BioNEST – Dr. Moopen’s Medical College - Dr. Moopen's Medical College

The Research & Innovation unit will host the BIRAC-BioNEST Bioincubator of DMMC. DMMC is the first standalone medical college in India to be awarded this scheme by the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India and the incubator focusses in Healthcare Technologies involving Biotech, Biomed, IoT & AI, Digital Health, Healthcare Economics/Management, Blockchain & Bioinformatics.

Objectives:

Indigenous healthcare technology is lacking in the country and many products are currently imported. Therefore the technologies are not based on our patient population. DMMC as a database is continuously accumulated based on which unmet clinical needs can be addressed and has the facilities for biomedical technology development in its R&I unit which will be utilized to promote Start Ups to develop innovative indigenous healthcare technology products.
DMMC envisage reduced lab to market duration by providing an incubation facility within the campus and aims to utilize the opportunity through Make in India & Atmanirbhar Bharath platforms.

The goal of the proposed BioNEST is to help young innovators and entrepreneurs to develop healthcare technology by nurturing them through various steps of need identification till product / process validation.
DMMC is located in a backward district of Kerala where the healthcare facilities are very limited and it aims to support regional development by providing better healthcare, educational opportunities and nurturing young talents for technology development.

Beneficiaries of DMMC BioNEST:

Young Aspirants – Medical, Engineering, Pharma, Veterinary, Biotech students & Start Ups [It is expected that proximity to NITs-Calicut, Trichy, Suratkal, NIELIT-Calicut, IIM-Calicut, IIIT- Kottayam, , IIT- Palakkad, Govt. Medical Colleges, Engineering Colleges, Dental College, Universities-Veterinary, Health & Agriculture will facilitate the process]
Start-ups oriented towards healthcare technology
Local Community – Regional Development
The State – Technology, Infrastructure, Revenue Development & Self Sustainability
Patients & Clinicians

The Bioincubator facility will be established and operational soon.

Dr. Lissy Krishnan

Dr. Lissy Krishnan completed her PhD in Biochemistry from Sree Chitra Thirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), Trivandrum and did her Post-Doctoral Fellowship at University of Minnesota in Platelet Biology. She joined SCTIMST in 1980 and superannuated as Senior Grade Scientist G, Department of Applied Biology; continuing for one more year as Emeritus Scientist. With over 40 years of research experience, she joined the Research & Innovation wing of Dr. Moopen’s Medical College as its Director for Biological Research & Innovation.

During her career, she has successfully developed and evaluated 6 bio-therapuetics –

Human plasma-derived Fibrin Sealant (FS) for soft tissue adhesion
Therapeutic Human Serum Albumin (HSA) and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG)
Fibrin as hemostat & wound healing matrix
Fibrin Wafer for Drug (curcumin) Delivery
Increased Drug (curcumin) bioavailability using HSA
Fibrin and Bivalent anti-snake venom avian antibodies for therapeutic use.

Her research expertise also includes Adult Stem Cell-based Tissue Engineering & Regenerative medicine. She has developed fibrin-based, cell-specific extra cellular matrix composition for differentiation of circulating adult stem cells for regenerative therapy (Endothelial cell, Smooth muscle cells, Neurons & Keratinocytes). Her works also included development of hybrid scaffold using biodegradable polymer and biomimetic fibrin composite for small diameter vascular grafts and tissue engineered skin substitutes. Her In vivo animal model preclinical evaluations include Burn & Diabetic animal wound model for skin substitutes, Spinal cord injury model for fibrin aided neural progenitor transplantation, Myocardial infarction model for cardiac progenitor transplantation, Rabbit knee joint inflammation model for the anti-inflammatory function of HSA-Curcumin and Lung cancer (xenograft) model in SCID mice for anticancer property of Curcumin-HSA.

She has more than 100 publications in reputed peer reviewed journals, more than 100 conference proceedings, 7 Indian Patents and 2 US Patents granted to her credit. 10 Patents are under prosecution. She is a manuscript reviewer for several journals on Biomaterials, Stem Cell & Tissue Engineering and an expert project reviewer for funding agencies like TIFAC-DST, ICMR, DSIR, DBT, and KSCSTE- Kerala. She was awarded ICMR Fellowship at Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA in 2008. Dr. Lissy was also sponsored by Indo-US Forum to J.F. Kennedy School at Harvard University, USA to participate on “Science, Technology, and Innovation, Policy” course & lab/industry visits Nov 27-Dec 10, 2005.

Dr. Lissy was instrumental in establishing the COFRAC and NABL accredited testing facilities at SCTIMST and her team was providing In vitro blood compatibility Testing Service (ISO10993 part4), drug responsiveness to vascular cells and free Consultancy services for Industrial and Academic customers. She is a Technical Assessor (Biochemistry) and Lead Assessor for the National Accreditation Board for Laboratories (NABL), Govt. of India and has assessed more than 60 laboratories across the country during 2004-2013.

On Academics, Dr. Lissy has guided 14 PhD students and co-guided 2 students at IIT Madras and University of Copenhagen. She initiated and coordinated the M.Phil program of SCTIMST and has conducted classroom teaching for Ph.D./M.Phil/M.Tech course work in Research methodology, Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine, Blood Compatibility of Biomaterials, Diagnostic Instrumentation.

With a passion to pursue translational potential of laboratory research into clinical use, Dr. Lissy continues to explore for greater opportunities at the R & I wing of Dr. Moopen’s Medical College.

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Dr. V. Kalliyana Krishnan

Dr. Kalliyana Krishnan had his basic education in Trichur, Kerala, took his PhD degree in Biomaterials Science & Technology from Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology, Trivandrum and had his postdoctoral training in University of Liverpool, UK. He started his career in Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Trivandrum and joined SCTIMST in 1979. He worked as a scientist for nearly 42 years in biomaterials area and superannuated as Scientist G / Professor (Senior Grade) in Nov.2018. He held various positions of eminence during this period. He was Head of the Department of Biomaterials Science & Technology. He was also the Dean of Academic affairs of the Institute from 2016-18. He joined Dr. Moopen’s Medical College in August 2021 and currently acts as the Director of Biomedical Research & Innovation.

During his career, he was responsible in developing various medical products (12 Nos in all) and in translating these technologies to industry, many of them being still popular in the market (Blood bag, IUD, Dental restorative, Bonding agent etc). He has nearly 110 publications in peer reviewed journals, 75 abstracts in conference proceedings and 28 patents also to his credit. He has guided PhD, MDS, MTech, MPhil and MSc students. He has presented many papers in international and national conferences, chaired many committees, was member of the Governing Body, Senior and Junior staff selection committees, Board of Studies, Academic Committee, in the Director board of TiMed (Business Incubator), Chairperson of Internal Research review committee, Board of Studies, Research Framework Document committee, Library committees etc. He has received many awards including EMPI-IE award, Plastic Technology Award, Institute Award etc. He is also reviewer of many journals.

Currently, Dr. Kalliyana Krishnan also serves as expert in the Scientific Advisory Group (SAG, National Biopharma Mission) of BIRAC, a mentor and subject expert in HTIC (Healthcare Technology Incubation Centre), IIT, Madras, and in doctoral Advisory committee of two PhD students. He is married to Dr. Lissy Krishnan and raised two sons (Mr. Kartik Krishnan and Dr. Vivek Krishnan)

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Mr. Varun R

Post Graduate in Biotechnology with more than 14 years of experience in Healthcare, Life-science Research and Program Management. During this career, Mr. Varun has accomplished technical skills and expertise in Animal Cell Culture, Tissue Engineering, Nanotechnology, Molecular Biology, Proteomics, Ethnopharmacology and In-vitro Diagnostics.

He started his research career on apoptotic induction and anti-inflammatory activities of medicinal plants on various cell lines for drug development applications. He was successful in establishing a primary cell culture model of human benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) cells for an ICMR funded project on anti BPH activity of traditional medicinal plants for which suitable cell lines are not available for in vitro screening. His expertise in establishing primary stem cell cultures include human adult bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells & its differentiation to osteoblasts in vitro and rat bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells & its differentiation to pancreatic islets. Mr. Varun’s experience also includes toxicology, cytotoxicity and cell adhesion studies for Tissue Engineering applications. His expertise has also contributed to the establishment of prevalence of a non-infectious disease (Lepidopterism) which mimics the fatal monsoon fever epidemics in Kerala. His research findings has been published in many national and international journals like PLOS one & Material Science and Engineering and has also guided projects for many post graduate students. He is trained in animal experimental techniques and is a qualified Radiological Safety Officer (Research Applications) from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. Currently at the R&I unit, Mr. Varun is involved in the development of a point of care diagnostic device for detection of Insulin Resistance and in the development of a bio-ink for 3D bio-printing of tissue constructs for drug testing as well as therapeutic applications.

Mr. Varun also possess profound experience in Research Lab Management, Budgeting & Finance, Procurement & Materials Management, HR and Facility Management, Research Collaboration Programmes, Patent filing, Project Management & Liaisoning, Lab Safety, Statutory Compliance and all aspects of Research Lab operations. He is the Member Secretary of the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee of MIMS Research Foundation registered with the CPCSEA, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Govt. of India and has also served as the Member Secretary of the Institutional Biosafety Committee registered with the RCGM, Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India. Mr. Varun was instrumental in obtaining the Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation recognition for the institute from Department of Scientific & Industrial Research, Govt. of India and is conversant with the statutory and accreditation processes applicable to research organisations.

Mr. Varun has also played a significant role in Dr. Moopen’s Medical College securing the award of prestigious BioNEST Bio-incubator scheme of Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India making it India’s first standalone Medical College to obtain this achievement.

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Objectives:

Beneficiaries of DMMC BioNEST:

Hospitals

BLS & ACLS Course

World Health Day

പ്രൊഫസർ ഡഗ് മാക്വിനി സന്ദർശിച്ചു

Dr. Lissy Krishnan

Dr. V. Kalliyana Krishnan

Dr. Chithra J S

Dr. Ashna Gauthaman

Mr. Varun R

Mr. Ashok P

Mr. Ajay Krishna

Mr. Vysakh Y

Ms. Nandana C.T

Mr. Abhijith M,