Nitte University sets up NUCSER, Indrani Karunasagar to head

MANGALORE: Nitte University has established a research center — Nitte University Center for Science Education and Research (NUCSER). This center is presently headed by Indrani Karunasagar, who is an internationally renowned scientist in the area of biomedical education and research. She comes to NUCSER with her vast experience in developing and commercializing biotechnologies in the area of diagnostics and health management.
Most scientific developments require interdisciplinary research, for example, development of many high technology medical instruments that are used in various hospitals and diagnostic laboratories could not have been possible without collaboration between clinicians, biomedical scientists, engineers and information technology specialists. Most educational institutions are tightly compartmentalized and this is not conducive to promote interdisciplinary R&D.
NUCSER has been set up recognising the need to encourage cross talk between academic disciplines. Indrani is a recipient of several national and international awards including bio-technology product and process development award and life time achievement award from the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Award for research excellence from ICAR and Unesco Biotechnology Award.
She has been nominated by Unesco as director of Microbial Resources Center (MIRCEN) in marine biotechnology, which will now be based in NUCSER. Another feather in her cap is her nomination as the only Indian member of the international jury for Unesco Life Science Prize for research and social relevance. She has trained over 60 postgraduate and doctoral students, who are now occupying prestigious faculty and industry positions in India and abroad.
Presently, NUCSER will offer bachelors and master degree courses in biomedical sciences and carry out research in frontier areas such as cancer biology, stem cell biology, public health including food safety, biotechnology and bioinformatics, microbiology and biochemistry. NUCSER is developing a state of the art laboratory and already, a Stem Cell Center has started functioning. NUCSER is coordinating research in Nitte University.
NUCSER is developing international collaborations and will have visiting faculty from Australia, United States and several European countries with whom Indrani has collaborated for over two decades. Undergraduate and postgraduate students admitted to NUCSER will have opportunity to work in well equipped modern laboratories and get practical training that would prepare them to take up career in any area of biomedical sciences and technologies.