IIT Mandi Launches BioNEST Center for Biotech & Healthcare Innovation

The center, sponsored by the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), received an initial funding of INR 5 Cr.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi has launched the BioNEST-IIT Mandi Catalyst Centre, a new initiative to advance biotechnology and healthcare solutions in the Himalayan region. 

The center, sponsored by the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), received an initial funding of INR 5 Cr.

The BioNEST-IIT Mandi Catalyst Center is designed to address the unique social, economic, and ecological challenges of the region. 

Its goal is to stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship within the biotechnology and healthcare sectors by leveraging IIT Mandi’s strategic location and robust ecosystem.

Center’s Focus & Objectives

The BioNEST-IIT Mandi Catalyst Center aims to develop solutions for disease detection, affordable healthcare, medical devices, prosthetics, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine.

It will explore new avenues in medical science, including drug discovery, biotechnology applications, bioactive compounds, supplements, and functional foods for health and wellness.

“The BioNEST-IIT Mandi Catalyst Center is set up with the vision to foster an ecosystem that supports the development of innovative healthcare solutions and biotechnological advancements tailored to the needs of the Himalayan region,” said the spokesperson from IIT Mandi.

Integration with Existing Research Efforts

In a related development, IIT Mandi recently inaugurated the Center for Human-Computer Interaction (CHCi) in collaboration with the Technology Innovation Hub (TIH). The center aims to create an environment conducive to research, industry collaboration, and talent development in healthcare technology. It focuses on assistive, experience, and device-led technologies.

Furthermore, researchers from IIT Madras and IIT Mandi have been working together to enhance the production of Camptothecin, a crucial component in anti-cancer drugs. The Plant Cell Technology Lab at IIT Madras has developed a genome-scale metabolic model for Nothapodytes nimmoniana plant cells. 

This project, funded by the Science and Engineering Board (SERB) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST), was detailed in the peer-reviewed Journal Frontiers of Plant Science.

Another notable development was when a team of scientists at IIT Mandi developed natural polymer-based smart nanoparticles tailored for treating colorectal cancer. These nanoparticles demonstrated the ability to release drugs specifically at the cancer site in response to stimuli unique to the affected area.

The findings of this study were published in the Carbohydrate Polymers Journal, highlighting the promising advancements in cancer treatment facilitated by innovative nanotechnology approaches pioneered by researchers at IIT Mandi.