GITAM has been granted academic funding of Rs 13.69 crore from the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology to establish a centre for drug discovery and marine biology research, according to a press release.
The grant conferred through the Promotion of University Research and Scientific Excellence (PURSE) programme, aims to support the procurement of new equipment, research costs, manpower, conduct of workshops/summer schools etc.
“Studies have suggested the presence of bioactive compounds in marine organisms, such as astaxanthin found in zooplankton and fucoxanthin in brown algae and certain zooplankton, which may possess anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. However, further research is needed to validate these findings for human health,” Hari Sharan Misra, professor, GITAM (Deemed to be University), said.
GITAM’s marine biologists are working towards exploration of coastal marine ecosystems, hunting for bioactive compounds in aquatic zooplankton and bacteria. Once discovered, these valuable findings are handed over to biochemists and molecular biologists for isolation and characterisation, as mentioned in the statement.
“This ambitious research project, valued at Rs 13.69 Crores, underscores the government’s commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and tackling critical healthcare issues. This grant brings national recognition to GITAM and provides an opportunity to engage in pioneering research in the field of drug discovery. DST’s recognition of our merit and trust in our institutional strengths and scientific capabilities is a moment of pride,” Ravi Kumar Gurazada, professor, GITAM (Deemed to be University), said.