BERL-Profile

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Principal Investigator

Prof. Utpal Bora
Designation: Professor
Department/Institute/University: Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
Date of Birth: 03/03/1971

Educational Qualification:

Ph.D. (Biotechnology), Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, India (1999-2006).

M.Sc.(Agril. Biotechnology) - Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, 1998, First Class.

B.Sc.(Agril.) Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, 1996, First Class.

Higher Secondary (Science) 1990, Assam, Jagannath Barooah College, Jorhat, Assam, First Division.

Matriculation 1988, Balya Bhavan, Jorhat, Assam, First Division.

Professional Experience:

Professor,Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Guwahati (Since 04.04.2015).

Associate Professor, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Guwahati (13.09.2008 to 03.04.2015).

Assistant Professor,Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Guwahati (29.05.2006 to 12.09.2008)

Senior Lecturer, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Guwahati (22.12.2004 to 28.05.2006)

JRF and SRF (CSIR), Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR),New Delhi (01.09.1999 to 21.12.2004)

JRF (ICAR Project), National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (ICAR), Karnal, Haryana (12.01.1999 to 08.07.1999)

Honors/Awards:

CSIR Junior Research Fellowship 1999-2004

ICAR-NET for Assistant Professors, 1998

DBT Fellowship during M.Sc. 1996-1998

University Merit Scholarship 1992-1996

National Merit Scholarship 1988, 1990

Overseas Visits:

Washington DC and Austin Texas, United States of America, 14 -27 May 2011

Tsukuba, Japan, 27-31 Oct 2010

Daejong and Seoul, South Korea, 20 Sep-01 Oct 2009

Sydney, Australia, 20-23 Jan 2009

Brighton,United Kingdom, 17 -23 Sep 2005

Membership in Academics/ Societies/ Professional Bodies:

Life Member, Society for Biomaterials and Artificial Organs - India.(SBAOI)

Life Member, Biotech Research Society India (BRSI)

Life Member, Assam Science Society (ASS)

Life Member, North East Biotechnological Association (NEBA)

Life Member, Society for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine India (STERMI)

Life Member, Indian Society Of Translational Research (ISTR)

Life Member, Asociation for DNA Fingerprinting and Allied Technologies (ADNAT)

Life Member, Society Of Biological Chemists (India) (SBC)

Research Area

Silk-based Tissue Engineering

We are exploiting our indigenous bio material silk to develop various scaffolds for tissue engineering and medical applications. Our group fabricated silk based scaffolds for controlled release of curcumin which is a well-known anti-cancer agent. Silk based scaffolds also been shown for hepatic tissue engineering applications. Recently our group showed silk-GNP based neural guiding conduits could be a promising solution in neural tissue engineering.

Molecular Diagnostics

BERL is also working on aptamer based diagnostics for diseases like breast cancer, celiac disease. Aptamers known as 'chemical antibodies' have several application as theranostic molecule in disease diagnosis, prognosis and theraputics as well. We are currently focussing on diagnostic aspect of the specific aptamers in Her2, ER positive breast carcinomas. It showed promising results in cellular and tissue level complexity as well. In celiac diseases, these molecular probes also can be explored to screen the allergic subtypes of cereals.

Exploration of Seribiodiversity

North-east India is known to be a hot spot of seri-biodiversity. Considering the huge diversity and conservation of economically important silkworms and their resources, the exploration of these resources is essential. Our group is working on the molecular characterization and organellar genome sequencing of these resources. Our group also aims to develop databases related to seri-resources which will be helpful to the scientific community working in this area.

Data mining and analytics

Nowadays, Data based research has become major part of the science; thus Database is playing an important role to feed scientific community. Our group has been taken a responsibility to address the gap between information and user in our research area. Till now, we have successfully developed two databases- CRDB (Curcumin Resource Database) in 2015 and SeriPort- A web portal for seri--bioresources in 2016.

Quick Links

CRDB

Seriport

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