Dr J S Yadav took over charge as the Director of Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) in Hyderabad last month.

A doctorate in Chemistry, he has been the recipient of various awards and honours during his distinguished career-span. Widely-travelled, Dr Yadav holds around 25 patents & copyrights and is on board of several committees and boards.

In a conversation with Y V Phani Raj of Pharmabiz.com, Dr Yadav explains his vision for IICT, and speaks about the developments and the achievements of the organization and future R&D projects that his Institute is pursuing. Excerpts:

What are your goals for IICT in the next 5 years?

Our goal would be to derive and create a roadmap for IICT in each of its thrust areas. We shall define potential areas of research excellence within IICT and evaluate their value to present and future needs and aims. We intend to establish a balance between innovation and discovery driven research. Aligning all the resources of IICT and CSIR towards the desired roadmap. To provide greater accountability for the grant in aid programmes / projects and meet the challenges and expectations in implementing these programmes. Also, evolving strategies for an internal audit system to check and advice for better performance.

Tell us about the completed projects and new agreements during 2002-03 at IICT? And what is their contract value?

In 2002-03, our institute had completed 65 R&D and consultancy projects. This is double to that of what we had achieved in the year 1996-97.

The IICT had entered into 73 new agreements, of which 25 are of sponsored R&D category, 33 are of consultancy, and 15 are grant in aid programmes.

The institute could attract 25 first time clients. More than 85 per cent of them belong to private sector. Public Sector companies include C-DAC, CHT, CPCB and CRME. Private sector companies include CICO Technologies, Delhi, Shapoorji Pallonji Biotech Park, Hyderabad, Paras Vanaspati, Raipur, RPG Life Sciences, Mumbai, Kirloskar Brothers, Pune, Arihant Petrochem, Bangalore etc.

The contract value of the 73 new projects signed by IICT during 2002-03 is of the order of Rs. 15.15 crore, which gives an average contract value of Rs. 21.58 lakh per project.

How many processes have been developed and successfully demonstrated to the industry recently?

The IICT had successfully developed and demonstrated 14 processes during 2002-2003. They include Lacidipine, Methyl Sulphonic Acid, Hydrazine Hydrate, Lambda Cyhalothrin, Cyanopyrazie, Hydroxy Ethy Cellulose, 3 Furaldehyde, Methanol reforming for 10 kw fuel cell application and Dimethyl Ether from CO2 containing synthesis gas. All of them have great utility in industry.

Companies that have been benefited by obtaining technology from IICT include AP Organics, Dhuri, Punjab; Paras Vanaspati, Raipur; Anil Modi Industries, Pilbhit, UP; Ramcharan Oils, Hyderabad; GAIL, Pata, UP; SMS Pharma, Hyderabad; ISAGRO, Mumbai; Spic Pharma, Tuticorin; Ministry of Non- conventional Energy Sources,
New Delhi; Cadila Pharma, Ahmedabad; Sanmar Chemicals, Chennai; NFC, Hyderabad; Pidilite, Mumbai; IOC R & D division etc,.

What are the technologies available at IICT for drugs and biotechnology industry? And what is the mode for its transfer?

Various modes are product development through user collaboration, multi-client sponsorship for broad spectrum processes, contract research-bilateral and multilateral sponsored research, custom synthesis and horizontal technology transfer. There are various technologies that are available from IICT for drugs industry which include laboratory scale processes for sponsored research on non-exclusive basis, sophisticated drug processes (lab scale) on sponsorship, collaborative research for new bioactive molecules and formulations, nutraceuticals on laboratory / pilot scale process for sponsored research on limited exclusive or non exclusive licensing.

For biotechnology industry, biotech-based products identified for sponsorship for limited exclusive or non exclusive licensing and biocontrol methods / technologies. More than 150 technologies developed by IICT scientists are now in commercial production.

How is the performance of IICT with regard to patents filed and granted?

The IICT has established a new CSIR record by filing 139 overseas patents and 46 Indian patents, reaching the total number of patents being filed to 185 during 2002-03, covering 62 inventions as against 42 in 2001-02. Of these 62 patented inventions, 49 are process patents and 9 are product patents. Nearly 40 per cent of the overseas patents are US patents. The IICT was granted 25 overseas and 9 Indian patents. IICT continues to hold the top slot in overseas patenting in CSIR family.

What are the proposed R&D projects in the Tenth Five-Year Plan (2002-2007)?

The proposed projects are Entomological and Toxicological studies including Toxicological evaluation and profiling, Bioinformatics and rural development, Entomological evaluation of new molecules. Microbial transformations for novel compounds and processes including biocatalysis and transformations; enzyme mimics; preparation, purification and application of enzymes from microbes.

New chemical entities and processes for synthetic drugs including design and development of glycotherapeutics, peptides and peptidomimetics; market driven processes for generic drugs; anti oxidants, nutraceuticals and intermediates; novel synthetic methodologies for bioactive leads; computer aided drug design. Natural products and new formulations including discovery and development of new plant based bioactives; marine based new molecules etc,.

IICT had a pact with Aisin Cosmos of Japan for development of new photofunctional materials for light harvesting devices. What is the development so far?

Phase-I of the collaborative programme with Aisin on development of new photofunctional materials for application in sensors, light harvesting units and nanotechnology devices has been completed. And an agreement has been signed for Phase-II of this programme. Phase-I of the programme was carried during 2001-03. And new agreement extends the programme to 2005.

A center for BioInformatics Vector Control at IICT under the aegis of Environmental Information Systems (ENVIS) has been set recently. What is it about?

Control of vector borne diseases has been a difficult problem in India on account of socioeconomic and management factors. Serious efforts are being made by several state governments in the country to reduce the vulnerability of their population to vector borne diseases. Scientifically designed alert systems play a vital role in facilitating the governmental and non-governmental agencies to launch preemptive drives to control and prevent outbreak of vector borne diseases particularly Malaria, Japanese encephalitis and Filariasis.

IICT has taken several initiatives during the last five years to design and develop new software packages for the control of vector borne diseases. They resulted in the establishment of a Centre for BioInformatics Vector Control at IICT under the aegis of Environmental Information System (ENVIS), a joint initiative of World Bank and Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India.