Dr Taslimarif Saiyed, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms C-CAMP

           “India needs innovation hubs where smart and deep science ideas can be supported” Dr Taslimarif

Nishant met and interviewed Dr. Taslimarif Saiyed, CEO and Director of C-Camp for a podcast at Bangalore.  Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP), established in 2009, is a non-profit organization driving cutting-edge research and innovation in the life sciences in India. Conceptualized by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, C-Camp works in a collaborative model bringing together academia, start-ups and industry on a single platform. Fostering a culture of entrepreneurship, the incubator has over the years enabled some very innovative deep-science startups both across India. Supported by the Biotechnology, Government of India, BIRAC, Meit Y Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Atal Innovation Mission under Niti Aayog and the Karnataka State Government, it forms an integral part of Bangalore Life Sciences cluster along with Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem) and The National Centre for Biological Sciences NCBS. C-Camp is the only life sciences and healthcare innovation hub across the Government and private sectors to be selected under the Niti Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission for their flagship Atal Innovation Incubation program.  The full podcast is available on The middle Road’s podbean, YouTube, Spotify and iTunes channels.

Links are below.

YouTube here
Apple here
Podbean here

Dr. Taslimarif received his Ph.D. from Max-Planck Institute for Brain Research, Germany, and postdoctoral training at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). Simultaneously, he also underwent training in management for Biotech and Innovation from QB3 at UC Santa Cruz, UC Berkeley, and UC San Francisco. Further, he is also an adjunct faculty at Amrita Institute and head of the Discovery to Innovation Accelerator Program at C-CAMP, working on neurodegeneration. With him a the helm, C-Camp rose to prominence in India, especially in public healthcare, through affordable innovations, specifically in antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Listen to the podcast here. In our discussion we encompassed Dr Taslim’s phenomenal journey into biotech incubation, multifaceted approach towards catalyzing innovation including collaborations both in India and abroad, portfolio of start-ups driving sustainable innovation in life sciences and biotechnology domains including environment and agriculture. Further the chat delves into initiatives towards facilitating startups in raising seed funds/ VCs and his views on emerging trends in life sciences. 

India and Japan are collaborating to invest $150 million in 100 startups in India. C-Camp and Beyond Next Ventures (BNV) are jointly managing a fund to invest $5 million in life sciences and biotechnology startups in India.

Our discussion we discuss Dr Taslim’s journey into biotech incubation, multifaceted approach towards driving innovation including collaborations both in India and abroad, portfolio of startups driving sustainable innovation in life and agri-businesses and his views on emerging trends in life sciences. C-Camp is the only accelerator for AMR  innovations outside North America and Europe to be part of CARB-X global accelerator network for antimicrobial resistance innovations.

Sample of the podcast.

In 2017, the C-Camp innovation hub won the National Entrepreneurship Award from the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. Furthermore, it has trained more than 1500 researchers since 2009 in a state-of-the-art life-sciences platform like Flow Cytometry, Mass Spectrometry, a world-class Microscopy course, and Protein Technology. Furthermore, it has more than 1000 startups connected with more than 160+ publications. Housed in a lush green and visually stunning landscape of the National Center for Biological Sciences, it is a treat to walk around the premises surrounding the center.

Great visit to C-Camp and National Centre For Biological Sciences. Good to meet Dr Taslim and venture around the lush green campus. With Nishant, founder of The middle Road. @TheMiddleRoad_ @CCAMP_Bangalore @Taslimarif pic.twitter.com/uOrDlqS47I

— The middle Road (@TheMiddleRoad_) January 28, 2020

In the C-Camp podcast , our discussion we discuss Dr Taslim’s journey into biotech incubation, multifaceted approach towards driving innovation including collaborations both in India and abroad, portfolio of startups driving sustainable innovation in life and agri-businesses and his views on emerging trends in life sciences. Listen to the podcast here. C-Camp is the only accelerator for AMR  innovations outside North America and Europe to be part of CARB-X global accelerator network for antimicrobial resistance innovations. In 2017, the C-Camp innovation hub won the National Entrepreneurship Award from the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. Furthermore, it has trained more than 1500 researchers since 2009, in a state of the art life-sciences platform like Flow Cytometry, Mass Spectrometry, world-class Microscopy course and Protein Technology. Furthermore, it has more than 1000 startups connected to it with more than 160+ publications. Housed in a lush green and visually stunning landscape of National Center for Biological Sciences, it a treat to walk around the premises surrounding the center. 

Taslimarif delves into C-Camp portfolio startups Coeo Labs, Sea6 Energy, Bugworks, and String Bio in the podcast. Coeo Labs, Sea6 Energy, and Bugworks. These are excellent examples of startups working in drug development, affordable health, environment, and agriculture. All startups began their journey addressing Indian challenges mushrooming into enterprises impacting global sustainable social impact. CoeoLabs ventilator-associated pneumonia preventive device, VAPCare reduces chances of acquiring VAP among patients while Saans, a low-cost multi-powered neonatal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure CPAP device, significantly improves the probability of saving the lives of newborn babies. Saans effectiveness is exemplified in low-income and emerging markets where maximum deaths occur among premature babies. The first 28 days of life – the neonatal period – is the most vulnerable time for a child’s survival. Children face the highest risk of dying in their first month at an average global rate of 18 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2018. Globally, 2.5 million children died in the first month of life in 2018– approximately 7,000 neonatal deaths every day – most of which close to three quarters dying, with one-third dying on the first day. Source UNICEF 

Bugworks is building the next generation of antibiotics to fight some of the most resistant superbugs, and Sea6 Energy, a C-Camp startup in the sustainable development space, uses red seaweed Carrageenan to produce plant health bioactive. Their first product is a 100 percent natural and organic plant growth stimulant. The other is a first-of-its-kind, completely organic plant immunity booster that strengthens plant defense responses to a broad spectrum of viral infections. Both products are natural. StringBio is a synthetic biology startup converting a waste gas methane that also happens to be one of the most potent greenhouse gases into value-added products such as non-human protein. They have already launched their product in the market. Our well-rounded discussion helps us understand the evolving biotech startup ecosystem, especially in India. As India makes leaps and strides towards becoming the world’s biotech hub, C-Camp enabling the ecosystem couldn’t be more crucial. India becoming a biotech hub is some way forward, but with C-Camp enabling the life sciences ecosystem, it’s a step in the right direction. Thank you, Dr. Taslimarif, for this splendid interview. Listen to the C-Camp Taslimarif podcast here.