Early detection of Oral Cancer & Kala-Azar: CSIR

New Delhi : The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), towards its vision of safeguarding the nation’s health, today focused its theme on ‘Generics & Healthcare’ as a part of CSIR Platinum Jubilee Technofest at 36th India International Trade Fair, Pragati Maidan. A wide range of innovations, technologies and products were displayed in the pavilion. A large number of scientists, researchers and industrial partners of CSIR attended the seminar organized on this theme day.

Developed by CSIR-CDRI, Lucknow, the world’s first Oral Contraceptive Centchroman Pills, ‘Saheli’, for women has benefitted more than 6 lakhs women per year. Effective in preventing heavy menstrual bleeding, abnormal bleeding and nostalgia, it also acts as anti-cancer against breast, head, neck, and chronic myeloid leukemia cells. 

Addressing the seminar, Dr. Arun Bandopadhyay, CSIR-IICB said, “CSIR-IICB has innovated drugs and technologies to fight chronic heart diseases. The Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD), a very common disease in rural areas, is hampering the health of the nation. It appears in early child days as fever, and then it leading valve disorder if not detected early. People die without proper diagnosis.”

Dr R. Ramaiah, Director, CSIR-NEIST, Jorhat said, “Efficacy of drugs is very important in herbal products. ‘Good labs practices’ must be attained by the developers of drugs. We have developed anti-arthritis drug over the years just to get assured on the safety of the drugs. Now we have licensed it for commercial launch.”

Prof. Samit Chattopadhyay, Director, CSIR-IICB said, “We have developed anti-cancer drugs. Some more drugs like Prostalyn already in the market cure enlarged prostate which causes cancer. Leishmania Diagnostic Kit will be launched soon to heal Kala Azar.”

Dr. B. Narsaiah, Scientist, CSIR-IICT stated that anti-cancer drugs are now easily available. The institute has come up with Anti Tuberculosis drugs. Our aim is to develop economically viable technologies for drugs.

The seminar was later addressed by Dr. Srinivas from pharmaceutical giant, Cipla on the ‘generics scenario’. He said, “India spends a lot of money in the research in generics.  There is a huge potential in developing more generics drugs with the collaboration of institutions like CSIR. It has multiple set-ups under one roof.”

Distinguished scientists from CSIR-IMTECH, CSIR-NBRI, CSIR-NCL, CSIR-IIIM, CSIR-CCMB, CSIR-CFTRI, CSIR-IHBT and CSIR-CSMCRI attended the seminar on the 12th day of CSIR Platinum Jubilee Technofest.

Science-based quiz and activities were organized by CSIR-IGIB; CSIR-IICB steered a public talk by Dr. Dipyaman Ganguli.

The day concluded with the signing of four MoUs between CSIR and its industrial partners.