Distinguished Biotechnologist Award

The Award

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has instituted a scheme known as “Distinguished Biotechnologist Award Scheme” in order to utilize the expertise of active superannuated scientists who have made outstanding research contributions in biology, biotechnology and related fields and capable of making significant research contributions in biological sciences, biotechnology and related fields promoted by DBT.

Eligibility

The Awardee should be a distinguished Indian scientist in biotechnology or related fields. He/ she should be outstanding and continue to publish research work of very high standard. He/ she should be a Fellow of at least one of the following National Academies:

a) Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore

b) National Academy of Sciences, Allahabad

c) Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi.

d) National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, New Delhi

Duration

The tenure of the Award would be for a period of three years extendable for further two years based on the review of work undertaken by the scientist in the first three years. Thus, the tenure of the award would be for a maximum period of five years, or till the awardee attains the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier.

Details of the Award

The award amount would be equal to the total emoluments at a basic pay of Rs. 26,000/- p.m. (basic pension & allowances, if any, will be adjusted as per Government of India rules) or consolidated amount of Rs. 30,000/- per month. In addition, a contingency grant of Rs. 50,000 per annum would be provided for meeting expenditure of the awardee on secretarial assistance, telephone, domestic travel, stationery etc.

The award has provision for research grant (not exceeding Rs 15 lakhs) for implementing a research project proposed by awardee over a period of three years. The amount of research grant would be based on recommendations of selection committee. The project may be for bench level research, policy research relating to biotechnology education, innovation in the relevant areas for providing mentorship/ leadership to a young group working in a major area of biotechnology.

Nominations

The nomination / application for the award should be sent through a host institution interested in utilizing the services and expertise of the scientist. The institution should certify to the effect that the scientist would be provided the necessary facilities required for carrying out the proposed research / policy activity under the Distinguished Biotechnologist Award of DBT. Five copies of the nomination / application should be submitted in the prescribed proforma.

Selection

Selection is based on the recommendations of a Selection Committee comprising experts in the field of Biology and Biotechnology constituted by DBT for the evaluation of the nominations / applications. The Committee would meet once a year or as often as the need arises.

The Distinguished Biotechnologist Award is conferred on Prof. T.P. Singh for his outstanding contributions in structural biology.

Profile :

Prof. T.P.Singh headed the Biophysics Department at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi during 1986 – August 2006. He obtained his Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore in 1975 on structure – function studies of analgesic / anti-inflammatory agents. He has made original and novel contributions to the structural studies of proteins and implemented a strong programme on structure- based rational drug design.

The three dimensional structures of various proteins including lactoferrins from several species, ribosome inactivating protein and its complex with a natural ligand from mistletoe, bi-functional inhibitor proteins from plant seeds and various serine proteases and their inhibitors have been determined in his laboratory. The elaborate structural studies of proteins from several important systems as potential drug targets such as phospholipases A2, cyclooxygenases, lipoxygenases, endothelin receptor, endothelin converting enzyme, mammary gland/ breast cancer regression proteins and matrix metanosomal proteins as well as their complexes with natural and designed synthetic ligands have been carried out. Dr. Singh’s laboratory has submitted more than 160 sets of proteins structure coordinates in the protein data bank and more than 50 sequences of new proteins to Gene bank. He has contributed significantly on the structure – function studies of a number of antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory agents and on antibacterial sulfonamides and their derivatives. He has developed the rules of peptide design with alpha, beta-dehydro-amino acids through extensive studies using syntheses, and X-ray and NMR structure determinations.

Dr. Singh discovered a novel antifungal decapeptide whose excellent potency against bacterial infections has been established. His group has carried out extensive structural studies of phospholipase A2 enzymes and their complexes with various natural compounds, substrate analogues, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents and designed peptides. The new molecules have also been designed against cyclooxygenase and lypoxygenase. The enzymes phospholipase A2, cyclooxygenase and lypoxygenase are involved in the production of pro-inflammatory compounds collectively called as eicosanoids. He has already developed several highly potent inhibitors that are under consideration for further evaluation as anti-inflammatory agents.

Dr. Singh has developed a new programme on Clinical Proteomics at AIIMS in collaboration with other faculty members to characterize all the proteins that are expressed during various patho/physiological conditions. His group has already determined more than 50 structures of proteins and their complexes under this programme.

He has published over 267 research papers in leading journals. Prof. T.P. Singh has 5 patents on enzyme processing for the enhancement of stability and activity, regulation of melanin polymerization with lactoferrin, melanin inhibition by proteinases, high potency peptide inhibitors and phospholipase A2, development of potent antagonists of endothelin receptor .

Prof. T.P. Singh is a fellow of Third World Academy of Sciences, Indian National Science Academy, National Academy of Sciences, Indian Academy of Sciences, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

Source : Press Information Bureau
Date : March 12, 2007