CSIR

New collaboration for affordable COVID-19 drug 2-DG

New Delhi: Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), Hyderabad, a constituent laboratory of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi, and Nosch Labs entered into a non-exclusive agreement for the transfer of the process knowhow for the synthesis of anti-Covid-19 drug 2-DG (2-Deoxy -D -Glucose). 2-DG has been developed by the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS), New Delhi, a lab of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in collaboration with Hyderabad-based pharma company Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (DRL). Nosch Labs will commence manufacturing 2-DG drug after obtaining regulatory clearances from the Drugs Controller General of India…
Read More

New precision Iodine Value Analyzer gets recognition by FSSAI

New Delhi: In one of its initiatives to encourage the manufacturing industry in India, CSIR-Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO) had developed and transferred the technology of “Precision Iodine Value Analyzer (PIVA)”, an instrument for the measurement of the degree of unsaturation (Iodine Value) in vegetable oils. This indigenous food testing equipment – PIVA was recognized by FSSAI during World Food Safety Day. Conventionally, Iodine value is determined using manual titration, and few analytical instruments based on automated titration are also available in the market. However, these methods take longer analysis time, are costly, and use toxic chemicals. Researchers, at CSIR-CSIO,…
Read More

GIS-based mapping of microbial diversity of river Ganga

New Delhi: Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)’s Nagpur based constituent laboratory National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), has conducted Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping of Microbial Diversity of river Ganga. The study will reveal the identity of microbes that inhabit the river that help maintain the health of river as well as those that are now inhabitants that have been added due to anthropogenic activities, researchers said. The project of mapping the entire stretch of Ganga is funded by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), and is done by a selected team along with four other institutes,…
Read More

IIT Delhi to create new centre to boost research in optics and photonics

New Delhi: In order to take teaching, research, development, and innovation in different areas of optics and photonics to a higher level, while keeping a balance between classical and modern areas, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi will create a new centre named ‘Optics and Photonics Centre’. The Institute’s Board of Governors has given its approval to the creation of the new centre. Optics and photonics is the study of the fundamental properties of light and harnessing them in practical applications. To list a few, the areas covered under optics and photonics include Optical imaging, Optical metrology, Sources and detectors…
Read More

CSIR-CMERI transfers COVID related technologies for commercial production

New Delhi: Along with scientific and technology-based innovations, their commercial production is equally important. In a recent initiative, CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI), Durgapur, has transferred its COVID-related technologies to Sai Enviro Engineers Pvt Ltd (SEEPL), Tamil Nadu, Zen Medical Technologies Pvt Ltd, Telangana, and Trinity Microsystems Pvt Ltd, New Delhi respectively. CMERI is a constituent laboratory of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). COVID- related technologies transferred by CSIR-CMERI include Integrated Municipal Solid Waste Disposal System in modular form, Oxygen Enrichment Unit and Intelligent UVC LED Sterilizer Unit. Prof. (Dr) Harish Hirani, Director, CSIR-CMERI said “There…
Read More

Raw drug repository for medicinal herbs established in CSIR-NBRI

New Delhi: The National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), a Lucknow-based constituent laboratory of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), is known for its research and development related to various botanical disciplines. A broad spectrum of research activities is being conducted at CSIR-NBRI, which includes plant diversity, systematics and herbarium, pharmacognosy, phytochemistry, plant ecology, environmental technologies, molecular biology, biotechnology, plant genetic resources, plant conservation, and agro-technologies. As part of a new initiative, CSIR-NBRI has established a Raw Drug Repository in its Pharmacognosy Division. This repository is the first of its kind and has 2000 specimens of dried samples of…
Read More

Synthesis of agonist molecule by CSIR-IICT for COVAXIN

New Delhi: Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)’s constituent laboratories have been working relentlessly in partnership with industry to launch repurposed drugs through process development and conducting clinical trials. CSIR labs have also extensively contributed towards the launching of diagnostic kits including Feluda and Dry Swab Direct RT-PCR method for the screening of SARS-CoV-2. The indigenous vaccine for COVID-19, COVAXIN,developed by Hyderabad based Bharat Biotech, is a highly purified, whole virion, inactivated SARS-CoV2. The vaccine is formulated with Algel-IMDG, which contains chemisorbed TLR7/8 agonist onto aluminium hydroxide gel to generate the requisite type of immune responses. Owing to the…
Read More

Remembering the architect of modern biology and biotechnology in India

New Delhi: Council of Scientific &Industrial Research (CSIR)’s Hyderabad-based constituent laboratory Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CSIR-CCMB)recently celebrated its founder's day event commemorating the 93rd birth anniversary of its founder-director, Dr. Pushpa Mittra Bhargava. Dr. Pushpa Mittra Bhargava (22 February 1928 – 1 August 2017) was an Indian scientist, writer, and administrator. He founded the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), a premier research institute. Dr. Bhargava was a major architect of modern biology and biotechnology in India and a firm believer in the amalgamation of art and science in life. He was a proponent of good scientific…
Read More

Gates Foundation and CSIR to promote health research

  New Delhi :  Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support the development, conduct and promotion of health research in India. Gates Foundation and CSIR will work together to identify opportunities to initiate scientific and technological collaborations. These will focus on developing and testing new preventions, therapies and interventions that can help to solve major health concerns that affect India and other developing countries.  Areas of research collaboration would include genetic diseases that impact infant and neonatal mortality; new diagnostics and devices for infectious disease…
Read More
International Science Film Festival of India comes to close

International Science Film Festival of India comes to close

New Delhi : A total of 20 films have bagged awards at the International Science Film Festival of India (ISFFI) 2020, which was held as part of the sixth India International Science Festival 2020 held from December 22-25. Six films bagged the awards for the international categories and 14 for the national categories. In the international categories, the award winners include a film in English titled `The Insect Rescuer’, produced by ZDF and directed by Andreas Ewels of Germany (Best of Festival Award on the theme “Science for self-reliant India and/or Science for global welfare”); and a film in Persian…
Read More