Inter University Centre for Genomics and Gene Technology (IU-CGGT)
University of Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
"Unlocking Nature's Code:
The Genomic Odyssey Begins Here!"
The Inter University Centre for Genomics and Gene Technology (IU-CGGT) is an initiative funded by the Department of Higher Education, Government of Kerala. It is an inter-disciplinary facility which focuses on frontier areas of research and teaching in life sciences and genomics. This centre aims to bridge the lacunae in the available modern research technologies in various research institutions / Universities across the country, and to promote research cooperation between academics and industry. The centre was sanctioned in 2010 and formally started in 2011 and inaugurated by the Hon’ble Minister for Education and Culture, Government of Kerala. An Executive Committee was initially constituted by the University of Kerala under the chairmanship of the Vice Chancellor as the Governing body for scheming its functions.
IU-CGGT was envisaged for the purpose of inter-university interaction and to function as an industry incubation facility. The centre plays a role as an interdisciplinary multi-institutional facility that focuses on frontier areas of life sciences research. IU-CGGT has an established research facility for high-end genomic research related to contemporary issues and has a mandate to support the faculty, scholars, and students from various universities, colleges, and research institutes in Kerala. Research associates and research fellows are appointed to carry out the research activities in the centre. Research scholars are encouraged to register for a Ph.D. at the University of Kerala. Presently, the research activities of IU-CGGT focuses on four major research areas that include bio-prospecting of medicinal plants for anti-cancer and anti-obesity drugs, bio-prospecting of microbes for the production of industrial enzymes, plant molecular biology, biomarker development for neuro-degenerative diseases and cancer. Under the manpower development program IU-CGGT often organizes workshops, seminars and conferences on areas of molecular biology and genomics to offer learning avenues and hands-on training for the research scholars from various academic and research institutions.
Hon. Director
Dr. R. Rajalakshmi
Dr. R. Rajalakshmi assumed office as the Honorary Director of IU-CGGT in April 2021. She has approximately 16 years of teaching experience and currently holds the position of an Associate Professor in the Department of Botany at the University of Kerala. She earned her doctorate in Botany from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, in 2001. Under her supervision, five students have been awarded Doctoral Degrees, and she is currently guiding four scholars pursuing their PhD programs.
Former Directors
Empowering Excellence: A Legacy of Visionary Leadership
IU-CGGT owes its remarkable success and growth to the visionary leadership of its former directors, who played pivotal roles in its establishment and development. These esteemed individuals brought forth a wealth of expertise and experience in the fields of genomics and life sciences, inspiring the center to attain new heights of excellence. Through their unwavering dedication, strategic vision, and strong academic acumen, they shaped the center into a leading institution for genomic research. Their commitment to fostering inter-university collaboration and industry partnerships has been instrumental in creating a vibrant research ecosystem within the center. Their profound impact resonates in the cutting-edge research facilities they established, attracting top-notch researchers and scholars from various universities and institutes. The enduring legacy of the former directors continues to inspire the current generation of researchers and paves the way for further advancements in genomics and gene technology at the center.
Prof. (Dr.) G. Mohanadasan Nair
The Founder Director of IU-CGGT is an exceptional visionary and trailblazer in the field of genomics. IU-CGGT was established through the committed efforts of Prof. (Dr.) GM Nair in 2010. Prof. Nair took charge as the Hon. Director of IUCGGT in 2010, while also holding the position as the head of the Department of Biotechnology at the University of Kerala. During his tenure as the Founder Director (2010-2012), he laid the foundation for the center's success with unwavering passion for scientific exploration and a deep commitment to advancing genomic research. He played a crucial role in setting up advanced instrumentation facilities and attracting high-quality researchers to the center. Even now, he continues to provide his valuable guidance and commitment to the center as a Senior Advisor in the Executive Committee and Technical Committee of IU-CGGT.
Dr. Nair previously served as the Director of Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (KSCSTE – JNTBGRI) from 2001 to 2005 and was also a Professor at the Central University of Kerala. Currently, he holds the position of President of the Kerala Academy of Sciences and is the Honorary Director of Central Laboratory for Instrumentation and Facilitation (CLIF) at the University of Kerala.
Prof. (Dr.) A Jayakumaran Nair
Prof. (Dr.) A Jayakumaran Nair served as the Honorary Director of IU-CGGT from 2012 to 2021, during which he also held the position of the head of the Department of Biotechnology at the University of Kerala. His foresight and leadership were instrumental in creating a nurturing environment that fosters cutting-edge research and interdisciplinary collaborations at IU-CGGT. Under his guidance, the center flourished into a hub of innovation, attracting top talents, and forging valuable partnerships with leading institutions. Dr. Nair played a crucial role in designing the curriculum and obtaining administrative approval for an advanced PG-Diploma course in Molecular Diagnostics for postgraduate students in life sciences at IU-CGGT. This one-year course, dually approved by the University of Kerala, with an industry-oriented syllabus, attracted a large pool of students, successfully completing several batches. Additionally, Dr. Nair supervised several research scholars pursuing their PhDs at IU-CGGT.
Dr. Nair continues to dedicate his time and service to the center as an Advisor in the Executive Committee and Technical Committee of IU-CGGT. He previously served as Adjunct Faculty at the Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, University of Kerala. Currently, Dr. Nair holds the position of Emeritus Professor at the Department of Biotechnology, University of Kerala.
The Governing Body of IU-CGGT consists of an Executive Committee and Technical Committee.
Executive Committee
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Vice Chancellor, University of Kerala
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Nominee of Dept. of Higher Education (Member)
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Dr. S. Nazeeb (Member syndicate)
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Dr. Gopchandran (Member syndicate)
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Prof. (Dr.) G. M. Nair (Senior Advisor & Founder Director)
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Prof. (Dr.) P. R. Sudhakaran (Technical Advisor)
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Prof. Dr. A. Gangaprasad (Academic Co-ordinator)
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Dr. T. R. Santhosh Kumar (Expert)
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Dr. Nishanth K T (Expert)
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Prof. (Dr.) A. Jayakumaran Nair (Advisor,& Former Hon. Director)
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Dr. R. Rajalakshmi (Hon. Director & Convenor)
Technical Committee
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Prof. (Dr.) G. M. Nair
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Prof. (Dr.) P. R. Sudhakaran
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Prof. (Dr.) S.M.A. Shibili
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Prof. (Dr.) A. Jayakumaran Nair
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Prof. (Dr.) A. Gangaprasad
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Dr. R. Rajalakshmi
Prof. (Dr.) P. R. Sudhakaran
Professor P.R. Sudhakaran served as the Professor and Head of the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Kerala. Over a career spanning more than three and a half decades, he supervised 37 doctoral students and guided the thesis work of 12 MPhil students. He has authored over 150 research articles and several book chapters. He held positions as a visiting scientist at esteemed institutions including USDA, Beltsville (USA); Institute of Arteriosclerosis Research, Münster (Germany); IARC, Lyon (France); National Food Research Institute (Japan); and the University of Alberta (Canada). He is the recipient of numerous fellowships and awards, such as Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, Fellow of the National Academy of Medical Sciences, JC Bose Award for Research in Life Science, Asutosh Mukherjee Fellowship, and the KSCSTE Emeritus Scientist Award. Currently, he serves as the Emeritus Scientist (Sir Asutosh Mukherjee Fellow) in the Department of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics. Prof. Sudhakaran is a member of both the Executive and Technical Committees of IU-CGGT, where he provides valuable insights as a technical advisor.
Prof. (Dr.) A. Gangaprasad
Professor (Dr.) A. Gangaprasad possesses over 35 years of extensive experience in the domains of Conservation Biotechnology (Medicinal Plants and Wild Orchids), Plant Tissue Culture, and Plant Taxonomy. He is a founding member of the Indian Association for Angiosperm Taxonomy and a Fellow of the Indian Association for Angiosperm Taxonomy. With a portfolio comprising more than 130 peer-reviewed original research articles, in addition to numerous review articles and book chapters, Dr. Gangaprasad's contributions are noteworthy. Previously, Dr. Gangaprasad held the position of Professor & Head at the Department of Biotechnology and later became a Professor (Retd) at the Department of Botany. Currently, he holds the esteemed title of Emeritus Professor at the Department of Botany and concurrently serves as the Honorary Director of the Centre for Biodiversity Conservation at the University of Kerala. Notably, he received the prestigious Dr. S. Vasudev Award in both 2018 and 2023. In 2018, he established the Centre for Biodiversity Conservation at the University of Kerala's Kariavattom Campus. Dr. Gangaprasad remains actively engaged in the academic pursuits of IU-CGGT, where he fulfills the role of Academic Coordinator.
Prof. (Dr.) S.M.A. Shibili
Professor S. Muhammadhu Aboobakar Shibli holds the position of Professor within the Department of Chemistry at the University of Kerala. He serves as the Honorary Director of the Centre for Renewable Energy and Materials, University of Kerala. With his expertise, he has provided guidance to more than 35 doctoral students and has also offered associate guidance in related fields, including medical and mechanical engineering. His impressive academic contributions include the publication of over 150 research articles, holding 4 patents, and having 5 technologies that are prepared for pilot plant testing. Notably, he holds the title of Visiting Professor at Southern Federal University in Russia. Furthermore, he has been recognized for his impact in the academic sphere, earning inclusion in Stanford University's esteemed list of the world's top 2% most influential Scientists. In addition to these accomplishments, Dr. Shibli plays an active role as a technical committee member of IU-CGGT.