Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Saturday, Nov 22, 2003
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Saturday, Nov 22, 2003 |
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Industry & Economy
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Research & Development Anna varsity biotech centre pins hopes on industry tie-ups Our Bureau
Chennai , Nov. 21 ANNA University's Centre for Biotechnology (CBT) has started generating revenue by injecting a commercial orientation to its functioning in the form of research tie-ups with industry and leasing out lab space. "I am on a project mode and not an institution mode," was how Dr Arun Balakrishnan, CBT's Director, described the current approach. He identified the important role played by the US universities in the basic research that had finally led to product development by industry as a model for CBT's growing engagement with the Indian pharmaceutical industry. CBT recently tied up with Nicholas Piramal India to develop a compound that could be used to treat cancer. Earlier, Ranbaxy entered into a similar deal to develop a drug to combat diabetes. "We need to push ourselves as a business entity," said Dr Balakrishnan. The model followed by CBT is to identify a compound from medicinal plants that could be used in making drugs. The next step is to file a patent in the US (typical cost would be Rs 2-3 lakh) in Anna University's name. Once the patent is granted and made public, pharmaceutical companies would assess its commercial potential. That could eventually lead to the kind of deal that Nicholas Piramal and Ranbaxy struck with CBT. The tie-ups with industry and lease of lab space and equipment to others generate funds that are ploughed back to upgrade infrastructure, said Dr Balakrishnan. CBT's commercial focus rests on a university's perennial resource: Students. Student participation drives research. To illustrate the point, Dr Balakrishnan revealed that the drug discovery project was sparked eight years ago as an undergraduate student's project. "Our undergraduate students are our strength," he emphasised. A university setting provides more benefits to carry out research. Dr Balakrishnan felt that the constant flow of new students into projects offsets the stagnation that may set in among senior researchers. The commercial focus has not helped CBT to free itself of the Central Government support. Dr Balakrishnan said universities would continue to need grants from the Government. The grants could be supplemented by collaborating with industry, he felt.
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