School of Chemical and Life Sciences (SCLS)

 

1. 1.     About the school – Programs of study 

 

This School consists of five departments and a centre (Centre for Translational and Clinical Research) offering BSc, MSc and PhD degrees and engages postdoctoral fellows in the following areas:

 

• Chemistry                Offered by   Department of Chemistry
• Biochemistry            Offered by   Department of Biochemistry
• Biotechnology                   Offered by   Department of Biotechnology
• Botany                     Offered by   Department of Botany
• Toxicology               Offered by   Department of Medical

Elementology & Toxicology

• Clinical Research    Offered by   Centre for Translational & Clinical

Research

 

Besides, the school has a centre, Centre for Transgenic Plant Development under the Department of Biotechnology, and the following central facilities:

 

• Centre for Transgenic Plant Development
• Central Instrumentation Facility
• Central Animal House Facility
• Herbal Garden – for cultivation and growth of medicinal plants

 

 

1. 2.     Infrastructure – Equipments and facilities 

 

The school is well-known all-over India for its State-of-the-Art infrastructure for cutting-edge research in the area of biochemical and life sciences. Some of the equipments and facilities at the Central Instrumentation Facility of the school include,

 

• Atomic Absorption spectrophotometry
• BSL-II-B2 facility
• Chemiluminescence spectroscopy
• CHNS analyser
• Circular Dichroism spectroscopy/ Spectropolarimetry
• Cold room facility
• Confocal microscopy
• Facilities for Plant Tissue Culture
• Facilities for the Animal Cell Culture
• Flow cytometry/FACS
• FTIR
• GC
• Gel Documentation system
• Gel electrophoresis (2D)
• Gradient PCR
• HPLC
• HPLC
• HPTLC
• Microbalances
• Millipore water filtration unit
• Nanodrop spectrophotometer
• Nano-LC-MS
• RT-PCR
• RT-PCR
• Scintillation counter, b
• Transgenic Containment Facility, etc
• Ultracentrifuge machines
• Ultracentrifuges
• UV-VIS spectrophotometer
• Visible spectrophotometer

 

These high-end instruments and facilities are used for facilitating the doctoral and postdoctoral research, besides supplementing the teaching and training at the school.

 

1. 3.     Classrooms and labs

 

All classrooms in each department are ICT enabled, air conditioned.

 

There are separate laboratories for PG/UG students and research scholars.

 

Curriculum is periodically revised almost every three years by the respective Boards of Study and audited.

 

Syllabus is aligned with the students’ and societal needs. Hands-on training is provided in contemporary areas to prepare students to take job or research in cutting-edge areas. A fine balance in class room teaching and hands-on experimental training is maintained in each department and centre of SCLS.

 

1. 4.     Funding

 

The school and its departments and centres receive a substantial grant from the University. Besides, departments and centres get both infrastructure and research grants from various Govt and Non-Govt, National and International sources such as,

 

1)    Extramural research grants (EMR)

 

School has sponsored research Grants-in-aid under the EMR schemes of various funding agencies including DBT, DST, SERB, CSIR, ICAR, ICMR, DRDO, UGC, DoEn, ISM&H, CCRUM, AYUSH, World Bank, DBT-India Alliance project, etc]

 

2)    PURSE grant

 

SCLS is a beneficiary of the PURSE grant of DST

 

3)    UGC-Special Assistance Program (SAP

 

Departments of the School of Chemical and Life Sciences have received the following UGC SAP grants,

 

Department of Botany, 45 Lakh (UGC-SAP DRS-I, 2011-2016)

Department of Biochemistry, 69 Lakh (UGC-SAP DRS-I)

Department of Biochemistry, 137 Lakh (UGC-SAP DRS-II)

Department of Biotechnology, 65 Lakh (UGC-SAP DRS-I, 2011-16)

Department of Biotechnology, 116 Lakh (UGC-SAP DRS-II, 2018-22)

 

4)    DST FIST

 

Department of Botany, 24.20 Lakh (DST FIST grant, 2001-05) 

Department of Biochemistry (DST FIS-1 & DST FIST-II)

Department of Biotechnology (DST FIST-II)

 

5)    DBT BUILDER

 

Following departments of SCLS are recipient of the DBT BUILDER grant of 9.66 Crore,

 

Department of Biochemistry

Department of Medical Elementology & Toxicology

1. 5.     Consultancy projects (Ongoing)

 

(i)                Consultancy project on Cannabis species sponsored by M/s Hydrogreen Leaf Private Ltd. (PI, Prof. MZ Abdin, INR 2.94 Crore)

 

(ii)             AQUAECA-W-40: An onsite disinfectant generation systems scope beyond surface sterilization (PI, Dr. Mohan Kamthan, INR 11.2 Lakhs)

 

1. 6.     Publications and publication matrices

 

The School has published hundreds of research papers in peer reviewed journals of international repute, with thousands of citations and a very high h-index.

 

Hundreds of students from this school have qualified the NET and other examinations and many have been awarded a number of prestigious fellowships.

 

Publications of the faculty/ school can be accessed on PubMed, ORCID, SCOPUS, and other database.

 

 

1. 7.     Faculty achievements

 

BOTANY

 

In the last five years, department has achieved numerous awards, honours and grants, as give below:

 

Dr. M. Iqbal R. Khan 

 

Editorial:

 

• Associate Editor- Journal of Plant Growth Regulation
• Editorial Board Member-3Biotech
• Guest Editor (2021) in Plant Physiology and Biochemistry
• Guest Editor (2021) in Plant and Soil
• Research Topic Editor (2021) in Frontiers in Plant Science
• Research Topic Editor (2020) in Frontiers in Plant Science

 

Life Member:

 

• The Crop Science Society of the Philippines, Philippines
• Indian Society for Plant Physiology, India

 

Awards:

 

• Young Scientist Platinum Jubilee Award, The National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI), 2021
• Young Scientist Award-Indian Society of Plant Physiology, 2018

 

 

BIOCHEMISTRY

 

Prof. Shakir Ali 

 

• Commonwealth Fellow of the British Council 
• UGC Research awardee 
• ICMR International Fellowship for Sr. Biomedical Scientists 

 

Prof. J.K. Batra

 

• Elected Fellow, Indian National Science Academy (FNA), 2021
• Selected J.C. Bose National Fellow, Govt. of India, 2021

 

Dr. Sayeed ur Rehman A. Kalam

 

• The World Travel Grant by International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) to attend XXVII Congress of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis held in Melbourne, Australia, International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH)

 

 

BIOTECHNOLOGY

 

Prof. Pradip K. Chakraborti

 

• INSA Fellow
• IAS Fellow
• NASI Fellow

 

Prof. M. Z. Abdin

 

• Member, National Academy of Sciences, Allahabad (MNASc)
  • Received award from His Excellency Governor of Maharashtra as a mark of honor for his excellent contribution to plant science on October 14, 2021 at Raj Bhawan, Mumbai in a function" Ek Sham Desk ke Naam 2021" organized by legal and Financial Aid Foundation.

 

Dr. Saima Wajid

 

• Member, National Academy of Medical Sciences (India)

 

Dr. Mairaj Ahmed Ansari

 

• RLF and DBT-Wellcome Trust intermediate fellow

 

MEDICAL ELEMENTOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY

 

Prof. Sheikh Raisuddin

 

• Selected in the list of top 2% scientists of world in the field of toxicology in an analysis conducted by Stanford University researchers.
• Editor, Drug & Chemical Toxicology (SCI journal published by Taylor & Francis)
• Has been awarded  IUTOX

 

Prof. Suhel Parvez

 

• Alexander von Humboldt Fellow, Germany
• Fellow of Royal Society of Biology, UK
• Faculty Research Awardee, UGC

 

 

CHEMISTRY

 

                   Information not provided

 

CLINICAL RESEARCH

 

Dr. Nidhi  

 

• Dr. Vinod Kumar Bhargawa Award 2020
• Member, National Academy of Medical Sciences (India)

 

1. 8.     Alumni & placement opportunities

 

 

BOTANY

 

Alumni of the department are distinguished teachers and scientists occupying important position in Indian universities, research institutions, colleges, Indian Administrative Services, State Administrative Services and Non-governmental organizations. The department has been acknowledged for its excellence and creativity by various agencies of National/ International repute.

 

 

BIOCHEMISTRY

 

Students are well placed in India and almost everywhere across the globe where cutting edge research and academics is a norm.

 

 

BIOTECHNOLOGY

 

                   Information not provided

 

 

MEDICAL ELEMENTOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY

 

The Department's distinguished Alumni as faculty or postdoctoral fellows are spread all over the globe. More emphasis is given to develop academic and research skills of the students. M Sc programme has integral component of dissertation work in the fourth semester. After completion of the course students have job opportunities in industry and research organizations. A good number of students qualify NET examinations conducted by UGC-CSIR in life science and forensic science streams. The Department is fully-equipped with sophisticated equipment to perform research in all major fields of toxicology including in vitro and in vivo toxicity studies.

 

Students who have obtained degree in toxicology have got placements in various companies and R&D institutes such as Sun Pharmaceuticals Ltd., CDRI, IITR, Dabur, Torrent, Cadila, Lupin, Dr. Reddy's Laboratory, Sri Ram Institute of Industrial Research, Nestle, Himalaya, Evalueserve etc.

 

 

CHEMISTRY

 

                   Information not provided

 

 

CLINICAL RESEARCH

 

Alumni of the centre are distinguished teachers and scientists occupying important position in Indian universities, research institutions, colleges, Pharmaceutical companies, Hospitals and Clinical Research organizations in India and abroad.

 

 

1. 9.     DEPRTMENTS & CENTERS

 

DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY

 

The Department of Biochemistry, established in the year 1994, is know for its best practices and excellence in teaching and research in India and abroad. The faculty is highly accomplished and is engaged in cutting-edge research in the field of biological sciences. The department is a regular recipient of grants-in-aids from various funding agencies such as CSIR, ICMR, CCRUM, DST and DBT, and is a recipient of the UGC Special Assistance Program (UGC-SAP), which has been upgraded to DRS II. The Department has also been granted "Fund for Improvement of S&T Infrastructure (FIST)" by the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India and has got a huge grant of over 2 Crores from DBT under BUILDER scheme. The department is equipped with smart classrooms and with dedicated and well-equipped labs for PG and UG students, which is in addition to the Central Instrumentation Facility of the School. Department also has a dedicated instrumentation facility equipped with some of the high end equipments. Over the years, the Department has developed facilities for high precision analytical work and has acquired equipments and tools for cellular and molecular research including the facility to work on cell lines. The academic curriculum is periodically revised in consultation with external experts and with the approval of the Board of Studies and Academic Council to keep the students abreast with current trends in Biochemistry. The syllabus is well aligned with the key national level scholarship programs like CSIR, DBT, ICMR, etc. Hands-on training is imparted to students in most of the contemporary areas, which prepares them to undertake research in cutting-edge fields for their PhD within the university or outside. There is a fine balance in class room teaching and hands-on experimental training.

 

THRUST AREAS:

1. Chronic diseases; Innate immunity; Tissue injury, Regeneration and repair (Prof. Shakir Ali)
2. Cancer aetiology; DNA damage and repair; Nutrigenomics, Proteomics (Prof. Rana Zaidi)
3. Biology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Ribonucleases in human health and disease; Targeted therapy of cancer (Prof. Janendra K. Batra)
4. Molecular Immunology (Dr. Farah Khan)
5. Alternative Splicing and diseases: Biophysical Studies (Dr. Sayeed ur Rehman)
6. Metabolism; Proteomics; Heavy metal toxicity using Saccharomyces cerevisiae, mice and in vitro models (Dr. Mohan Kamthan)
7. 7.     Computational and Molecular Virology (Dr. Vikas Sood) 
8. 8.     Infection Biology: Tuberculosis, Host-pathogen interaction (Dr. Saurabh Pandey) 

 

ACTIVITIES & COLLABORATIONS:

 

Faculties/teachers have many research collaborations with industry, institutions and universities such as NII, ICGEB, JNU, etc.

 

Currently one faculty, Dr. Mohan Kamthan, has undertaken a consultancy project with industrial collaboration.

 

          ACHIEVEMENTS:    

 

Recognized at the national and international level, and recipient of prestigious grants such as UGC-SAP, DBT-BUILDER and DST-FIST, besides numerous EMR projects to its teachers. Currently, the department is hosting a UGC FRP Assistant Professor.

 

 

DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

 

The Department of Biotechnology was established in 1997 with a vision to be recognised as a Department of International repute with a strong interdisciplinary research and teaching base in Plant and Animal Biotechnology with active collaboration of industries and health-care institutions.

 

The department offers three programmes of study with an excellent and updated curriculum as a blend of biological science and applied research. First, a three years’ under-graduate course leading to B.Sc. in Biotechnology that provides a surfeit of knowledge and opportunities. Second, a two-year post-graduate course leading to M.Sc. in Biotechnology that opens multiple doctoral research and work opportunities across the world. Third, doctoral research leading to Ph.D. degree in the well-equipped labs with the experienced research supervisors. It also offers opportunity for post-doctoral research.

 

The faculty in the department is enthusiastic and dynamic with the research experience in the labs of international repute both in India and abroad. They are the excellent and experienced teachers. Their research is well recognised internationally. The students of biotechnology have a good rate of success in NET-CSIR/UGC, DBT-JRF, ICMR-JRF and RA, etc. They are selected in reputed institutions for Ph.D. besides placements abroad.

 

THRUST AREAS:

 

1. Molecular biology and regulation of gene expression in infectious and non-infectious diseases; Host pathogen interaction; Molecular immunology; Molecular virology and drug delivery.
2. Clinical virology and vaccine development.
3. Development of diagnostic tests and nano-enabled interfaces and multiplexed paper-based devices for the detection of diseases.
4. Genomics/ Proteomics of cancers and development of biomarkers for early detection and valuable therapeutic targets.
5. Conservation of medicinally important endangered plants through in vitro approach.
6. Enhancement in the yield of secondary metabolites in medicinal plants via stress, culture conditions, genetic engineering and nanoparticles.
7. Transgenics of vegetables, floriculture and oil crops.
8. Evaluation of anti-Cancer potential of herbal based compounds and their nano formulations.
9. Stress Biology, mechanism of protein folding and stabilization.

 

ACTIVITIES & COLLABORATIONS:

 

• The department has inter-institutional collaboration with ICGEB (New Delhi), AIIMS (New Delhi), NII (New Delhi), National Institute of Communicable Diseases (New Delhi), CDRI (Lucknow), TERI (New Delhi), SGRH (New Delhi), IARI (New Delhi), JNU (New Delhi), Delhi University, IGIB (New Delhi), etc.
• The departmental collaboration is established with JALMA, Agra for animal BSL-3 experimentation.
• A new BSL-II facility well equipped with Biosafety level-II B2 cabinet (Haier), CO2 incubator and microscope for infectious disease and clinical studies has been developed in the department.

 

In order to assess the independent learning and research skills that students have acquired during their time in the department, the practice has been initiated to assign a group of students to every faculty who guides them for the whole duration as under graduates and post graduates. Every student works on an independent research project in the final semester of post-graduation. The students are guided by their supervisor to plan their experiments and analyse the data obtained The use of proper controls and good lab practices is ensured Analysis of the data and presentation of that data in various forms is promoted for better data communication. It enables students with effective project management, research, academic writing and data collation and analysis skills to be learned within a specific time limit. It provides a rich and rewarding period of learning with respect to critical thinking, reviewing and interpreting the literature, experimental design, interpreting data, and communication.

 

          ACHIEVEMENTS:     Information not provided 

 

 

DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY

 

The Department of Botany came into existence in the year 1989, has developed strong research programmes in the fields of stress physiology, plant tissue culture, structural & developmental botany, environmental botany, systematics, medicobotany, plant biotechnology and molecular biology. The post-graduate teaching programme started in 1994 leading to the award of M.Sc. degree. The first Ph.D. degree in Botany was awarded in 1995 and the first batch of students got M.Sc. degrees in 1996. So far 25 batches have successfully passed out from this department. The first registration for Ph.D. was done in 1991. A post-graduate diploma in environmental monitoring and impact assessment is also run by the department through distance mode of learning. During the last 30 years as many as 111 students have been the recipients of Ph. D. degree.

 

THRUST AREAS:

 

1. Physiological and molecular mechanisms of abiotic stresses
2. Characterization of medicinal plants and their active ingredients
3. Ethnobotany and plant systematics, Tissue culture for alkaloid production
4. Clonal multiplication and preservation of endangered species
5. Plant microbe interactions in response to pathogenic and beneficial microbes

 

ACTIVITIES & COLLABORATIONS:

 

• International Potash Research Institute, Switzerland
• Universita ` degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
• University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
• King Saud University, Riyadh, KSA
• ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi, India
• ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
• International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad, India
• Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
• University of Lucknow, Lucknow, India
• Akal University, Bathinda, India

 

 

ACHIEVEMENTS:    

 

The humble beginning of the department of botany dates back to 1989. Ever since its conception and inception, it has come a long way and substantially contributed to the overall growth and development of Jamia Hamdard. The department stands prominently and strategically in Delhi as one of the two universities offering botany as a specialization at UG, PG and doctorate levels, the other being the University of Delhi. The faculty members have made noted contributions in academic and research fronts.

 

Curricula and Human Resource Development Activities

 

The department offers botany at UG, PG and doctorate levels. The department offers CBCS and as of 2021, SWAYAM based MOOCs have been adopted into the curricula (both at UG and PG). During the last 30 years as many as 109 students have received PhD degree. So far 28 batches of postgraduate students have come off with flying colours. The department has been successfully able to reach the unreached by offering a Post-graduate Diploma in Environmental Monitoring and Impact Assessment through distance mode of learning. The department of botany is the nodal centre for offering Environmental Sciences to under-graduate students across various schools of the university.

 

A modest number of students have been cracking competitive examinations and securing fellowship and National eligibility regularly. Some of the alumni have been successful in achieving heights of success and been absorbed in distinguished positions across universities, research institutions, colleges, non-governmental organizations and civil services.

 

Some of the major conferences/ seminars/ symposia/ workshops/ orientation programmes organised by the department in the past include

 

-         26^th All India Botanical Conference & National Symposium on Plant Biology and Biodiversity in Changing Environment, December 29 - 31, 2003

-         Satellite Session of the Third International Conference on Plants and Environmental Pollution, New Delhi, December 04, 2005

-         28^th Annual Session of the Academy of Environmental Biology & National Symposium on “Environmental Stress & Bio-resource Management, November 20 – 22, 2008

-         Orientation Programme on “MOOCs and Blended Learning” (for faculty members of Jamia Hamdard), November 25, 2021

 

Teaching

 

The department has developed a 360⁰ holistic curricula (both for UG and PG) taking into consideration the imminent issues in teaching and learning. The curricula are need-based and fosters three-dimensional development of the learners. The syllabi of papers across the courses have been revised and revamped keeping in line with the recommendations of UGC. Further, a single paper in each semester at masters (starting with second semester) is outsourced to be offered by SWAYAM based MOOCs. Post COVID-19 surge, the department has resorted to blended mode of learning retaining the maximum charm of face-to-face mode of teaching and learning.

 

Research and research infrastructure

 

The department has been pursuing standard research in the forefront areas of plant sciences such as stress physiology, structural & developmental botany, environmental botany, systematics, medicinal botany, plant molecular virology, plant molecular biology and biotechnology. The department has modestly equipped laboratories to meet requirements for research. A green House and an environmentally controlled glass House are also available to complement research at the department. The department has been a beneficiary of funding from agencies under the aegis of the Govt. of India. Substantial funding for developing infrastructure for research and teaching has been sanctioned through the competitive schemes of UGC-SAP and DST-FIST in the past. Twenty-three research projects from different funding agencies including DBT, DST, UGC, AYUSH, International Potash Institute, CCRUM have been successfully completed in the department. The department is also a recipient of funding from DBT-Ramalingaswami Re-entry Fellowship & SERB-NPDF.

 

The department maintains a herbal garden where maintenance and conservation of medicinally important plants flourishing in and its adjoining districts Delhi assumes importance. The herbal garden serves as a perennial source of experimental material which are utilised by researchers across the campus. Also, it serves as a live herbarium which facilitates study by students of UG and PG in botany and allied sciences. 

Several students who have graduated with post-graduate and doctorate degrees in botany, pharmacy and Unani medicine from Jamia Hamdard have been beneficiaries of the herbal garden for their demand of the experimental material. During May 2019, Jamia Hamdard celebrated the Fascination of Plants Day (an international event that involved faculty members of Botany and school students) at the Herbal Garden to highlight the importance of plants in routine life.

 

The faculty members have successfully published their research in international reviewed peer journals. Biotechnology Advances, Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, Carbohydrate Polymers, Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, Chemosphere, Ecotoxicology and environmental safety, Environmental and experimental botany, Anti-oxidant, New Phytologist, Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture, Plant Physiology, Plant Cell Reports, Frontiers in Plant Science and Plant Physiology and Biochemistry are prominent among the publications. Further, the faculty edited and authored 15 books (Springer, Elsevier, CRC Press) across diverse areas of plant sciences.

 

Awards/Fellowships/Memberships/Editorial roles conferred on the faculty members

 

-         NASI-Young Scientist Platinum Jubilee Award 2021

-         Young Scientist Award 2019 by Indian Society of Plant Physiology, India

-         Junior Scientist of the Year Award, 2017 by National Environmental Science Academy, New Delhi, India.

-         DAAD Fellowship at the Institute of Cellular and Molecular Botany, University of Bonn

-         Bentham Ambassador, 2018-19

-         IPI-FAI Award, 2003 for contribution towards potassium nutrition management for improvement of crop yield and quality

-         Felicitation (2006 and 2009) the by International Potash Institute for fruitful cooperation with IPI during International Symposium on Balanced Fertilization for Sustainable Crop Productivity

-         Editorial board of international journals such as Journal of Plant Growth Regulation, 3Biotech etc.

-         Guest Editor in Frontiers in Plant Science, Plant and Soil, Plant Physiology and Biochemistry

-         Reviewer of National and International funding agencies

 

 

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY

 

                   Information (abstract of the department) not provided

 

 

THRUST AREAS:

 

1. 1.     Medicinal chemistry
2. 2.     Anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory agents
3. 3.     Anti-hyperglycaemic agents
4. 4.     Antimicrobial (anti-tubercular, antileishmanial)
5. 5.     Male and female contraceptives
6. 6.     Nano-synthesis and drug delivery
7. 7.     Molecular machine in drug delivery systems
8. 8.     Soft matter and chemistry of nano-bio interface.

 

ACTIVITIES & COLLABORATIONS:

 

Information not provided 

 

          ACHIEVEMENTS:    

 

          Information not provided 

 

 

DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL ELEMENTOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY

 

The Department of Medical Elementology and Toxicology is one of the few Departments in India having full-fledged academic programme at Postgraduate and Doctoral levels in Toxicology. The Department has made its mark in toxicological research and has been supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) through Fund for Improvement of S&T Infrastructure in Universities & Higher Educational Institutions (FIST) programme and University Grants Commission (UGC) Special Assistance Programme (SAP). Ph.D degree in Toxicology is being awarded in different fields of toxicology.

 

THRUST AREAS:

 

                          i.            Toxic effects of endocrine distrupting chemicals (EDCs) in normal and malnourished host; Stress Biology; Reproductive toxicity of drugs and environmental chemicals; Toxicity of anticancer drugs and its prevention (Prof. S. Raisuddin)

                       ii.            Neurodegenerative disorders and their protection; Fly lab as an alternate model of toxicology (Prof. Suhel Parvez)

                     iii.            Role of trace elements in the manifestation of diseases; Animal models of arthritis for study of mechanism of action of protective agents (Dr. Haider A. Khan)

                     iv.            Protien assembly and amyloid toxicity; Drug discovery against amyloidosis; Fabrication of amyloid-based smart materials (Dr. Basir Ahmad)

 

 

ACTIVITIES & COLLABORATIONS:

 

The Department has collaborative programmes with many reputed institutes such as Indian Institute of Toxicological Research (CSIR), Lucknow; Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR), Lucknow; Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR), Jammu; Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (DRDO), New Delhi etc.

 

Conferences Organized

 

• National symposium on impact of emerging toxic chemicals on humans, plants, diseases and sustainable development (IETC 2016)
• Post Doctoral Research Conclave (Every Year)
• Frontier In Neuroscience and Neurochemistry: Dynamic Challenges and Approaches (SNCI- 2019)
• Applications of biomarkers'' in environmetnal risk assessment linking human and environmental health (2020)
• Advanced Research Techniques for Cellular and Molecular Systems in Neuroscience (SNCI-2021)

 

 

          ACHIEVEMENTS:

 

Prof. S. Raisuddin

 

• Recently selected in the list of top 2% scientists of world in the field of toxicology in an analysis conducted by Stanford University researchers) in 2021

 

• Section & Associate Editor, Drug & Chemical Toxicology (SCI journal published by Taylor & Francis in 2020

 

• Awarded IUTOX in 2019

 

Prof. Suhel Parvez

 

• FRSB, Humboldt Fellow in 2021

 

• Humboldt Fellowship (Renewed) for Experienced Researchers from the Alexander Humboldt Foundation, Germany in 2017

 

• Elected as Fellow of the Society of Biomedical Laboratory Scientists (FSBMLS), India in Dec 2016

 

 

CENTRE FOR TRANSLATIONAL & CLINICAL RESEARCH 

                  

The Centre was established in the year 2009 with an objective to train human resources in clinical research. In the year 2012 activities of the Centre were expanded by including component of translational research. The Centre envisages imparting theory and practical training in all aspects of clinical research and clinical trials. It provides opportunity to young aspirants desirous of pursuing a career in expanding healthcare sector in India and abroad. According to industry sources, the clinical research industry in India will require a large number of professionals trained in various aspects of clinical research in the coming years. Importance of clinical research has got recognition in recent years due to commendable growth in domestic pharma industry. Global pharma giants have shown interest to conduct clinical trials in India. Moreover, a number of Contract Research Organisations (CROs) have been set up in India. These organizations provides support to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries in the form of research services outsourced on a contract basis. In view of all this developments demand for clinical research professionals in India is expected to grow exponentially. Therefore, personnel involved in clinical research needs training in Good Clinical Practices (GCP) and ethics.

 

The Centre offers a four semester full-time M Sc programme in Clinical Research and PhD in Clinical and Translational Science which takes care of all aspects of clinical research. The Centre is also offering B.Sc.-M Sc integrated programme with an exit option of B.Sc. (Hons.) in Clinical Research. The study programme is comprehensive based on both course work and hands-on research experience in leading clinical research organization. It is a broad-based multi-disciplinary study programme to prepare professionals in clinical research with training in the principles and methods of clinical research, clinical trials, epidemiology, health economics, biostatistics, bioethics, GCP, translational research and application of these principles to clinical trials. The Centre has established collaboration with Sun Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Max Healthcare Institute Ltd. INCLEN Trust International, Apollo Hospitals Educational and Research Foundation and other leading clinical research organizations for practical and hands-on training of the students. The Centre also envisages to organize communication skills workshop, and regular seminars for the students to train them in writing and presenting research data, clinical reports, grant applications and case study reports. Students are also provided exposure to Instructional Review Board (IRB) meetings.

 

Placement opportunities for M Sc Clinical Research students are very bright. Passed out students have been placed in Novartis, Panacea Biotec, Troikaa Pharmaceuticals, Fortis, Jubilant, Ind Gene, Auriga Research Ltd., Max Neeman, Max Healthcare Institute Ltd., Sun Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Religare, Totipotent, Baxter, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Escorts Heart Institute, Medanta, Pushpawati Singhania Research Institute (PSRI), Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI, DBT), Jamia Hamdard (in PhD programme), and BIT, Mesra (in Ph.Dprogramme). Centre regularly organizes workshops on the contemporary topics in Clinical Research. Centre also undertakes consultancy projects on clinical trials.

 

THRUST AREAS: 

 

• Neurodegenerative disorders and their protection
• Efficacy and safety studies of drugs, Conduct of different phases of clinical trials and Bioequivalence studies
• Rationale use of drugs, Neurological and neurobehavioural disorder mechanisms and repurposing drugs
• Neurobehavioural and quality of life assessment in observational clinical studies in diabetes and cancer patients
• Meta-analysis and systematic reviews on various diseases, Behavioural studies in cancer patients
• Nanoformulations against skin cancers
• Systematic reviews and meta-analysis on current therapeutics and diseases

 

ACTIVITIES & COLLABORATIONS:

 

• Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre, Rohini, New Delhi, India
• The INCLEN Trust International, New Delhi, India
• Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, India
• Max Healthcare, New Delhi, India
• Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, New Delhi , India
• Auriga  Research Pvt Limited, New Delhi, India
• Medanta Hospital, Gurugram, India

 

ACHIEVEMENTS:

 

Prof. Nilanjan Saha 

 

• Chairman, IAEC
• Member of different committees of ICMR and DBT

 

Dr. Nidhi

 

• Dr. Vinod Kumar Bhargawa Award 2020
• Member, National Academy of Medical Sciences (India)
• Received Best paper award (Second Prize) for Oral presentation at International Conference on Advances in Biosciences and Biotechnology (ICABB-2021), January2-2021
• Received Best paper award (First Prize) for Oral presentation at 4th International Conference on Recent Trends in Bioengineering (ICRTB2021), February-2021

·        Co-Editor- Women in Neuropharmacology, Frontiers in Pharmacology

 

Dr. Mohd Ashif Khan 

 

• Editorial board member -Oncology Insights Journal
• Extramural Research Grant for ICMR, New Delhi

 

 

CENTRE FOR TRANSGENIC PLANT DEVELOPMENT 

                  

Centre for Transgenic Plant Development as a unit of the Dept. of Biotechnology was established in February 2004 with the research grants of CSIR (TMOP&M), Department of Agriculture Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India and inaugurated by Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture, Govt. of India, with a mandate to focus research in the development of novel varieties of crops and medicinal plants with improved yield and quality of produce as well as development of DNA based finger prints for authentication of traditional medicines. Various labs in the Centre have state-of-the-art facilities to train Ph.D. and postdoctoral students and to carry out research in various disciplines of Plant and Microbial Biotechnology. These include Confocal Microscope, GC-MS, Spectrophotometer, Real-Time PCR, Gel Doc, HPLC, Transgenic Containment and Tissue Culture. The major R&D activities being pursued include cloning, characterization and regulation of expression of novel genes linked with tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses and quality traits of medicinal and crop plants, authentication and standardization of crude components of herbal formulations, nano vehicle assisted gene delivery and genome editing in plants.

 

THRUST AREAS: The thrust areas of Centre also include improving the quality of medicinal crops through genetic engineering of metabolic pathway; miRNA, RNAi and genome editing approaches, conservation of medicinal plants; developments of easy, rapid, sensitive, cost-effective method for aflatoxigenic mould detection in the groundnut kernels and soil and identification and quantification of aflatoxins in the food and feed. The centre is funded from Jamia Hamdard and other government agencies such as DST, DBT, Department of AYUSH, CCRUM, CSIR, ICMR, DRDO etc. for R&D projects. The consultancy projects from biotech companies are also carried out in the centre.

 

ACTIVITIES & COLLABORATIONS:

 

• Ø Collaborated with International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) to work on “Development and evaluation of antimalarial efficacy of cell suspension culture of bioengineered Artemisia annua L.”.
• Ø Running a consultancy project on “Medical Cannabis” funded by M/s Hydrogreen Leaf Private Ltd., Noida, U.P.
• Ø Collaborative research project with International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) entitled “Chloroplast metabolic engineering of Artemisia annua for enhancing artemisinin biosynthesis” funded by Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.
• Ø Collaborative research project with International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) entitled “Studies on Transformation and Regeneration of Artemisia annua L. using Chloroplast Specific Expression
  Cassette”
• Ø Collaborative research programs leading to PhD degree are also undertaken in collaboration with reputed national institutes like NIPGR, NBPGR, IGIB, NIPB, ICGEB and IARI.

 

 

          ACHIEVEMENTS:    

 

Received an award from His Excellency, Governor of Maharashtra for excellent contribution in Plant Science in the year 2021. Invited as eminent scientist by Science and Technology Exchange Programme (STEP) and appreciated for the tireless efforts in Science and Technology and for devoting the life to this path and also for active participation in STEP organized from 19^th December   to 23rd December, 2016 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Mustafa Prize Secretariat in collaboration with University Putra Malaysia (UPM).

 

A method was developed by us for fingerprinting of stevioside and rebaudioside-A using HPTLC (Int. J. of Pharm. & Pharmaceut. Sci.). Further to study the genetic regulation of steviol glycosides biosynthetic pathway, in silico analysis and expression profiling of miRNAs targeting genes of steviol glycosides biosynthetic pathway was done and their relationship with steviol glycosides content in different tissues of Stevia rebaudiana was analysed (Plant Physiol. & Biochem). We made significant contributions in understanding and regulating the SGs pathway employing miRNAs that were identified and functionally characterized from Stevia rebaudiana.  This study indicated the more complex nature of miRNAs, as some of them can also function as transcriptional factors.  By developing miRNA interference approach, an innovative strategy, we efficiently and irreversibly silenced the miRNAs leading to de-repression of their target genes.  Using these strategies, we have been able to enhance SGs content by 75% and alter the ratio of rebaudioside-A to stevioside from 0.39 to 0.47 (BMC Plant Biology, 2019). We also submitted an Indian patent which has already been published and under examination.

 

The pathway for artemisinin biosynthesis was elaborated and the relative contribution of carbon by mevalonate and Rohmer pathway was established by us. The novel proteins identified from the leaf homogenate of A. annua L. by us can be used in bioreactors for commercial production of artemisinin from its precursors (J. Nat. Prod., 1998; Acta Physiol. Plant., 2010). 22.5-38.9% increase in artemisinin content was reported in transgenic lines of Artemisia annua L. over expressing hmgr gene from C. roseus L. biovar. Alba (Planta Med., 2009, Plant Biotech, 2011). We have also over expressed both hmgr and ads genes in A. annua L. leading to an increase in artemisinin content by 76.5 % (Plant Cell Rep., 2011). The GC-MS and HPLC analyses of metabolites in the transgenic lines of A. annua L. at pre-flowering stage had shown that major metabolites accumulated were related to the essential oils and chlorophyll biosynthesis (71.33 % in transgenic vs. 61.70% in non-transgenic plant). Further, the transgenic lines accumulated more artemisinin (0.97 to 1.2 %) as compared to the non-transgenic plants (0.63%). Based on these results, we concluded that over-expression of both hmgr and ads in A. annua L. plants results not only increase in artemisinin content, but also enhances synthesis of other isoprenoids. It is also evident from our study that the novel artemisinin rich variety of A. annua L. could be developed by suppressing essential oil bio-synthesis (J. Plant Int., 2014). We have also developed a hairy root culture-based system to produce artemisinin. Using this system, we have been able to produce 15.66 mg l^-1 artemisinin after 15 days of culture (J. Plant Int., 2014). We also identified miRNAs in A. annua L. thus, opening new possibilities for the rational engineering of the secondary metabolite pathways in ART biosynthesis (Scientific Reports, 2020).

 

 

1. 9.     LIST OF ACADEMIC STAFF

 

Prof. Shakir Ali

Dean, SCLS

 

Department of Biochemistry

 

Dr. Shakir Ali, Professor

Dr. Rana Zaidi, Professor & Head

Dr. Janendra Kumar Batra, Professor

Dr. Farah Khan, Associate Professor

Dr. Sayeedur Rehman A. Kalam, Assistant Professor

Dr. Mohan Kamthan, Assistant Professor

Dr. Saurabh Pandey, Assistant Professor

Dr. Vikas Sood, Assistant Professor (UGC-FRP)

 

Department of Botany

 

Dr. Shahid Umar, Professor & Head

Dr. Abdul Mujib, Associate Professor

Dr. Md. Salik Noorani Khan, Assistant Professor

Dr. Mohd. Ashraf Ashfaq, Assistant Professor

Dr. Md Iqbal Raja Khan, Assistant Professor

 

Department of Chemistry

 

Dr. M. Sarwar Alam, Professor

Dr. Kalim Javed, Professor & Head

Dr. Hinna Hamid, Associate Professor

Dr. Mohd. Samim, Associate Professor

Dr. Syed Shafi, Assistant Professor

Dr. Kamla Rawat, Assistant Professor

Dr. Imran A Khan, Assistant Professor

 

Department of Medical Elementology and Toxicology

 

Dr. Sheikh Raisuddin, Professor & Head

Dr. Suhel Parvez, Professor

Dr. Haider A. Khan, Associate Professor

Dr. Basir Ahmad, Assistant Professor (UGC-FRP)

 

Department of Biotechnology

 

Dr. M.Z.Abdin, Professor

Dr. Alka Narula, Assistant Professor

Dr. Humaira Farooqi, Assistant Professor

Dr. Saima Wajid, Assistant Professor

Dr. Jagriti Narang, Assistant Professor

Dr. Javaid Ahmed Sheikh, Assistant Professor

Dr. Mairaj Ahmed Ansari, Assistant Professor (Ramalingaswami Fellow)

 

Centre for Translational and Clinical Research

 

Dr. Nilanjan Saha, Professor

Dr. Nidhi, Assistant Professor

Dr. Mohd Ashif Khan, Assistant Professor