Vol. 02 NO 13
NEWS - PAGE 3
SAY BYE TO INJECTION WOES, 3D-PRINTED
DISSOLVABLE MICRONEEDLES ARE HERE
EXAM ALERT
ICMR JRF 2018 Notification –
Exam Date, Eligibility
& Application Details
Indian Council of Medical Research
V.Ramalingaswami Bhawan, Ansari
Nagar, Post Box 4911, New Delhi-110029
Test for ICMR’s Junior Research Fellow-
ship Notification- 2018
The Indian Council of Medical Research
(ICMR) in collaboration with Postgradu-
ate Institute of Medical Education & Re-
search(PGIMER), Chandigarh will hold a
National level examination for the award of
Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), for Indi-
an national candidates at Bengaluru, Bhopal,
Bhubaneshwar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi,
Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai,
Srinagar (J&K) and Varanasi on Sunday,
July 22,2018.
A total of 150 Fellowships would be award-
ed. [120 fellowships in the field of Biomedi-
cal Sciences with emphasis on Life Sciences
(like microbiology, physiology,
GET THIS NEWSPAPER e-copy VIA WHATSAPP every week
NEWS - PAGE 4
LEVELS OF VITAMIN-D LINKED TO
CANCER INCIDENCE – CANCER
RESEARCH UPDATE
molecular biology, genetics, human biol-
ogy, biotechnology, biochemistry, bioinfor-
matics, biophysics, immunology, pharmacol-
ogy, zoology, botany, environmental sciences
and veterinary Medicine (excluding Agricul-
ture extension/ Soil Sciences, etc) and thirty
fellowships for the work with emphasis on
Social Sciences like psychology, sociology,
home science, statistics anthropology, social
work, public health/health economics (agri-
culture economics will not be considered)]
(I-i) Two separate merit lists, one compris-
ing the candidates qualifying for life sciences
and the second for those candidates qualify-
ing for social sciences, will be made on the
basis of their performance in the above test.
(I-ii) The candidates selected for the JRF
programme of ICMR would be permitted to
enroll themselves for the Ph.D. programme
of any University recognised by the UGC/
MCI. However, the JRF programme would
ADMISSIONS - PAGE 10
15 TOP BIOTECH PHD
ADMISSION & LIFE SCIENCE PHD ADMISSIONS
2018-19
By Diluxy Arya
not have any connection with the Ph.D. pro-
gramme. The validity of fellowship awarded
to a candidate will be six months.
Another 100 candidates would be selected
for consideration for positions of JRF under
various research schemes of ICMR (subject
to fulfilling the conditions for appointment
under the schemes) for the duration of that
scheme. These JRFs would also be permit-
ted to complete Ph.D. while working in the
scheme, if enrolled. The validity of result
will be two years for placement in ICMR
funded projects.
SC/ST/OBC/Physically handicapped (PH)
applicants will be given such special consid-
eration as per policy guidelines. Candidates
qualifying for the award of JRF will receive
fellowship from ICMR.
Eligibility:
Educational Qualification: MSc/MA or
equivalent degree with minimum 55% marks
for General/OBC candidates and 50% for the
SC/ST & Physically Handicapped (PH) and
Visually Handicapped (VH) candidates in the
subjects mentioned above. Candidates ap-
pearing in the final year examination (2017-
2018) can also apply
March 27th, 2018.
NEW JOBS AVAILABLE
PAGES 11-12
ICMR JRF
2018
Notification
Check out the official notification for
the ICMR’s Junior Research Fellowship
(JRF) 2018. Check the eligibility, sylla-
bus, how to to apply and more below. A
total of 150 fellowships is available in Bi-
osciences. The website will be updated in
due course of time and you will be able to
apply online for the same. Check Biotec-
nika for more updates.
(https://www.biotecnika.org/2018/03/
icmr-jrf-2018-notification-exam-date-eli-
gibility-application-details/)
Age Limit: The upper age limit for admis-
sion to the eligibility test is 28 years as on
30-09-2018 (relaxable up to five years in case
of candidates belonging to SC/ST/PH/ VH/
female candidates and three years in the case
of OBC.
All disputes relating to the conduct of the
examination or any matter connected with
this advertisement shall be dealt in the juris-
diction of National Capital Territory of Delhi
Court.
METHOD OF SELECTION:
Scheme of Test
The test will consist of one paper of 2 hours
duration. The paper will consist of 2 Sec-
tions. The Aptitude Section (Section A) will
have 50 questions on (i) scientific phenome-
non in everyday life; (ii) general knowledge
in sciences; and (iii) common statistics. All
these questions would be compulsory with
each question carrying 1 mark. The subject
Specific Section (Section B & C) would per-
tain to (B) Life Sciences and (C) Social Sci-
ence. The candidate may attempt questions in
either of the two areas. Each area of section B
Next Page>>>>
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080-395-34707
1
March 27th, 2018. Vol. 02 NO 13

& C would have 100 questions and the candi-
date may attempt any 75 questions in the pre-
designed area of Section B or C. Candidates
are required to indicate the option for Section
B or C in the application form too.
Each question carries one mark. Negative
marking @ 0.25 will be made for each of the
wrong answer. The questions in both the sec-
tions would appear in English only.
The final result will be based on aggregate
of 55 % marks obtained in both the sections
for General category and OBC and 50% for
SC/ST and physically handicapped.
The test will be held in the following
streams: (1) Aptitude test (common for all)
(2) Life Sciences (3) Social Sciences. Sub-
jects covered under Life Sciences include mi-
crobiology, physiology, molecular biology,
genetics, human nutrition, human biology,
biotechnology, biochemistry, biophysics, im-
munology, pharmacology, zoology, environ-
mental sciences, botany, veterinary science
and bio-informatics. Subjects covered under
Social Sciences include psychology, sociol-
ogy, home sciences, statistics, anthropology,
social work and health economics..
How To Apply :
Before applying, candidates are advised to
go through the admission notice published
in the advertisement in various Newspapers
and the instructions given therein carefully. is 15.05.2018. Only online application will
Fill in the application form according to the be accepted, no other mode of submission of
instructions given in this prospectus and the application will be accepted.
admission notice. Incomplete applications
will not be considered and no correspond- Important Dates:
ence will be entertained.
DATE FOR FILLING OF ONLINE
Fee: ₹ 1000/- (General/OBC) & ₹ 800/- APPLICATION FORM : 12.04.2018
(SC/ST/PH/VH)
LAST DATE FOR FILLING OF ON-
Information bulletin/brochure, online appli- LINE APPLICATION FORM : 15.05.2018
cation form and other details will be available
at both PGIMER, Chandigarh website http://
pgimer.edu.in and ICMR, New Delhi web-
site: www.icmr.nic.in. Candidates may visit
the websites w.e.f.12.04.2018.
The last date for filling of online application

MIT Researchers Develop
Body-on-Chip that Stores
10 Organs for Drug Tests
The failure of pre-clinical cell culture and
animal models to predict drug safety and ef-
ficacy in humans results in billions of wasted
dollars each year and slows development of
treatments for needy patients.
These gaps have driven an explosion of ap-
proaches to capture complex human physiol-
ogy in vitro, merging several parallel threads
of science and technology, including pluripo-
tent stem cell (PSC) and organoid biology;
design principles and tools for 3D tissue and
organ culture; microfluidic and mesofluidic
approaches to controlling perfusion flow; and
quantitative systems pharmacology models.
Now, in this direction, researchers at the
MIT have developed a new tech a microflu-
idic platform that connects engineered tissues
from up to 10 organs, the researchers can ac-
curately replicate human organ interactions
for weeks at a time, allowing them to meas-
ure the effects of drugs on different parts of
the body.
“Animals do not represent people in all the
facets that you need to develop drugs and un-
derstand the disease. That is becoming more
and more apparent as we look across all
kinds of drugs.” Linda Griffith, at the School
of Engineering Professor of Teaching Inno-
vation at MIT said.
“Complications can also arise due to vari-
ability among individual patients, including
their genetic background, environmental in-
fluences, lifestyles, and other drugs they may
be taking. A lot of the time you don’t see prob-
lems with a drug, particularly something that
might be widely prescribed until it goes on
the market.”
Griffith and her co-workers chose to go
after an innovation that they call a “physi-
ome on a chip.” They think this could offer
an approach to show the potential impacts
NEWS
of medication more accurately and speedi-
ly. Scientists required new equipment to do
this, which would enable tissues to develop
and work together with each other. They also
wanted to design tissue that would reflect the
elements of human organs more accurately.
As described in the journal Scientific Re-
ports, the researchers have created what’s
known as a microphysiological system, or
MPS, to model organ-to-organ crosstalk
– the way in which a drug’s effect may be
determined by how it interacts with multiple
different organs. An MPS can be thought of
as a sort of audio mixing board for fluids.
The top layer is made from a block of plas-
tic with various compartments to allow fluids
to move in a representation of a circulatory
system. It includes a water reservoir to main-
tain humidity and limit evaporation, and has
microfluidic channels and pumps to shift the
chemistry about.
The researchers used their MPS to model
ten organs – the brain, endometrium, gut,
heart, kidney, liver, lung, pancreas, skeletal
muscle and skin.
The researchers created several versions of
By Disha Padmanabha
the chip that consisted of clusters of 1 mil-
lion to 2 million cells for each organ. They
worked with “primary cells” – ones that per-
form much of the organ’s functions.
In a test, researchers successfully delivered
a drug to gastrointestinal tissue, mimicking
oral ingestion of a drug. Then they saw how
it was transported to other tissues and metab-
olized. In this process, they could measure
where the drug went, it’s effects on different
tissues and how the drug was broken down.
Griffith said her lab is developing a model
system for Parkinson’s disease that includes
brain, liver, and gastrointestinal tissue. They
want to see if bacteria found in the gut can
influence the development of Parkinson’s
disease. The ‘body-on-a-chip’ is also reusable and in the MIT study, organs were stable for up to four weeks. It can be ‘scaled up or down and accommodate a lot of
different configurations’

2
Vol. 02 NO 13 March 27th, 2018.

“Nanospears” for Targeted

Delivery of Genes to
Patient Cells
UCLA researchers have now developed
remote-controlled, needle-like nanospears
capable of piercing membrane walls and de-
livering DNA into selected cells. These mag-
netically guided nanostructures could enable
gene therapies that are safer, faster and more
cost-effective.
Researchers, have in the past, used sharp-
tipped nanoparticles stuck to surfaces in
order to deliver molecules to cells, but re-
moving the altered cells from the nanopar-
ticle-coated surface has been difficult. Other
techniques involved self-propelled nanopar-
ticles, but controlling them was not easy. In
addition, mobile nanoparticles can generate
toxic byproducts.
The UCLA team wanted to make the pro-
cess more efficient, so they developed bio-
compatible nanospears that can accurately
transport biological material via an external
magnetic field. In this way, cells are safe
from damage and the use of chemical propel-
lants is no longer necessary.
“Just as we hear about Amazon wanting to
deliver packages straight to your house with
drones, we’re working on a nanoscale equiv-
alent of that to deliver important health care
packages straight to your cells,” Dr. Steven
Jonas, a clinical fellow in the UCLA Broad
Stem Cell Research Center Training Pro-
gram, said.
Jonas and Paul Weiss, a distinguished pro-
fessor of chemistry and biochemistry at
UCLA, led a research team that designed na-
nospears that are biodegradable, and can be
mass-produced inexpensively and efficiently.
The construction of nanospears was in-
spired by the work of their collaborators,
Hsian-Rong Tseng, a professor of molecular
and medical pharmacology, and Xiaobin Xu,
a postdoctoral fellow in Weiss’ interdiscipli-
nary research group. Tseng and Xu are both
co-authors of the study.
“Based on Xiaobin’s nanomanufacturing
work, we knew how to make nanostructures
of different shapes in massive numbers using
simple fabrication strategies,” said Weiss,
who is also a member of the California Nano-
Systems Institute. “Once we had that in hand,
we realized we could make precise structures
that would be of value in gene therapies.”
These nanospears, which are made from sil-
icon, nickel and gold, are about 5,000 times
smaller than the diameter of a strand of hu-
man hair. Yet they include genetic informa-
tion with minimal impact on cell viability
and metabolism. By coating their nanospears
with nickel, Weiss and Jonas eliminated the
need for chemical propellants. A magnet can
be held near a lab dish containing cells to ma-
nipulate the direction, position and rotation
of one or many nanospears.
Then, researchers tested their invention in a
lab dish, where the nanospears had to deliv-
er DNA to brain cancer cells. The cancerous
cells were altered so that they would express
a green fluorescent protein.
About 80 percent of targeted cells exhibited
a bright green glow, and 90 percent of those
cells survived. Both numbers are a marked
improvement on existing delivery strategies.
By Disha Padmanabha
“The biggest barrier right now to getting ei-
ther a gene therapy or an immunotherapy to
patients is the processing time,” Jonas said.
“New methods to generate these therapies
more quickly, effectively and safely are going
to accelerate innovation in this research area
and bring these therapies to patients sooner,
and that’s the goal we all have.”
“One of the amazing things about working
at UCLA is that for each of the targeted dis-
eases, we collaborate with leading clinicians
who already have gene therapies in develop-
ment,” Weiss said. “They have the gene-ed-
iting cargo, model cells, animal models and
patient cells in place so we are able to opti-
mize our nanosystems on methods that are on
the pathway to the clinic.”

Say Bye to Injection Woes,

3D-Printed Dissolvable
Microneedles are Here
No one like getting shots- to be honest, as an
adult they’re still less fun. Even when you’re
old enough to understand that they’re a nec-
essary evil to keep you (and others around
you) healthy, it doesn’t change the fact that
getting a needle shoved into your skin hurts
— plain and simple.
But then, given the rate at which we are ad-
vancing both medically and technologically,
in a few years’ time injections could become
a thing of the past, thanks to new, painless
alternatives.
Now, in this direction, a team of researchers
from the University of Texas at Dallas have
designed painless, biodegradable micronee-
dles that can break off in the skin and dis-
solve to administer drugs.
The UT Dallas team’s 3D printed micronee-
dles are also biodegradable, and will break
off underneath the skin and dissolve over
time to release the drugs…a far cry from to-
day’s conventional syringes. They are pain-
less, because the microneedle is so thin that
patients can’t even feel it when it breaks off.
The team of researchers at Dallas, led by
Jeremiah Gassensmith, looked to use 3D
printing techniques to make microneedles
from polylactide, a non-toxic, biodegradable
and renewable polymer which is approved
for use in dissolvable stiches. Unfortunately,
the printing techniques that are capable of
producing features smaller than 100 micro-
metres are not compatible with the biode-
gradable polymer required. Gassensmith’s
team instead used fused deposition modelling
(FDM), a 3D printing technique that works
well with polylactide, but has lower resolu-
tion.
The team’s manufacturing method is a five
step process that starts with FFF using a Lulz-
bot TAZ 5 3D printer. It takes 40 minutes on
average to make a batch of 15 microneedle
arrays. The arrays are then left to soak in a
chemical solution for 9 hours which etches
the surface, and carves the microneedles to
a fine point between 1 and 55 μm wide. In
the penulitmate step, the microneedles are
washed. Then they can be loaded with a drug
for application in the skin.
Usually producing microneedles would
require specialized equipment in the form
of a cleanroom. The issue is that this is not
something that many smaller companies
have access to. “We basically found a way
to cut out the multimillion-dollar clean room
with a $1,000 Lulzbot,” Gassensmith ex-
plained. “We print microneedles, do some
post-print processing on them to make them
super-sharp, and then we show we can load
small molecules into them and release them
into the skin over time.”
“We’d love to get plastic filaments that are
loaded with specific drugs that are typical- By Disha Padmanabha
ly only effective when administered by IV,”
(a,c) 3D printed and (b, d) chemically etched microneedle arrays. Image via ChemRxiv
Gassensmith said. “Instead of getting mul-
tiple shots, your doctor would print out a
therapeutic microneedle patch and mail it to They’d be great for deployment where for- commercialized right now, and we are active-
you and you could apply it yourself at home. mulating IV drugs would be a hassle, like in ly working on finding candidate drugs to use
One of the great advantages of microneedles delivering vaccines to developing countries. for our spools.”
is you don’t need to be trained to use them. The 3D-printing technology is ready to be

3
March 27th, 2018.
NIH Scientists Identify
Genetic Culprit Impacting
our Biological Clocks
Aging is the greatest risk factor for neuro-
degeneration, but the connection between the
two processes remains opaque. This is in part
for want of a rigorous way to define physio-
logical age, as opposed to chronological age.
Now, in order to understand the link be-
tween aging and neurodegenerative disorders
such as Alzheimer’s disease, NIH scientists
compared the genetic clocks that tick during
the lives of normal and mutant flies. They
found that altering the activity of a gene
called Cdk5 appeared to make the clocks run
faster than normal, and the flies older than
their chronological age. This caused the flies
to have problems walking or flying later in
life, to show signs of neurodegeneration, and
to die earlier.
“We tried to untangle the large role aging
appears to play in some of the most devas-
tating neurological disorders,” said Ed-
ward Giniger, Ph.D., senior investigator at
the NIH’s National Institute of Neurological
Disorders and Stroke and the senior author
of the study published in Disease Models &
Levels of Vitamin-D
Linked to Cancer
Incidence – Cancer
Research Update
Vitamin D status differs by latitude and
race, normally with individuals with more
skin pigmentation being at increased risk of
deficiency. Although Vitamin D deficiency is
known mainly for its association with frac-
tures and bone disease, its newly recognized
association with risk of several types of can-
cer is receiving considerable attention.
In this direction, Japanese researchers have
now found that higher concentration of vita-
min D correlated significantly with a lower
risk for overall cancer and liver cancer.
“Although the beneficial effects of vitamin
D in the prevention of skeletal disorders
have long been recognized, accumulating
evidence suggests that the benefits may ex-
tend beyond bone health to include several
chronic diseases, including cancer,” Sanjeev
Budhathoki, MD, from the National Cancer
Center, Tokyo, and colleagues wrote. “We
observed that a higher circulating concentra-
tion of vitamin D was associated with a lower
risk of subsequent cancer in a large Japanese
population.”
“We believe vitamin D has a maybe weak,
but beneficial effect across many cancers,”
said Taiki Yamaji, coauthor of the study from
the Center for Public Health Sciences at the
National Cancer Center in Tokyo.
The team looked at levels of the biological-
ly active form of vitamin D in blood samples
taken from more than 30,000 middle-aged in-
dividuals at health centres across Japan dur-
4
Vol. 02 NO 13
Mechanisms. “Our results suggest that neu-
rodegenerative disorders may accelerate the
aging process.”
Preclinical studies suggest that Cdk5 is a
gene that is important for the normal wiring
of the brain during early development and
may be involved in some neurodegenerative
disorders, including ALS, Parkinson’s and
Alzheimer’s disease.
Similarly, the team, in the course of this
study, found that eliminating or increasing
Cdk5 activity beyond normal levels short-
ened the lives of the flies to about 30 days.
After 10 days of age, the manipulations re-
duced the distance flies could climb up tubes
and the alterations caused older flies to have
signs of neurodegeneration, including high- By Disha Padmanabha
er than normal levels of brain cell death and
degradation.
“Our results suggest that aging may not just function of the brain,” said Dr. Giniger. “We
More analysis showed that altering Cdk5
predispose an individual to degeneration, as hope that our approach will help researchers
activity changed the level of several groups
we thought. Acceleration of aging may actu- untangle the mysteries behind several neuro-
of genes that were also affected by aging, in-
ally be part of the mechanism by which de- degenerative disorders.”
cluding those that control immunity, energy,
generative disease disrupts the structure and
and antioxidant activity.
ing the early 1990s.
The participants were divided into four
groups based on their vitamin D levels, rang-
ing from the lowest to highest. Information
was also gathered on the subjects’ medical
history, as well as on their dietary and life-
style factors.
The study included two cohorts of partici-
pants from the Japan Public Health Center-
based Prospective Study. Patients completed
questionnaires on demographic characteris-
tics, past medical history and lifestyle-related
factors. Budhathoki and colleagues also col-
lected blood samples from all participants to
determine circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D
concentration. One cohort comprised 3,301
patients with cancer. The researchers also
randomly selected 4,044 participants for a
subcohort, of whom 405 had cancer.
Taking the group with the lowest concen-
tration of the vitamin as a base, researchers
found that the cancer risk for those in the
second-lowest quartile was 19 percent lower
than those in the bottom group. For the group
with the second-highest concentration, the
risk fell 25 percent, while for those with the
highest concentration the risk of developing
cancer was 22 percent lower.
By type, liver cancer saw the biggest drop.
Because liver cancer progresses from hepa- By Disha Padmanabha
titis, there is said to be a possibility that the
property of vitamin D of restraining inflam- risk of cancer,” Budhathoki and colleagues optimal 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration
mation lowers the risk. wrote. “Nevertheless, the lower risk associat- is important for prevention of cancer, having
ed with higher circulating vitamin D concen- a concentration beyond this optimal level
“Our findings support the hypothesis that tration seemed to show a ceiling effect, which may provide no further benefit.”
vitamin D may confer protection against the may suggest that although maintaining an
Vol. 02 NO 13
Proteins Stabilized Outside
Body, in Synthetic
Environment for First
Time
Natural proteins combine a range of useful
features, including chemical diversity, the
ability to rapidly switch between prepro-
grammed shapes, and a hierarchy of struc-
tures. But the catch is, they’re too sensitive to
be useful in the outside world.
Now, a team from UC Berkeley has figured
out a way to keep them alive and functioning
in a synthetic environment, and used them to
make mats that can break down toxic chem-
icals.
The new study shows a path toward exploit-
ing the power of proteins outside of the cell
by demonstrating a unique way to keep pro-
teins active in synthetic environments. The
materials presented in the study could enable
on-demand biochemical reactions, such as in
war zones or contaminated sites, where they
were once not feasible.
“We think we’ve cracked the code for inter-
facing natural and synthetic systems,” said
study author Ting Xu, a Berkeley professor in
the Department of Materials Science and En-
gineering and the Department of Chemistry,
Scientists Tweak Small
Molecule Drug to Develop
Antiviral against H3N2
Imperceptible to the human eye, the flu vi-
rus is one of the most pervasive and persis-
tent on the planet. It mates and spreads in the
air. One strain is capable of circumventing
the globe in a matter of months.
Annual flu epidemics kill 250,000-500,000
people each year and cause severe illness in
3 million to 5 million. But new strains that
jump from animals to humans can be even
more devastating if the global population has
no immunity to the virus.
This year’s flu rates have yet to reach the
levels seen three years ago, but flu season is
currently at its peak and current trends sug-
gest they could get worse. This year’s un-
folding flu season can be explained threefold,
thanks to the most dominant flu strain infect-
ing people—H3N2.
A research team led by the University of
California at San Diego has developed a
small molecule that they believe could weak-
en or even stop H3N2 in its tracks. It works
by exploiting a flaw in the mechanism the vi-
rus uses to replicate, according to the team,
which presented their research at the 255th
National Meeting & Exposition of the Ameri-
can Chemical Society (ACS) in New Orleans.
In order to develop an antiviral drug for in-
fluenza, scientists had to find an area within
its structure that would prove vulnerable. The
influenza virus is a lipid-enveloped, nega-
tive-sense, single-strand RNA virus, meaning
the genetic information it uses for replication
is contained in RNA strands held inside a
protein shell that is coated by a fatty layer.
March 27th, 2018.
whose lab led the work. “Proteins have very
well-defined statistical pattern, so if you can
mimic that pattern, then you can marry the
synthetic and natural systems, which allows
us to make these materials.”
The end result of these analyses was the
creation of random heteropolymers (RHPs).
They contain four connected types of mon-
omers; their chemical properties were de-
signed to interact with proteins of interest.
They mimic an unstructured natural protein
and enable protein membrane folding and ac-
tivity. Many molecular simulations were run
to make sure that these structures would act
the way that they were intended.
The team further combined RHP with a
protein called organophosphorus hydrolase
(OPH), which degrades the toxic organo-
phosphates found in insecticides and chemi- By Disha Padmanabha
cal warfare agents. The resultant was used to
make mats that was capable of degrading an of larger mats that could soak up toxic chem- opening the door to the creation of portable
amount of insecticide weighing approximate- icals in places like war zones. chemistry labs for solving different environ-
ly one-tenth of the total fiber mat in just a few Their approach should be applicable to mental problems.
minutes. This opens the door to the creation other enzymes and other materials, Xu said,
Instead of relying on a host’s straightfor-
ward DNA replication process as some other
viruses do, influenza depends on its own en-
zyme called RNA-dependent RNA polymer-
ase. So, scientists have consistently focused
research efforts on developing a drug that
would affect this viral process.
Seth Cohen, who is at the University of Cal-
ifornia, San Diego and co-founder of Forge
Therapeutics, notes that the RNA polymerase
complex remains constant across many dif-
ferent versions and mutations of the influenza
virus.
Which is why any therapy that target it are
not likely to suffer from the issue the vaccine
faces; namely, the H3 flaw. The RNA poly-
merase itself is divided into three subunits.
Cohen has homed in on a metal-centered do-
main within one of the subunits.
Cohen has spent the past two years uncov-
ering how manganese ions bind within the
RNA polymerase subunit in order to develop
a better drug that would serve as a wrench
in the virus’ replication works. “We modified
our small-molecule drug so that it would bind
to both manganese ions simultaneously,” he
says. He then tested the molecule on the RNA By Disha Padmanabha
polymerase protein. “The modification dra-
matically improved the potency of the com- A new antiviral drug inhibits replication of influenza’s genome by binding to manganese ions (purple spheres). Image by Christine Morrison
pound over previous drugs we created,” he
says. The team is hopeful that in the coming “This is a medicinal intervention that will ciently slow its reproduction so that the body
months, it will be just as effective when they slow down the virus if not completely stop can ultimately clear it. It’s like taking an an-
challenge the whole influenza virus with the it,” Cohen says. “The drug could potentially tibiotic for a viral infection.“
molecule. eliminate the virus on its own or just suffi-
5
March 27th, 2018.
Nanofiber Wound
Dressings that Promote
Regeneration
Wounds in the fetus can heal without scar-
ring. Consequently, biomaterials that attempt
to recapitulate the biophysical and biochem-
ical properties of fetal skin have emerged as
promising pro-regenerative strategies. Now,
researchers at Harvard University and the
Wyss Institute have come up with two new
wound dressings that promote healing with-
out relying on growth factors, cells, or even
artificial scaffolds.
The team has produced a globular fibronec-
tin using Rotary Jet-Spinning (RJS). Globu-
lar fibronectin is a protein found in blood that
is common in foetal skin, and was found to
aid in recovery in the 1970s. The RJS tech-
nique involves a solution containing globular
fibronectin being pushed through a device as
it spins, causing the solvent to evaporate and
the polymers to solidify, producing globular
fibronectin in fibres less than one micrometre
Re-Engineering Cellular
Electricity Allows
Scientists to Dictate
Embryo Development
Endogenous bioelectrical signaling coordi-
nates cell behaviors toward correct anatom-
ical outcomes. Lack of a model explaining
spatialized dynamics of bioelectric states has
hindered the understanding of the etiology of
some birth defects and the development of
predictive interventions.
Improper neural patterning during develop-
ment leads to highly debilitating disorders,
such as open neural tube defects [spina bi-
fida, and anencephaly (small brain)], brain
malformations, and susceptibility to autism
and degenerative disorders like Parkinson’s
and Alzheimer’s diseases.
Nicotine, a known neuroteratogen, induces
serious defects in brain patterning and learn-
ing. And biologists at the Tuft’s Univeristy
have now been able to explain nicotine’s ef-
fects via the disruption of endogenous bioel-
ectrical gradients using the brains of day-old
frog embryos, thereby demonstrating how
HCN2 ion channels could restore the endog-
enous bioelectric prepatterns necessary for
brain patterning.
The research, published today in Nature
Communications, suggests that targeting bi-
oelectric states may be a new treatment mo-
dality for regenerative repair in brain devel-
opment and disease, and that computational
methods can be used to find effective repair
strategies.
6
in diameter, which can be collected into
wound dressings or bandages.
“The dressing integrates into the wound
and acts like an instructive scaffold, recruit-
ing different stem cells that are relevant for
regeneration and assisting in the healing pro-
cess before being absorbed into the body,”
said Christophe Chantre, first author of the
paper and graduate student in the Disease
Biophysics Group, which developed the RJS
technique.
When tested in a wound mouse model, the
application of fibronectin nanofiber dressings
to wounds did two things; 1) they accelerated
wound closure and 2) significantly improved
tissue restoration. They not only helped the
recovery of dermal and epidermal tissues but
also helped recover adipose (fat) tissue.
“Studies focusing on gene expression,
growth factors, and molecular pathways
have provided us with a better but still in-
complete understanding of how cells arrange
themselves into complex organ systems in a
growing embryo,” said Professor Michael
Levin, Ph.D., corresponding author of the
study and director of the Allen Discovery
Center at Tufts University. “We are now be-
ginning to see how electrical patterns in the
embryo are guiding large scale patterns of
tissues, organs, and limbs. If we can decode
this electrical communication between cells,
then we might be able to use it to normalize
development or support regeneration in the
treatment of disease or injury.”
To study bioelectrical signaling, Levin and
his team used an open-source 2D computa-
tional simulation platform, called the BioEl-
ectric Tissue Simulation Engine (BETSE) to
create a dynamic map of voltage signatures in
a developing frog embryo.
To study bioelectrical signaling, Levin and
his team used an open-source 2D computa-
tional simulation platform, called the BioEl-
ectric Tissue Simulation Engine (BETSE) to
create a dynamic map of voltage signatures in
a developing frog embryo.
By Disha Padmanabha
Vol. 02 NO 13
By Disha Padmanabha
A tissue section 14 days post-wounding shows hair follicles regenerating at center of the wound. Regrowing hair follicles is one of the biggest challenges in the field of
wound healing. Image courtesy of the Disease Biophysics Group/Harvard University
The second dressing involves a soy-based a good option for large-scale usage, such as
nanofiber that has estrogen-like molecules on burns. The fibronectin dressings could be
and other bioactive molecules that help to used for smaller wounds where the preven-
generate and promote cellular growth. Es- tion of scarring is important.
trogen has been noted as helping pregnant
women heal wounds faster. The soy nanofib- “Both the soy and fibronectin fibre technol-
er is spun in the same machine that fibrous ogies owe their success to keen observations
fibronectin was produced and it had similar in reproductive medicine,” said Kit Park-
results. er, Tarr family professor of bioengineering
According to the researchers, both kind at SEAS and senior author of the research.
dressings have advantages in the wound-heal- “During a woman’s cycle, when her oestro-
ing space. The soy-based nanofibres – con- gen levels go high, a cut will heal faster. If
sisting of cellulose acetate and soy protein you do a surgery on a baby still in the womb,
hydrolysate – are inexpensive, making them they have scar-less wound healing.”
By Disha Padmanabha
PLATYPUS MILK : TO COMBAT THE GLOBAL
CRISIS OF ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE
The platypus is arguably one of the most nents of monotreme milk have counterparts
distinct animals on the planet- so it would in placental mammalian (cow or human)
make sense for it to possess distinct qual- milk,” lead researcher Janet Newman from
ities as well. The platypus has some of the the CSIRO told Xinhua News.
strangest attributes, habits, and anatomy of
any animal. Perhaps why this part-reptile, “This protein displays activity against only
part-mammal, part-bird- when first found by a subset of bacteria – Enterococcus faeca-
British researchers in the 18th century was lis and Staphylococcus aureus for example,
perceived to be a hoax. but not against the normal gut flora found in
A specimen so outlandish that it was deemed (platypus) pups. Trials as a therapeutic are a
fake, has now come to our rescue against su- long way away, but we believe that this pro-
perbugs. tein might be the basis for topical antibiotic
Back in 2010, scientists realized that plat- treatments; wound dressings, for example.”
ypus moms produce very special milk. They
found that it has unique bacteria-fighting Using x-ray crystallography at the state-of-
properties that could be used to kill super- the-art Collaborative Crystallisation Centre,
bugs. Unlike most other mammals, including and the synchrotron in Melbourne Victoria,
us, these weird creatures don’t have special- the team discovered a unique structure in the
ised mammary glands such as breasts- so protein which, when solved, formed a three
their milk is expressed onto their stomachs dimensional fold, similar to a ringlet.
where their babies lap it up. This exposes it The researchers named this never-be-
to the bacteria-filled world so bug-fighting fore-seen protein the Shirley Temple, in
properties are pretty useful. tribute to the former child-actor’s distinctive
Now, scientists from the Commonwealth curly hair. Most intriguingly, the protein has
Scientific and Industrial Research Organ- a novel fold in its structure that has not been
isation (CSIRO) and Deakin University in identified in any of the more than 100,000
Victoria, Australia, have discovered why the known protein structures, Dr Newman said.
milk is so powerful. This new evidence, re- The World Health Organisation, in 2014
searchers hope, will one day improve anti- release a report that spotlighted the global
bacterial dressings and creams. threat posed by antibiotic resistance, plead-
ing for immediate action. Platypus milk and
“The protein that was replicated was a pro- the potentially lifesaving protein fold found
tein called “Monotreme Lactation Protein” within it is now being taken to the next phase,
and it is found only in the milk of mono- to hopefully put a stop to antibiotic resistance.
tremes, whereas most of the other compo-
Vol. 02 NO 13 March 27th, 2018.

Artificial Cells Embedded

with Biological
Counterparts Work as a
Team
The brave new world of synthetic biology
has taken a major step forward as the scien-
tists at the Imperial College London fuse liv-
ing and non-living cells for the first time to
explore mechanisms of biological compart-
mentalisation and how these principles can
be harnessed to develop smart technologies.
Due to their reduced complexity and lack of
evolved biochemical pathways, the capabili-
ties of artificial cells are limited in compari-
son to their biological counterparts.
The study demonstrates how encapsulating
living cells in vesicles provide a means for
artificial cells to leverage cellular biochemis-
try, with the encapsulated cells serving orga-
nelle-like functions as living modules inside
a larger synthetic cell assembly. It shows how
they work in concert paving way for similar
exciting hybrid cellular bionicsystems.
The new cellular system encapsulates bi-
ological cells within an artificial cell/ a me-
chanical shell. A shell it may be, but it’s far
from being just a shell: the artificial compo-
nent also contains enzymes that work togeth-
er with those inside the cell to produce new
compounds. In the proof-of-concept experi-
ment, the artificial shell produced a fluores-
cent chemical that allowed the researchers to
confirm all was working as expected.
“Biological cells can perform extremely
complex functions, but can be difficult to con-
trol when trying to harness one aspect,” says
lead researcher Professor Oscar Ces, from
the Department of Chemistry at ICL. “Arti-
ficial cells can be programmed more easily
but we cannot yet build in much complexity.”
“Our new system bridges the gap between
these two approaches by fusing whole bio-
logical cells with artificial ones, so that the
machinery of both works in concert to pro-
duce what we need. This is a paradigm shift
in thinking about the way we design artificial
cells, which will help accelerate research on
applications in healthcare and beyond.”
The team called on microfluidics to put the
two together. They used water and oil (which
don’t mix) to make droplets of a defined size
that contained both the cells and enzymes.
Then, they applied a protective coating on
the droplets, creating the artificial shell.
Further, the team tested these artificial cells
in a solution high in copper, which is usual-
ly highly toxic to biological cells. The team
was still able to detect fluorescent chemicals
in most of the artificial cells, meaning the bi-
ological cells were still alive and functioning
inside. This ability would be useful in the
human body, where the artificial cell casing
would protect the foreign biological cells
from attack by the body’s immune system.
First author of the study Dr Yuval Elani, an
By Disha Padmanabha
EPSRC Research Fellow from the Depart-
ment of Chemistry, said: “The system we de-
signed is controllable and customisable. You
can create different sizes of artificial cells in
a reproducible manner, and there is the po-
tential to add in all kinds of cell machinery,
such as chloroplasts for performing photo-
synthesis or engineered microbes that act as
sensors.”
To improve the functionality of these artifi-
cial cell systems, the next step is to engineer
the artificial coating to act more like a bio-
logical membrane, but with special functions.

A Native Brown
Fat Protein Key to How By Disha Padmanabha

the Fat Cells Function

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) and white
adipose tissue (WAT) differ in their gene
expression signatures, morphologies, and
physiological functions. In contrast to WAT,
BAT expresses high levels of genes involved
in fatty acid oxidation and thermogenesis, is
rich in mitochondria, and has numerous small
lipid droplets compared with the unilocular
droplets of WAT.
Because the major function of WAT is to
store and release lipid, it is well equipped to
adapt to fluctuations in nutrient availability.
BAT, on the other hand, is specialized to burn
lipids and glucose in response to the need for
extra heat, such as reduced ambient temper-
ature or arousal from hibernation. Indeed,
with so much focus on WAT and the obesity
epidemic, it has only recently been appreci-
ated that adult humans can display cold-ac-
tivated browning and that relative BAT mass
inversely correlates with obesity.
Brown adipose tissue (BAT) adaptively
transfers energy from glucose and fat into
heat by inducing a gene network that uncou-
ples mitochondrial electron transport. How-
ever, the innate transcription factors that en-
able the rapid adaptive response of BAT are
unclear.
Now, Salk researchers have discovered
how the molecule ERRγ gives this “health-
ier” brown fat its energy-expending identity,
making those cells ready to warm you up
when you step into the cold, and potentially
offering a new therapeutic target for diseases
related to obesity.
“This not only advances our understanding
of how the body responds to cold, but could
lead to new ways to control the amount of
brown fat in the body, which has links to obe-
sity, diabetes and fatty liver disease,” says Infrared images indicate the much warmer temperatures of a normal mouse (left) compared to a mouse unable to make ERR gamma (right). Credit: Salk Institute
senior author Ronald Evans, Howard Hughes
Medical Institute investigator and holder of
the ERRγ gene all the time (not just in re- posed to cold temperatures.
Salk’s March of Dimes Chair in Molecular
sponse to cold) and that white fat cells do not
and Developmental Biology.
express the gene at all. And by studying mice The team concluded in a news release that
lacking the gene for ERRγ (and therefore un- ERRg is “involved in protection against the
“We were interested in what maintains
able to make the ERRy molecule), the team cold and underpins brown fat identity.” In fu-
brown fat, even when we’re not exposed to
observed that all brown fat cells resembled ture studies, the researchers plan to activate
cold all the time,” says Maryam Ahmadian,
white cells in these mice. ERRg in white fat cells to see if this will shift
a Salk research associate and first author of
their identity to be more similar to brown fat
the new paper.
Additionally, the animals were unable to cells.
maintain their body temperature when ex-
The team found that brown fat cells express

7
March 27th, 2018.
SCHOLARSHIP & AWARDS
100 Govt of Sri Lanka
Presidential Scholarships
2018 – Application Open
GRANTING SCHOLARSHIPS UNDER
GOVERNMENT OF SRI LANKA PRESI-
DENTIAL SCHOLARSHIPS PROGRAM
FOR FOREIGN SUDNETS ACADEMIC
YEAR 2017/2018
Government of Sri Lanka Presidential
Scholarships programme for Foreign Stu-
dents implemented by the Ministry of Higher
Education and Highways has been in opera-
tion for seven years. That provides scholar-
ships annually to foreign students from iden-
tified countries.
Applications are invited from eligible stu-
dents for the award of undergraduate schol-
arships offered by the Ministry of Higher Ed-
ucation and Highways (MoHEH), Sri Lanka
for the academic year 2017/2018 and the
courses are to commence in September 2018.
Since this is a government to government
scholarship program, candidates shall apply
for this scholarship with the recommendation
of the government nominating agency (i.e.
Ministry or the government Institution of his/
her country).
• Scholarships are open for courses
of study other than Medical, Dental
Sciences &
• Engineering.
• Medium of instructions is English.
• Candidates can request for more than
one course of study for securing chanc-
es to win
• a scholarship, identifying their pref-
erences as places are limited in some
fields.
• There may be instances where request-
ed courses of study are not possible to
offer due
• to unforeseen circumstances or limited
places available in the particular field.
• If the given qualifications by the appli-
cant are not compatible with the entry
• requirements of the university, those
applications may not be successful.
• When completing the form, please en-
sure that you provide your full name as
appeared
• in your passport.
• Please provide all the supporting docu-
ments in English, we require officially
• translated versions as well as copies in
the original language.
• Please provide certified copies of all
the supporting documents including
the certified
• copies of the relevant pages of your
8
passport, duly authenticated by rele-
vant authorities.
• The copy of the certificate and the
statement of results should be certified
by the
• relevant Board of Examinations which
conducted the examination concerned.
• Photocopies of the educational certifi-
cates will not be considered for eval-
uation and
• result in rejection of the application.
• Do not leave any section of this appli-
cation unanswered. Please write “N/A”
in all irrelevant sections.
• All the applications should be forward-
ed to Secretary, Ministry of Higher Ed-
ucation
• & Highways, No 18, Ward Place, Co-
lombo 07, Sri Lanka on or before the
closing
• date
• Closing date for applications for the
academic year 2017/2018 will be 16th
April 2018.
• If you have any questions about filling
out your application form please do not
• hesitate to contact the Additional Sec-
retary (Development) office Tel: +94-
11-
• 2697721 or +94-11-2688621 Fax: +94-
11-2697239 E-mail: addsec-dev@
mohe.gov.lk
Application form can be downloaded from
the web site of the Ministry of Higher Edu-
cation and Highways: www.mohe.gov.lk
GENERAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIRE-
MENTS:
• Be a citizen of a country covered by
this scholarship. A citizen of another
country having Sri Lankan dual citi-
zenship is not eligible to apply.
• Candidates with results at a foreign
examination held outside Sri Lanka,
deemed equivalent to G.C.E. (Ad-
vanced Level) Examination of Sri Lan-
ka are eligible to applyfor admission to
Universities in Sri Lanka.
a) Applicants are advised to attach to their
applications the original letter obtained
from the Examinations Board concerned, to
prove that their educational qualifications
are equivalent to the G.C.E.(A/L) Examina-
tion of Sri Lanka or their educational qual-
ifications are considered for admission to a
university in their own country to follow an
undergraduate course of study leading to a
Bachelor’s Degree.
b) Applicants should ensure that all re-
quired passes should be obtained in one and
the same sitting under a recognized Board of
Examinations subject to the rules set out by
the Education Authority of the country con-
cerned.
c) Applicants should attach to their appli-
cations the certified copies of the education-
al certificate and the statement of results of
their qualifying examination. The copy of
the educational certificate and the statement
of results should be certified by the relevant
Examinations Board which conducted the ex-
amination concerned.
• Age : Be less than 25 years on
16.04.2018
SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS:
I. Free of charge tuition and registration.
II. Free Visa for studies
III. One-off settlement allowance of LKR
10,000/-.
IV. A monthly living allowance of LKR 30,
000/- during the study period.
a. It is expected that the scholarship recipi-
ent will meet the expenditure for food and ac-
commodation with the monthly allowance of
LKR 30,000/- The relevant university/high-
er educational institute will assist in finding
suitable accommodation.
V. Reimbursement of cost of air fare (econ-
omy class) to come to Sri Lanka and return
his/her country after successful completion
of studies [Payment is made for original bills
only].
Note: Kindly note that all above pay-
ments are made in LKR
VI. Free of charge medical facilities at gov-
ernment hospitals other than dental related
diseases.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
• Applicants except native English
speakers must provide evidence of pro-
ficiency in English. Minimum score
for TOEFL is 525 and minimum band
score is 6.5 for IELTS.
• To cover the immediate expenses you
are advised to bring approximately
US$ 350. Living allowance is paid dur-
ing the 3rd week of each month.
• Once admitted to a course of study the
requests for change of the course of
study/ university will not be accepted.
• Scholarship holder should submit a
health certificate issued by a govern-
ment hospital of his/her country as per
the attached format.
• Every student is required to under-
go HIV/AIDS test and reports should
be submitted to the MoHEH within a
month after arrival.
• In case the scholarship holder cannot
complete the course during the pre-
scribed period due to reasons of ill
health or other unavoidable circum-
stances, considerations will be given to
extend the scholarship by a maximum
of one year on the recommendation of
the university.
• The rules and regulations imposed by
each university for the local students
will also apply to the scholarship hold-
ers.
• Scholarship and studentship will be
cancelled if;
i. the student is failed to maintain a satisfac-
tory academic performance according to the
grading system of the university
ii. the student left Sri Lanka without getting
approval from the university
iii. the student is reported any non- compli-
ance of the rules and regulations of the uni-
versity.
• If a student leaves the course prior to
completion of his/her study programme
he/she is liable to pay all the expens-
es incurred by the Government of Sri
Lanka.
How to Apply:
• Each applicant should submit duly per-
Vol. 02 NO 13
fected 3 sets (one original) of applica-
tions along with all required documents
to his/her government nominating
agency.
• Each application should be recom-
mended by the government nominating
agency by filling out the section 06 B
of the application.
• The government nominating agency of
the applicant shall submit the applica-
tions with their recommendation to the
Sri Lankan mission in his/her country
for forwarding the same to the Mo-
HEH, Sri Lanka. In case a Sri Lankan
mission is not present in his /her coun-
try, the government nominating agency
can forward the applications directly to
the MoHEH, Sri Lanka.
• Required documents:
i. Certified copy of Birth Certificate
ii. Certified copies (certified by the rele-
vant examinations board) of the certificates
and the academic transcripts of the Advanced
Level and Ordinary Level Examinations or
their equivalents.
iii. Original letter obtained from the Board
of Examinations
iv. Certified copy of IELTS/TOEFL certif-
icate
v. Certified copy of the data page of appli-
cant’s passport. The validity of the passport
shall remain at least for 1 year after arrival
to Sri Lanka
vi. Certified copies of the Birth certificates
of parents
vii. Medical Certificate
viii. Police Report
Note: Certified English translation must
be provided for all the documents that are
not in English.
SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS:
Applications with the recommendation of
the government nominating agency should
be received to the address given below by
on or before 16.04.2018.
Secretary
Ministry of Higher Education and High-
ways
No: 18, Ward Place
Colombo 07
Sri Lanka.
Applications received from other means
and the late applications will not be consid-
ered.
Vol. 02 NO 13
ICGEB Research Grants –
2018, Eligibility, Deadline
& Application Details
ICGEB Research Grants 2018 official
notification is out. Collaborative Research
Programme (CRP) – ICGEB Research
Grants 2018 for Indian nationals is avail-
able. A special CRP-ICGEB Early Career
Return Grants is also available for young
researchers. ICGEB Research Grants –
2018, Eligibility, Deadline & Application
Details.
Research Grants:
Funding opportunities are made available
through the Collaborative Research Pro-
gramme (CRP) – ICGEB Research Grants,
which is a dedicated source of funding aimed
at financing projects addressing original sci-
entific problems of particular relevance for
the host country and of regional interest.
Established in 1988, the programme aims
to stimulate collaborative research in Mem-
ber States and with the ICGEB Component
laboratories, to promote training of young
scientists and to facilitate the creation of ap-
propriate research facilities.
The programme provides support for re-
search projects in basic science, human
healthcare, industrial and agricultural bio-
technology and bioenergy.
A call for applications is launched yearly
Eligibility:
Applicants for research grant proposals
(identified as “CRPs”) should hold positions
at Universities or Research Institutes in any
of the ICGEB Member States.
Active collaboration with ICGEB Research
Groups is welcome but is not mandatory.
Particular attention will be given to projects
addressing issues of interest for specific ge-
ographic regions and presented by groups
collaborating across more than one country.
Investigating groups do not qualify for sub-
mission of applications:
– if previously awarded projects have not
been evaluated and satisfactorily concluded;
– if the University or Research Institute of
the Principal Investigator is based in Italy.
A special category of CRP-ICGEB Ear-
ly Career Return Grants is intended to fund
young researchers with an outstanding track
record, who have spent a minimum of 2
years abroad and have recently returned to an
ICGEB Member State to establish their own
independent laboratories.
Applicants for Early Career Return Grants
should be no more than 40 years of age at the
time of application.
Applicants should have returned to an
ICGEB Member State (except Italy) no more
than 2 years prior to submitting the applica-
tion.
Type of Support:
Grants are awarded to contribute to the
implementation of outstanding scientific re-
search projects. An important element of suc-
cessful applications is the feasibility of the
proposed project within the designated time-
frame (maximum 36 months). The maximum
annual contribution from ICGEB is Euro
25,000.
Funds can only be used to cover expendi-
tures that are directly relevant to the project.
This may include purchasing consumable
items, scientific literature and basic standard
laboratory equipment. Travel and training
costs can also be covered.
Salaries of the Principal Investigators and
infrastructural support (e.g., normal adminis-
trative and overhead expenses of the Institu-
tion, maintenance and rental of capital equip-
ment, building, etc.) are not admissible and
cannot be funded.
To read about the kind of ground-breaking
research on HIV infection, dynamic changes
in replication, autophagy, adaptive immunity
and more that is being supported by ICGEB,
download the information on the ICGEB Re-
search Grants awarded under the 2016 call
for Applications.
Submission and Closing Dates:
In adherence with the ICGEB mandate
to equally support its Member States, each
ICGEB Member State can endorse up to 3
standard Research Grant applications, plus
up to 2 Early Career Return Grants for each
call. Therefore, PIs should submit their com-
plete applications in electronic format (pdf)
to his/her Country representative (Liaison
Officer – see form A), who is in charge of en-
dorsing the application at the national level.
A copy of the application should also be sent
directly to the ICGEB (crp@icgeb.org)
The deadline for submission by e-mail of
the completed application form (as a pdf
file) to the ICGEB Liaison Officer for en-
dorsement, with a copy also sent to ICGEB,
is 30 April 2018.
RCB Young Investigator
Awards 2018 With Stipend
of Rs.75,000/- p.m.
RCB Young Investigator Awards 2018
Official Notification is out. Young Inves-
tigator Awards 2018 with a stipend of
Rs.75,000/- p.m.
Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB)
is an institution of national importance, cre-
ated by an Act of Parliament, established by
Government of India through the Department
of Biotechnology under the auspices of UN-
ESCO. RCB has emerged as a pioneering
institute for research in Biotechnology and
is defining new horizons in providing world-
class education,
training and research at the interface of mul-
tiple disciplines for the benefit of mankind.
RCB has a strong commitment to exploring
new frontiers, furthering science and con-
necting revolutionary areas of Biotechnology
through cutting – edge research. The Centre
boasts of the state – of – the – art research
laboratories at par with the global standards.
Its Advanced Technology Platform Centre
(ATPC) is a highly sophisticated instrumen-
tation facility comprising of high through-
put technology platforms such as Genomics,
Proteomics, Mass Spectrometry, Microscopy
platforms including Electron Microscopy and
Super Resolution Confocal Microscopy, Mo-
lecular Interaction, and the Animal Exper-
imentation Platforms. It is also establishing
a Bio-incubator in association with BIRAC
that links promising research outcomes to
commercialization by nurturing technology
development in the broad area of biopharma-
ceuticals.
The Award :
The prestigious and unique Young Inves-
tigator Awards are designed to encourage
young scientists below 35 years of age, de-
sirous of pursuing high-end research in fron-
tier areas of Biotechnology with an ultimate
aim of finding solutions for challenges of the
society. The applicants should have received
a doctorate in the last 3 years in a relevant
discipline with excellent publication record.
Age relaxation of 5 years is made for candi-
dates belonging to SC/ST/OBC, Women and
Physically Handicapped category.
The Duration :
The duration of the Award is initially for a
period of three years, with a rigorous annual
review for continuation. Only in exception-
al cases, based on outstanding performance,
an extension of additional two years may be
given
The Emoluments :
The Award carries a consolidated stipend of
Rs.75,000/- per month. During this tenure,
the awardee shall not be entitled to draw any
other fellowship or salary in any form.
The Research Areas :
The Awards for the current round are tena-
ble in the following areas:
a. Molecular Virology and Viral Pathogen-
esis
b. Molecular Biology, Immunology and Hu-
man Diseases
c. Proteostasis and Mechanisms of Neuro-
degeneration
d. Development, Stem Cells and Regener-
ation
How to Apply:
Online applications are invited as per details
on RCB website www.rcb.res.in along with
the research proposal in any one of the above
given research areas. The last date of submis-
sion of application is 15.04.2018 by 5.30 pm.
For any query, kindly contact the Registrar
office, Regional Centre for Biotechnology at
registrar@rcb.res.in or 0129-2848800.
Only shortlisted candidates will be called
for interview.
Application Deadline – 15.04.2018 by
5.30 pm.
March 27th, 2018.
DST Center for Healthcare
Fellowship With Stipend of
Rs. 50,000/- p.m.
Are you looking for Life Science Fellow-
ships? Then DST in association with IIT Hy-
derabad has announced the Applications are
Invited for Fellowship Program – Center for
Healthcare Entrepreneurship 2018. Biotech,
Biosciences, Natural and Life Sciences can-
didates are encouraged to apply. DST Center
for Healthcare Fellowship With Stipend of
Rs. 50,000/- p.m.
About:
“Centre for Healthcare Entrepreneurship”,
promoted by two IIT Bombay alum, will be
an interdisciplinary center focused on making
universal healthcare a reality. The center’s
objective is to catalyze healthcare innovation
with a focus on affordable solutions to ad-
dress healthcare needs of India, particularly
its underserved population. The Center hopes
to jump-start on and eventually self-sustain
effort that trains entrepreneurs to deliver a
pipeline of cost-efficient solutions, which are
increasingly ‘commercialized’.
A world-class program for healthcare entre-
preneurs hosted by IIT Hyderabad.
Administered and mentored by an interna-
tional team, comprising entrepreneurs, top
academics from the United States, Indian
universities and Biomedical industry.
1. Institutionalize creativity and entrepre-
neurship to produce a pipeline of healthcare
products and entrepreneurs.
2. Solve the healthcare needs of our com-
munities.
3. Make healthcare products and services
become more accessible and affordable.
• One year fellowship training followed
by opportunity to incubate and start up
• Active mentorship from successful en-
trepreneurs and healthcare profession-
als
• Opportunity to form cross disciplinary
teams of medicos, engineers and de-
signers
• Ongoing exposure to local and global
VC partners
Minimum Qualifications: Degree in Engi-
neering/ Medicine/Design/Business/ Quanti-
tative Life Sciences.
How to Apply:
URL- http://bit.do/ApplicationCfHE2018
1. No fee for application.
2. All fellows are paid a stipend of Rs.50,000
pm/-during training period.
3. At the end of training, qualified team’s
will get an incubation grant.
Next Page>>>>
9
March 27th, 2018.
Important Dates:
Fill Online applications : Before 15th
April 2018
Notification to Shortlisted candidates :
Before 10th May 2018
Skype interview : 12th May 2018- 15th
May 2018
Final Interview at IITH Campus : Last
week of May
ADMISSIONS
missions 2018, PhD Admissions 2019, Eligi-
bility, Application details and deadline to ap-
ply. Top 15 List of Biotech PhD Admissions.
• PhD Admissions 2018 @ CSIR-
CCMB – Centre for Cellular and
Molecular Biology - Deadline:
April 10th, 2018 (https://www.bi-
otecnika.org/2018/03/phd-admis-
sions-2018-csir-ccmb-centre-cellu-
lar-molecular-biology/)
• JNCASR Research & Integrat-
ed PhD Programme Admissions
15 Top Biotech PhD 2018 - Deadline: April 15th, 2018
(https://www.biotecnika.org/2018/03/
Admission & Life Science jncasr-research-integrated-phd-pro-
PhD Admissions 2018-19 gramme-admissions-2018/)
• IARI PhD Admissions 2018 – Offi-
cial Notification - Deadline: April
16th, 2018 (https://www.biotecnika.
15 Biotech PhD Notification for the year org/2018/03/phd-programmes-admis-
2018-2019 are listed below. Msc Biotech & sion-2018-iari/)
Msc Life Science Candidates can apply for • PhD Admission Notification For
PhD admissions at premier institutes all over 2018 @ IISER Kolkata - Deadline:
India. Get PhD Admission with Fellowship April 15th, 2018 (https://www.biotec-
via these PhD Notifications. Integrated PhD nika.org/2018/03/phd-admission-noti-
Biotech Admissions for B.sc and B.tech can- fication-2018-iiser-kolkata/)
didates has also been enlisted. Candidates • International PhD Programme –
looking for Biotech PhD Admissions Abroad, 2018 @ Institute of Molecular Biolo-
Out of India can also apply before the noti- gy (IMB), Germany - Deadline: May
fication expires. The below table contains 22ns, 2018 (https://www.biotecnika.
details on Biotech & Life science PhD Ad- org/2018/03/international-phd-pro-
10
gramme-2018-institute-molecular-bi-
ology-imb-germany/)
• PhD Admissions 2018 @ Saha In-
stitute of Nuclear Physics - Dead-
line: May 7th, 2018 (https://www.
biotecnika.org/2018/03/phd-admis-
sions-2018-saha-institute-nucle-
ar-physics/)
• IIT Delhi PhD Admissions 2018 –
Official Notification - Deadline:
April 2nd, 2018 (https://www.biotec-
nika.org/2018/03/iit-delhi-phd-admis-
sions-2018/)
• PhD Admissions August 2018 @ IIS-
ER Thiruvananthapuram - Dead-
line: April 30th, 2018 (https://www.
biotecnika.org/2018/03/phd-admis-
sions-august-2018-iiser-thiruvanan-
thapuram/)
• IISER Bhopal PhD Admissions 2018
– Official Notification - Deadline:
April 15th, 2018 (https://www.biotec-
nika.org/2018/03/iiser-bhopal-phd-ad-
missions-2018-official-notification/)
• IISER Berhampur PhD Admission
2018 – Official Notification - Dead-
line: April 30th, 2018 (https://www.
biotecnika.org/2018/03/iiser-berham-
pur-phd-admission-2018/)
• PhD & Integrated PhD Admissions
2018 @ Tezpur University - Dead-
line: April 6th, 2018 (https://www.
Vol. 02 NO 13
biotecnika.org/2018/03/phd-integrat-
ed-phd-admissions-2018-tezpur-uni-
versity/)
• PhD Admissions 2018-2019 (Bi-
osciences) @ IIT Bhubaneswar -
Deadline: April 10th, 2018 (https://
www.biotecnika.org/2018/03/phd-ad-
missions-2018-2019-bioscienc-
es-iit-bhubaneswar/)
• PhD Research Admissions 2018
@ IIT Kanpur - Deadline: April
4th, 2018 (https://www.biotecnika.
org/2018/03/phd-research-admissions-
2018-iit-kanpur/)
• Integrated PhD Admissions August
2018 @ IISER Thiruvananthapuram
- Deadline: April 2nd, 2018 (https://
www.biotecnika.org/2018/03/15-top-
biotech-phd-admission-life-science-
phd-admissions-2018-19/)
Majority of the premier PhD institutes
requires candidates with CSIR NET Qual-
ification , GATE Qualification. CSIR NET
Exam is conducted twice a year through
which you can enroll for PhD at leading in-
stitutes. GATE Exam is conducted once in a
year for admissions at IIsc & IIT’s.
Vol. 02 NO 13
Indian Air Force has an exclusive va-
cancy for Biochemistry candidates. M.sc
Biochemistry, Biochemistry Postgradu-
ates looking for Biochemistry Govt Job
can apply via the above application form.
Relevant Biochem Job, Biochemistry Job,
Msc Biochem Job, Bsc Biochem Job will
be regularly updated here at Biotecnika –
Biochemistry Jobs Portal.
Rewarding research careers at Ministry of
Defence, Indian Air Force – Bengaluru. BSc
& MSc candidates with Biochemistry and
Toxicology backgrounds can apply for the
Senior Scientific Assistant positions that are
available at Indian Air Force, Bangalore.
Applications are invited from eligible de-
partmental candidates for filling up of Senior
Scientific Assistant post on deputation basis
at IAM, Bangalore. The details of the post
and eligibility conditions are as follows:-
Name of the Position: Senior Scientific
Assistant
Exclusive Govt Research Job Vacancy
for Food Technology/ Dairy Technology/
Bio-Technology / Bio-Chemistry or Micro-
biology at The Kolkata Municipal Corpo-
ration. Recruitment Examination will be
held for the post of Food Safety Officer
(Food Inspector) under Health Depart-
ment of The Kolkata Municipal Corpora-
tion.
On-line application are invited through
website www.mscwb.org from the Citizens
of lndia from 15/03/2018 to 16/04/2018 for
recruitment to the post of Food Safety Officer
(Food Inspector) under Health Department of
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
Name of the Post : Food Safety Officer
(Food Inspector)
The Commission will prepare a panel and
a Reserve List of Successful Candidates and
the Reserve List will contain 50% of reserve
against the exact number of Vacancies Cate-
gory-wise.
Scale of Pay / Salary :
PB -3 (Rs. 7,100 to 37,600/- ) Plus Grade
pay Rs. 4,100/-
No of Vacancy :
03(Three) : S.C. -02, S.T. -01.
Essential Qualifications for Direct Re-
JOBS
No.of.Vacancy : 04 (Physiology- 02, Psy-
chology- 01, Toxicology Bio­Chemistry- 01)
Classification: General Central Service,
Gp ‘B’, Non-Ministerial. Non-Gazetted.
Ministry/ Department: Ministry of De-
fence/Indian Air Force
Tenure of Deputation: 03 years extendable
to 5 years.
Scale of Pay (Pre-revised) : PB-2 (9300-
34800 with Grade Pay Rs. 4600/-)
QUALIFICATION:
(a)
(i) Holding analogous post on regular basis
in the parent cadre/department;
OR
(ii) With 05 years service in the grade ren-
cruitment:­
i) A degree in Food Technology or Dairy
Technology or Bio-Technology or Oil Tech-
nology or Agricultural Science or Veterinary
Services or Bio-Chemistry or Micro-Biology
or Master’s Degree in Chemistry or a Degree
in Medicine from a Recognized university.
ii) Qualification required under F.S.S. Rules
2011 as will be amended time to time, (as
amended by the Government of West Bengal,
Health & Family Welfare Department and
following guidelines have been intimate by
the Commissioner of Food Safety, West Ben-
gal vide no. 124/HF/CFS/1A-11/2013DT.
29.09.2016):-
• As per Rule -2.1.3 ( 1) (iii) of Food Safe-
ty and Standards Rules, 2011 Training has to
be completed successfully before issuance of
the appointment letter by the Commission of
Food safety.
• As per guideline of FSSAI, duration of
training of Food Safety Officer is 40 (forty)
days and Food Safety Officer newly notified
by State can smoothly perform their duties
and implement the Food Safety and Stand-
ards Act, 2006, and Rules and Regulation,
there under, a course of 5 (five) days is pro-
posed to be conducted by the Food Authority
on interim basis.
iii) Has successfully completed training as
specified by the Food Authority in a recog-
nized Institution or Institution approved for
March 27th, 2018.
INDIAN AIR FORCE BIOCHEMISTRY JOB –
SCIENTIFIC ASSISTANT POST VACANT
dered after appointment thereto on a regular The brief description of duty: Teaching; To
basis In PB-2 (Rs. 9300-34800) with Grade conduct and assist in research; To handle lab-
Pay of Rs. 4200/· or In the parent cadre/de- oratory and allied equipment; To do all other
partment: jobs associated with research and teaching
allotted by the officer.
AND
How to Apply:
(b) Possessing the following educational
qualifications and experience: Applications are to be forwarded to Com-
(i) 03 years Diploma in Mechanical Engi- mandant IAM, Vimanapura Post, Bangalore.
neering or Chemical Engineering or 560017. Applications are to be forwarded
Rubber Technology or B.Sc (with Physics, through proper channel in the prescribed for-
Chemistry, Mathematics) or B.Sc (Honours) mat.
in Chemistry/Mathematics/Bio-Chemistry/
Statistics/Physiology or B.A/B.Sc in Psy- Last Date: The last date for receipt of ap-
chology; plication form is 60 Days from the date of
(ii) 02 years experience In the field of Met- publication of this advertisement.
allography/Oil Testing/Rubber Technology/
Bio Chemical Lab/Statistics/Physiology/Psy-
chiatric Lab.
(iii) 02 Years experience in the field of Met-
allography/Oil Testing/Rubber Technology/
Bio Chemical Lab/Statistics/ Physiology/
Psychiatric Lab.
FOOD SAFETY OFFICER / FOOD
INSPECTOR JOB AT KOLKATA MUNICIPAL
CORPORATION
the purpose. of the municipal Service Commission within
B. Age not more than 37 years as on 1 st 7 (Seven) days preceding the date of Person-
January, 2018 ( Upper age relaxation is ad- ality Test I Interview. Otherwise be/ she will
missible for only to S.C., S.T. candidates of be considered not eligible for the Personality
West Bengal as per Rule ). Test/ Interview.
Method of Recruitment & Syllabus: The
method of recruitment and Syllabus will be Last Date:
notified later on in our website www.mscwb. Last date for Registration for on-line
org. application and generation of challan is
16/04/2018 and application fee along with
Application Fee: (Non refundable) processing charges must be deposited to the
I. Application Fee For S.C., S.T. candidates Bank by 17/04/2018 and the process of sub-
only processing charges of Rs. 50/- (Rupees mission of Application must be completed by
fifty) plus Rs. 20/ – (Rupees Twenty) towards 18/04/2018 .
Bank Charges for Challan deposit.
II. The application fees plus processing NOTE: The Municipal Service Commis-
charges as mentioned in Para (1 ) above shall sion reserves the right to rectify errors and
be collected by all the branches of the United omissions, if any, in the process of holding
Bank of India and the same to be deposited to the Examination and final declaration of
Account No. 0088010367936 through Chal- result.
lan generated after submission of On-line
Application at our website www.mscwb.org.
III. Besides above, a candidate may opt.
for On-line payment of aforesaid fees and
charges through lndiaideas.com Limited (Bill
Desk).
Miscellaneous:
A candidate now in service under Central
or the State Government, Semi Government,
local/ Statutory Body shall have to ensure
that No-Objection Certificate (N.O.C.) from
his /her present Employer reaches the Office
11
March 27th, 2018.
If you are an msc candidate and are look-
ing for high paying government jobs, then
look for the research scientist vacancy at
CDSCO. Central Drugs Standard Control
Organization is hiring for research scien-
tist with high salary of Rs. 50,000/- p.m..
Central Drugs Standard Control Organi-
zation – CDSCO is hiring biotech candi-
dates as Per the details below:
F. No.A.12016/02/2015-D(Pt-II)
Directorate General of Health Services
Central Drugs Standard Control Organiza-
tion Vacancy of Research Scientist (Medical
Device & Diagnostics), CDSCO
Drugs Controller General (India), Mo-
H&FW intends recruiting a suitable person
against the position of Research Scientist
(Medical Devices & Diagnostics) on purely
contractual basis. The details are as under:-
Name of the Position : Research Scientist
There is an exciting research opportunity
for msc and phd microbiology candidates
at Eureka Forbes. Eureka Forbes research
job opportunity is available for msc and
phd candidates with a microbiology back-
ground, biochemistry candidates can also
check out all of the details on the same be-
low:
Name of the Position : Water Lab In-
charge
No.of.Openings : 02
Industry Type :
Consumer Electronics / Appliances / Du-
rables
Role : Product Development Executive
12
(Medical Device & Diagnostics)
No.of.Posts : 01
Location :
New Delhi with requirement of travel to
States.
Age Limit :
No Age Limit.
Remuneration :
Rs. 50,000/- consolidated (per month).
Tenure of Position :
Initially for a period up to 31.07.2018
which may be extended from time to time as
per requirement of work.
Educational Qualification and Experi-
ence:
• B. Tech/8.E m Electrical/Instrumenta-
tion/Clinical/Biomedical Engineering/
PG in Biotechnology from recognized
Functional Area :
Production, Manufacturing, Maintenance
Employment Type :
Full Time , Permanent Job
Compensation :
3,00,000 – 4,50,000 P.A.
Location : Indore
Job Description:
• Ensure that Regional Water Quali-
ty Research Centers are technology
center for the Region by ensuring they
are properly equipped and proper doc-
umentation maintained
• Keep updated with latest training ma-
terial regarding products and new tech-
nology
• Support the Sales and Service team in
GOVT RESEARCH SCIENTIST POSITION @
CDSCO WITH SALARY OF
RS. 50,000/- P.M.
Institute/University; Post Graduate Di-
ploma in similar discipline would be
desirable.
• Computer proficiency with high lev-
el of familiarity with commonly used
package like MS Word, Excel Power
Point & Web Surfing to search relevant
data & documents.
• Excellent communication and pres-
entation skills, analytical and interper-
sonal abilities, excellent oral and writ-
ten communication skill in English.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a mul-
ti-disciplinary team environment.
• Experience of working in Medical De-
vices manufacturing/medical devices
research/medical devices testing Labo-
ratory for a minimum period of 2 years
will be desirable.
Rules & Responsibilities:
• Undertaking technical assessment for
EUREKA FORBES RESEARCH CAREERS :
WATER LAB INCHARGE POST FOR
MICROBIOLOGY CANDIDATES
the region by conducting regular train-
ing programs to upgrade their skills and
evaluation of the training
• Resolve water quality complaints re-
ceived, along with service team
• Participate in the free service camps
• Visit customers explain the purification
process, take water sample for chemi-
cal & bacteria test and issue customer
confidence certificates
• Conduct field trials, new product per-
formance certifications, and get exter-
nal certifications for existing products
• Generate maximum revenue through
water testing
• Generate reference sales and AMCs
• Conduct water mapping surveys and
give the feedback to marketing for the
position of the products as per the mar-
ket requirements
• Participate in key business prospect-
Vol. 02 NO 13
devices & diagnostics.
• Providing technical assistance towards
identification and regulation medical
devices & diagnostics
• Analysis of data/market research on
quality assessments.
• Undertaking other assignments, which
may be assigned from time to time.
How to Apply:
Application must reach the undersigned at
CDSCO(HQ), FDA Bhawan, Kotla Road,
New Delhi up to 2nd April, 2018 by mail
(admn.drugs@cdsco.nic.in) in the prescribed
proforma of application enclosed and no ex-
tra documents like certificates/degree etc.
are required to be sent with the application.
These will be checked at the time of inter-
action.
Last date for receipt of application : up to
2nd April, 2018
ing surveys and communicate to the
concerned & document the same (i.e.
Apartment campaigns)
• Participate in exhibitions along with
marketing team
• Monitoring of air and water via Eureka
Forbes Institute of Environment
• Conduct society programs on environ-
ment ( 2 programs) in a month
Experience : 2 – 5 Years
Education:
• UG – B.Sc – Bio-Chemistry, Microbi-
ology
• PG – MS/M.Sc(Science) – Any Spe-
cialization, Chemistry, Microbiology
• Doctorate – Ph.D – Advertising/Mass
Communication, Microbiology