“
is the replacement for
our previous best flow
cytometry box, BD
FACSCalibre. The BD
FACSCelesta allows
researchers to benefit
from new innovations
in instrument and
reagent technology.
They can now, with
improved brightness
and low spectral
overlap, characterize,
and resolve even dim
staining populations of
interest. It has got
multiple configurations, delivering the performance required for
varied immunology and cell biology applications. The four
configurations allow the use of 10 or 12 colors. When combined
with the patented technology of BD Horizon Brilliant polymer
dyes, it enables greater resolution of previously unobserved
cell populations and is an ideal solution for researchers
wanting more fluorophore choices when using multicolor
flow cytometry.
The bio-pharma industry
in India will surely benefit
from scientists coming back
from abroad. The kind of
drugs they build with their
expertise will bring a paradigm
shift in Indian context.
While it was released only recently in India, the response
received has been overwhelming. In fact, the India has been
the prominent country in Asia to order maximum number of
units so far.
Given your expertise in the area of stem cells, please tell us
about the latest in the field?
We have been providing the instrumentation in the interesting
field of regenerative cells. It is the continuous discovery of new
phentotypes and expression of receptors on those cells. The
researchers are trying their best to come up with new stem cell
based therapies but a lot is still going on.
How do you look at the R&D presence in India besides the
achievements made by upcoming startups?
Today there is a revolution of sorts in countries like India and
China. Scientists from here have in last 15 years been taking up
opportunities to work on their education in other developed
countries. They have been doing post docs in Europe and US.
They have taken up challenges to work at various places. They
made sacrifices and went away from the places of comfort to
acquire skills. Now, we are witnessing the trend that they are
coming back. They are re-populating the universities and other
places with a passion. They have good publications and research
skills. They are bringing their expectations and help build new
innovation culture here in these nations based on the rich
interaction they had abroad. This surely is going to expand
horizons in the high
dimensional biology.
Here too they are
asking the companies
like BD to bring in the
technology. They are
coming back home yet
working with us here
too. This is a new step
in Industry-academia
relationship.
Since you have
touched upon the
industry-academia
interaction topic, do
you plan to replicate
your Hamdard University excellence centre kind of
experiment at other places too?
Absolutely, we will like to do that but in different ways. The idea
is to sit with the scientists, listen to their challenges they have.
When we collaborate, we share our technology. Then there is
need and we provide the solutions. We don’t have to always
come here to sell. Remember whatever we do at the BD, we
always keep in mind that it will help patients. So in a way we
share the technology to solve the problems together.
We have been witnessing the miniaturization of technology
from huge boxes to compact and handy instruments. Where
does BD stand on that?
We have scaled down our huge machines to relatively smaller
boxes of 18 cm by 18 cm. We are taking advantage of the
innovative techniques by other industries as well. For example
laser development and optical fibre is being used in making the
technology better and compact. Things are getting smaller and
easy to manage. We at BD try to make smarter machines.
What is the priority area of focus for BD in India?
All the flow cytometers in BD profile allow us to do two things.
To analyse the cell population and what I think is most
important is to provide the right kind of technology. There are
many on-going things in India. Various institutions and
individuals are focusing on high end biology and new cell
therapies. The drugs from the plants (phytopharma) are an
upcoming important phenomenon to explore. We will surely
try to help researchers through our continuous quest for
innovative solutions.
The bio-pharma industry in India will surely benefit from
scientists coming back from abroad. The kind of drugs they
build with their expertise will bring a paradigm shift in
Indian context.
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