‘Innovation gives you confidence and a respectable position across the globe’

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: Distinguished professor Ananda Mohan Chakrabarty, now at the department of microbiology and immunology at the University of Illinois, Chicago, drew worldwide attention when he applied for the first patent on a genetically engineered organism in 1971. So controversial was his crude oil-eating bacterium, that his patent wasn’t cleared until 1981 following a ruling by the US Supreme Court. Prof Chakrabarty’s landmark research has since paved the way for many successive patents for genetically modified micro-organisms, and catapulted him into the international spotlight. Apart from being a scientist extraordinaire and professor, Chakrabarty has been an advisor to judges, governments, and the UN. Alok Sharma caught up with Prof Chakrabarty during his visit to India and discussed a wide range of subjects. Excerpts:

To begin with, what is the status of your research on cancer?

After we got encouraging results with the mice we approached the US FDA to allow us to conduct phase I human trials for toxicity. To give you little background, when a protein derived from a pathogen I have a patent on, was given to mice we were able to shrink the tumour between 60% and 85% without causing any toxicity.

Also encouraging is the fact that my research opens a window of opportunity for the development of vaccines or drugs against HIV/AIDS and other viral diseases.

By when can we expect a drug against cancer?

We were successful at the initial step and we are now moving forward. Nobody can really predict the success of a research project. If we find toxicity in humans due to the pathogen, after putting in so many years and millions of dollars, we stand nowhere. But we are feel it should take another five years and $50 million to conclude the research.

What advantage can India draw from your research?

I have spoken to some very senior and competent microbiologists in India about testing the same pathogen to see if it works against cervical cancer, which is a very common problem here but not in the west. So, I told them that they would have to find a solution for this problem on their own since it is not a serious problem in the west and it is very unlikely that they would give priority to the issue.

What response did you get from the Indian side?