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Kanury V. S. Rao
Chairman, IYBA Expert Committee
"IYBA is a dynamic and
forward-looking initiative of
DBT that provides a platform for
bright young investigators to
launch into their careers as
independent scientists. The
uniqueness of this program lies
in the fact that it actively
encourages the adoption of
innovative approaches in
research, and even gives a
supportive window to those
scientists who choose to explore
risky avenues. The periodic
review of progress in the
awarded projects also doubles as
a mentoring process, where the
investigators often receive
healthy and constructive pointers
from the review committee. As a
member of the IYBA committee,
it has indeed been a privilege to
be exposed to the emerging pool
of talented young scientists of
our country. And, thanks to
DBT, it is also extremely
gratifying for me to be a part of
this exciting initiative that gives
an opportunity for growth to
such scientists. I am certain that
IYBA will contribute in a large
measure towards the
strengthening pool of biological
researchers in our country."
JUNE, 2010
Innovative Young Biotechnologist Award
Opening New Doors
Mukesh Jain, NIPGR, New Delhi (Fellow 2006)
Innovative Young Biotechnologists Award (IYBA)
scheme provides an excellent opportunity to young
scientists who wish to start an independent research
career in India even if they do not hold a regular
position. I always desired to stay in India and work for
my motherland. After completing PhD, I got selected for the
prestigious IYBA award and started my independent research career
at the University of Delhi South Campus, without any regular
position and thereafter joined NIPGR at regular position. IYBA
provided me reasonably good start-up grant money to initiate my
research activities and a platform to lead my independent research
program. It has also helped me obtaining other independent
research funding and national awards. The flexibility provided in the
scheme has helped in very smooth execution of the project and
concentrate me more on the research work. IYBA has provided me
an opportunity to contribute in the scientific advancement of our
country. Email: mjain@nipgr.res.in
Sneh L Singla-Pareek, ICGEB, New Delhi, (Fellow 2006)
IYBA award from DBT has been extremely useful for me.
I feel that this award has instituted in me a great deal of
confidence and clarity as to what should be the approach
for translational crop research. I have been able to raise
transgenic rice plants with transgene pyramiding for
improved performance under salinity stress conditions. My
next dream is to see these plants in the hands of farmers.
And I am striving hard to achieve this objective.
Ellora Sen, National Brain Research Centre, Manesar (Fellow 2007)
The mandate of IYBA is to support biomedical
scientists at early stages of their careers with the
aim to provide opportunities for innovative ideas
and research. I am an early-career researcher with
desire to understand the link between inflammation mediated
aberrant signaling and regulation of genes associated with
tumor progression. Support from IYBA has enabled me to
pursue research in this exciting area of cancer biology. With
findings resulting from this study, I am now looking forward
to explore the complex relation between inflammation and
epigenetic regulation of genes that confer resistance to
apoptosis in Glioblastoma multiforme - the most malignant of
brain tumors.
BIOTECH NEWS
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