From Genes to Genius: India Launches Landmark Health Biobank

The Phenome India National Biobank, inaugurated by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh at the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) in New Delhi, is a state-of-the-art facility designed to collect and store genomic, lifestyle, and clinical data from 10,000 individuals across India.

This initiative captures India's vast diversity—geographically, ethnically, and socio-economically—and is modeled after global benchmarks like the UK Biobank.

Why It Matters

• Decode complex diseases like diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular conditions, and rare genetic disorders
• Enable early diagnosis and targeted therapies
• Support AI-driven diagnostics and gene-guided treatments
• Track long-term health trajectories and gene-environment interactions

Scientific and Societal Impact

• Addresses India-specific health challenges such as central obesity in lean individuals
• Enables population-specific health strategies
• Bridges the gap between lab research and real-world application
• Supports India’s leadership in CRISPR, quantum tech, and antimicrobial resistance research

Core Technologies Powering the Biobank

Technology	Purpose	Application
Genomic Sequencing	Decoding individual DNA	Identifies genetic variants linked to diseases like cancer, diabetes, and rare disorders
CRISPR-based Genome Editing	Functional genomics and therapeutic research	Enables gene-function studies and potential gene therapies for conditions like sickle cell anemia
AI & Machine Learning	Pattern recognition and predictive modeling	Powers diagnostics, risk stratification, and personalized treatment recommendations
Big Data Analytics	Integration of multi-modal datasets	Analyzes genomic, clinical, and lifestyle data across 10,000+ individuals
Digital Health Platforms	Real-time data collection and monitoring	Supports longitudinal tracking of health outcomes and lifestyle factors
Biobanking Infrastructure	Secure sample storage and retrieval	Preserves biological specimens (blood, tissue, etc.) under controlled conditions for future research

Research Focus Areas

• Gene-environment interactions
• Population-specific health strategies
• AI-driven diagnostics
• Drug development and antimicrobial resistance

Strategic Integration

• Complementing India’s broader scientific ecosystem
• Leveraging quantum computing for high-throughput data processing
• Collaborating with CSIR, DBT, and industry for translational research
• Implementing ethical frameworks for data governance and privacy

The Phenome India Biobank is not just a data repository—it is a national health intelligence engine poised to transform healthcare and biomedical research in India.

BioTech Startup CrisprBits Develops Platform for CRISPR-based Diagnostics for Early Detection of Antibiotic Resistance

This new CRISPR-based platform combats antibiotic resistance in hospital-acquired infections by delivering results within two hours, enabling faster and targeted treatment for patients

Bengaluru-based biotechnology startup CrisprBits Private Limited, has developed PathCrisp, a platform for CRISPR-based molecular diagnostics for early detection of antibiotic resistance in hospital-acquired infections.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical global health challenge, requiring early and accurate detection of resistance markers in hospital-acquired infections, particularly in ICU settings. A recent analysis in The Lancet found that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) contributed to nearly 4.7 million deaths globally in 2021, with over a million directly caused by resistant infections. India alone has reported over a million AMR associated deaths in 2019.

Carbapenems, a class of antibiotics, often serve as the last line of defense against multi-drug-resistant bacterial infections. However, New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase(NDM) driven carbapenem resistance is a major concern in hospitals across India, contributing significantly to the antimicrobial resistance burden. This enzyme enables bacteria to break down carbapenems and other beta-lactam antibiotics, severely limiting treatment options and posing a significant challenge in clinical settings.

CrisprBits' latest study, published in Nature Scientific Reports, showcases PathCrisp’s ability to detect carbapenem resistance in bacterial samples from patients. In the study, the PathCrisp platform was used to test the presence or absence of NDM in DNA isolated from 49 clinical bacterial samples. The data showed 100% concordance with other techniques used as the gold standard (PCR-Sanger sequencing) for the same. The study was a collaborative research between CrisprBits, with Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher learning, Puttaparthi, and Asoka University, NCR region.

Commenting on the platform, Dr. Reety Arora, Principal Scientist at CrisprBits and corresponding author of the study, said,

With the growing need for rapid AMR detection, PathCrisp emerges as a reliable molecular diagnostic tool for clinical applications PathCrisp offers a fast and accurate alternative to traditional methods, leveraging CRISPR-Cas technology for unparalleled precision and instrument-light adaptability making it well suited for point of care diagnostics. The test provides an end-to-end solution, delivering results within two hours. It operates at a constant temperature, eliminating the need for a thermocycler, and works directly on various samples, including bacterial cultures.

“The rising burden of carbapenem-resistant infections is driving up healthcare costs, prolonging hospital stays, and increasing ICU admissions and mortality. Traditional diagnostic methods, such as bacterial culture and PCR-based testing, can take 24–72 hours, delaying critical treatment decisions. In this scenario, a rapid and highly accurate test like PathCrisp, developed by CrisprBits, can enable direct detection from clinical samples without expensive equipment or prolonged culture processes, ensuring early recognition and targeted therapy. It is an exciting development with the potential to change clinical practice.” says Dr. Ramakrishna Prasad, Global Medical Director, Swasti & Co-Chair, WONCA SouthAsia Region - Research, a leading medical expert in infectious disease in Bangalore.

“The simple workflow of PathCrisp makes it highly versatile, with potential applications across healthcare, one-health, and surveillance settings. As the platform continues to evolve, it is poised to become a robust point-of-care diagnostic tool” notes Vandana Hegde, Head of Business Development at CrisprBits.

Future R&D efforts will focus on adapting PathCrisp for low-resource settings by developing lyophilized reagents for room-temperature stability. Additionally, smart engineering approaches will be explored to create a multiplexed version, expanding its diagnostic capabilities.

CrisprBits Pvt Ltd is one of the first Indian CRISPR based companies developing high-quality and affordable One Health solutions in diagnostics and gene editing. Founded and mentored by five distinguished alumni of BITS Pilani, Prof. Vijay Chandru, Sunil Arora, Prof. Rajeev Kohli, Bharat Jobanputra, and Aditya Sarda, the NCR headquartered CRISPRBITS operates a 7800 sqft state-of-the-art facility in Bangalore, for CRISPR R&D and prototype development.

CrisprBits operates under three key principles: using deep science to deliver high quality products; adhering to the highest ethical standards, including in the choice of products they offer; and developing an organization that draws exceptional individuals with diverse backgrounds and affinities.

Website: CrisprBits

BioTech Startup CrisprBits Launches CRISPR-based Point-of-Care Tests in Partnership with Molbio Diagnostics

CrisprBits announces a strategic collaboration with Molbio Diagnostics to launch innovative CRISPR-based Point-of-Care tests

CrisprBits, a biotech start-up specializing in CRISPR gene-editing technology, is excited to announce a strategic collaboration with Molbio Diagnostics, a pioneer in point of care diagnostic solutions. The intent of this collaboration is to revolutionize point of care diagnostics by the introduction of CRISPR in Point-of-Care (POC) tests.

The strategic partnership between CrisprBits and Molbio Diagnostics represents a significant milestone in the advancement of accessible, cost effective and accurate diagnostic testing in the frontline. The collaboration is set to identify and capitalize on market opportunities, bringing together their respective strengths and expertise. By harnessing the unprecedented sensitivity and specificity of RNA guide-based target identification of nucleic acid, and the presence of both cis and trans-cleavage property of certain Cas enzymes, CrisprBits has developed a platform to build rapid, precise, and affordable POC tests for a wide range of disease and health conditions. CrisprBits will spearhead the development of its platform, PathCrisp, for Point-of-Care testing. Simultaneously, Molbio Diagnostics will leverage its large-scale manufacturing capability and well-established sales and marketing network to promote and distribute the developed POC tests worldwide.

Crispr and Molbio MoU Ceremony 

"The reimagination of health systems in India has to ride on a central role played by “pervasive” diagnostic tests POCTs (Point-of-care tests) that are light on instruments, affordable and designed for ease of use by community health workers. This would enable better preventive care and early detection interventions in treatment. This innovation has to be driven in the LMICs (Low and Middle Income Countries) as developed economies have legacy infrastructure that addresses these issues with access to labs or clinics at a different scale. By teaming up with Molbio Diagnostics, we are combining our innovations in instrument-light CRISPR POCTs to develop and distribute a new generation of tests that are pervasive and will enable early detection and timely treatment," said Dr. Vijay Chandru, Chief Scientific Officer and Co-founder, CrisprBits

The collaboration will focus on building POCTs for swift and accurate detection of various pathogens and genetic markers at the site. The tests will be made available in diverse settings, including clinics, hospitals, and resource-limited areas, where access to reliable diagnostic tools is crucial.

Dr. Chandrashekar Nair, Chief Technical Officer of Molbio Diagnostics, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, "We are very excited about this partnership with CrisprBits. The coming together of their innovation and Molbio’s strengths in translation, manufacturing and distribution has the potential to rapidly provide cutting edge diagnostics solutions where it is required the most. This collaboration aligns perfectly with our overarching mission to provide reliable and accessible point-of-care diagnostic solutions that empower healthcare professionals globally."

“CrisprBits was established with a clear mission to tackle crucial healthcare challenges by harnessing the groundbreaking potential of CRISPR technology. By partnering with Molbio diagnostics we strive to bring to these tests that impact real-time decision-making that leads to enhanced patient outcomes and more effective public health management,” Sunil Arora, Co-Founder and CEO, CrisprBits, said in a statement.

This strategic alliance aims to streamline the development, manufacturing, and distribution processes, ensuring the swift availability of these transformative POC tests to healthcare facilities and communities around the world.

About Molbio Diagnostics

Molbio Diagnostics is India’s first ‘unicorn’ in the medical technology sector that brings to healthcare professionals worldwide the Truelab® Real-Time Quantitative micro PCR system comprising Truenat® technology that makes Real-Time PCR testing possible in all laboratories, in the field and near-patient settings, thereby decentralizing and democratising access to molecular diagnostics. With a large and growing menu of Truenat® assays for infectious diseases, including TB, COVID-19, HIV, HCV, HBV, HPV, Influenza, etc., this rapid, portable and infrastructure agnostic technology enables early and accurate diagnosis and initiation of correct treatment right at the first point of contact. So far, this automated platform is deployed in over 6,000 PHC/CHCs in India and over 1500 testing centers in more than 40 countries around the world.

For more information, Please visit the website

https://www.molbiodiagnostics.com/

About CrisprBits

CrisprBits is one of the first Indian companies using CRISPR, a breakthrough gene-editing technology, to develop high-quality solutions in the life sciences that all Indians can afford. The company was founded by a team of entrepreneurs and scientists with vast experience in both the industry and academic sectors. They have a proven track record in developing diagnostics, precision medicine, and clinical-research solutions used by clinicians, pharmaceutical companies, and biotechnology firms globally, including in India.

CrisprBits operates under three key principles: using deep science to deliver high quality products; adhering to the highest ethical standards, including in the choice of products they offer; and developing an organization that draws exceptional individuals with diverse backgrounds and affinities.

With offices in Delhi and Bengaluru, their laboratory is located in C-CAMP, a premier incubator for biotechnology innovation in Bengaluru.

Website: https://crisprbits.com/

CRISPR -based Biotech Startup CrisprBits Raises $250K in Pre-Seed Round from US-based VJ Group

CrisprBits, one of the first Indian companies using CRISPR, a breakthrough gene-editing technology, has raised 250,000 USD in Pre-seed funding from US-based VJ Group. The funding will be used towards product development, team expansion and for research and development.

Founded by Dr. Vijay Chandru, Sunil Arora, Dr. Rajeev Kohli, Bharat Jobanputra, and Aditya Sarda in 2020, CrisprBits was started with a vision of developing high-quality healthcare solutions in diagnostics and gene editing that all Indians can afford. The company plans to extend its CRISPR-based diagnostics platform to point-of-care detection of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance genes associated with hospital-acquired infections. CRISPR is used by bacteria to protect themselves from invading viruses and in the past few years, scientists have harnessed the power of CRISPR to develop therapeutics as well as other biotechnological products in the domains of human, plant & microbial bio-engineering.

Very recently, the company developed OmiCrisp, a CRISPR- based test to detect SARS-CoV2 and to determine whether it is an Omicron or non-omicron variant. The test was developed with support and collaboration from the C-CAMP-InDx (Indigenisation of Diagnostics Program), an initiative supported by the Department of Biotechnology, Govt of India.

The CrisprBits team comprises industry veterans with a deep understanding of genomic science and a track record of running successful businesses. Dr. Vijay Chandru, a renowned academician and entrepreneur, co-founded Strand Life Sciences, a leading genomics-based research and diagnostic company. Dr. Rajeev Kohli is an Ira Leon Rennert Professor of Business at Columbia Business School and has been a part of the Marketing Division since 1991. Sunil Arora, as the Managing Director of Abilities India Pistons & Rings Ltd, has transformed the company from a domestic aftermarket player to an 80% export OEM supplier. Bharat Jobanputra, a former Vice President of Projects at Forderanlagen Magdeburg GmbH in Canada, has led multiple major turnkey projects for top multinational companies. Aditya Sarda is both the Managing Director of Bhawani Plywoods Private Limited and a partner in Pioneer Timber Products.

Sunil Arora, Co-Founder and CEO, CrisprBits, added, “CrisprBits was founded with an aim to address critical healthcare needs through the use of a breakthrough technology like CRISPR. The team’s prior experience in developing diagnostics, precision medicine and clinical-research solutions that are used by clinicians, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in India and around the world, has enabled us to come out with products that have significant public health and social impact. We are thrilled to welcome the VJ Group as our strategic investors.The new investment will accelerate our next phase of growth and allow us develop many more high-quality healthcare solutions in diagnostics and gene editing. ”

Commenting on the investment, Vijay Alreja, Founder and CEO, VJ Group, said, “The potential of CRISPR technology is truly incredible, and we are excited to support CrisprBits harnessing this technology to develop high quality yet affordable and accessible solutions to improve human health. Our team is thrilled to embark upon this journey with a high caliber leadership and scientific team at CrisprBits to leverage an innovative and groundbreaking CRISPR technology for human well-being. We look forward to working together to commercialize the products that are in the pipeline as well as develop new products. We strongly believe that this collaboration will lead to synergistic outcomes”

Dr Vijay Chandru, Co-Founder and CSO, said, "At CrisprBits, we are using the latest in CRISPR gene editing technology to bring high-quality life sciences solutions to all Indians. With the recent publication of our manuscript on OmiCrisp, a CRISPR-based test for SARS-CoV2, we are demonstrating our commitment to infectious disease surveillance and one health. Through our upcoming ‘PATHCRISP’ point of care platform, we are making these solutions accessible to all. Beyond diagnostics, we will also explore new therapeutic strategies in gene editing for oncology, cardio-vascular applications, and even industrial biotechnology applications."

About VJ Group

Over the past 35 years, VJ Group has developed and commercialized numerous X-ray inspection systems and solutions for a variety of industries. VJ Group’s fastest growing venture is a partnership in IITPL, a Bengaluru based company that has indigenously developed and manufactured innovative Cath lab; IITPL has now become India’s fastest growing and Asia’s most awarded Cath lab company.

About CrisprBits

CrisprBits is one of the first Indian companies using CRISPR, a breakthrough gene-editing technology, to develop high-quality solutions in the life sciences that all Indians can afford. The company was founded by a team of entrepreneurs and scientists with vast experience in both the industry and academic sectors. They have a proven track record in developing diagnostics, precision medicine, and clinical-research solutions used by clinicians, pharmaceutical companies, and biotechnology firms globally, including in India.

CrisprBits operates under three key principles: using deep science to deliver high quality products; adhering to the highest ethical standards, including in the choice of products they offer; and developing an organization that draws exceptional individuals with diverse backgrounds and affinities.

With offices in Delhi and Bengaluru, their laboratory is located in C-CAMP, a premier incubator for biotechnology innovation in Bengaluru.

DNA Can Repair Itself in Microgravity, Proves a 1st CRISPR Experiment in Space

NASA astronaut Christina Koch works on the "Genes in Space-6" investigation [Credits - NASA]

In Space explorations, humans can be exposed to risk of DNA damage caused by radiation in outer space. For this astronauts in International Space Station (ISS) is studying DNA repair in micro-gravity i.e. in space.

In the first use of CRISPR genome editing technique in space, a recent investigation aboard the International Space Station successfully generated breaks in the DNA of a common yeast and and then analyzed how it repaired itself.

In a part of Genes in Space-6 experiment, which is about studying DNA breaks to protect future space travelers, the researchers reported this first completion of the entire process in space in a published paper. The researchers directed the method of repair, and sequenced the patched-up DNA to determine whether its original order was restored.

In the published paper researchers explained how the DNA was restored to its original order. 

These results significantly expand the space station’s molecular biology toolkit, enabling studies of DNA repair and a variety of other biological investigations in microgravity.

From left to right: Michelle Sung, Rebecca Li, Aarthi Vijayakumar and David Li
[Credits: GENES IN SPACE]

Interestingly, "Genes in Space-6" experiment was the brainchild of 4 students -- Aarthi Vijayakumar, Michelle Sung, Rebecca Li, and David Li, who are also the co-authors on the results paper. They earned the opportunity to participate in this research as a part of the Genes in Space program, a national contest that challenges students in grades 7 through 12 to design DNA analysis experiments using the ISS U.S. National Lab and tools aboard the station. 

The investigation represents a number of firsts, including the first use of CRISPR-Cas9 genetic editing on the space station and the first time scientists evaluate the entire damage and repair process in space.

Astronauts may be at risk for harmful DNA damage caused by ionizing radiation. Double-strand breaks are a type of DNA damage that can be repaired by two major cellular pathways: non-homologous end joining, during which insertions or deletions may be added at the break site, and homologous recombination, in which the DNA sequence often remains unchanged. Previous work suggests that space conditions may impact the choice of DNA repair pathway, potentially compounding the risks of increased radiation exposure during space travel. 

However, understanding of this problem has been limited by technical and safety concerns, which have prevented integral study of the DNA repair process in space. 

The CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system offers a model for the safe and targeted generation of double-strand breaks in eukaryotes. In the research paper, its describes that a CRISPR-based assay for DNA break induction and assessment of double-strand break repair pathway choice entirely in space.

Genes in Space and other DNA-related research on the space station also has produced advances in the hardware needed. Tools on Earth do not necessarily lend themselves to spaceflight, says Sarah Rommel, the paper’s primary author and a researcher in the Microbiology Laboratory at Johnson. 

“We cannot take exactly what we have on Earth and simply put it in space, because we have to keep the crew and all the environmental life systems on board safe. For example, we made our own custom kits for the whole process, looking at how to use the least amount of the safest materials and still get the best science." says Sarah.

New Smartphone Camera-based COVID-19 Test Uses CRISPR Tech and Give Results in 15-30 Minutes

The diagnostic test requires a cell phone camera and a small darkened box. (Photo courtesy of Daniel Fletcher)

In a major scientific breakthrough that brings futuristic vision into a reality, a mobile phone-based device allows for portable and sensitive read-out of the assay. Its like putting your clinical test sample in a device, and getting a read-out on your smartphone in 15 to 30 minutes and tells you if you are infected with the COVID-19 virus or not.

In a new study published in the scientific journal Cell, the team from Gladstone, UC Berkeley, and UCSF has outlined the technology for a CRISPR-based test for COVID-19 that uses a smartphone camera to provide accurate results in under 30 minutes.

The technique was designed in collaboration with UC Berkeley bioengineer Daniel Fletcher, PhD, as well as Jennifer Doudna, PhD, who recently won the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for co-discovering CRISPR-Cas genome editing, the technology that underlies this work.

Current COVID-19 tests use a method called quantitative PCR -- the gold standard of testing. However, one of the issues with using this technique to test for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is that it requires DNA. Coronavirus is an RNA virus, which means that to use the PCR approach, the viral RNA must first be converted to DNA. 

Mobile Phone Microscopy

To demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 screening with Cas13a would be possible outside of laboratory settings, the team of scientists, from Gladstone, UC Berkeley, and UCSF, designed a mobile phone-based fluorescence microscope and reaction chamber to quantify the fluorescent signal generated by the Cas13a direct detection assay. 

Cas13a is an outlier in the CRISPR tech world because it targets RNA, not DNA

The goal was to show that mass-produced consumer electronics, rather than specialized laboratory equipment, are sufficient to capture the small fluorescent signals generated by Cas13a direct detection. Interestingly, we found that our device was approximately an order of magnitude more sensitive than the plate reader used in the development of this assay due to reduced measurement noise and the ability to collect more time points, which decreased the uncertainty in slope estimations and therefore enabled us to distinguish smaller slopes relative to the control.

Clarivate Brought Together Senior Leaders from the Govt, Academia, and Industry to Discuss Challenges and Opportunities for Innovation and IP creation in South and Southeast Asia

Clarivate Recognizes Most Influential Innovators at South and South East Asia Innovation Forum

Forum gathered senior leaders from government, academia, and industry to discuss challenges and opportunities for innovation and IP creation in the region

New Delhi, India, November 20, 2020 – Clarivate Plc (NYSE:CCC), a global leader in providing trusted information and insights to accelerate the pace of innovation, unveiled the recipients of the annual South and South East Asia Innovation Awards at the Innovation Forum held on November 18 and 19. The Innovation Forum brought together leaders from academic, government, and industry sectors across the region to share best practices and transformational initiatives that accelerate the pace of innovation.

The awards are based on an analysis of patent volume, citation volume, patent success, and the level of globalization, using patent data from Derwent World Patents Index™ (DWPI) and Derwent Patent Citations Index™ (DPCI). This year, 235 organizations from academia, government, and the corporate sector were identified as the top innovators in South and South East Asia. The top 28 received the Innovation Award:

Innovation Awards 2020 Recipients (listed in alphabetical country order within each category)

Academic Institutions
Country		Organization
Brunei		University of Brunei Darussalam
India		Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Indonesia		Diponegoro University
Malaysia		National University of Malaysia
Philippines		Cebu Technological University
Singapore		National University of Singapore
Vietnam		Hanoi University of Science and Technology
Government Research Organizations
Country		Organization
India		Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
Indonesia		Indonesian Institute of Sciences
Malaysia		Malaysian Palm Oil Board
Singapore		Agency for Science, Technology and Research
Vietnam		Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology
Corporations
Country		Organization
Indonesia		PT Pertamina
Malaysia		Petronas
Singapore		Sivantos Group
Sri Lanka		MAS Holdings
Thailand		Siam Cement Group
Vietnam		Viettel Group
India		Organization
Agri-Business		UPL Limited
Automotive		Mahindra & Mahindra Limited
Chemicals & Energy		Indian Oil Corporation Limited
Consumer Goods		ITC Limited
Heavy Industries		Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited
Information Technology & Services		Wipro Limited
Pharmaceuticals		Suven Life Sciences Limited
Textiles & Apparel		Welspun Group
Emerging Corporations
Country	Organization
India	ANI Technologies Private Limited
Singapore	KaHa Private Limited

Jeff Roy, President, IP Group, Clarivate, said, "We are pleased to once again provide a platform for regional leaders and experts across the innovation lifecycle to explore and exchange ideas, foster collaboration and drive research excellence. At Clarivate, we are committed to improving the way the world creates, protects, and advances innovation. Bringing together innovators from academia, government and industry will ensure that the spirit of innovation continues to thrive and deliver positive technological, social, and economic impact."

At the virtual two-day event, Amitabh Kant, CEO of NITI Aayog opened with an inaugural address about innovation in the digital age and said: "India is aiming to increase its current R&D expenditure substantially through scale-up innovation-led entrepreneurship in various sectors such as food, energy water, and national security. To promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, NITI Aayog has come up with India Innovation Index which is a tool to rank states for innovation and it also measures the result of innovation practices." He also talked about Indian government policy initiatives that have resulted in strict IPR rights, patent filings, and contract enforcement which are boosting confidence amongst the innovators and helping them in commercializing their technologies.

Prof. K. Vijay Raghavan, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, highlighted in his speech that this pandemic has led to accelerated innovation and that industry-academic partnerships can be the key to bringing innovations to market quickly, citing the example of India's first CRISPR COVID-19 test, developed by CSIR-IGIB, a worthy example of home-grown innovation approved for use in India.

Other distinguished speakers included renowned experts from Amity University, APEC Life Sciences Innovation Forum, A*STAR Singapore, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), Duopharma Biotech Bhd, Food Innopolis, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Inttl Advocare, Invest India, K&S Partners, Mahindra & Mahindra Limited, MAS Holdings, Premas Biotech and National University of Malaysia.

The criteria used to identify the top South and South East Asian innovators closely mirrors that of the annual Derwent Top 100 Global Innovators from Clarivate which celebrates the world's most successful organizations in research and development.

Biotechnology Startup Shilps Sciences Raises Funding from AngelList to Advance Cell-based Drug Discovery Platform

Shilps is a deep science company in the Biotechnology space that has developed a microfluidic Single Cell Platform for drug discovery and development.

The platform helps clients identify the best cells for various applications, including cell based therapies for cancer.

Bengaluru, 09 November 2020 : Bengaluru based Biotech startup Shilps Sciences today announced closing a Pre-series A financing round led by AngelList, which also saw participation from some existing investors. The funding will be used to expand client workflows on their platform and expand presence in the US.

Shilps Sciences was born out of a vision to become a leading technology innovator and enabler at the forefront of the coming wave of biological engineering. It is founded by Dr Ashwin Lal, a PhD from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland with over two decades of experience in instrumentation, nanotechnology and scientific product development. During the course of his work in nanotechnology, Dr Lal saw an opportunity to create nanotechnology-based instruments for the Life Sciences Industry. This led Dr Lal to return back to India and found Shilps Sciences.

Shilps' patented high output 'Nano-bioreactors on a Chip' technology helps clients analyze single cells for various therapeutic applications, including antibody production and T Cell Therapy. Operating at the intersection of biology, electronics, fluid mechanics and data, Shilps enables the rapid deployment of nanoscale single cell workflows for therapeutics and beyond. The platform will be used to identify which of the T-cells are most effective in killing cancer tumor cells. The global market for cell analysis was an estimated $16 billion in 2019 and is forecast to reach $22.7 billion by 2024.

Commenting on Shilps' innovative technology, BioPharma Industry leader & Head of Biologics at Dr. Reddy's , Dr. Cartikeya Reddy said, "Current mainstream methods are unable to provide the type of single cell analysis that is required for novel therapeutic development in a post CRISPR world. Shilps has a promising single cell platform."

"Microorganisms are the workhorses of nature and the best factories ever designed. The biopharma industry is now harnessing nature's four-billion-year-old cell 'machinery' to produce valuable therapeutics. Finding the right master cell for drug discovery is like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack. Given the strength of our single cell platform, antibodies and CAR-T Cell Therapy are two key focus areas. We are excited that the current round of funding enables us to accelerate biology application development on our platform and expand our presence in the US ecosystem. We are also engaging with key opinion leaders and early access partners in this field." said Ashwin Lal, PhD., CEO of Shilps.

Living cells are the future of manufacturing a whole new class of pharmaceuticals, accelerated by novel gene editing techniques. Cells drive billion-dollar product lines like Avastin and Herceptin for cancer therapy. Powering this growth in cell-based pharma R&D is a new class of enabling technology providers.

Shilps' mission is to drive speedy and affordable discovery in the healthcare industry by bringing pioneering technology innovations.

"Delighted to see a deep science startup from India developing disruptive technology for the world. Synthetic biology is the next frontier that will fundamentally transform a vast range of industries, "says Abhishek Nag, lead Investor, AngelList India syndicate.

Earlier funding includes grant support from the Department of Biotechnology and equity investments from Center for Cellular and Molecular Platforms. "We are excited to have supported and funded Shilps, a deep science startup, to help realize their vision of developing world leading technologies, while being incubated at C-CAMP," said Dr Taslimarif Saiyed, CEO and Director, C-CAMP. The startup was also recognized by Applied Ventures LLC, the venture capital arm of Applied Materials Inc as one of the top 3 deep tech startups in India. As part of Applied Startup Technology & Research Accelerator, they have an MoU for scientific collaboration.