Immune Modulation using Synthetic Signaling Circuit

Efficient immune signalling response against pathogens is crucial for resolving infections. However, many pathogens thrive by evolving strategies to evade the host immune response. Scientists at NCCS are exploring ways to rewire immune signaling pathways or networks by using synthetic signaling circuits. Continue reading

Synthetic Biology Approach for Resolving Diseases

Scientists at NCCS are tapping into synthetic biology techniques for understanding the dynamics of infectious diseases like Leishmaniasis and designing simple to complex synthetic circuits made of biological building blocks (bio bricks), which can be used to reprogram various pathways inside a variety of cells involved in the pathogenesis. Continue reading

Biomarkers for Breast Cancer using Proteomics and Metabolomics

Scientists at NCCS are identifying potential biomarkers for breast cancer subtypes using multipronged proteomic and metabolomic approaches. They are analyzing various protein and metabolite changes that occur in the diseased state by comparing tissue, serum and urine samples from breast cancer patients to that of samples collected from normal subjects. Continue reading

Enhancing Tolerance of Immune System towards Transplants

Scientists at NCCS are exploring mechanisms for enhancing immune tolerance for the purpose of increasing acceptance of transplants by the body. In particular, they are studying the role of gamma-delta (γδ) T cells in increasing immune tolerance. Continue reading

Interfering with Immune Cell Mobilization in Autoimmune Conditions

How do immune cells overcome the brain defence causing multiple sclerosis? What triggers mobilization of immune cells from the secondary immune organs in inflammatory bowel disease? In order to find answers to the occurrences in these autoimmune conditions, scientists at NCCS are studying the mechanism of cell signaling at the site of inflammation and subsequent immune cell mobilization. Continue reading

Novel Triterpenoid AECHL-1 for Breast Cancer Chemotherapy

In a quest to find therapeutic molecules having high specificity for cancerous cells and fewer side effects than existing chemotherapeutic agents, scientists at NCCS have identified and isolated a novel triterpenoid AECHL-1. This molecule is currently being developed as a chemotherapeutic agent for breast cancer. Continue reading

Endocytosis in deciding fate of Embryonic Stem Cells

Scientists at NCCS are investigating the role of endocytosis and vesicular transport in deciding the future state of an undifferentiated embryonic stem cell. Using experimental techniques like large scale siRNA screening, reprogramming assays and biophysical manipulation of mouse embryos, they are studying how modifications to cellular or vesicular transport determines whether an embryonic stem cell maintains pluripotency or differentiates into a specific cell type. Continue reading

Tapping into Pluripotent Differentiation Potentials of Embryonic Stem Cells

Using the pluripotent embryonic stem cells as a model system, scientists at NCCS are investigating the epigenetic factors and molecular determinants which are involved in deciding and controlling differentiation of stem cells into specific cellular lineages. Continue reading

An Elegant Model for Studying Early Embryonic Development

Scientists at NCCS are studying the early embryonic development using embryonic stem cells derived from the blastula stage embryo. These embryonic stem cells possess unique characteristics of indefinite self renewal and pluripotency; and are capable of precisely recapitulating the early embryogenic development, thereby serving as an elegant model for studying the developmental events occurring during embryogenesis. Continue reading

Structure Function Analysis of Proteins in M. tuberculosis

Exploiting the state-of-art technology for increasing the knowledge base on micro organisms, scientists at NCCS are studying the structure and functional correlation of proteins derived from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Using crystallography and in-silico methods, they are analyzing the heat shock responses mediated by proteins such as GroEL chaperonin, oxidative stress induced redox reactions and enzymatic reaction mediated electron transport mechanisms in the cell. Continue reading

Computational Method for Mapping Protein Interactions

In order to assimilate large data sets generated by high throughput experiments, scientists at NCCS have developed a novel algorithm solving an NP (non-deterministic polynomial) hard problem and have used it effectively for mapping potential protein interactions. This computational approach can be used for studying organisms at systems level by integrating high throughput differential expression data and information on regulatory networks. Continue reading

Self-propagating Glioblastoma Model in a Petri-dish

Scientists at NCCS have developed a novel tumor cell co-culture protocol and system for understanding the role of glioma stem cells (GSC) in mediating tumor functions in Glioblastoma (GBM). GBM is a highly invasive malignant tumor with high incidence of therapy resistance and tumor relapse after surgery. This relapse is due to repopulation of tumor by GSCs and is characterized by existence of GSCs in close proximity with endothelial cells (EC). In order to study the GSC-EC interactions, this innovative self-propagating GSC-EC co-culture system was developed as a highly replicating in-vitro model of GBM. Continue reading

Dendritic Cells for Cancer Immunotherapy

Scientists at NCCS have developed a novel two-step method for large-scale generation of mature, functional Dendritic Cells (DC) from Umbilical cord blood (UCB). This technology will aid in development of dendritic cell based vaccines for cancer immunotherapy. Continue reading

Indigenous Protocol for Cryopreservation of Cord Blood

Umbilical cord blood (UCB) collected from umbilical cord and placenta following child birth, is a rich source of stem cells which are preserved and harvested for treatment of many diseases and for use in stem cell research. Efficient preservation of cord blood cells is crucial for availability of viable stem cells at the time of need. Scientists at NCCS have developed a unique technique for cryopreservation of UCB cells for banking and research. Continue reading

Cell Bandages for Tissue Repair in Diabetic Wounds

Wound healing in diabetic conditions is severely impaired and is a major cause of extremity amputation. A cellular, tissue engineered, wound-healing product comprising of a novel matrix of electro-spun Polycaprolactone-Gelatin nano-fiber scaffold (PCG) with embedded Bone Marrow or Peripheral Blood-derived endothelial progenitor cells (BMPC) system has been developed by scientists at NCCS, for accelerated and fibrosis-free wound healing in diabetic conditions. Continue reading

Ready-to-use Cell-free Secretomes for Wound Healing

Secretomes are protein molecules that are secreted or released from cells and are actively involved in control and regulation of biological processes in the body like wound healing, skin formation etc. Scientists at NCCS have created a novel skin repair product using these secretomes. Continue reading

Glut-4 Activity based Anti-Diabetic Drug Screening System

Scientists at NCCS have developed an in-vitro anti-diabetic drug screening system based on glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) activity in a novel cell line (CHO-HIRc-mycGLUT4eGFP). Using this system, GLUT4 translocation under stimulation can be visualized by live cell imaging and captured real-time for qualitative and quantitative analysis of GLUT4 on the cell membrane. Continue reading

Herbal Extracts for Metabolic Diseases in ready-to-market Formulation

Fenugreek seeds are well known in Indian traditional medicine for use in the management of Diabetes and Obesity. However, the therapeutic dose of 25-50 g/day of Fenugreek seeds is not feasible for human consumption due to its bitter taste and pungent odour. Scientists at NCCS have designed and patented novel methods for preparing aqueous extracts of fenugreek seeds that would be reasonably convenient for human consumption. Continue reading

Platform for Identifying Heterogeneity of Cancer Cells

Cancer cells remaining undetected in the body following treatment regimens can cause recurrence. Recent studies suggest that this debilitating issue could be a result of heterogeneous characteristics of cancer cells; thus residual cells are likely to be drug resistant and/or not targeted by the initial treatment. Scientists at NCCS believe that identifying the heterogeneity of the cancer cells and providing a targeted therapy specific for different cell fractions can resolve this issue. Continue reading

Novel Cancer Drug Screening Platform

Scientists at NCCS have developed a novel platform for screening of potential anti-tumor agents, compounds and extracts, based on 3-dimensional Multi-Cellular Spheroids derived from tumor cells and prostate apoptosis response (PAR)-4 indicator that is linked to cell death. Continue reading