Chief Guest Dr G. P. Talwar, Director Research, Talwar Research Foundation, New Delhi
CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, celebrated the 81st CSIR Foundation Day on 29 September 2022. Director, CSIR-CDRI, Dr Radha Rangarajan welcomed the guests on this auspicious occasion and said we feel proud to be a part of CSIR which was established in 1942. It has contributed significantly to the growth of Indian science & industry and in nation-building.
On this occasion, Dr G.P. Talwar, Director Research, Talwar Research Foundation, New Delhi, graced the occasion as chief guest and delivered an informative Foundation Day Lecture on "Mission-oriented Research to Develop Products of High Utility". In his oration, he emphasised that for the delivery of high-utility products we need a mission-oriented research approach.
Using the example of an immuno-therapeutic vaccine developed for multi-bacillary leprosy, he explained how this MIP (Mycobacterium indicus pranii) is serving its purpose through faster bacterial clearance and shortened recovery time. Leprosy still represents significant public health challenges, especially in low- and lower-middle-income countries. These poverty-related mycobacterial diseases require better tools to improve disease control. Therefore MIP can drastically change the ugly scars to normal and the relapse rate is also very low in MIP-vaccinated patients.
During the occasion,Dr Atul Goel, Dr Divya Singh and their team received the prestigious Dr Mridula Kamboj Award for the year 2022 for the discovery and development of the technology “A Novel Orally Active Fracture Healing Drug Candidate S-007-1500: From Lead Identification to Phase-I clinical Trial”.
Chief Scientist and Project leader Dr Atul Goel informed that there is no oral FDA-approved drug available in the market worldwide. However, pre-clinical studies with S-007-1500 have shown 40-50% accelerated bone regeneration at the fracture site with good bone strength. CDRI has received Phase-I clinical trial approval from CDSCO and the technology of S-007-1500 has been successfully transferred by Dr Goel to Troikaa Pharmaceuticals Limited, Ahmedabad, for conducting Phase-I clinical Trial at KGMU, Lucknow, early next year.
CDRI colleagues who have superannuated in the previous year and those who have completed 25 years of service in CSIR were felicitated on this occasion. Besides the meritorious wards of CDRI colleagues who have secured more than 90% in science in High School and Intermediate also received cash prizes and certificates for outstanding academic performances. For academic excellence, Ms Madhusnuhi Panda and Mr Anant Gauniyal got Rs 5000/- cash prize for securing more than 90% marks and 100% marks in one science subject and Ms Ishani Sharma and Mr Pranjal Dwivedi got Rs. 3000/- cash prize for securing more than 90% marks in 12th Class.
Besides, concluding the Hindi Pakhwada, the winners of various events organised during the celebration and the employees performing their duties in Hindi throughout the year were also felicitated with certificates and cash prizes.
The programme was concluded with a vote of thanks by the Chairperson, Organising Committee Dr Smrati Bhadauria.
