Watch RGCB-the slide show - Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology

STAFF STAFF STRENGTH 

Staff Scientists 24 

Technical Staff30 

Administration 11 

Support Staff 10 

TOTAL 77 

PhD Students 84 

Res. Fellows 59 

Res. Associates 4 

RAJIV GANDHI CENTRE FOR 

BIOTECHNOLOGY 

RANKED AMONG INDIA’S TOP THREE 

BIOTECHNOLOGY SCHOOL 

(Survey by Biospectrum, Jan 2006 & Jan 2007)

November 18, 1995: Foundation Stone of Rajiv Gandhi Centre For 

Biotechnology laid by the then Prime Minster of India, Sri. P.V. 

Narasimha Rao

November 18, 2002 

RGCB dedicated to the nation 

by His Excellency, The 

President of India, 

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam

RAJIV GANDHI CENTRE FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY 

February 28, 2006: Hon. Union Finance Minister announces in Budget 

Speech that RGCB will be made an autonomous institute under the 

Ministry of Science & Technology. 

May 25, 2006: Dept. of Biotechnology, Govt. of India writes to Govt. of 

Kerala asking proceedings to begin for take over. 

February 8, 2007 : Govt. of Kerala issues Government Order handing 

over RGCB to Dept. of Biotechnology, Govt. of India. 

August 2 2007 : Union Cabinet chaired by Hon. Prime Minister 

announces take over of RGCB as a national institute under Ministry of 

Science & Technology (Dept. of Biotechnology) with effect from April 1, 

2007.

FROM APRIL 1, 2007, RGCB COMPLETELY FUNDED BY 

DEPT. OF BIOTECHNOLOGY, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA 

JUNE 19, 2008 

RGCB REGISTERED AS AN AUTONOMOUS INSTITUTE 

UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY, GOVT. 

OF INDIA (Under the Central Societies Registration Act of 1855)

OUR REAL TRYST WITH DESTINY: 

THE RGCB VISION 

� To be an international hub of biotechnology, 

providing the right combination of research & 

development with the dedication, transparency and 

creativity of a truly academic research center 

combined with the power of innovation, IPR driven 

programs and business transformation to deliver 

discovery for India. 

� Produce another highly profitable and critical spin 

off – highly trained manpower.


DISEASE BIOLOGY AND 

MOLECULAR MEDICINE CLUSTERS 

• CANCER RESEARCH 

• CARDIOVASCULAR BIOLOGY 

• CHEMICAL BIOLOGY 

• MYCOBACTERIA RESEARCH GROUP 

• MOLECULAR REPRODUCTION 

• CHOLERA & ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY 

• MOLECULAR HUMAN GENETICS 

• MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY 

• MOLECULAR VIROLOGY 

INSTITUTE MISSION 

PROGRAMS 

• Natural Compounds based 

drug discovery 

• Cancer Biomarkers & Vaccines 

• Emerging Viral Infections 

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT 

PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY AND 

DISCOVERY CLUSTERS 

• SPICE GENOMICS 

• BIOPROSPECTING AND 

MOLECULAR PHARMACOLOGY 

• NUTRACEUTICAL DEVELOPMENT, 

ENGINEERING AND VALIDATION 

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT 

INCUBATORS 

• Molecular Diagnostics 

• Health & Clinical Informatics

INTEGRATED CANCER RESEARCH 

PROGRAM 

� TRANSLATIONAL CANCER RESEARCH & 

SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY 

� MOLECULAR CARCINOGENESIS & 

CHEMOPREVENTION 

� MOLECULAR THERAPEUTICS 

� APOPTOSIS & CELL SIGNALLING 

� CYTOSKELETAL RESEARCH 

� CANCER ENDOCRINOLOGY

DISEASE BIOLOGY & MOLECULAR MEDICINE : 

Taking Research from Laboratory to Clinic 

CANCER RESEARCH 

Cervical Cancer : one quarter of the global burden is borne by 

Indian women; every five minutes a woman dies of cervical cancer. 

Primary cause: Human papillomavirus 

DBT’s Multi Centric Cervical Cancer Program (Delhi, Vellore, 

Bangalore, Kolkatta and Mumbai) 

�Patterns of HPV infection in all geographical regions mapped. 

�First Indian Diagnostic Kit developed and transferred to 

Industry.




Breast Cancer : Most common female cancer in all Metros and 

Thiruvananthapuram. 

Primary cause: Life style, Genetics 

RGCB in Breast Cancer Research 

�Biomarkers for early detection. 

�Development of specific targeted drug candidates for familial breast 

cancer. 

�Improvements in treatment by identifying tumor stem or primitive 

cancer cells during diagnosis and surgery. 

�Screening natural compounds for inhibiting hormones causing 

breast cancer.




Drug development from Kerala’s traditional medicine & 

biodiversity resources 

�Developed transgenic cell lines for rapid and large scale testing of 

natural compounds for anti cancer activity – RGCB’s unique 

technique – patented technology. 

�Engineering tumor stem like cells for high throughput screening 

platforms

Cytochrome C EGFP 

Mito DsRed 

Merged 

Control Drug treated 


Taking Research from 

Laboratory to Clinic 

Treated Untreated

� Synthesized an anti tubulin chemical compound – patented 

and being further developed. 

� Natural compounds for Liver Disease : Kerala has one of the 

highest per capita consumption of alcohol and therefore of 

alcoholic liver disease. Active ingredients from traditional 

medicines sources identified, isolated and characterized



REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RESEARCH AT RGCB 

� Identify and Validate Novel Contraceptive Targets and 

develop immuno-contraceptives based on gamete- specific 

antigens. 

� Identify molecular markers of human infertility. Define the 

genetic risk of human male infertility becoming heritable 

� Develop Contraceptive Methods with Other Benefits 

(antiviral and/or antimicrobial properties)



TUBERCULOSIS 

� India has one of the highest incidences of TB in the world. 

Most TB’s associated with AIDS are drug resistant. 

� Fingerprinting TB causing bacteria using to determine drug 

resistance ; critical in effective management of TB. 

TB causing bacteria in Kerala are 

very difficult to fingerprint and 

identify because they lack the 

standard marker gene.

M i c r % Reuction o b i of a resazurin l G Dye r o w t h 

140 

120 

100 

80 

60 

40 

20 

0 

Ethyl p-methoxycinnamate: an Anti-TB lead compound. 

Source: Kaempferia galanga – a herb used in traditional 

medicine for TB 

Specifically inhibits M. tuberculosis 

C Ec Ll Ca Ms Mt 

control E. coli L. leischmannii C. albicans M. smegmatis M.tb Rv 

H 3 CO 

MIC 90 = 250μg/ml 

Chemical Modifications 

in progress. 

C- Control, Ec- Escherichia coli, Ll- Lactobacillus leichmannii, Ca- Candida albicans, 

Ms- Mycobacterium smegmatis, Mt- Mycobacterium tuberculosis.



GENETICS OF DISEASE 

Kerala, in the eye of anthropologists, is “an ethnological museum” with 

several easily recognizable racial strains, a cross section of which has 

practiced consanguineous marriage. 

Assessment of genetic variability in ethnic communities and search for 

predisposing genetic factors for various chronic diseases such as 

diabetes and cancer. 

Role of pharmacogenetics in assessing drug responses in various 

populations.



DENGUE AND CHIKUNGUNYA 

“New test helps tackle India's chikungunya 

outbreaks” 

� Simultaneous detection of dengue and chikungunya 

viruses – developed and tested by RGCB in the 2006 

and 2007 epidemics in Kerala 

� Detection system to be transferred to Hindustan Latex 

Limited 

� Screening natural compounds for anti chikungunya and 

anti dengue activity



DEVELOPING NEW ANTIMICROBIALS & 

NANOTECHNOLOGY FOR DRUG DELIVERY 

�Animals such as Frogs have powerful anti bacterial and 

anti viral factors on their skin (for natural protection). 

�Kerala has a large diverse and rare frogs. 

�Isolation and characterization of anti bacterial compounds f 

from frog’s skins. 

�Synthesis of these compounds in large amounts for 

commercial use. 

�Developing powerful nano level polymers to carry such 

compounds for specific delivery



DEVELOPING NEW STRATEGIES FOR 

BLINDNESS AND BRAIN DAMAGE 

�Developed a model based on excitotoxicity for brain cell damage 

�Model can measure biochemical events occurring in brain 

during damage (strokes, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, etc) 

�Model used to look for protective drugs and compounds (such as 

Brahmi) 

�Stem cells – early undifferentiated primitive cells. Can be 

programmed to develop into other cell types such as brain cells 

and eye cells 

�Stem cells being programmed into brain cells for epilepsy and 

glaucoma

PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY & DISCOVERY : 

Taking Research from Laboratory to Farmer 

PRODUCING BETTER SPICES FOR INDIA 

�Ginger and Pepper : Major cash crops of India and the 

primary agricultural export from Kerala. 

�Production of ginger and pepper affected significantly by 

disease. 

�Disease resistant spices is of immense commercial value and 

better return to the farmer. 

RGCB’s major laboratory to farmer research program” 

�Gene prospecting from wild relatives for Genetic Engineering to 

create disease resistant ginger and pepper

SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY 

RGCB HAS NOT FORGOTTEN ITS COMMITMENT 

TO SOCIETY 

REGIONAL FACILITY FOR DNA FINGERPRINTING 

Caters to social & criminal justice systems 

RGCB is the only facility in the state 

REGIONAL FACILITY FOR MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS 

Provides sophisticated diagnostic facilities for viral diseases (such 

as Dengue, Chikungunya, Hepatitis), drug resistant TB, 

cardiovascular disease and cancer

SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY 

RGCB HAS NOT FORGOTTEN ITS COMMITMENT TO 

SOCIETY 

EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT 

RGCB provides training for over 300 MSc, MTech & BTech students 

every year. 

RGCB does regular teaching programs in Schools and colleges. 

Innovative competitive program for Class 8 and 9 students to do 

model science projects 

RGCB’s PhD program – one of the best in the country

RGCB RANKED AMONG INDIA’S TOP 3 

BIOTECHNOLOGY SCHOOL 2006 AND 2007 

AFTER A NATIONAL SURVEY 

RANKING PARAMETERS INCLUDED 

�FACULTY PER STUDENT 

�FACULTY QUALIFICATION 

�FACULTY EXPERIENCE 

�PUBLICATION RECORD 

�PATENTS GENERATED 

�INFRASTRUCTURE 

�LIBRARY 

�EXPENDITURE ON CONSUMABLES & EQUIPMENT 

�STUDENT FACILITIES 

�INDUSTRY INTERACTION 

�PLACEMENTS

SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS OF RGCB 

RCC-RGCB JOINT PROGRAM: Developed a safe cheap plant based 

anti-inflammatory and anti microbial mouthwash for controlling 

radiation associated mucositis (painful swelling of the gums and 

cheeks) in patients being treated with radiation therapy for oral 

cancer. 

�Excellent clinical results; Patent procedures in progress. 

�Announced in Parliament by Hon. Minister for Science & 

Technology

Developed precise sensitive & specific diagnostic techniques 

for infectious diseases such as Dengue fever, Chikungunya, 

Cholera and drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis and 

cancer 

Progress in the area of Bioprospecting, target identification 

and assay development in the drug discovery process against 

infectious diseases, reproductive disorders, cancer and 

neurological ailments. 

Developed novel transgenic cell based assays for 

screening compounds for anticancer, antiviral and 

neuroprotective activities. 

Developed successfully value addition to medicinal plants 

like Baccopa monniera (Brahmi) and Andrographis 

paniculata

Continued generation of high quality basic knowledge in the 

area of infectious diseases, cancer, molecular reproduction, 

plant molecular biology, neurobiology as evidenced by high 

impact publications. 

Service Facilities of Excellence for: 

� Molecular Diagnostics for infectious disease, cancer and 

cardiovascular disease. 

� DNA Finger printing to cater to social & criminal justice 

systems 

� DNA barcoding for plants and wildlife

Infrastructure and other facilities available at RGCB 

Over 150,000 square feet of prime laboratory space. 

Additional 50,000 square feet of space by December 2009 

State of the art equipments for modern biology research (including flow 

cytometers, real time PCR’s, MALDI TOF, Protein sequencer and synthesizer, 

46 capillary DNA sequencer, electron microscope, confocal microscopy, 

HPLCs, GC-MS, Pulse field gel systems besides all routine molecular biology 

equipments). 

Start up animal research facility and transgenic green house. 

RGCB has excellent on campus accommodation for its students and a state of 

the art convention center seating 300.

Business development and joint programs with industry 

RGCB has been the attraction of several industries for the 

validation and evaluation of their products both from India and 

abroad. Currently several bioactive compounds are undergoing 

their functional evaluation at RGCB. These include : 

Mediscien – Bioactive peptide development 

Strides-Arco – Human growth hormone functional 

evaluation 

Treeland – Monoclonal antibody production

RGCB-HINDUSTAN LATEX LIMITED 

(HLL) JOINT BUSINESS INCUBATOR FOR 

DIAGNOSTICS 

� RGCB will transfer its RT-PCR diagnostic systen 

for dengue and chickungunya (validated in 2007 

and 2008 outbreaks in Kerala) to HLL for the 

diagnostic facilities it plans to set up in all cities in 

the country. 

� RGCB and HLL will jointly develop in the 

incubator new ELISA and “point of care” 

diagnostic kits for dengue and chikungunya.

RGCB-KREARA SOLUTIONS: BUSINESS INCUBATOR 

SYNERGIES & LOGISTICS 

� 1200 Square foot of modular offices 

� High end servers and workstations 

� Biotechnology software licenses 

� State of the art laboratory 

equipments 

RGCB 

� Sequence analysis 

� Molecular Modeling 

� Molecular dynamics 

� Microarray data analysis 

� Clinical research 

� 2000 Square foot of modular 

offices 

� High end servers and workstations 

� SPSS, SAS and Visual Studio 2008 

� Strategically located in 

Technopark 

KREARA 

� Marketing presence in USA and EU 

� Clinical Data management 

� Biometric Services 

� Experienced team of SW engineers 

� Project management services

RGCB-KREARA SOLUTIONS: BUSINESS INCUBATOR 

Micro Array Data Processing 

Mutation Analysis 

Molecular Modeling 

Molecular Dynamics Simulations 

In Silico Clinical Trials

What should global communities expect from RGCB – 

Vision 2020 

A state of the art R&D discovery center with 

close physical and intellectual interaction with bio-pharma, 

biomedical and biotech industries through joint programs of 

development and incubator facilities – 

TRANSFORMING ITSELF INTO THE NUCLEUS OF A RGCB- BIO- 

DISCOVERY CENTER

RGCB – SECOND CAMPUS 

CURRENT CAMPUS LOCATED IN THE HEART OF CITY ON 

3 ACRES. NO LAND FOR EXPANSION 

RGCB SANCTIONED A CORE GRANT OF RUPEES 100 

CRORES TO IMPROVE ITS EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE 

TO BE UTILIZED OVER 3 YEARS 

FIRST INSTALMENT OF RUPEES 25 CRORES 

SANCTIONED 

12 ACRES OF LAND IDENTIFIED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH 

STATE DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIES 

SECOND INSTALMENT OF 30 ACRES PROMISED.

STRUCTURE OF THE SECOND CAMPUS 

RGCB BIODISCOVERY CLUSTER 

A Joint venture of RGCB with the Department of 

Industries, who will provide land and facilitate 

the entry of biotech and bipharma companies. 

RGCB will provide: 

� Anchor Research Institute 

� Biotech Test & Prove Platform 

� Business and Technology Development 

Incubators

RGCB SECOND CAMPUS: 

THE “ANCHOR” RESEARCH INSTITUTE 

FOCUS : INNOVATION & TRANSLATION 

NANO SCIENCE & 

ENGINEERING 

IN DISEASE MANAGEMENT 

CANCER VACCINES & 

IMMUNOLOGY 

INFECTIOUS & EMERGING 

VIRAL DISEASES (DENGUE, 

CHIKUNGUNYA, INFLUENZA & TB)

RGCB SECOND CAMPUS 

BIOTECH TEST & PROVE PLATFORM 

VISION 

� An advanced facility accredited to national and international 

agencies 

� For testing as per global standards and for pre-clinical 

evaluation of biotech products for human use 

� Facilitates bench-to-bedside transfer of newly discovered or 

indigenously developed biotech products and or processes. 

� The facility is essentially to assist individuals, small and midmidsized companies and R&D organizations and Universities 

engaged in research and development of biotech products 

and/or processes.

RGCB SECOND CAMPUS 

BIOTECH TEST & PROVE PLATFORM 

MISSION 

1. Characterization of purity and stability of new biotech 

products 

2. Quality testing of products (bioassays, chemical assays, 

immunological assays and molecular biological assays) 

3. Pharmacological testing including pharmacokinetic studies 

4. Safety assessment of biotech products including testing for 

absence of undesirable or contaminating microorganisms 

and sterility testing 

5. Toxicity testing in small animals such as mice, rats, rabbits 

and guinea pigs 

6. Modular production or manufacturing with Good 

Manufacturing Practice systems 

7. Bioinformatic support and patent search as well as patent 

filing

Thousands of Ideas 

One Mission 

Delivering Discovery for India 


Part of the Incredible India Family

VISION OF A STATESMAN 

“If we are going to restructure our society, it will 

be only possible if we have substantial achievements 

in areas of front-line technology” 

RAJIV GANDHI 

MISSION OF A NATIONAL INSTITUTE 

“Delivering Discovery for India” 

RAJIV GANDHI CENTRE 

FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY

Watch RGCB-the slide show - Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?