Biotechnology Development: Opportunities and Challenges Dr Prakash Ghimire, Ph D Associate Professor Microbiology Tribhuvan University Microbiologist,

Biotechnology Biotechnology Development: Development:

Opportunities and Opportunities and ChallengesChallenges

Dr Prakash Ghimire, Ph DDr Prakash Ghimire, Ph D

Associate Professor MicrobiologyAssociate Professor Microbiology

Tribhuvan UniversityTribhuvan University

Microbiologist, WHO-IPD/NPHL/EDCD-Microbiologist, WHO-IPD/NPHL/EDCD-MoHMoH

Ecological Zones and Development Regions of Nepal

Mountains (16 districts)

Hills (39 districts)

Terai (20 districts)

Far-Western Region

Mid-Western Region

Western Region

Central Region

Eastern Region

Biotechnology:Biotechnology:

• AnimalAnimal– HybridsHybrids

• PharmaceuticalPharmaceutical– DiagnosticDiagnostic– TherapeuticTherapeutic– VaccinesVaccines

• PlantPlant– Agriculture - NARCAgriculture - NARC– FoodFood

Biotechnology:Biotechnology:

• Post Human genome situationPost Human genome situation– Proteomics & Genomics – two closely related Proteomics & Genomics – two closely related

areaarea

• Cell biologyCell biology

• ImmunologyImmunology– AntibodiesAntibodies

• PolyclonalPolyclonal

• MonoclonalMonoclonal

• Molecular biologyMolecular biology– GenomicsGenomics

– ProteomicsProteomics

RONAST

RONASTRONAST

• ACTIVITIES:ACTIVITIES: RESEARCH ACTIVITIESRESEARCH ACTIVITIES

• Biotechnology Programs Biotechnology Programs - -

– Conservation of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants [Click Here]Conservation of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants [Click Here]- -

Molecular Diagnostic of Citrus greening Disease –Molecular Diagnostic of Citrus greening Disease –

– Molecular Characterization of Molecular Characterization of Medicinal plants  -Tea clones  -Medicinal plants  -Tea clones  -

Bacillus thuringinsis Bacillus thuringinsis ––

– Flora of Nepal Project Flora of Nepal Project Research on Organic Farming Research on Organic Farming -Antagonistic -Antagonistic

Study of Ectomycorrhiza -Study of the role of Endomycorrhiza Study of Ectomycorrhiza -Study of the role of Endomycorrhiza

• Natural Products ResearchNatural Products Research -Bioprospecting of -Bioprospecting of Cordyceps Cordyceps

sinensissinensis-Biopesticides study program -Analytical services -Biopesticides study program -Analytical services

Nepal Health Research Nepal Health Research CouncilCouncil

• Supports health ResearchSupports health Research

– Mostly in health system researchMostly in health system research

– Negligible investment in BiotechnologyNegligible investment in Biotechnology

Medical Biotechnology In NepalMedical Biotechnology In Nepal

• Immunology:Immunology:

– Vaccine ProductionVaccine Production

• Rabies Vaccine Production (Central Veterinary Rabies Vaccine Production (Central Veterinary

Research Laboratory), TripuresworResearch Laboratory), Tripureswor

– Antibody ProductionAntibody Production

• Everest BiotechEverest Biotech

– Founded by biochemists at Oxford University, based in Founded by biochemists at Oxford University, based in

Oxfordshire, UK with a production laboratory established Oxfordshire, UK with a production laboratory established

in Kathmandu.in Kathmandu.

– CDM TU- Non commercial/Academic UseCDM TU- Non commercial/Academic Use

• Antibody Production, Purification……..Antibody Production, Purification……..

– National Public Health LaboratoryNational Public Health Laboratory

• Health ServicesHealth Services

– Flow cytometric assay ( FACS)Flow cytometric assay ( FACS)

Medical BiotechnologyMedical Biotechnology

• Molecular BiologyMolecular Biology

– DNA Sequencing – Proposed at National Forensic Laboratory, KhumaltarDNA Sequencing – Proposed at National Forensic Laboratory, Khumaltar

– PCRPCR

• RONAST- Plant molecular biologyRONAST- Plant molecular biology

• CDMTU – Tropical diseases- Malaria, Leishmania etc.CDMTU – Tropical diseases- Malaria, Leishmania etc.

• National Public Health Laboratory, Teku- SARS, Malaria, etc.National Public Health Laboratory, Teku- SARS, Malaria, etc.

• VBDRTC, Hetauda- Malaria, LeishmaniaVBDRTC, Hetauda- Malaria, Leishmania

• Mycobacterial research Laboratory, Lele- Tuberculosis, LeprosyMycobacterial research Laboratory, Lele- Tuberculosis, Leprosy

• Universal College/ RLAAB- Plant mol. Bio.Universal College/ RLAAB- Plant mol. Bio.

• Veterinary Research Laboratory, Tripureswor- Veterinary Research Laboratory, Tripureswor-

• Si-Gan Health Foundation, MaharajgunjSi-Gan Health Foundation, Maharajgunj

– Real Time PCR ( Proposed)Real Time PCR ( Proposed)

• National Public Health Laboratory, TekuNational Public Health Laboratory, Teku

– Avian Influenza diagnostic serviceAvian Influenza diagnostic service

• Cell BiologyCell Biology

Real-Time PCR

Challenges:Challenges:• Machines without consumablesMachines without consumables

– Academic & HMG InstitutesAcademic & HMG Institutes

• Training of Human ResourcesTraining of Human Resources– Latest updatesLatest updates

• Research CultureResearch Culture– Carrer prospectsCarrer prospects

• Research Funding & CollaborationResearch Funding & Collaboration– NHRC ?NHRC ?– Big researches- Survey type, No Laboratory capacity Big researches- Survey type, No Laboratory capacity

development in Nepaldevelopment in Nepal

• Availability of Consumables in local marketAvailability of Consumables in local market– Mostly not available, If available, costs 3-5 times of Mostly not available, If available, costs 3-5 times of

original costoriginal cost

• EntrepreneurshipEntrepreneurship– MarketMarket

Hope for FutureHope for Future

• New University programs as per market requirementsNew University programs as per market requirements

– Medical technology ProgramMedical technology Program

– Medical Microbiology ProgramMedical Microbiology Program

– Pharmaceutical Sciences ProgramPharmaceutical Sciences Program

– Biotechnology ProgramBiotechnology Program

– Allied health Programs ( Radiology, Dentistry, Allied health Programs ( Radiology, Dentistry,

Physiotherapy, Bio-medical Engineering, …….)Physiotherapy, Bio-medical Engineering, …….)

• Availability of funding in post WTO scenarioAvailability of funding in post WTO scenario

• Introduction of newer Pharmaceutical companiesIntroduction of newer Pharmaceutical companies

• Availability of trained /cost effective HRsAvailability of trained /cost effective HRs

• Worldwide market in post WTO situationWorldwide market in post WTO situation

• Coming up of new diagnostic companiesComing up of new diagnostic companies

• Positive Government Policy ?Positive Government Policy ?

Formula for Success Formula for Success A small truth to make our life 100% successful……

A B C D E F G H I J

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

K L M N O P Q R S

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

T U V W X Y Z

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

None of them makes 100%

LUCK

12+21+3+11 47%

LOVE

12+15+22+5 54%

EFFORT5+6+6+15+18+20

70%

KNOWLEDGE11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 96%

HARDWORK8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 98%

Then what makes 100%Then what makes 100%• Is it money? Is it money? …No!!!…No!!!

• Is it leadership? Is it leadership? …No!!!…No!!!

• Every problems has a solution, so perhaps Every problems has a solution, so perhaps

Change our Change our “ATTITUDE”“ATTITUDE”

It is It is ATTITUDEATTITUDE towards life and work that makes towards life and work that makes

Our Life Our Life 100% Successful100% Successful

Don’t you think so ?!?!?!?!Don’t you think so ?!?!?!?!

ATTITUDEATTITUDE1+20+20+9+20+21+4+51+20+20+9+20+21+4+5

100%