based on and data, we believe NLRP3 in-

hibition represents a novel approach to preventing the inflammation which drives the onset and progression of numerous metabolic, fibrotic, autoimmune and neurological diseases. With Novartis, we have identified a partner that shares our conviction in the potential of this approach, and who has expertise bringing autoimmune and inflammatory disease therapeutics to market.

The board of directors and stockholders of IFM has approved the transaction. IFM and Novartis expect the transaction will close during the second quarter of 2019. The closure of this deal is subject to customary closing conditions.

NEWS

April 9th, 2019 Vol. 03 NO 73

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AstraZeneca – Daiichi $6.9B Pact To Co-develop Cancer ADC AstraZeneca will enter a pcct worth $6.9 billion to co-develop Daiichi Sankyo’s Trastuzumab deruxtecan–just months prior to the initial application to market the cancer-fighting antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) is defined to be submitted to the FDA. DAIICHI SANKYO IS DEVELOPING TRASTUZUMAB DERUXTECAN, ALSO CALLED DS-8201, FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH MULTIPLE HER2-EXPRESSING CANCERS – INCLUDING BREAST AND GASTRIC CANCER, AS WELL AS IN NON-SMALL CELL LUNG AND COLORECTAL CANCER.

By Swarna Khushbu

Trastuzumab deruxtecan is the topic of five pivotal trials in HER2-expressing breast and breast cancers.

Under the deal, both pharma company will together develop and sell the drug, should it get approved, as both a monotherapy or as part of a mix, except in Japan where Daiichi hangs on to exclusive rights. It’s also solely responsible for the manufacturing and supply of the treatment.

AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo stated they intend to accelerate and expand development of trastuzumab deruxtecan across the breast and other cancers, a justification the ADC has the potential to redefine the standard of attention.

Analysts at Jefferies stated in a note to clients this morning that- they see the strategic rationale for AstraZeneca to bolt-on trastuzumab deruxtecan to its key oncology portfolio, possibly offering a contribution from 2020E with upside optionality from future wider indications.

With an FDA breakthrough label and fast track tag for several cancer goals, this drug is made up of Roche’s Herceptin HER2-targeted antibody and a topoisomerase I inhibitor payload.

Letanalyzeyse how this drug has performed till date – In phase 1 in patients with HER2+ breast cancer who had been treated with Roche’s next-gen breast cancer medication Kadcyla, HER2+ gastric cancer post-Herceptin, and other HER2+ expressing solid tumors, Daiichi/AZ’s drug saw an overall response rate (ORR) of 50.6percent (81/160) with the maximum ORR in HER2+ breast cancer (64.2percent ) and slightly less response in HER2 low expressing breast cancer (59.4percent ). The median duration of response was not reached.

Grade 3 or higher adverse events were experienced by 46 percent of patients (93/200) and 2 cases of grade 5 interstitial lung diseases were reported. The drug is currently in a series of trials across several cancers across all three phases of clinical development.

By means of a linker attached to a monoclonal antib,ody the ADCs are designed to deliver chemo payloads to cancer cells, which binds to a specific target on cancer cells.

The ADC area has been a mixed bag in terms of results to date. This week, Astellas and Seattle Genetics are prepping to file for FDA approval of their drug enfortumab on the strength of stage 2 data. This trial data from that was posted this week which is linked to the antibody-drug conjugate to a 44% response rate in patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer.

The pair is considering controlling the emerging post-immune checkpoint inhibitor space–as is Immunomedics and its ADC, IMMU-132.

Being knocked back by the FDA in triple-negative breast cancer this ADC has suffered a rocky path, it is still advancing in metastatic urothelial cancer.

This will bring R&D changes for both companies in recent times: Daiichi has shuttered a 170-person Indian R&D site and back in 2017 turned into the ax on R&D staffers in its native Japan, culling its research subsidiary called Asubio Pharma.

The unit had around 150 workers

that worked on psychiatric and neurological diseases, inflammatory and immune diseases, and regenerative medicine, a few of which were said to be moved across the company’s other R&D units around the globe.

new global head of R&D, taking over from Glenn Gormley, M.D., Ph.D., who had served as senior executive officer of the Daiichi Sankyo Company in addition to president and CEO of Daiichi’s U.S. division.

Japan and India joined R&D units in the U.K. and Germany on the record of those axed by Daiichi over the past few years.

Gormley has, in fact, stepped down from each of these positions but stays on as chair of Daiichi as well as a special adviser to its international CEO John Nakayama on R&D matters.

Meanwhile, AstraZeneca has also recently changed things up with its R&D unit: Following an exodus of executives within the last year or so, the British-based pharma hired controversial scientist José Baselga to conduct its newly formed cancer-focused unit, where the new ADC development will sit.

But whilst sharpening the ax of several R&D websites, Daiichi has also been sharpening its pen, signing a series of oncology deals designed to provide the company with a pipeline of candidates who can boost success rates in the clinic.

One of the more high-profile of these agreements is the deal with Kite Pharma which is now part of Gilead giving Daiichi the rights to CAR-T drug Yescarta (KTE-C19) in Japan, as well as its doubling back on I-O work with Zymeworks.

This year it also looked to double back on its research units with movement up the top: Junichi Koga, Ph.D., recently became the organization’s

At the exact same time, Mene Pangalos, who was formerly responsible for the provider’s Innovative Medicines and Early Development Biotech Unit, took the helm at another brand new unit, the Research and Development unit for BioPharmaceuticals, which focuses on research for CV, renal and cardiovascular and metabolic –i.e., most of its work out cancer.

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NEWS

April 9th, 2019 Vol. 03 NO 73

New Plant Breeding Technologies For Food Security & Development An international team of Researchers from the University of Göttingen has recently found fresh plant breeding technologies that can contribute significantly to food security and sustainable development.

GENOME EDITING TECHNIQUES IN PARTICULAR, LIKE CRISPR/CAS, COULD HELP MAKE AGRICULTURE MORE PRODUCTIVE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY.

By Swarna Khushbu

The researchers urge the responsible use and support of these new technologies.

As per Matin Qaim an agricultural economist at the University of Göttingen and author of this article published in Science that – Plant breeding and other agricultural technologies have contributed substantially to hunger reduction during the past few decades. However, the consequent high intensity in the use of agrochemicals has also caused serious ecological issues. Predictions suggest that small farms in Africa and Asia will suffer particularly from the consequences of climate change.

On the other hand, Shahid Mansoor from the National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering in Pakistan stated that- Genome editing enables us to develop crop plants that are more resistant to pests and diseases and more tolerant to heat

and drought this technique can help to reduce crop losses and chemical pesticide sprays. In genome editing, certain DNA sequences are changed or switched off in a very precise way without foreign genes being introduced.

Mr. Mansoor also stated that- The new methods are already being used in a variety of cereals and to improve failed food crops such as legumes or local vegetables.

Mr. Qaim stated that- they will take care not to repeat the mistakes that

were made with GMOs. The limited public acceptance and the high regulatory hurdles for transgenic GMOs have led to a concentration of biotech developments in only a few significant crops and in the hands of just a few multinationals. Genome-edited crops do not contain foreign genes as the breeding techniques are more precise these crops are as safe as conventionally bred crops. Genome-edited crops shouldn’t be regulated as if they were transgenic GMOs. Regulations for genome-edited crops are still being debated in Europe. In

Learn New Techniques

July 2018, the EU Court of Justice ruled that these crops would fall under the present GMO law, which is disappointing according to the authors of the position paper. Qaim stated that- This will hold up future applications. The researchers fear that the regulation of new breeding technologies in Europe also has a major effect on developing nations carrying the risk that the enormous potential of genome editing for food security may not be fully harnessed

NEWS

April 9th, 2019 Vol. 03 NO 73

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ICMT 2019 Exam Conducted Successfully @ Ramaiah College, Bangalore

A few days ago Biotecnika had launched ICMT 2019 Exam – InCampus Mock Tests For CSIR NET / GATE / ICMR & DBT Exam 2019. And we are glad to announce that Biotecnika teamed up with Ramaiah College of Arts, Science & Commerce (RCASC), to conduct a free test series for all the Life science and chemical science students of Ramaiah College on 25th March 2019.

A TOTAL OF 174 STUDENTS FROM LIFE SCIENCE & 35 STUDENTS FROM CHEMICAL SCIENCE STREAM PARTICIPATED FOR A 3 HOURS CSIR NET ALIKE TEST AT THE RAMAIAH UNIVERSITY CAMPUS.

By Swarna Khushbu

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Naga Gireesh Bojanala Ph.D. (Research Head & The Dean of Sciences) and other respective faculties of the institute without whose cooperation this event wouldn’t have been a success.

Participating students were from different departments such as Chemistry, Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Biotechnology. ICMT 2019 helped students get a glimpse of how the CSIR NET Exam is conducted with respect to the type of questions asked, the difficulty level of the questions, time management, and other aspects. It not only helped the students to get a feel

of the competitive exams conducted for Life science & biotech postgraduates but also to evaluate themselves for the upcoming semester exams.

Biotecnika had a great experience with Ramaiah College of Arts, Science & Commerce (RCASC), and

wishes all the best to the students who please click on the link below and appeared for the exam for their future register your college today. endeavors. Results of the Exam will be declared soon.

Register For ICMT – InCampus Mock Tests For CSIR NET / GATE / If you want your college to con- ICMR & DBT Exam 2019 duct ICMT 2019 on your campus too

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NEWS

April 9th, 2019 Vol. 03 NO 73

AstraZeneca To Build International Life Science Innovation Park in China AstraZeneca will be collaborating with Wuxi High-tech Govt to build an International Life Science Innovation Park in the west of Shanghai – China.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE WILL SOON BE CONSTRUCTED BY THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OF WUXI AND THE TOWN’S HIGH-TECH DISTRICT AUTHORITY.

By Swarna Khushbu

The main motto is to provide global companies with shared laboratory space, equipment and services while offering links to local hospitals and academic institutions.

The project will also encourage AstraZeneca’s R&D efforts, including the business’s end-to-end development and commercialization work inside the nation –with Wuxi previously serving as home to the biotech’s China Commercial Innovation Center.

AstraZeneca was joined by a number of its current international partners–Sweden’s BioVentureHub and The Skolkovo Foundation from Russia–during the signing of a memorandum of understanding together with the U.K. BioIndustry Association, which has pledged to help companies establish operations in Wuxi.

Steve Bates, chief executive of the U.K. BioIndustry Association, stated in an announcement that- China is an important and exciting opportunity for U.K. life science companies, this opportunity to participate in the creation of the new Wuxi audience is just not to be missed.

Mr. Bates stated that- This new opportunity will enable U.K. businesses to co-locate with AstraZeneca in China within a truly supportive local ecosystem making it easier for U.K along with life sciences firms associate, grow and innovate with like-minded dynamic companies and investors in China.

AstraZeneca has been making more inroads into China–spending millions to widen its R&D footprint, alongside manufacturing partnerships with WuXi AppTec–while other U.K. drugmakers have run into challenges at times. In the months before AstraZeneca formed a $133 million Chinese joint venture in 2017, Glax-

oSmithKline declared that would shut its neuroscience R&D center in Shanghai and move key apps into the U.S. Though GSK did not say how many staffers would be affected by the reorganization, it did say that the organization’s larger R&D organization would remain in the town, with plans to expand to additional medicines and continue its work with the Institute for Infectious Diseases and Public Health in Beijing.

In recent fourth-quarter financial results, AstraZeneca saw double-digit growth from China in the year 2018.

The company’s blockbuster lung cancer medication Tagrisso outperformed analysts’ expectations, with over half

of its emerging market sales coming from China. Tagrisso to become general top-selling medication in 2019 as expected by AstraZeneca, after securing first-line approvals in EGFR-related non-small cell lung cancer and $1.86 billion in global sales last year.

While the firm agreed to big reductions to receive it on China’s National Reimbursement Drug List, AstraZeneca hopes to see a high number of new patients to return to the treatment, due to a higher incidence of EGFR mutations in the Asia-Pacific region as well as a possible first-line approval in the first half of 2019.

NEWS

April 9th, 2019 Vol. 03 NO 73

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Stem Cells May Help Restoring Sense of Smell – Tufts University Research The sense of smell – it plays a vital role for all individuals. But all of that can be suppressed with aging, trauma, chronic sinus diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders.

THE INABILITY OR DECREASED ABILITY TO SMELL ISN’T ALWAYS TREATABLE WHICH IS COMMONLY CALLED AS CALLED ANOSMIA AND HYPOSMIA RESPECTIVELY IN MEDICAL TERMS.

By Preety Suman

Tufts University School of Medicine Researchers has shown they can restore the sense of smell by developing and triggering olfactory stem cells in culture. They stated that this technique could be used to regenerate nose tissue, including sensory neurons.

The olfactory epithelium has two kinds of stem cells namely globose basal cells (GBCs) and horizontal basal cells (HBCs) which is the sheet of tissue with neurons and supporting cells that line the nasal cavity. GBCs play the main role in the routine replenishment of nasal cells, and they’ve been successfully cultured. HBCs, on the other hand, remain dormant unless triggered by tissue injury. HBCs have proven difficult to keep in culture, limiting scientists’ ability to research them.

The lead was taken by the team from the conditions used to culture respira-

tory stem cells. From that point, they directed the stem cells to differentiate into olfactory epithelial cells like Sus cells, basal cells, and olfactory sensory nerves, before engrafting them into injured tissue.

In spite of the olfactory epithelium having a natural ability to regenerate serious injuries can trigger a permanent loss of smell. A 2016 NIH-backed study depending on the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that smell dysfunction affects approximately 12.4percent of adults, which 3.2% of individuals

have a complete or severe loss.

tion, so for this study, they further used retinoic acid to dial down levels The team of tufts described how to of the protein. culture HBCs in a study published in the journal Stem Cell Reports.

Schwob stated that- Now that they Director of Tufts Research James can create a book of dormant stem Schwob who is a professor of devel- cells, they see this as a helpful tool opmental, molecular and chemical for investigating ways to direct cell biology with M.D and Ph.D. degree differentiation toward particular cell and who also led the group previously types and develop new stem cell therthat showed a protein called p63 is a apies for tissue and sensory regeneramaster regulator which was involved tion or pharmacological interventions in the activation of HBCs. The Re- to activate the patient’s own dormant searchers found that lowering levels stem cells inside the nose. of p63 is necessary for HBC activa-

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NEWS

April 9th, 2019 Vol. 03 NO 73

New Tool By MIT & Harvard For Viewing Cellular Organization of Tissues Slide-seq – New Tool developed by Broad Institute of MIT & Harvard researchers for precise & best viewing experience of – Cellular Organization of Tissues. The method utilizes genetic sequencing to draw comprehensive, three-dimensional maps of cells, showing not only what cell types are found, but where they are located and what they’re doing.

BECAUSE IT DOESN’T NEED SPECIALIZED IMAGING EQUIPMENT, THE PROCEDURE CAN BE USED BY SCIENTISTS ACROSS DIVERSE FIELDS OF GENETICS, BIOLOGY, AND MEDICINE WHO WISH TO LOOK AT THE CELLULAR STRUCTURE OF TISSUES OR TO OBSERVE WHERE PARTICULAR GENES ARE ACTIVE IN A TISSUE, AN ORGAN, OR EVEN WHOLE ORGANISMS.

By Preety Suman

Such a platform provides unparalleled views of their cellular structure of cells, the roles played by genes in different tissues, and the consequences of harm or other perturbations on tissue, providing researchers abundant avenues of tissue function that has never before been possible.

The Slide-set system was created at the labs of Broad associate Evan Macosko, also an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard, and Fei Chen, a Schmidt fellow in the Broad.

In the 19th century, neurobiologist Santiago Ramón y Cajal with his detailed drawings of human tissue, demonstrating that the brain is made up of individual cells – astonished the world. The maturation of antibodies from the mid-20th century later enabled researchers to peek at proteins a few at a time–in both tissue and cells. In the last several years, RNA sequencing has allowed scientists to identify which cell types are present in tissue and which genes are turned on across the genome, but not where cells are precisely located.

Slide-seq can be seen as the latest progress in this technological evolution.

The technique starts with a rubber-coated glass slide, or”puck,” which is packed with microparticles, or”beads,” coated in exceptional DNA barcodes. The Broad team sequences all those barcodes, generating information that later permits users to determine where the sequencing reads originated onto the bead selection.

In a few hours of use arrays offered by the Broad, researchers could move pieces of fresh-frozen tissue on the bead surface and then dissolve the tissue, leaving mRNA transcripts bound to barcoded beads. The sequencing

of the barcoded RNA library is done on commercial instruments. Software developed by the Broad group and supplied to end users places to every sequencing read, which is plotted to generate high-resolution pictures of cell forms or receptor expression, with more info than that of regular microscopy images.

To demonstrate the tool’s capabilities, the team used Slide-seq to localize cell types within the cerebellum and hippocampus from the mouse brain, highlighting comprehensive structures such as a one-cell-thick layer of cells. Implementing Slide-seq to slices of mouse cerebellum, the team revealed bands of gene action variation across the tissue, patterns which suggest spatially defined subpopulations that weren’t discernable using conventional single-cell sequencing.

The team also showed that Slideseq may be useful to check the effects of perturbations, using it to track the reactions of specific cell types in a mouse model of traumatic brain injury. By filtering the information to reveal the expression of individual genes, they found some genes turned on in volunteers according to closeness to the harm much long after the injury happened.

The researchers also revealed that stacking a collection of tissue slices can show three-dimensional organization and cellular function by creating an animated 3-D reconstruction of the mouse hippocampus, which can be customized to display different cell types or manifestation of individual genes.

“Single-cell RNA sequencing is really good at telling you what kind of cells are on your sample,” stated Co-first writer – Samuel Rodriguez, an affiliate in the Chen lab and also an MIT grad said that the Single-cell RNA sequencing is extremely efficient in predicting what type of cells

are there in a sample. Whereas Slideseq, on the other hand, is a novel tool with a completely different mechanism that tells us where cells are located in tissue. He said that they are super-excited to work in collaboration in various fields.

April 9th, 2019 Vol. 03 NO 73

SUMMER TRAINING & INTERNSHIPS

NCCS Pune MSc / MTech Project Training Programme II 2019

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Sc and MTech Project Training Programme 2019 at NCCS, Pune.

NCCS Pune Project Training for MSc and MTech candidates. National Centre for Cell Science, Pune has announced MSc & MTech Project Training Programme 2019. July to December 2019 or July 2019 to June 2020. Msc and MTech Project Training Programme 2019 at NCCS, Pune, check details on the same below:

3) Integrated M.Sc./ M. Tech students should provide all previous semester marks sheet 4) A certificate from the Head of the Department/ Principal of College/ University/Educational Institute in the prescribed format * (Annexure – A) on the letter Head.

How to Apply:

Candidates can submit the typed application in the format found on NCCS site along with copies of the documents listed below:-

The completed application form along with all the aforementioned documents can be sent to, The Dean, Academics, National Centre for Cell Science, S. P. Pune University Campus, Pune-411 007 on or before 30th April 2019 by courier or by post.

Head of the Departments is requested to forward max 2 applications only from their departments for a period of not less than five months. Applications received without the certificate (Annexure – A) in the format given on our site won’t be considered for selection. NCCS will not give any stipend or Hostel accommodation and will not charge any fees for the Project Training. Candidates willing to undergo the project training for a minimum of 5 or 10 months during (during their postgraduation) for July to December 2019 or July 2019 to June 2020 session may apply. Students planning to spend less than 5 or 10 months needn’t apply. This is a full-time training programme and part-time students will not be entertained.

1) Proof of Date of birth 2) B.Sc. final marks sheet and MSc all previous semester marks sheet

The list of selected candidates will be put on the NCCS website by 31st May 2019.

NATIONAL CENTRE FOR CELL SCIENCE, PUNE Ref.: NCCS/ AC/ Advt/PT /Session-II/2019 M.Sc. / M.Tech Project Training Programme during the period from July-2019 to December -2019 (SIX MONTHS) OR July-2019 to June2020 (ONE-YEAR) session NCCS encouraged applications from qualified Indian National candidates pursuing M.Sc. and integrated M.Sc./ M.Tech degree program (those completed at least 3 years) in any branch of Life Sciences to undertake Project Training at this Institute as a part of their dissertation work/course curriculum. Students who have completed their post-graduation aren’t eligible.

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April 9th, 2019 Vol. 03 NO 73

ICMR – NIREH Summer Training Programme 2019

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he notification for the ICMR-NIREH Summer Training Programme in Environmental Biotechnology (June 13 – 28, 2019) for 2019 has been announced. Interested candidates can check out all of the details regarding the course, the application procedure, the selection, the fees and more below: Summer Training Programme in Environmental Biotechnology (June 13 – 28, 2019) The Summer Training Programme in Environmental Biotechnology is Just Two weeks long hands-on training course offered by the ICMR-National Institute for Research in Environmental Health (ICMR-NIREH), Bhopal.

Participants of the programme will have the delight of working at a distinctive academic ambience apt for cutting edge scientific discourse. In this programme, higher emphasis will be put on the basic wet-lab tools and techniques pertinent to environmental biotechnology.

Course Content: Basic techniques pertaining to cell biology, molecular immunology, genetics and epigenetics shall be covered.

1) Isolation of DNA, RNA and Proteins 2) Conventional PCR 3) Hot-start PCR 4) Reverse Transcriptase PCR 5) Real Time PCR 6) Methylation Specific PCR 7) mt-DNA Mutation Analysis 8) Micro-RNA Profiling 9) Multiplex Gene Expression Array 10) SDS-PAGE & Western Blot Analysis 11) Flow Cytometry 12) FACS-Cell Signaling Assays 13) Immunophenotyping 14) Cytometric Bead Array Assay 15) Histone Methylation Array 16) Primary Cell Culture 17) ELISA 18) Chromosomal Aberration Assay 19) G-banding & Micronuclei Assay 20) Colony Forming Assays

Qualifications: Students pursuing demic credentials only. The list of sepost-graduate courses in biological lected candidates will be posted at the sciences, pharmaceutical sciences and institute’s site on 21 May 2019. medical sciences are invited to apply.

Fees: A Registration fee for this Seats: Just 20 students will be admit- course is Rs. 5000/= only. ted to the course.

No lodging/boarding shall be ofApplication Procedure: Application fered and the participants will need to in the prescribed format available at make their own arrangements for the ICMR-NIREH website must reach us same. via email at academics.nireh@gmail. com before or on 15 May 2019.

Selection: Procedure for screening and selection will be based upon aca-

Summer Research Internship 2019 @ Regional Centre for Biotechnology

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he official notification for the Summer Research Internship 2019 at Regional Centre for Biotechnology. RCB – Summer Research Internship 2019. Interested and eligible candidates are encouraged to check out all of the details on the overview, the qualification and application procedure below: REGIONAL CENTRE FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY Applications invited for Summer Research Internship at RCB Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB) is a part of national significance, Made by an Act of Parliament, according to Government of India through the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) under the auspices of UNESCO. RCB has emerged As a pioneering institute for research in Biotechnology and is discovering new horizons in Providing world-class education, research and training at the interface of numerous Disciplines for the benefit of humankind.

RCB includes a solid commitment

to exploring new frontiers, furthering science and Connecting revolutionary regions of Biotechnology through cutting edge research. The Centre boasts of the state-of-the-art research labs at par with the International Standards. It’s Advanced Technology Platform Centre (ATPC) is an Extremely sophisticated Instrumentation facility consisting of high throughputs technology platforms such as Genomics, Proteomics, Mass Spectrometry, Microscopy platforms such as Electron Microscopy and Super Resolution Confocal Microscopy, Molecular Interaction, and the Animal Experimentation Platforms. RCB is also launching a Bio-incubator in Association with BIRAC that hyperlinks promising research results to commercialization By nurturing technology development in the wide area of biopharmaceuticals.

The scientists in the Centre work in the interface of multiple areas in the regions Associated (but not restricted ) to structural systems, artificial and chemical biology, Virology, plant biotechnology, molecular medicine, analysis of complex diseases, drug Discovery approaches. The details of

scientists and research work carried Please note that the hostel facility out at RCB can Be viewed on our site isn’t available at present in the Cenwww.rcb.res.in. tre. You may have To make your own arrangement for stay.

Applications are invited from undergraduate and postgraduate stu- Deadline: by 25th April 2019 dents in their final Year for Summer Research Internship at RCB from 15 May to 01 July 2019.

Interested students can mail their application mentioning an area of interest and Attaching their resume together with a write up on what motivates them for a career in Research and their tentative research idea (200 words) to rcb_summerintern@rcb. res.in by 25 April 2019.

SCHOLARSHIP

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BIRAC Innovation Fellowship 2019 – Rs. 5 Lakh PA Grants

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he notification for the Life Sciences / Biotech / Biochemistry / Biophysics & Microbiology BIRAC Innovation Fellowship 2019 with Grants of Rs. 2 & 5 Lakhs being awarded. Interested and eligible candidates can check out all of the details on the same below: CIC-B advertisement for the posts of BIRAC Innovation Fellows Post title: BIRAC Innovation Fellowship Post-Doc/Post-Masters (2) Ad for 2 positions of BIRAC Innovation fellow (Only temporary basis) Beneath Cluster Innovation Centre in Biotechnology (CIC-B) in Panjab University, Chandigarh. TheCICB is sponsored by Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), Govt. of India.

For Post-Masters position/s Who can apply?

Applicants that have completed their Masters in any of the below-given focus areas (I or II); Focus Area I: Healthcare Diagnostics Eligibility: M.Sc. In any one of these: Biotechnology /Microbiology / Microbial Biotechnology/ Biomedical Engineering / Life Sciences/ Biochemistry / Biophysics Focus Area II: M.Sc. In any one of these: Bioprocess Technology Eligibility: Places of Biotechnology / Microbiology / Microbial Biotechnology/ Life Sciences & allied areas.

BIRAC Innovation Fellowship: Rupees 30,000/- a month and BIRAC Innovation Grant of Rupees 2,00, 000/- per year.

Period of Fellowship: Grant period is two years or co-terminus together with the project, whichever is earlier.

In all scenarios, to maintain the fellowship the candidate must work in the CIC-B, PU premises.

For Post-Doc position/s Who can apply?

Applicants that have finished their PhD; Focus Area I: Healthcare Diagnostics Eligibility: Ph.D.Biotechnology/ Microbiology/MicrobialBiotechnology/Biomedical Engineering / Life Sciences/Clinical medicine/Biochemistry / BioPhysics & allied disciplines.

Focus Area II: Bioprocess Technology Eligibility: Ph.D. in regions of Biotechnology / Microbiology / Microbial Biotechnology / Life Sciences / Chemistry / Food Technology & allied disciplines.

BIRAC Innovation Post-Doctoral Fellowship: Rupees 50,000/- a month and BIRAC Innovation Grant of Rupees 5,00,000/- annually.

Period of Fellowship: Grant period is 1 year; extendable to 1 year longer determined by the progress in achieving commercialization co-terminus together with the project, whichever is sooner.

How to Apply:

pus), Panjab University, Chandigarh- 160014 • Applications should reach on or before 16 April 2019 at the aforementioned addresses.

• The candidates shortlisted for the interview will be informed through email or phone.

• No TA/ DA will be paid if called for an interview.

• Proposal beneath UIC scheme needs to be submitted by either hard copy and soft copy in the format “Application for the Award of BIRAC Innovation Fellowship” available from the site. Download the application form and see more details: The soft copy of the proposal ought Dr. Rohit Sharma to be sent to: dbtuic2014@pu.ac. Chief Coordinator in Cluster Innovation Centre in Bio• The signed hard copy of this pro- technology (CIC-B) posal ought to be sent to the fol- Panjab University lowing address: Dr Rohit Shar- Chandigarh ma, Chief Coordinator, Cluster Innovation Centre in Biotech- Deadline: on or before 16 April nology (CIC- B), New Hospital 2019 building, Sector 25 (South Cam-

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SCHOLARSHIP

April 9th, 2019 Vol. 03 NO 73

Govt SERB Start-up Research Grant (SRG) – 2019

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ovt SERB Start-up Research Grant (SRG) – 2019 is inviting applications from eligible candidates Kindly go through the complete SRG 2019 notification below before applying. SERB Start-up Research Grant (SERB – SRG) 2019 scheme aims to assist researchers to begin their research profession in a new institution. It’s a two-year grant meant to enable researchers working in frontier regions of science and engineering to set themselves and move on to the mainstream core research ban (CRG). Criteria for selection would be based on the history of the proposed research program and the candidate.

Nature & Duration of Support: • Research Grant Amount: Rs. 30 lakh plus overheads for a period of two years.

• The research grant will cover equipment, manpower, consumables, travel, and contingency apart from overheads. There is a standard cap for travel, contingency, and overheads. Applicant has the flexibility to propose budget under various heads as per requirement.

• It would be a one-time career grant.

• The number of grants awarded per year: Max 500 across all subject areas.

Eligibility for Govt SERB Startup Research Grant : • The applicant should be an Indian citizen. Foreign Nationals (including PIO, OCI) working as regular employee in any of the public funded and recognized R&D laboratories/institutions in India are eligible to apply as PI in collaboration with an Indian Co-PI, provided they fulfill the eligibility criteria notified by SERB (SERB Funding Guidelines for foreign nationals dated.

27 Oct 2016).

• The applicant should hold a Ph.D. degree in Science or Engineering or M.D. / M.S. / M.D.S. / M.V.Sc. degree.

• The applicant must hold a regular academic/research position in a recognized academic institution or national laboratories or any other recognized R&D insti-

tutions.

[The term “Regular” refers to: (1) Those who are appointed by the institutions against the ‘sanctioned’ post. Such positions are regularized/ confirmed after the probation period is over (2) Those who are appointed in a tenure post, but are likely to be renewed after the end of the tenure].

The applicant is eligible to apply within two years of joining the institution.

• The upper age limit for SRG would be 42 years, with a relaxation of three years for SC/ST/ OBC/ Physically challenged and women candidates.

• INSPIRE Faculty, Ramanujan and Ramalingaswamy Fellows, Faculties recruited through UGC Faculty Recharge Program are not eligible to apply for Govt SERB Start-up Research Grant.

• Research Associates, Postdoctoral Fellows, Ad-hoc faculty, Guest faculty, Visiting Scientist, Consultant, Project Fellows and faculty members whose contract is renewed every year are not eligible under SRG. In respect of cases that are not mentioned above, SERB reserves the right to determine the eligibility.

• Co-PIs are not allowed except in case of foreign nationals.

• The applicant should not have received YSS, ECR, CRG (erstwhile EMR) or any other grant of SERB. Termination and Transfer of the Project • If any Principal Investigator (PI) wishes to terminate the project, they shall inform the SERB through the host institute immediately with proper justifications. The implementing institute should not incur any expenditure from the date of termination of the project or the date of resignation of PI. The institute must also arrange for submission of relevant documents.

• SERB reserves the right to terminate the project at any stage if it is convinced that (i) appropriate progress is not being made (ii) the grant has not been utilized properly(iii) furnishing of false information or suppression

of factual information.

• Projects sanctioned under Govt SERB Start-up Research Grant cannot be transferred to any other person/s.

• Transfer of approved/sanctioned SRG project to another institution will be considered only in the following cases: (i) From private/public/government institution to any other public/government institution (ii) General administrative transfers in government or publicly funded institutions.

• Change of institute will not be considered in any other cases.

Plagiarism – Proposals submitted need to be original and plagiarism in any form will not be acceptable. All submitted proposals would be subjected to a third party similarity check and proposals are liable to be rejected if found plagiarised. Any text taken verbatim from other source needs to be identified using quotation marks and proper reference. Applicants are requested to pre-check their proposals for plagiarism before uploading to avoid any serious repercussions at a later stage.

Scientific Social Responsibility – SERB has adopted Scientific Social Responsibility (SSR) Policy to imbibe a culture of social commitment among SERB Grantees. The policy intends to effectively utilize scientific infrastructure and expertise of SERB grantees to benefit other S&T stakeholders especially the less-endowed researchers and the society. SERB Grantees need to undertake some SSR activities during their project period.

SSR activities need to be chosen after approval and depending on the activities chosen additional budget would be provided under the separate head to carry out the chosen activities.

Mode of Application and Selection

Call for applications will be notified through the websites www.serbonline.in and www.serb.gov.in. The application for Govt SERB Start-up Research Grant should be submitted online at www.serbonline.in. Selection will be based on the recommendations of the Expert Committee constituted by the Board.

How to apply online for Govt SERB Start-up Research Grant : For online submission of the application the following points may be noted: • Applicants should first register in SERB online portal click here to register • After log-in, applicants are required to fill all the mandatory fields in the Profile Detail section under User Profile, which includes Biodata, photo, Institute Address, etc.

• Some of the details of the proposal like Project Title (max 500 characters), Project summary (max 3000 characters), Keywords (max 6), Objectives of the project (max 1500 characters), • Expected output and outcome of the proposal (max 1500 characters), Budget (Manpower, Consumables, Travel, Equipment, Contingency, Overheads ) have to be entered at the time of proposal submission.

• Other relevant information of the proposal has to be uploaded as a single PDF file, not more than 10 MB, as a technical document (TD)

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April 9th, 2019 Vol. 03 NO 73

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ENROL FOR CSIR NET COACHING & GET 6 CERTIFICATION COURSES FOR FREE CALL 1800-1200-1818 TOLL FREE TO KNOW MORE

REGISTER HERE

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April 9th, 2019 Vol. 03 NO 73

CCMT 2019 Notification – Centralized Counseling for Admissions

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he official notification for the Centralized Counseling for MTech Programme Admissions 2018 (CCMT-2019) has been released. Registrations for the same will open shortly. Interested candidates are requested to check out all of the important links, overview, important dates and more below: The Centralized Counseling for M.Tech. / M.Arch. / M.Plan. /M.Des. (CCMT-2019) is a platform for applicants to apply for M.Tech. / M.Arch. / M.Plan. /M.Des. Programs, according to their GATE score of years 2017, 2018 and 2019, at all National Institute of Technologies (NITs), IIEST Shibpur, seven IITs, National Institute of Foundry and Forge Technology (NIFFT) Ranchi, School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) Vijayawada, University of Hyderabad, Central University of Rajasthan, Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology (SLIET) Longowal, Punjab Engineering College (PEC) Chandigarh and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University Katra.

This centralized system provides a common and convenient platform for online counselling wherein the candidates may fill-in single online application form from their houses and apply to all programs in all the participating institutions to which they are eligible. The candidates aren’t required to apply to individual Institutes or visit every Institute for appearing in interview/counselling. Therefore, CCMT2019 enormously increases the general convenience of applicants.

The CCMT was initiated in the year 2012 for centralized admission for PG programs and since then has undergone many alterations to make it more student-friendly and included newer institutions under its umbrella. In the CCMT-2019, new features like online withdrawal and willingness change etc. have already been incorporated.

The governmental reservation policy on Economically Weaker Section (EWS) can be implemented by many of the participating Institutes/University.

Additionally, candidates are permitted to take part in both regular rounds along with the National Spot Round (NSR) even if one has obtained a seat in the regular round. The CCMT-2019 is being organized by the National Institute of Technology Rourkela. Each of the potential candidates is advised

to read the information brochure and various other documents given within this site carefully and apply.

1. Dates mentioned above are tentative and may be changed due to unavoidable circumstances if any. Candidates are advised to regularly check CCMT‐2019 website for updates.

2. Visit CCMT‐2019 website regularly for any update.

IMPORTANT DATES Activities

Date

Activities

Date

Advertisement and Availability of CCMT‐2019 website

March 28, 2019

Online Seat withdrawal and Online Willingness change for National Upgradation

June 12‐23, 2019

Advertisement and Availability of CCMT‐2019 website

April 05‐26, 2019

Download Provisional Admission Letter (PAL)

June 12‐27, 2019

Online choice filling and Locking

April 05‐29, 2019

Reporting at Allotted Institute and depositing Balance Institute Fee

June 24 ‐ 27, 2019

Automatic locking of saved choices

April 29, 2019 (23:59 hrs)

Publication of Internal Sliding

June 29, 2019

Publication of Round 1 Seat allotment

May 03, 2019

Publication of Vacant seats for NSR

June 29, 2019

Payment of Seat Acceptance fee of ₹30,000/‐ followed by reporting at any RC after Round 1 of seat allotment

May 07 ‐ 10, 2019

Online National Spot Round (NSR) Registration and Fee payment

June 30 ‐ July 14, 2019

Online Seat withdrawal and Online Willingness change for Round 1

May 07 ‐ 10, 2019

Online choice filling and locking for NSR

June 30 ‐ July 15, 2019

Publication of Round 2 Seat allotment

May 17, 2019

Payment of Seat Acceptance fee of ₹30,000/‐ followed by reporting at any RC after Round 2 of seat allotment

Automatic locking of saved choices for NSR

May 20 – 22, 2019

July 15, 2019 (23:59 hrs)

Online Seat withdrawal and Online Willingness change for Round 2

May 20 – 22, 2019

Document verification of NSR registered candidates

July 15 ‐ 18, 2019

Publication of NSR seat allotment

July 20, 2019

Publication of Round 3 Seat allotment

May 31, 2019

Payment of Seat Acceptance fee of ₹30,000/‐ followed by reporting at any RC after Round 3 of seat allotment

June 03 ‐ 07, 2019 (RCs will be closed on June 05, 2019 on account of Id‐ul‐Fitr)

Online Seat withdrawal and Online Willingness change for Round 3

June 03 ‐ 07, 2019

Publication of National Upgradation Seat allotment

June 11, 2019

Download NSR Provisional Admission Letter July 21‐26, (PAL) 2019 Reporting of Candidates, who will be allotted Seat in NSR, at Admitted Institute

July 23‐26, 2019

Starting of Classes

Classes will commence as per the respective PI’s Academic Calendar (please refer CCMT‐2019 website or respective PI website)

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ICGEB – JNU PhD Programme Admission 2019

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he official notification is out for the ICGEB-JNU PhD Programme 2019 Admission. ICGEB-JNU PhD Programme 2019Admission notification is out . Admission to Ph.D. Programme 2019 ICGEB-JNU Ph.D. Programme-2019 notification. Interested and eligible candidates can check out all of the details on the same below: Admission to Ph.D. Programme 2019 Applications are encouraged from candidates for admission to the ICGEB-JNU PhD programme-2019 in the subsequent streams.

• Molecular Medicine • Plant Biology • Integrative Biology Stop by our site “https://www.icgeb. org/location/newdehli/ for additional information concerning the research interests of ICGEB New Delhi PIs. Minimum Qualification: (A) First class (60 percent or equivalent grade) M.Sc. In any branch of Science (e.g. Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics etc) or M.Tech.

Or M.B.B.S. or even M.V.Sc. or M.Pharm. Or equivalent qualification recognized by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, is demanded. Candidates appearing for the qualifying exam this year may also apply; they’ll be admitted provision-

ally pending satisfactory fulfilment of the above-mentioned requirements at the time of joining.

(B) The applicant must have cleared any one of these examinations: CSIR, UGC, ICMR, DBT (I), DST-INSPIRE, BINC or any other equal JRF examination. The fellowship has to be valid for at least four years. GATE and DBT(II) aren’t accepted.

In spite of this caution, in the event that you don’t fulfil the minimum eligibility criteria and still appear in the prior to the deadline for admission. entrance exam, you may do so at your own risk and cost, and when at any Application Procedure: point, it’s found that you don’t fulfil the minimum eligibility conditions, (A) Applications MUST be filled the admission, if given for you, shall online (click on the link at the bottom) (B) Before beginning online applibe cancelled ipso facto. cation prepare demand draft of Rs The candidates that are due to ap- 1000/- in favour of ICGEB, New pear in the various qualifying and/ Delhi, payable at New Delhi because or JRF examination prescribed as a you’re needed to fill the demand draft qualification for admission will like- details online. wise be considered for appearing in the entrance examination and the interview. Such of those candidates will be permitted to appear at the entrance examination and the interview at their own risk and on the clear stipulation that in case of their selection, they’ll be entitled to admission only if they secure the minimum prescribed percentage of marks in their qualifying degree exam, cleared any one of the aforementioned JRF examination to qualify for a fellowship and that they will be asked to submit all of the documents including final mark-sheet of their qualifying exam (indicating the final and total percentage of marks)

(C) Scan current colour passport size photograph. Size of photograph ought to be less than two MB. (D) Printing the online receipt and the admit card in COLOUR, generated following the successful online submission. PLEASE NOTE THAT NO SEPARATE ADMIT CARD WILL BE SENT. (E) Send the signed hard copy of the online receipt only along with (DO NOT SEND ADMIT CARD) (i) a crossed Demand Draft of Rs

1000/(non-refundable), in favour of ICGEB, New Delhi, payable at New Delhi. (ii) documentary proof for SC/ST/ OBC (non-creamy coating ), if appropriate To The Administrative officer, International Centre for Genetic Engineering Biotechnology (ICGEB), Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110 067 by 31st May 2019. The Envelope must be clearly marked with Application for PhD Programme 2019 • Eligible candidates will be called for a written examination on 10th June 2019. The intimation is going to be sent via email.

• The written examination will be ONLY in your choice of the first stream. No changes will be allowed later.

• Candidates shortlisted according to the written examination is going to be interviewed on 11th & 12th June 2019.

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April 9th, 2019 Vol. 03 NO 73

PhD Forestry Entrance Test 2019 Official Notification

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he official notification for the Forest Research Institute Deemed to be University, PhD Forestry Entrance Test 2019. Interested candidates with backgrounds in biotechnology, biosciences, life sciences are encouraged to check out all of the details on the same below: No. 015/R-5/Ph.D./2019-FRIDU Forest Research Institute Deemed to be University P.O. I.P.E. Kaulagarh Road, Dehradun.

ANNOUNCEMENT For PhD Forestry Entrance Test 2019 The Forest Research Institute Deemed to be University will conduct its PhD Entrance Exam on 14th July 2019 for enrolment in PhD Program in Forestry.

The research centre-wise position of seats is mentioned below The seats to reserved categories are earmarked according to clause 5.2.3 of the PhD Ordinance following 200-point roster as given in Swamy’s Hand Book 2017.

From those published seats, 3% seats are reserved for the persons with disabilities according to clause 5.2.3(e) (I) of PhD Ordinance. For eligibility please see clause 3 of the PhD Ordinance that can be found on the site and below application form. SixMonth Pre-PhD Compulsory course could be conducted only once w.e.f.

September 2019.

Eligibility criteria for admission to the PhD Programme: Subject to the conditions stipulated in these Regulations, the following persons are eligible to seek admission to the PhD Programme Candidates for admission to the Ph.D. programme shall have a Master’s degree or a professional degree declared equivalent to the Master’s degree by the corresponding statutory regulatory body, with at least 55% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade ‘B’ in the UGC 7-point scale (or an equivalent grade in a point scale wherever grading system is followed) or an equivalent degree from a foreign educational Institution accredited by an Assessment and Accreditation Agency which is approved, recognized or authorized by an au-

thority, established or incorporated under a law in its home country or any other statutory authority in that country for the purpose of assessing, accrediting or assuring quality and standards of educational institutions.

A relaxation of 5% of marks, from 55% to 50%, or an equivalent relaxation of grade, is allowed for those belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer)/Differently-Abled and other categories of candidates as per the decision of the Commission from time to time, or for those who had obtained their Master’s degree prior to 19th September, 1991. The eligibility marks of 55% (or an equivalent grade in a point scale wherever grading system is followed) and the relaxation of 5% to the categories mentioned above are permissible based only on the qualifying marks without including the grace mark procedures.

A candidate who meets the requirement mentioned above may select a field of study out of disciplines given below to pursue PhD to be awarded in Forestry only 1. Silviculture: Post-graduate degree in Forestry/Agriculture/Botany 2. Forest Seed Tech.: Post-graduate degree in Forestry/Agriculture/Botany 3. Forest Genetics: Post-graduate degree in Botany, Agriculture or Forestry with specialization in Genetics 4. Forest Botany: Post-graduate degree in Botany with specialization in Systematic Botany/Plant Physiology/ Wood Anatomy/Biodiversity Conservation/Ethno Botany or Post-graduate degree in Agriculture with specialization in Plant Physiology or Post-graduate degree in Forestry 5. Forest Pathology: Postgraduate degree in Botany/Forestry/Wood Science & Technology/Agriculture, with specialization in Plant Pathology/ Microbiology or Project work/ dissertation in Forest Pathology/Plant Pathology Or Postgraduate degree in Microbiology with specialization or Project work/ dissertation in Forest Pathology/Plant Pathology Or a postgraduate degree in Plant Pathology/ Mycology/Plant Pathology 6. Forest Entomology: Post-graduate degree in Forestry or P.G. Degree in Zoology with specialization in Entomology or P.G. Degree in Agriculture with specialization in Entomology 7. Soil Science: Post-graduate degree in Chemistry, Microbiology Geology, Soil Science or Agriculture (with specialization in Agricultural Chemistry, Soil Science)

8. Forest Ecology & Environment: Post-graduate degree in Biological Science/ Life Science/Environmental Science/Forestry/ Marine Biology/ Environmental Engineering /Aquatic Biology Candidate must have studied ecology as one of the subjects in above Post-graduate degree courses.

9. Forest Management: Post-graduate degree in Mathematics/Statistics/ Computer Application/ Forestry/Agriculture Forestry 10. Wood Science & Technology: Post-graduate degree in Physics/ Chemistry/Engineering or Botany with specialization in Wood Anatomy or Post Graduate Degree in Wood Science & Technology 11. Chemistry of Forest Products: M.Sc. in Chemistry (preferable organic specialization), M.Sc. in Analytical Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Industrial Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Natural Products Chemistry, Biochemistry, Agricultural Chemicals, Polymer Chemistry, MD in Pharmacology or equivalent in Indian System of Medicine, Masters in Pharmacy, M. Tech in Chemical Technology/Chemical Engineering, M.Sc.(Tech) in Pharmaceutical Chemistry 12. Pulp & Paper Technology: Post-graduate degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or Paper Technology 13. Forestry Extension: Post-graduate degree in Agriculture Extension/ Forestry 14. Non Wood Forest Products (NWFP): Post Graduate degree in Botany/Forestry, Organic Chemistry, Agriculture with specialization in cultivation of medicinal plants, MD in Pharmacology or equivalent in Indian System of Medicine 15. Forest Biotechnology: Post Graduate degree in Biotechnology or Post graduate degree in life sciences with specialization in Biotechnology or Post Graduate degree in Biochemistry/Molecular biology/ Microbiology

16. Forest Bioinformatics: Post Graduate degree in Bio informatics or Post graduate degree in Forestry/ Botany with minimum one year PG Diploma in Bioinformatics from a recognized institution or Post Graduate Degree in Computer Science or Post Graduate Degree in Information Technology or Post Graduate Degree in Maths/Physics/Statistics with P.G. Diploma in Computer Science.

17. Environment Management: Post Graduate degree in Environment Management/ Environmental Science or M.Tech Environmental Engineering or Post Graduate degree in Chemistry with specialization in Environmental Chemistry.

18. Wildlife Science: Post-graduate degree in Forestry/Wildlife Science/ Zoology/Botany/ Environmental Management or Postgraduate degree in any science subjects with recognized Postgraduate Diploma in Wildlife Management.

19. Forest Geo-informatics: M. Tech in Remote Sensing & GIS or Post Graduate Degree in any science subject with Post Graduate Diploma in Remote Sensing/GIS from IIRS, Dehra Dun or Postgraduate degree in Geo-informatics.

20. Forest Hydrology: Post Graduate Engineering Degree in Hydrology/Water Resource Engineering/Civil Engineering, Post Graduate Degree in Forestry, and Environment Management/Sciences with specialization in GIS/Remote Sensing/Watershed Management/Water Management/ Post Graduate Degree in Soil and Water Conservation Engineering/ Post Graduate Degree in Irrigation and drainage Engineering.

21. Plant Physiology: Post Graduate Degree in Plant Physiology, Post Graduate Degree in

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April 9th, 2019 Vol. 03 NO 73

Botany with specialization in Plant Physiology.

22. Application of Information Technology in Forestry: Post Graduate Degree in Forestry with at least one year P.G Diploma in Information Technology/Computer Science from recognized institution.

23. Climate Change & Forest Influence: Post Graduate Degree in Physical Sciences/ Biological Science /Life Science/ Environment Science /Environment Management/Forestry/ Botany/Physics/ Chemistry/Agriculture/ Climate Change/Natural Resource Management/ Marine Biology/Soil Science OR M.Tech. in Remote Sensing & GIS/M.Tech. in Environmental Engineering *Entrance Test Centres 1. Arid Forest Research Institute, P.O. Krishi Mandi, New Pali Road, Jodhpur – 342 005 2. Forest Research Institute Deemed to be University, P.O.I.P.E. Kaulagarh Road, Dehradun.

3. Himalayan Forest Research Institute, Conifer Campus, Panthaghati, Shimla – 171 009.

4. Institute of Forest Biodiversity, Post Box No.2129, Dulapally, Hakimpet (P.O.), Hyderabad-500014.

5. Institute of Forest Genetics & Tree Breeding, P.B. No. 1061, Coimbatore – 641 002 6. Institute of Forest Productivity, ‘Aranyodaya’, Ranchi-Gumla, N.H.23, Lalgutwa, Ranchi – 834 002 7. Indian Institute of Forest Management, Nehru Nagar, Bhopal – 462 003.

8. Institute of Wood Science and Technology, 18th Cross, P.O. Malleswaram, Bangalore – 560 003.

9. Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi P.O, Thrissur District, Kerala – 680653.

10. Rain Forest Research Institute, P.O. Box No. 136, Deovan, Sotai – Ali, A.T. Road, Jorhat, Assam.

11. Tropical Forest Research Institute, P.O. R.F.R.C., Mandla Road,

Jabalpur – 482 021 How to Apply: The candidates, that are interested for registration as a research scholar for the PhD Degree in Forestry at Forest Research Institute Deemed to be University Dehradun for the term of March 2020 are advised to apply in prescribed form latest by 31.05.2019 with a fee of Rs.1500/through Bank Draft at the favour of Registrar, FRI Deemed to be University payable at Dehradun. No application form will be entertained after the prescribed date.

• •

Candidates are advised to read following instructions carefully: • Please enclose attested copies of Marks- sheets of Post Graduation, 10th class and Caste certificate. Incomplete forms are not acceptable and will be treated as cancelled. A copy of all the certificates from class 10th onwards duly attested will be required only at the time of reporting to the research centres by the successful candidates. ***The candidates who are appearing in the qualifying exam are required to attach previous year markssheet.

• The candidates who have qualified UGC-NET (including JRF)/ UGC-CSIR NET (including JRF)/teacher fellowship holder will be allowed to appear for the interview directly without appearing in the written entrance test. However, the candidates who have qualified • GATE will also be allowed to appear for the interview directly without appearing in the written entrance test subject to securing of 50 normalized marks (out of 100) in case of General candidates and 45 normalized marks (out of 100) in case of SC/ST/ OBC (OBC noncreamy layer

•

•

•

25

only)/differently-abled and other send the application forms to the categories of candidates as per FRI Deemed to be University. the decision of the Commission The forms from time to time, failing which • directly send to FRI Deemed to they shall have to appear in the be University shall not be enterEntrance Test. They will have to tained. Applicants for FRI regive proof of having qualified search centre may directly subabove exams along with their apmit their forms to the Registrar, plication form. The UGC/CSIR/ FRI Deemed to be University.

GATE/NET exam should have • The OBC candidates are eligible been cleared by the applicant to get reservation under OBC during the previous two years category only as per the Central from the last date of submission Educational Institutions (Reserof the form in the University. vation in Admissions) Act-2008 *List of research centres/enand other relevant guidelines trance test centres is attached. issued by Govt. Of India. OBC As far as possible the candidate certificate from District Magisshall be assigned the test centre trate or authorities empowered of his/her choice, however the to issue certificate or verificaUniversity reserves the right to tion issued not earlier than six assign any appropriate test cenmonths. Please ensure that you tre to any candidate. are eligible to get reservation unThe selected candidates may be der OBC category only as per the advised by the University to join Central Educational Institutions any research centre under FRI (Reservation in Admissions) Deemed to be University where Act, 2008 and other relevant required seats and expertise may guidelines issued by Govt. of be available. However merely India. They are also required to passing the entrance test is not a attach a certificate to prove that guarantee that the candidate will they do not come in the “creamy be registered as PhD Scholar. layer” as defined by the NationIf the applicant is in service in a al Commission for Backward graded pay scale in a government Classes (NCBC). organization/ statutory autono- • The Physically Handicapped mous body/private organization candidates will have to attach then please attach a ‘no objection Disability certificate issued by certificate’ from the employer. In the competent authority along absence of such a certificate, the with the form.

Application form shall not be • In case of any discrepancy, the accepted. Such applicants shall form will be rejected and the aphave to take two years of study plication fee shall not be refundleave as per rules. A research ed. scholar shall be required to be present in the research centre Important Dates: concerned for a minimum period of two years. Their presence 1. Last date for submission of form: shall be duly recorded and main- 31.05.2019 tained in the Division concerned. 2. Date of Exam of Entrance Test: The application form is to be 14.07.2019 submitted to the research centre concerned (listed below) where a candidate wants to carry out his/her research. The Nodal Officer of the Research Centre will

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April 9th, 2019 Vol. 03 NO 73

University of Hyderabad Admission Announcement 2019 – 2020

U

niversity of Hyderabad Admission Announcement 2019 – 2020 for admission to different 5-Year Integrated P.G., P.G., M.Tech, M.Phil. Courses and Ph.D. programmes via an AllIndia entrance examination. Interested candidates are encouraged to check out all of the details on the same below: UNIVERSITY OF HYDERABAD (A Central University established by an Act of Parliament) Prof. C.R. Rao Road, Gachibowli, P.O. Central University, Hyderabad 500 046 Invites bright, aspiring students committed to excellence to apply for admission to different 5-Year Integrated P.G., P.G., M.Tech, M.Phil.

Courses and Ph.D. programmes via an AllIndia entrance examination.

Eligibility Minimum qualifications and Intake for admission to various courses for the academic year 2019-20 (July 2019 Session ) INTEGRATED MASTER’S DEGREE COURSES (5-YEARS ) For the following 5-Year Integrated programmes offered at College for Integrated Studies: Candidates within Four (4) years from the date of completion of +2 (Intermediate / Higher Secondary / etc). will be eligible.

Course: M.Sc. (5-Year Integrated) in Sciences Subject: Systems Biology Intake: 18 Qualifications: With a minimum of 60% marks at +2 level of education (Intermediate/ CBSE/ ICSE/ HSC or equivalent) with Science subjects only.

Date, Time & Venue of Interview: 31.5.2019 10.00 a.m.

Postgraduate courses (2/3 years) Course: M.Sc. Subject: Biochemistry Intake: 28

Qualifications: B. Sc. with a minimum of 60% marks in the aggregate of Science subjects with Chemistry or Biochemistry as one of the subjects.

Date, Time & Venue of Interview: 31.5.2019 10.00 a.m.

Course: M.Sc. Subject: Plant Biology & Biotechnology Intake: 20

M.Sc. / M.Tech. in Bioinformatics or MBBS with at least 55% marks.

Qualifications: B. Sc. with a mini- Date and time of written test: mum of 60% marks in the aggregate 31.5.2019 10.00 a.m. of Science subjects with at least one of the following subjects: Chemistry, Date and time of interview: Botany, Genetics, Microbiology, Bio- 9.7.2019 10.00 a.m. chemistry, Biotechnology.

Course: Int. MSc & PhD Date, Time & Venue of Interview: 28.5.2019 02.00 p.m.

Subject: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Course: M.Sc. Intake: 06 Subject: Molecular Microbiology Qualifications: B. Sc. With a miniIntake: 13 mum of 60% marks in the aggregate of Science subjects with Chemistry or Qualifications: B. Sc. with a mini- Biochemistry as one of the subjects. mum of 60% marks in the aggregate of Science subjects with at least one Date and time of written test: of the following subjects: Zoology, 31.5.2019 2.00 p.m.

Genetics, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Botany, Microbiology, Life Date and time of interview: Sciences.

24.6.2019 10.00 a.m.

Date, Time & Venue of Interview: 27.5.2019 10.00 a.m.

Course: M.Sc. Subject: Animal Biology and Biotechnology Intake: 20

M.V.Sc. with at least 55% marks Date and time of written test: 29.5.2019 2.00 p.m.

Date and time of interview: 11.7.2019 & 12.7.2019 10.00 a.m.

Course: Int. MSc & PhD Subject: Animal Biology & Biotechnology Intake: 06 Qualifications: B. Sc. With a minimum of 60% marks in the aggregate of Science subjects.

Date and time of written test: 30.5.2019 10.00 a.m.

Date and time of interview: 25.6.2019 10.00 a.m.

Course: PhD

Course: PhD

Subject: Biotechnology

Subject: Plant Sciences

Intake: 06

Intake: 15 Qualifications: M.Sc. in any branch of Life Sciences or M.Tech. in Bioinformatics with at least 55% marks .

Qualifications: B. Sc. with a mini- Date and time of written test: mum of 60% marks in the aggregate 27.5.2019 10.00 a.m. of Science subjects.

Date and time of interview: Date, Time & Venue of Interview: 10.7.2019 10.00 a.m.

28.5.2019 10.00 a.m.

Course: PhD PH.D. PROGRAMMES Subject: Animal Biology Course: PhD Intake: 14 Subject: Biochemistry Qualifications: Master’s degree in Intake: 08 Animal Biology or in any area of Life Sciences/M.Tech. in BioinformatQualifications: M.Sc. in Biochem- ics or Biotechnology, M.Pharm, or istry or in a closely related area or

Qualifications: Master’s degree with 55% marks in Biotechnology or in a closely related area/ MSc Systems Biology/5-year Integrated MSc in Systems Biology/Biology or related areas OR an MBBS/ M. Tech.

Biotechnology/ Bioinformatics/, M. Pharm, MVSc with a minimum of 55% marks.

Date and time of written test: 29.5.2019 10.00 a.m.

Date and time of interview: 12.7.2019 10.00 a.m.

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The way to Apply: The application form needs to be submitted online from 1st April 2019 to 3rd May 2019. Before applying online, the candidate will be asked to have a scanned (digital) picture of their Photograph (25kb) and signature (10kb). Scanned copy of Caste Certificate for SC/ST/OBC/EWS applicants.

The Candidates applying online may:• Read the admission notification and Prospectus prior to completing the application form.

• Maintain all of the information ready before beginning to fill out the Application Form.

• Keep ready the scanned (digital) images of your Photograph and Signature.

• Caste Certificate in the event of SC/ST/OBC/EWS candidates.

• OBC candidate must upload

• • • • •

•

caste certificate according to the GoI format. (State BC certification won’t be regarded as proof of OBC) Applications submitted under OBC category with no valid OBC certification will be rejected and no additional correspondence will be entertained.

Please be aware of your Application Number for future reference.

An incomplete application form will be rejected.

The application form will be considered complete only on receipt of the prescribed fees.

Fees once paid won’t be reimbursed under any conditions.

No info will be altered in the application form once it’s submitted. Change of Name, Category, Centre, Course and Subject Won’t be considered.

Please enter your name strictly in accordance with the SSC (certification ) only.

Should you want some help, phone: 040-23132444 OR email us entrance@uohyd.ernet.in Important Info: Hall Tickets information to short-listed applicants for interview and selected/wait-listed candidates will only be notified in site. It’s the responsibility of the applicants to check the University website for downloading the Hall Tickets, results and the applicable formats necessary for admission.

Application Fees: General / EWS: Rs.550/-; OBC: Rs.350/-; SC/ST/ PWD(PH): Rs 250/-.

Fees once paid won’t be reimbursed The way to pay the Fees: After filling the online application form, the candidate may pay the fees immediately utilizing ONLINE Payment Gateway link provided on the form.

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No info in the online application is going to be changed.

No individual communication will be sent to the candidate. Each of the result notifications will be posted only on this web site and consequently, candidates are advised to go to this website from time to time.

For any further information contact : 040-2313 2444 / 040-2313 2102 Please send email for further enquiries: entrance@uohyd.ernet.in / acadinfo@uohyd.ernet.in / drae@ uohyd.ac.in Important Dates: • Online Application start date: 01-04-2019 • Last date for submitting the Online Application: 03-05-2019 • Downloading of Hall Tickets from: 20-05-2019 • Dates of Entrance Examinations: 27-05-2019 to 31-05-2019

IISER Admission 2019 – BS-MS (Dual-Degree) Programme 2019

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he official announcement for the IISER Admission 2019 to the BS and BS-MS Dual-Degree Programme 2019 Admissions has been made. Interested applicants can check out all of the details regarding the programme, the key features, the scholarships, the application procedures and more below: Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research Berhampur, Bhopal, Kolkata, Mohali, Pune, Thiruvananthapuram, Tirupati Autonomous Institutions under MHRD, Govt. of India Admissions to BS-MS (Dual-Degree) Programme 2019 The Government of India has created IISERs at Berhampur, Bhopal, Kolkata, Mohali, Pune, Thiruvananthapuram and Tirupati to incorporate and encourage interdisciplinary science education and research. Through time IISERs have been successfully attracting talented young minds. An overarching objective of this IISERs is to enable students to shape the country by devising and implementing sustainable solutions for social issues through research in sciences.

This is being accomplished by our faculty of global repute together with bright students. In a brief period of time IISERs have generated an unbe-

lievable number of intellectual property in the form of publications and patents.

To encourage high-quality science education, research, and training, Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India, has established seven Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) at Berhampur, Bhopal, Kolkata, Mohali, Pune, Thiruvananthapuram, and Tirupati.

DEGREE PROGRAMMES: BS* and BS-MS Dual Degree Program

dustries.

• Five-year dual degree program for highly motivated science students.

• Classroom learning integrated with research providing ample scope for interdisciplinary interactions.

• Curriculum having a focus on both the breadth and depth in sciences; engineering economics and sciences’.

• Opportunity to pursue impactful research.

• Entirely residential program with well-equipped hostels.

• Accessibility to on-campus medical, sports and other recreational facilities

It’s a five-year degree program for bright and motivated science students who’ve passed a class 10+2 or equivalent. Most IISERs Provide BS-MS (Dual Degree) in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics. Earth and Environmental Sciences is available at select IISERs. For information please see the web site of individual IISERs. The BS-MS program integrates classroom learning with research and gives ample scope for multidisciplinary interactions. The program includes core courses in fundamental sciences and specialization in select- *Four-year BS program in Engied subjects alongside an MS research neering Sciences and Economics project. The training in this program only at IISER Bhopal. empowers students to pursue careers in academia, R&D institutes, and in-

Moreover, IISER Bhopal provides four year BS programmes in Economics and Engineering Sciences.

Mathematics at 10+2 level is compulsory for applicants seeking admission to these two BS programmes.

Eligibility Criteria* Candidates that have passed (in 2018 or 2019) and are placed in the top 20 percentile of their class XII board/equivalent examination in science streams are eligible for admission through one or more of these channels: • Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY): Students with a valid KVPY fellowship commencing 201920 academic sessions.

• HT-JEE (Advanced): Students pro-

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curing an IIT JEE (Advanced) 2019 rank up to 10000.

• State and Central Board (SCB): Students with marks equivalent to or above the cut-off marks in class XII board exams, as specified on www. iiseradmission.in/eligibility. Students applying through SCB channel will need to qualify the IISER Aptitude Test (IAT). IAT 2019 will be computer-based and will be tentatively conducted during June 2019. A mock evaluation is available on the IISER admission site.

The government of India rules for seat reservation in Central Institutes of higher education will be followed For further details please visit IISER Admission website www.iiseradmission.in

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Scholarship: • KVPY scholars admitted to IISERs would draw fellowship according to KVPY norms.

• Additionally, a restricted number of INSPIRE scholarships will be available for applicants admitted through JEE Advanced and SCB channel as applicable according to the standards prescribed

by DST INSPIRE scheme. This supersedes all before announcements regarding scholarship.

Key Characteristics:

•

• • • • •

class research centers right from the onset of the program.

Research internships plus also a yearlong research project resulting in a MS thesis with opportunities for interdisciplinary research.

Upcoming eco-friendly green campuses with appropriate infrastructure Library with online resources, books, and research journals State of the art teaching and research facilities Sports and recreational facilities Hostel facility for all students

• Highly motivated and capable Application Instructions – Portal faculty in a variety of fields with Open NOW a passion for science • Integrated undergraduate teach- • Applications for admission ing with cutting-edge research should be submitted on line only across disciplines at www.iiseradmission.in/apply • Exposure and access to world • Please follow the instructions for

completing the application form along with other relevant particulars (available on the site ).

Please proceed through the FAQ section on the site carefully before filling up the form.

• There’s a non-refundable application fee of Rs. 2000 (Rs. 1000 for both SC/ST and PD applicants ) Contact: All inquiries must be directed to Chairperson, Joint Admissions Committee 2019 Phone: +91 75S 269 2S00 (10 AM to 1 PM on working days) Email: ask-jac2019@iiserb.ac.in Website: www.iiseradmission.in

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April 9th, 2019 Vol. 03 NO 73

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IIT Indore Biosciences PhD Admissions 2019

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he official notification for the PhD Bioscience & Bioengineering Admission 2019 at IIT Indore has been released. Interested and eligible candidates can check out the IIT Indore PhD Biosciences & Bioengineering Admissions 2019 details, application procedure and more below: IITI/Acad/PhD Admissions/2019 Applications are invited from highly motivated and research-oriented applicants for admission to the PhD Program in these specializations of different disciplines according to the below-mentioned categories of entrance and time schedule. Applicants are advised to stop by the profiles of their faculty members in the respective discipline web page, and the ad uploaded by each discipline, before applying for PhD Program.

Applicants are selected for admission to PhD programs via a strict evaluation process including an interview with a selection committee and only application doesn’t imply admission into the PhD program.

Prior to making arrangements for paying the non-refundable application fee, please verify your eligibility by checking the MEQ and QE necessities of the discipline to which you would like to apply.

Admission Categories: For Indian Students • FA (Fellowship Awardee): Fellowship Awardees from the funding agencies like CSIR, UGC, NBHM, DST etc., OR JRF/ SRF project staff working in a sponsored research project under a faculty member, PI of this project, of IIT Indore. The scholarship will be according to the rules of the concerned funding agency.

• TA (Teaching Assistantship): Institute Teaching Assistantship with scholarship According to MHRD guidelines.

• SW (Sponsored WITHOUT Institute scholarship): For applicants sponsored by an extremely reputed R & D organization or Business. [After completion of required course work, either on Total Time (SWF) or Part Time (SWP) basis, with the approval of the competent authority] (Ad-

ditional Rules) • S (Institute Staff): Just for regular staff members of IIT Indore (or Part Time basis). (Additional Rules) • DF (Defense Forces): Serving employees of defense forces with no scholarship from the Institute. (Added Rules) • CT (College Teacher): Permanent Employee of the sponsoring College/Institute/University WITHOUT any scholarship in Four-year Bachelors’ degree OR a the Institute. (Added Rules) five-year integrated degree in the relevant discipline of engineering (with Applicants under IS, DF, SW and first division according to the awardCT categories Have to send follow- ing Institute/ University) AND valid ing documents in original, Together GATE eligibility, with a replica of the application form to the Office of Dean, Academic Af- OR fairs. But copies of those documents must also be sent or to be produced Masters’ degree in the relevant distogether with the original applica- cipline of Science (with First division tion form as required by the various according to the awarding Institute/ discipline.

University) AND Valid GATE eligibility OR UGC/CSIR-JRF eligibility • Form for Sponsorship letter for OR Equivalent Fellowship. applicants under IS, SW and DF category OR • Form for NOC for applicants under IS, SW and DF category Masters’ degree in the relevant disci• Form for selecting a Co-Super- pline of Science (with initial division visor from an External or Spon- according to the awarding Institute/ soring Organization (if required) University) with UGC-NET (Lectur• Form to your employer for the ership) AND valid GATE eligibility. candidates joining PG or PhD program on study leave under Minimum Educational QualificaSW and DF category tions (MEQs) and Qualifying Exam• Form for No Objec- ination (QE) for International applition-cum-Sponsoring-Expe- cants rience Certification from the Sponsoring University College MEQ: Masters’ degree in the appliInstitution for PhD Applicant cable discipline (with first Division under CT category as defined by the Awarding Institute/ University) Applicants must apply through the online portal http://academic.iiti. QE: Valid GRE and TOEFL eligibilac.in/. to learn more, please refer to ity OR Valid GATE eligibility discipline specific advertising and deadlines (for online submission) cit- Application Fee: ed below.

• For Indian applicants: 100/IndiDisciplines of Engineering – Bioan Rupees (non refundable ) to sciences and Biomedical Engineering be paid through State Bank Col(BSBE) lect. Click here for Payment Minimum Educational Qualifica- • For International application: tions (MEQs) and Qualifying ExamPayment of application fee of US ination (QE) for Indian applicants $30 (non refundable ) via RTGS Click here for account details Masters’ degree in the relevant discipline of Engineering/ Technology Application Procedure [for Indian (with first division according to the Applicants]: awarding Institute/ University) AND GATE eligibility, • Applicants should apply ONLINE via our site (http://academOR

ic.iiti.ac.in/). A unique application number will be assigned for every candidate.

• After submitting the application on line, the qualified applicant must bring the signed hard-copy of this application along with State Bank Collect receipt, recent picture, self- attested copy of the certifications that are applicable, added forms Appendix-I into IV (such as SW/ IS/ DF applicants alongside last 3 months salary slip and Employer’s PAN card) in the time of Written Test / Interview.

• If an candidate wants to apply in more than 1 discipline then the separate application has to be filled for every discipline.

Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering // Dr Kiran Bala // admission-bsbe@iiti.ac.in For any queries please contact: Ph.D. Admission Cell, Room no. 302, Chromium Building Indian Institute of Technology Indore Simrol Campus, Khandwa Road , P.O. Simrol, Indore-453552, Madhya Pradesh, India Contact no. +91-7324-306733 Email: phdadmission@iiti.ac.in

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April 9th, 2019 Vol. 03 NO 73

PhD Admission 2019 @ Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB)

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hD admission 2019 at RCB – Regional Centre for Biotechnology. Regional Centre for Biotechnology has announced the official notification for PhD 2019 Session.

MSc/MTech in any branch of Life Sciences/ MPharma/ MVSc/ MBBS or an equivalent degree. candidates are eligible to apply for RCB 2019 PhD Admissions: The Institution: Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB) is an institution of national importance, created by an Act of Parliament, established by Government of India through the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) under the auspices of UNESCO. RCB has emerged as a pioneering institute for research in Biotechnology and is defining new horizons in providing world-class education, research and training at the interface of multiple disciplines for the benefit of mankind. RCB has a solid commitment to exploring new frontiers, furthering science and connecting revolutionary areas of Biotechnology through cutting edge research. The Centre boasts of this state-of-the-art research laboratories at par with the international criteria.

RCB is also establishing a Bio-incubator in association with BIRAC that links promising research outcomes to commercialization by nurturing technology development in the broad area of biopharmaceuticals.

The Doctoral Degree Program: The Centre offers a doctoral program resulting in the award of the PhD degree to students holding a post-graduate degree (or an equivalent) in any field of Science, medicine, or technology. The chosen students are expected to undergo coursework followed by research resulting in a doctoral thesis under the mentorship of its own faculty. The program is suited to applicants having interest to work in the interface of multiple disciplines in the areas associated (but not restricted ) to structural systems, synthetic and chemical biology, virology, plant biotechnology, molecular medicine, analysis of complex diseases, drug discovery plans. The details of the variety of research programs at RCB can be viewed on our site (www.rcb. res.in).

Eligibility Criteria: I. Qualifications: MSc/MTech in any branch of Life Sciences or an equal degree. ii. Qualifying Marks: 60% aggregate score or equal grade in the qualifying degree examination (5% comfort for SC/ST/OBC allowed according to the GoI standards ). iii. No of seats: Twenty Five (25) iv. Reservation of seats: According to the GoI guidelines. the time of admission, refundav. Along with the above, applicants ble) must have qualified any of the fol- • Thesis Examination Fees: Rs. lowing examinations and maintain a 10000 (at the time of submission legitimate fellowship offer in the time of thesis) of interview like.

• Joint CSIR-UGC test for Junior The student admitted to the PhD Research Fellowship (CSIR/UGC programme will have to pay the folJRF) lowing fees: • Innovation in science Pursuit for Hostel charges will be applicable in Inspired Research (DST-INSPIRE) case availing hostel facility.

• DBT Junior Research Fellowship (DBT-JRF) • ICMR Junior Research Fellowship (ICMR-JRF) • Any other nationally-competitive fellowship Provided by the Government

Application Fee Rs.500/- (to be submitted in continuation with the online form) The last date of submitting online applications is May 20, 2019.

For any queries, please write to registar@rcb.res.in

Selection Procedure: The applications in an online format as per link below and on submission of an application fee of Rs.500/-, received by the due date will be scrutinized for eligibility. Eligible candidates Will be called for a written test followed by an interview of the short-listed candidates during 20-1 June 2019.

Fellowship: The students admitted to the programme will Need to avail the fellowship for which they’ve Qualified according to the rules of the financing agency. RCB will have no financial obligation regarding The same.

Fees: The student admitted to the PhD programme will have to pay the following fees: • Laboratory Fees: Rs. 6000 per semester • Academic Administration Fees: Rs. 5000 per semester • Medical Fees: Rs. 3000 per semester • Student Amenities Fees: Rs. 1000 per semester • Caution Fees: Rs. 5000 (once, at

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Life Sciences Admissions 2019 – 2020 @ Pondicherry University

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he official notification for the Pondicherry University School of Life Sciences Admissions 2019. The Depts involved are Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Centre for Genomic Science, Biotechnology, Food Science and Technology & Centre for Bioinformatics. Check out all of the details on the same below: SCHOOL OF LIFE SCIENCES DEAN: PROF. P.P. MATHUR Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department of Microbiology Centre for Genomic Science Department of Biotechnology Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Department of Ocean Studies and Marine Biology Department of Food Science and Technology Centre for Bioinformatics Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology/ Programmes of Study M.Sc. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology PhD Biochemistry & Molecular Biology ENTRANCE EXAMINATION Selection of students for the M. Sc. and PhD Programs is based on the National Level Entrance Examination conducted by the Pondicherry University at various centres in the country. The test consists of 100 multiple choice questions in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Zoology, Botany, Chemistry, Biophysics, Microbiology, Genetics, Physiology and allied areas at B.Sc level for admission of M.Sc Programme, and M.Sc level for entry to PhD. Programme.

Thrust Areas of Research • Reproductive Endocrinology, Toxicology • Microbial Biochemistry & Biotechnology • Nanomedicine, Liver Regeneration • Natural Principles, Cell Signaling, Degenerative diseases Cancer, Diabetes, Parkinson’ s, Alzhemier’s, Heart and Liver diseases

• Phytomedicine • Gene delivery –Targeted therapy, Nano Oncology • Tumorigenesis & Cell Signaling • DNA Damage Response, DNA Repair • Cellular & Molecular Neuroscience • Endocrinology & Ageing Biochemistry • Sensorineural Degeneration and Cell Therapeutics; Retinal Biology Department of Microbiology/Programmes of Study M.Sc. Microbiology PhD Microbiology ENTRANCE EXAMINATION • M.Sc. Microbiology: The selection of students is based on All India entrance examination. The question paper will consist of 100 multiple choice questions testing the basic knowledge of the students in general and applied microbiology, biochemistry, cell and molecular biology and genetic engineering • PhD Microbiology: For admission to the PhD program, UGC/ CSIR- NET qualified students are directly admitted to the program. Students can join the PhD Program based on merit as per list prepared following the National Level Entrance Examination conducted by Pondicherry University and are entitled to receive the University Fellowship. Research Fellows selected in Research Projects who are desirous to register for PhD have to appear for the Entrance Examination.

Thrust Areas of Research The faculty members are actively engaged in research and published papers in international impact journals.

Various funded projects by UGC, DST-SERB, DBT, DST Indo-Ireland and CSIR are being implemented in Department of Microbiology. Based on the expertise of the faculty, the following thrust area of research are being promoted in the Department of Microbiology: • Metagenomics and Microbial Bioprospecting.

• Fungal Genetics and Mycotoxicology • Microbial Biocatalysis and Drug Discovery • Enzyme Technology • Host-Pathogen interaction Department of Genomic Science/ Programmes of Study M.Sc. Genomic Science (Self-Financed Course) ENTRANCE EXAMINATION M.Sc. Genomic Science: The selection of students is based on All India entrance examination. The question paper will consist of objective type based 100 multiple choice questions.

The questions will test the basic knowledge of the students in fundamentals of biology, basic science, biochemistry, cell and molecular biology and genetic engineering.

Department of Biotechnology/ Programmes of Study M.Sc. Biotechnology PhD Biotechnology (Full-time) PG-Diploma in Biotechnology (Add on course)

5,000/- p.m. Twenty students are admitted under self financing mode (Rs. 1,00,000/- per year) based on merit in the Entrance Examination conducted by the Pondicherry University.

• PhD Biotechnology (Full-time): The Department offers a fulltime Ph.D. programme for which students are admitted through All India entrance examination conducted by the University.

The number of students to be admitted for Ph.D. is decided on the basis of requirement and the number of vacancies available in the Department. The students admitted for Ph. D. programme through University Entrance Examination are offered a stipend of Rs. 8,000/- per month for a period of three years. Those with JRF-NET (CSIR/UGC/DBT/ ICMR) are exempted from appearing in the entrance examination.

• PG-Diploma in Biotechnology (Add-on course): This is of two semester course offered during evening hours to students.

Twenty Students are admitted based on merit in the qualifying examination and the reservation is given as per University norms.

ENTRANCE EXAMINATION

Thrust Areas of Research

• M. Sc. Biotechnology: Twenty Nine students are admitted based on merit through the DBT-JNU All India Entrance Examination(CEEB) conducted by Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Additionally, 2 top ranking students from among those who are natives of Union Territory of Puducherry (appeared in CEEB and qualified with cut off mark) are also admitted. All the students admitted to M.Sc. Biotechnology programme through DBT-JNU entrance examination are given a fellowship @ Rs.

• Drug discovery from microbes, plants and animals.

• Nucleic acid of plant pathogens • Probiotics for disease control in fish, shrimp, poultry and cancer.

• Plant genomics and Genetic engineering of crop plants • Nosocomial infections; Bacterial pathogens; Host – pathogen interaction; Quorum sensing • Stem Cell Biology

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• Biological Nanomaterials • Epigenetics and Protein Engineering • Chemical Biology Department of Food Science And Technology/Programmes of Study M. Sc. Food Science and Nutrition M. Sc. Food Science and Technology PhD Food Science and Nutrition(Full time) PhD Food Science and Technology(Full time) ENTRANCE EXAMINATION • M.Sc. and PhD in Food Science and Nutrition: The question paper will consists of 100 Multiple Choice Questions in Human physiology, Food Microbiology, Biochemistry, Food Science, Nutrition, Dietetics and allied areas.

• M.Sc. and PhD in Food Science and Technology: The question paper will consists of 100 Multiple Choice Questions in Basic Mathematics, Food Microbiology, Biochemistry, Food Science, Food Process Engineering, Agricultural Engineering and allied areas Thrust Areas of Research Food product development by using Novel Processing Techniques, Development of gadgets/ machineries for the Food Processing, Isolation and Characterization of Bioactive Phytochemicals, Safety Assurance of Food, Novel Food Products based on Functional Starter Cultures, Fermented Foods and Starter Culture and Meat Processing.

Centre for Bioinformatics/Programmes of Study

University. The details will be advertised in newspapers and will be available at www.pondiuni.edu.in, www. bicpu. edu.in and www.annauniv.edu.

The test consists of multiple choice questions in Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Biophysics, Computer Science, Statistics and Mathematics.

A stipend of Rs. 12,500/- p.m. will be provided by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, New Delhi for all the students admitted. PhD in Bioinformatics: Selection is based on an entrance examination conducted at various Centres

by Pondicherry University. The test consists of multiple choice questions in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology,Biotechnology, Chemistry, Bio physics, Computer Science, Statistics and Mathematics at PG level. Candidates who have qualified for JRF (UGC / CSIR-NET / DBT-BINC) are exempted from entrance exam. They can apply directly. The University has signed an MoU with Institute of Bioinformatics (IoB), Bangalore for collaborative research and Ph.D. guidance. Selected candidates can also work at IoB on collaborative projects Thrust Areas of Research Molecular Evolution, Systems Biology, DNA-Protein Interactions, Comparative Genomics, Protein Structure Modeling, Molecular modeling, X-ray Crystallography, Drug Design, Cell Signaling, Single particle analysis, Medicinal Chemistry, Computational Biology, Molecular Biology.

The application fee for NRI and Overseas Candidates is US$100 (i.e Rs. 7100 in equivalent Indian currency).

How to Apply:

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PRE-REQUISITES:

Before starting Registration of Online Application please ensure availa- HOW TO APPLY FOR REGISbility of the following: TRATION • Read Prospectus 2019-20, Instructions and other details thoroughly and carefully.

• A virus free computer with good Internet connectivity.

• Required Educational qualification details.

• Scanned colour passport photo of size 20Kb-60Kb for uploading • Scanned Signature of Applicant of size 10Kb-30K for uploading • Scanned copy of Community Certificate, if applicant belongs to SC/ST category • Scanned copy of Disability Certificate, if applicant is physically disabled • Scanned copy of relevant certificate from Govt. Medical officer/ RMO, if applicant isTransgender.

• Valid e-mail id of Applicant to be used for all Admission related correspondences • Valid mobile number for sending SMS • Valid Credit / Debit Card/ Net Banking Account needed for online payment of Application Fee. Note:

• Registration: • First time, enter as ‘New User’ • Fill in the New User Sign Up form • On submission, a unique User Id and Password will be generated and sent to Email and Mobile No. provided.

• Thereafter, login as Registered Candidate using this User Id and Password.

• Change your password at 1st Login.

• Enter Personal details, Academic Details, Experience Details (if any) and Upload Photo, Signature and Documents wherever required.

• Apply for Programme(s): • Select Programme and Specialization, fill other details and proceed for Payment.

• Payment and Submission of Application:Payment can be made only by online mode • Online • Select Credit card/Debit card/ Net Bankingfor online payment • If successful, a confirmation e-mail and SMS will be sent

Note: Request for Change of Category/Entrance Exam Centres after • Candidates can apply for more submission of Application shall not than one Programme. Refer En- be entertained /considered under any trance Exam Time Table and circumstances. avoid conflict of Entrance Exam Date and Slot, while applying • Online Registration Starts on: for more thanone programme 22nd March 2019 • University will not be responsi- • Last Date for Online Registrable for any overlap, if the candition: 22nd April 2019 date could not take the Entrance • Dates of Entrance Examination: Exam for the particular Pro7th, 8th & 9th June 2019 gramme(s). It is the candidate

M.Sc. Bioinformatics M.Tech. Computational Biology Ph.D. Bioinformatics ENTRANCE EXAMINATION M.Sc. Bioinformatics: Selection is based on an entrance examination conducted at various Centres

by Pondicherry University. The test consists of multiple choice questions in Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Biophysics, Computer Science, Statistics and Mathematics.

M.Tech. Computational Biology: Selection will be based on a common entrance examination to be conducted at various Centres by Pondicherry

responsibility tochoose/ apply for multiple Programmes without clash of Exam Date and Slot.

*Subject to submission of relevant certificate. **Subject to submission of relevant certificate from Govt. Medical Officer.

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