IFPGS Students Visited Golden Jubilee Biotech Park for Women Society on 19.12.2018

The students and staff of the Institute of Fisheries Post Graduate Studies (IFPGS), Institute of Fisheries Biotechnology (IFBT) and Business School visited the “Golden Jubilee Biotech Park for Women Society” and Madras Diabetic Research Foundation on 19.12.2018. Dr. D. Sudhakaran, General Manager welcomed us and a video on MS. Swaminathan Bio-Incubation centre was played on the auditorium. Golden Jubilee Biotech Park for Women Society is a unique venture set up with a mission to provide opportunities to qualified women to take up self employment through biotechnological enterprises. The park has been set up with financial support in the form of grant from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, New Delhi and technical support from M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation in the 20 acres of land allotted by the Government of Tamil Nadu and implemented by Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO). The park has been designed based on the principle of decentralised production supported by centralised services of biotechnology based enterprises in the areas of agriculture, food and nutrition, medical and health care. The park focuses on training, capacity building and offering support services.

The park has set up an incubation facility supported by BIRAC Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council which has a central instrumentation facility. Sixty eight students of first and second year B.Tech (Biotechnology), M.F.Sc (Fish Biotechnology), M.F.Sc (Fish Genetics and Breeding), M.F.Sc (Fish Pharmacology and Toxicology) and M.B.A (Fisheries Business Enterprises), 11 faculty staff visited the Biotech Park. The students were divided into two groups under the guidance of Ms. Bhuvaneshwari and Ms. Nisha. The students were taken to the Incubation centre which has instruments like PCR, centrifuge, RT PCR, fermenter, HPLC, rotary evaporator, etc. The principles and the operation of the instruments were explained in detail.

We were then taken to Madras Diabetic Research Foundation (MDRF)and visited the Department of Molecular Genetics and Department of Vascular Biology. In the Department of Molecular Genetics, Dr. Radha Venkatesan, Head of the Department greeted us and gave an outline of the facilities available. She also explained about gene sequencing by Sangers Sequencing method. In the Department of Vacular Biology, Dr. Nagarajan, HOD, explained the activities and services provided by the Department.

 Dr. K. Karal Marx, Dean thanked Dr. D. Sudhakaran, General Manager for his efforts in exposing us to the facilities of the park. He also motivated the students to identify their area of interest and start nurturing their skills. The feedback of the students were also received. He further thanked Dr. Ambika Binesh, Teaching Assistant for her effort in coordinating the visit. Thus, the industrial lab visit was useful for the students and staff of the Institute.