Author: Biotech Express

International Bioprocessing Association (France) together with Henan Agriculture University China has instituted a living legend category award in the name of Prof Ashok Pandey. Award is known as Pandey award and has been conferred to four people (one from Australia, one from India and two from China) in its first edition. These were conferred on 3rd November 2019 at Zhengzhou China. Dr P Binod from CSIR-NIIST received it from India. IFIBiop networking forum results from the round table organised during the meeting ICBF-2004 (International Congres in Bioprocesses in Food industrues) which was held in Clermont-Ferrand, France. It aim is the…

Professor Ashok Pandey is currently Distinguished Scientist at CSIR-Indian Institute for Toxicology Research, Lucknow, India and Honorary Executive Director at the Centre for Energy and Environmental Sustainability- India. Formerly, he was Eminent Scientist at the Center of Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing, Mohali and Chief Scientist & Head of Biotechnology Division at CSIR’s National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology at Trivandrum. His major research and technological development interests are in industrial and environmental biotechnology, which span over biomass to fuels & chemicals, waste to wealth/energy, industrial enzymes, solid-state fermentation, etc. Professor Pandey has ~ 1275 publications/communications, which include 16 patents,…

In the article ”UNSUNG HEROES: the rise of Shantha Biotech, talk with Prof. Ramareddy Guntaka – the scientific brain behind the unparalleled success’’, published in October 2019 issue of Biotech Express Magazine, I tried to present the facts that how a big biotech company was built and made to run through the perspective of a scientist. When 82 years old Dr. Ramareddy V Guntaka approached me to do a story, I felt curious and went ahead to know more about the genesis of India’s first big biotech firm – the Shantha Biotech Ltd. and the pivotal role he played. So…

Abstract The use of chemical fertilizers to the crops is very serious issue which has adverse effects on the soil quality and also the environment. The biological approach must be used for the plant growth promotion. The actinomycetes were isolated from the rhizosphere soil samples of maize from Dhule district and College of Agriculture, Pune, India. The isolates were studied for plant growth promoting traits viz., chitinase activity, phosphate solubilisation, indole acetic acid production and antifungal activity. The effect of actinomycetes and also with addition of chitin was studied on the plant growth. The isolates showed chitinolytic activity and phosphate…

Abstract The transdermal drug delivery system (TDDS) has proved as one of the most promising method for new drug delivery system. To overcome the disadvantages associated with conventional dosage form, this area is an exciting and challenging field of pharmaceutical R & D. With transdermal drug delivery system one can deliver drugs through the skin to systemic circulation at a predetermined rate and maintain clinically effective concentration over prolonged period of time, taking advantage of passive transport method, diffusion. By the help of this advanced modern technology, through effective formulation, development and evaluation a large number of drugs can be…

In a paper ‘’Globalization and Health, Biomed Central 7: 9 (2011)’’ by Justin Chakma, Hassan Masum, Kumar Perampaladas, Jennifer Heys and Peter A Singer*, the authors interviewed Mr. Varaprasad Reddy (VR), MD, Shantha Biotechnics and more than 20 scientists and other employees. Not even once, the name of Prof. Guntaka was mentioned in this interview. Neither VR nor the scientists revealed the contribution of Guntaka, however he was Scientific Advisor of the company at that time. While casually browsing, Prof. Guntaka came across the above mentioned paper and  immediately sent an email to the Principal author Dr. Peter A Singer,…

India, the country of snake charmers has now reached to a prominent place in several global rankings, in Scientific research too, she occupies leading position. Recently, the database of retraction watch and pubpeer has got much attention worldwide, thousands of research papers and scientists’ name came into attention which either found guilty or are under investigation. These series of event motivated us to do an analysis on worldwide reporting of retraction and in this article, we are looking at the scientific misconduct cases around the globe, comparing Indian misconduct cases with scientific malpractices of other worldly scientists. The basis of…

NHBT-2019, an International conference focussing on recent developments on the frontier areas of Biotechnology, will bring together scientists, engineers and other experts from across the world to deliberate on global developments in the fields of Industrial Biotechnology, Medical Biotechnology, Energy Biosciences, Environmental Biotechnology and Food & Agriculture Biotechnology. It is planned as a major event to be held at Trivandrum during November 20-24, 2019 with the participation of a large number of active researchers from all over the world. The conference is envisaged to provide a unique platform to the participants from industries and academic institutions to share their thoughts…

Abstract The world has entered the era of technological overhaul and life keeps advancing by the emergence of novel technologies day-by-day. The wide insemination of technologies such as smart sensors, phones, mobile and integrated networking, miniaturization, automation and wearable’s enabling the implementation of IoT in every facet of life. The rising demand for attaining the sustainability necessitates the fast research and developments in every sector including the most diversified field that is biotechnology. The Internet of Things (IoT), one of the coveted areas in technological revolution carries tremendous potential for the transformation of biotechnological research, innovation and invention. Therefore, this…