Life Sciences Research to Product Development

Dr. Pronobesh Chattopadhyay, M.E (Biomedical Engg.), M.Pharm., Ph.D. is a pharmaceutical scientist in DRDO. His working areas are chemical pharmacology, toxicological interaction on expression, chemical target to TRPV, AdipoR1, AdipoR2, c-Jun kinase pathway in lungs and eyes, and these resulted in exploration to development of many defense products. He was instrumental in developing many defense products which are successfully used by India’s armed forces. A notable technology like the “chili grenade” developed from Bhot Jolakia (one of the hottest chilies in the world) has been transferred (transfer of technology) to three industries and are presently used successfully by many law enforcing agencies in India. He also developed protective gear for ultra-violet protection which are stable at −20oC. He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences India (NASI) and Fellow of Indian Chemical Society (FICS). He has published more than 170 research papers and five book chapters and filed 15 patents while three patents are granted. He has received many awards, including the Gandhi Young Technology Innovation Awards under Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), Laboratory Scientist Awards, Technology Awards, etc. He is a regular reviewer of ethnopharmacology, toxicology, and biochemical pharmacology, and Elsevier publishing house recognized him as a potential reviewer. Twelve Ph.D. degrees and three post doctorate degrees have been awarded under his supervision, and 25 postgraduate students completed their dissertations. Dr. Danswrang Goyary graduated in Biotechnology and did his M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Biochemistry from Northeastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong, India. He qualified NETJRF (UG-CSIR) in 2002 and received a fellowship for his doctoral degree. He started his professional career at the Defence Institute of Bio-Energy Research, Haldwani, Uttarakhand as a scientist in the year 2005 and extensively contributed to the fields of life sciences and biopharmaceuticals of defense importance as a biochemist. He is presently working in Defence Research Laboratory, DRDO, Tezpur (Assam). He is actively involved in studying the mechanism of different kind of wound healing, hemostasis and associated with the development of defense products viz. chili grenades, snake repellent, high-SPF sunscreen, impregnated fabrics for disease vector and insect control, etc. He has contributed more than 50 publications in peer reviewed journals, secured two patents, supervised three Ph.D. students, and guided more than 15 post-graduate students. He has received laboratory awards such as Technology Group awards, Science Day oration award, Technology Day oration award, etc. He is a member of many committees such as institutional animal ethical committees (IAEC) and institutional biosafety committees (IBSC), etc.