The Center for Biotechnology was established in the year 2000 with a basic intention of facilitating the initiation of young students in the field of medical biotechnology , by imparting them quality education and further training them to take up either a research career or get recruited in the relevant industry or hone the skills to become successful entrepreneur.



Mission

The mission of this Center is to provide impetus to the activity of knowledge acquisition and education of students in basic sciences and technological know-how associated with the field of medical biotechnology, and other relevant areas. The Center is committed for the purpose of accepting the world's great challenges, with others, and tackling these challenges by generating, applying and preserving knowledge. This Center is dedicated to combine stern academic study and the thrill of innovation. It desires to develop in each member of its family, not only the ability to work wisely, creatively and effectively for the betterment of humankind but also the passion for doing so. Today the Center for biotechnology is desirous of becoming India's premiere Institute. Education and research - with relevance to the practical world as a guiding principle - continue to be its primary purpose. This Center is envisaging on interdepartmental, multidisciplinary programs, laboratories and centers having strong research base and whose work extends beyond traditional departmental boundaries. It seeks to be a pulsating temple of science, from which intelligence, knowledge and wisdom disseminates.

Vision

Our Center will be comprised of individuals committed to our mission and values. The Center will nourish and nurture young, creative and innovative minds that will make significant contribution in the field of biological sciences and further the cause of alleviating the sufferings of mankind.

The Faculty

The faculty of this Center is well trained and possesses relevant skills to conduct research and provide interdisciplinary training in fundamental areas at the forefront of medical biotechnology. We aim to cultivate a research environment that will also foster the advancement of the local and national biotechnology industry.

The Syllabus

The syllabus covers the latest developments in the medical biotechnology arena and has been designed, based on market needs, whereby employability, developing skills as entrepreneur and grooming students as scientists is the prime consideration. Our efforts are strengthened by collaboration with National level institutes and multinational companies, as well as with visiting scientist. We promote healthy interaction between academia and industry. Additionally, we will undertake contract research and be instrumental in commercialization of any product developed at the laboratory level.

Laboratories

The Center has the following laboratories with state-of-art equipment:

1. General laboratory for microbiology and biochemistry studies
2. Critical laboratory for molecular biology and genetic engineering studies
3. Tissue culture laboratory for in vitro studies
4. Bioinformatics laboratory - software package for sequence comparison, restriction enzyme site identification, primer design, and partial protein characterization.

Animal House

As part of creating the most suitable environment for encouraging and strengthening fundamental research, the University has built a fully equipped, modern Animal House with a floor area of 6,000 Sq.Ft. in strict accordance with the CPCSEA guidelines - the first one of its kind in Rural India.



The house is centrally air conditioned, humidified and maintained as totally sterile, with a capacity to hold at least 100 rodents and 100 mammalians. The House is also equipped with an Operation Theatre, experimental & clinical laboratory, separate breeding rooms, sick rooms, quarantine rooms etc. The animals are housed species wise in separate rooms in polycarbonate cages with supply of sterile water and automatic feeding and drainage system. Waste disposal is done through a special incinerator as per norms of Maharashtra Pollution Control Board.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

EXISTING R & D WORK

The ongoing research program is in the following broad areas:

1. Human macrophage differentiation and T cell dichotomy
2. Mechanisms of action of antiviral biologicals

FUTURE RESEARCH PROJECTS

Designing and development of novel biological drugs:

The Center for Biotechnology will be actively engaged in identifying prospective therapeutic cytokines, modification of action of existing cytokines or developing antagonist to cytokines. Furthermore, use of cytokines as a diagnostic tool will be investigated.

1. Screening, Identification and isolation of bio-active molecules from herbal and medicinal plants and marine flora and fauna, in particular, anticancer, antiviral and immuno-modulatory molecules.
2. Development of Probiotics

COLLABORATIONS

We have various Collaboration for Academic Programs and Research and Development Activities with the following organizations:

1. University of Skövde, Sweden.
2. Microbax (India) limited, Hyderabad.
3. Shrusti Biotech Pvt. Ltd., Kolhapur.
4. National Center for Antartic and Ocean Research, Goa (NCAOR).
5. National AIDS Research Institute, Pune (NARI).
6. Dr. D.K. Gosavi Memorial Shri Siddhivinayak Ganapathi Cancer Hospital, Miraj.
7. National Institute of Virology, Pune (NIV)