SAVITRIBAI PHULE PUNE UNIVERSITY

Savitribai Phule Pune University (formerly University of Pune), one of the premier universities in India, is positioned in the North-Western part of Pune city. It occupies an area of about 411 acres. It was established on 10th February, 1949 under the Poona University Act. The university houses 46 academic departments. It is popularly known as the 'Oxford of the East'. It has about 307 recognized research institutes and 612 affiliated colleges offering graduate and under-graduate courses. According to Times Higher Education World University Ranking, Savitribai Phule Pune University has been ranked No. 2 among the universities in India. The university is NAAC re-accredited at A+ level and has status of university with potential for excellence by UGC, India. It is also DST-PURSE sponsored university.

About the Department

The Department of Biotechnology at Savitribai Phule Pune University, established in 1994, is a distinguished institution in the field of biotechnology education and research. It offers a comprehensive two-year M.Sc. Biotechnology program, supported by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, with admissions based on the competitive Graduate Aptitude Test in Biotechnology (GAT-B) conducted by the Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB). The department is well-known for its exceptional faculty members, who have excelled in various specialized branches of biotechnology and have a remarkable track record in conducting impactful research. They have engaged in collaborations with foreign laboratories, resulting in high-impact publications and national and international patents. Benefiting from strong connections with national institutes and industries in the Pune region, the department attracts meritorious students from all over India and abroad. These students consistently excel and secure prestigious fellowships, both in India and internationally. The department has availed significant financial support from various agencies, including DST, DBT, CSIR, UGC, and NRB, in the form of extramural grants, and has been part of key institutional programs such as UPE, DST-PURSE, DST-FIST, and RUSA. This funding has enabled the development of world-class infrastructure and provided an environment conducive to conducting cutting-edge research that addresses human health and societal needs.

Mitochondria, Cell Death, and Human Diseases

Mitochondrial dysfunction in human diseases

Cell death modalities in disease development and treatment

Mitochondrial genetics on disease susceptibility and progression

Mitochondrial dynamics in health and disease

Role of mitochondria in pathophysiology of cancer

Novel therapeutics targeting mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death

Mitochondrial biomarkers in diagnostics and prognosis

Clinical trials related to mitochondria targeting therapies

Emerging technologies in mitochondrial research

Computational Breakthroughs in Human Disease Management

Structural biology and computer aided drug discovery

Artificial intelligence in healthcare

Computational network biology in disease pathways

Machine learning and disease prediction

Imaging and computational diagnostics

Computers in genomics and precision medicine

Epidemiology and outbreak prediction modelling

Big data and healthcare integration

Data sharing and collaboration networks

Emerging technologies in computational biology

Basic & Clinical Research and Transformations in Healthcare

Bridging the gap between basic and translational research in patient care

Advances in pathophysiology of cancer & chronic disease management

Advances in cancer therapeutics

Clinical approaches for management of infectious diseases

Technology driven transformations in diagnosis and treatment

Global health disparities

Microbiome applications in clinical management

Mental health and well-being in the age of technology-driven society

Diagnosis, treatment, and management of rare and orphan diseases.

Advances in virology & vaccine development

COVID-19 pandemic and strategies for future pandemic preparedness.

Environmental factors on human health and potential interventions.

International Advisory Committee

Prof. Robert Naviaux, University of California, San Diego, USA

Prof. David Goodrich, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, USA

Prof. Atan Gross, Weizmann Institute of Science, ISRAEL

Prof. Jerry Chipuk, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, USA

Prof. Rajesh Agarwal, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Center, USA

Prof. Suresh Joshi, Drexel University College of Medicine, USA

Prof. Shivendra Singh, University of Pittsburgh, USA

Prof. Harsh Pawar, Biomedical and Life Sciences, Lancaster, UK

Prof. Chinthalapally Rao, University of Oklahoma, USA

Prof. Rajeev Varshney, Murdoch University, Australia

National Advisory Committee

Dr. Shekhar Mande, Former DG, CSIR, India

Dr. Mohan Wani, Director NCCS, Pune

Prof. Sunil S. Bhagwat, Director IISER, Pune

Dr. Umesh Shaligram, Executive Director SII Pvt. Ltd

Dr. Sheela V. Godbole, Director, NARI & NIV, Pune

Dr. D. Mitra, Former Director, CDFD, Hyderabad

Prof. Raosaheb Kale, Former Vice-Chancellor, Central University of Gujarat

Prof. R. P. Singh, former Rector, JNU, New Delhi

Prof. Rakesh K Mishra, Director CCMB, Hyderabad

Prof. K. Thangaraj, Director, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD), Hyderabad

Scientific Organizing Committee

• Prof. Smita Zinjarde
• Prof. RN Gacche
• Dr. Amul Sakharkar
• Dr. Santosh Kathwate
• Dr. Shilpy Sharma
• Dr. Rajendra Patil
• Dr. Vivek Vaish
• Dr. Smriti Mittal
• Dr. Amit Roy
• Dr. Shadab Ahmed
• Dr. Tuli Dey
• Dr. Vaijayanti Tamhne
• Dr. Geetanjali Tomar
• Dr. Mamta Singhavi
• Dr. Rajendra Shende
• Dr. Sakayla Chavan
• Dr. Harshada Sowani
• Mrs. Manju Borate