Bangalore, Dec 23, 2009: Dr Balasubramanian, the acclaimed stem cell researcher from the Hyderabad-based LV Prasad Eye Institute has won the Life Time Achievement Award at the 7th BioSpectrum Awards, for his contribution to the Indian biotechnology industry.

The seventh franchise of the BioSpectrum Awards, which has been happening every year since 2003, honors Indian biotech companies and leaders that have contributed to the development of the biotech sector in India.

Dr Balasubramanian has exercised tremendous influence on the Indian biotechnology sector in a variety of ways. Whether it was in laying the foundation for the growth of University of Hyderabad which today has one of the country’s finest life sciences school or in consolidating the success of Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) after taking over from Dr PM Bhargava or in playing the pivotal role in incubating India’s first pure play biotech company, Shantha Biotechnics; Prof. Balu, as Dr Balasubramanian is widely called, has left his strong impressions on the world. And by restoring the sight to over 700 people, the LV Prasad Eye Institute is setting another milestone in the annals of healthcare under his leadership.

BioSpectrum awardees were unanimously chosen by the 7th BioSpectrum Awards Jury headed by Prof. Samir K Brahmachari, Director-General, CSIR. BioSpectrum Awards is an endeavor to honor the outstanding contributions to the biotech industry.

Mr Hari Bhartia, Co-chairman & Managing Director of Jubilant Organosys, was awarded the BioSpectrum Person of the Year. He has showcased the ways to leverage the India advantage and maintain the competitive-edge. Under his active leadership, Jubilant Organosys is riding on the pharmaceutical and life sciences business. BioSpectrum recognizes his pioneering vision in leading the company with the integrated business model and its positive impact on the industry.

BioSpectrum Entrepreneur of the Year award went to Binoy Gardi and Apurva Shah, founders of Veeda Clinical Research, based in Ahmedabad, India.

While the BioSpectrum Product of the Year award was given away to Dry Tri-T STAT Diagnostic Kit from the Bangalore-based ReaMetrix. It is the first company in the world to successfully pioneer an FDA cleared dried-down product to measure CD4 counts that needs no refrigeration.

Serum Institute of India

 

Rasi Seeds

 

Novozymes South Asia

 

Syngene International & Jubilant Organosys

 

Waters India

 

Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi,

 

Sastra University, Tanjaore, Tamil Nadu

Speaking at the fireside chat Mr Bhartia said India's strength lay in chemistry and India has utilized this power in full to enhance its stature as a powerhouse. India has to develop its own intellectual property. He wanted the public-private partnership to become more powerful so that ideas generated in Indian universities and research institutions could be commercialized.

“The Government has money and the will but these should be used to commercialize interesting ideas or otherwise we could lose talents,” Mr Bhartia said.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, whose group company Syngene International shared BioServices Award with Jubilant Organosys said the key challenge in India is the employment of young minds that are keen to contribute to India's growth.

She also said that the lengthy procedures and regulatory delays are costing India much and delay the work happening at Indian companies.

Dr Samir Brahmachari, winner of last years' BioSpectrum Person of the Year Award, said the future of drug designing is in open source. He recently pioneered open source drug discovery model at his lab in New Delhi, India, which has received rare reviews and a mention in the Swedish parliament.

He also said drug designing is moving from Science 1 to Science 2 which is all about connecting people, mind and laboratory.

This year's jury members were:

Dr Samir Brahmachari, DG-CSIR (Jury Chairman)

Dr Rajiv Bhat, Prof & Dean, School of Biotechnology, JNU

Dr BV Ravikumar, CEO, Xcyton Diagnostics

Mr KV Venugopalan, President, Waters India

Dr Jasmin Patel, MD, Fidelity International

Mr E Abraham Mathew, Chief Editor, BioSpectrum

Mr N Suresh, Group Editor, BioSpectrum