Latest news with #UniversityofHyderabad
Hans India
6 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Hyderabad: City startup achieves global first in regenerative medicine for liver failure
Hyderabad: In a significant achievement for India's biotechnology sector, Tulsi Therapeutics, a startup incubated at ASPIRE-BioNEST at the University of Hyderabad, has announced the world's first successful animal trial of a novel stem cell-exosome combination therapy for chronic liver failure. The investigational product, Tulsi-28X, is a groundbreaking regenerative therapy derived from Wharton's Jelly mesenchymal stem cells and their native exosomes. It's a combination that has never been tested in any animal model worldwide. Although conceptualised in the United States, the platform was developed in India through three years of intensive research at ASPIRE-BioNEST. The preclinical trial, conducted in collaboration with global experts including Dr. Naga Chalasani (Indiana University, USA) and Dr. Ajay Duseja (PGIMER, Chandigarh), demonstrated 100% of the animals treated with Tulsi-28x showed reversal of liver fibrosis (indicating liver regeneration) resulting in zero deaths, compared to only 14% reversal (p<0.001) and 43% deaths (p<0.0066) in the untreated control group. 'This is a significant milestone for India's biotech industry,' said Dr. Sairam Atluri, Founder & CEO of Tulsi Therapeutics. 'ASPIRE-BioNEST provided a world-class platform that helped us translate our vision into scientific reality. While human trials are the next challenge, this study opens doors to a new class of biologics in liver disease.' Key results were presented at the prestigious AASLD 2024 Liver Conference in San Diego and accepted for publication in the Journal of Regenerative Medicine. Tulsi Therapeutics is recognised as the world's first biotech company developing a dual stem cell–exosome biologic. Tulsi-28X works by secreting regenerative proteins and growth factors, stimulating the repair of diseased liver tissue. 'We are committed to developing world-class yet affordable regenerative solutions,' said Dr. Ravi Bonthala, Chief Scientific Officer, Tulsi Therapeutics. 'Our next step is to take Tulsi-28X into human clinical trials in collaboration with Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS).' Chronic liver failure remains a serious public health concern in India, contributing to nearly 20% of global liver-related deaths. With transplantation being the only current treatment, Tulsi-28X represents a potential paradigm shift. 'This milestone highlights how India's innovation ecosystem—anchored by institutions like the University of Hyderabad and enabled by BIRAC and incubators like ASPIRE-BioNEST—is capable of delivering breakthrough global biotech products,' said Prof. B.J. Rao, Vice Chancellor, University of Hyderabad. 'It reflects the power of science, policy, and startup synergy.' 'Tulsi Therapeutics' achievement is a proud moment for all of us at ASPIRE-BioNEST,' said Dr. Anil Kondreddy, CEO, ASPIRE-BioNEST. 'It reflects our mission to nurture science-led innovation with real-world impact. Being rooted in the University of Hyderabad gives us the strength of academic excellence, and it's incredibly fulfilling to see this ecosystem support a global-first breakthrough in regenerative medicine. This is precisely the kind of outcome we work to enable.'
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Fix skill gaps and build industry connect to make NEP reforms effective: Academics
Hyderabad: While India's National Education Policy (NEP) emphasises internationalisation of higher education, a study of 165 institutions highlights a different trend: large outflow of Indian students seeking education abroad and limited inflow of international students to Indian institutes. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Speaking about it at a panel during a NEP conference in Hyderabad on Thursday, academics attributed this to weak industry linkages and poor employment opportunities. Even though Indian institutions offer affordable and quality education, these gaps drive Indian students overseas and deter foreign enrolment, they added. "This imbalance stems from the fact that our education system often fails to translate into employment," reiterated B J Rao, vice-chancellor of the University of Hyderabad. He added: "To achieve true internationalisation and global recognition, we must build stronger, more organic linkages between institutions and industry." Divya Nalla, director of Nalla Malla Reddy engineering college stressed the need to address "foundational issues" to "implement the NEP effectively". "Many students today struggle with basic communication skills; some can't even draft a simple leave letter. To bridge this gap, we conduct regular language classes. For true internationalisation, our students need to meet global standards, which will in turn justify investments in improving infrastructure to attract students from all over the world," he said. The study — From Vision to Reality: Tracking NEP 2020 Implementation in Indian Higher Education — has been conducted by QS I-GAUGE, an independent educational rating system, and sheds light on key institutional shortcomings hindering the pace and effectiveness of internationalisation under the NEP. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Despite the policy's strong emphasis on positioning India as a global education hub, the report states that nearly half of the surveyed institutions — about 45% — still lack dedicated faculty responsible for international engagement. Additionally, 41% of institutions reported having no active international collaborations, limiting exposure to global academic networks. "Also, 39% of institutions lack the physical infrastructure or administrative offices required to support international students, making it difficult to provide the academic, cultural, and logistical support needed for a truly international campus experience," the study stated. According to it, 33% of institutions do not have a policy of reserved seats for international students. Underlining how it's the right time for Indian universities to pursue foreign collaborations, Madan Pillutla, dean, Indian School of Business, said: "Many foreign institutions are coming to India. We should use this opportunity to collaborate with them. This will enhance our academics and put us on the global landscape."
Time of India
6 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
City startup incubated at UoH develops stem cell treatment for chronic liver failure
Hyderabad: A startup incubated at the University of Hyderabad (UoH) successfully tested a new treatment for chronic liver failure using stem cells. Called Tulsi-28X, the treatment is touted to be the first in the world by the firm to use a special combination of stem cells and natural healing particles called exosomes. These are taken from a part of the umbilical cord known as Wharton's Jelly. Although the concept was born in the US, the entire platform was developed in India by Tulsi Therapeutics after three years of rigorous research at ASPIRE-BioNEST, UoH's biotech incubator. "We have done trials on rats. All animals treated with Tulsi-28X showed reversal of liver fibrosis, indicating liver regeneration, resulting in zero deaths, compared to only 14% reversal and 43% deaths in the untreated control group," Dr Sairam Atluri, founder & CEO of Tulsi Therapeutics, told TOI. The preclinical trial was conducted in collaboration with Indiana University, US, and PGIMER, Chandigarh. He said that this treatment method can be a game-changer as it would give a new lease of life to those with liver failure and waiting for transplantation. "Right now, the only treatment for liver failure is transplant. However, there are not enough donors, the treatment is very expensive, and it comes with various complications. The medicine that we developed can be administered intravenously," added Atluri, and said he moved from the US to India to work on this idea and bring it to life. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad The startup has applied to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) for conducting human trials. "We are committed to developing world-class yet affordable regenerative solutions," said Dr Ravi Bonthala, chief scientific officer of the startup. "Our next step is to take Tulsi-28X into human clinical trials in collaboration with Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences."
Hans India
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
A moving tale of belonging in a shifting world!
What happens when life changes in an instant—but the real damage is invisible? In 'Finding Home Again – Our Quest To Belong', debut author Richa Sharma explores that quiet heartbreak with honesty and grace. Set against the backdrop of a train derailment in flood-hit Assam, the novel gently unfolds the emotional journeys of three women—Mridula, Maya, and Kranti—as they deal with loss, memory, and the deeper meaning of home. Mridula is trapped in a relationship she's grown numb to. Maya hides behind denial, afraid of her own grief. Kranti, drawn to Maya, searches for anchoring in uncertain ground. Their paths cross during a shared tragedy, but what truly connects them is an inner ache that many readers will recognise: the feeling of being unmoored, in life and in identity. The three women don't know each other at first. But the tragedy connects their journeys. As they search for loved ones after the accident, each of them begins another kind of search—a personal one. They face old wounds, hard truths, and unspoken emotions. Richa Sharma, an alumna of the Department of Communication, SN School, University of Hyderabad, brings an emotional clarity to her writing. The storytelling allows each character to reveal themselves fully to the reader. The fictional towns of Maajorghat and Sigo Dolung are lovingly crafted, rich in detail and atmosphere. They give the story a grounded, almost timeless feel—rooted in the Northeast yet open enough for every reader to connect. The emotional themes in the book—displacement, belonging, silence, trauma—are heavy. But Richa never lets the story feel weighed down. There are moments of warmth, connection, even humour. The relationships are tender and complicated, especially between the women. There is no forced redemption or perfect ending. But there is hope. And a sense that even small steps forward matter. 'Finding Home Again – Our Quest To Belong' is a novel for readers who appreciate stories that breathe. It's for those who value characters, emotions, and truth. And once you finish the last page, you don't feel like you've just read a novel. You feel like you've been through something. You feel like you've been spoken to—not in grand speeches, but in a voice that's calm, careful, and kind.
Indian Express
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
History Headline: Far from politics, journey of Hindi in southern states
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu recently waded into the language row, stating that former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao, a scholar, knew 17 languages. Without mentioning any of the states that have been alleging Hindi imposition by the Centre, Naidu said on July 15 in Delhi, 'Now we are asking — why should we learn Hindi?' The governments of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala have in the past called the three-language formula proposed by the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, a covert move to impose Hindi on the southern states. They allege that the Centre's Hindi push goes against the idea of a federal polity. While the debate goes on, with the southern states often pitted as anti-Hindi, away from the noise of political debates, the language and its speakers have had a long history in the region. Scholars say Hindi actively began to make its presence felt in the South around the Independence movement, with Mahatma Gandhi establishing the first Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha in Madras (now Chennai) in 1918. The objective was to teach Hindi to a non-Hindi-speaking populace as a link language for the freedom movement. 'Learning Hindi was one way of feeling that one is participating in the Indian national freedom movement,' says Prof J Atmaram of the University of Hyderabad's Hindi Department. In 1922, the Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha conducted its first preliminary exam to test basic Hindi proficiency. The first undergraduate examination, Rashtrabhasha Visharad, was conducted in 1931. In the other southern states where the Sabha had its regional centres — Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Kochi and Gulbarga — Hindi learning gained in popularity. 'For example, Andhra Pradesh acted as a corridor between Hindi and other southern languages. The state welcomed Hindi learning, be it in Hyderabad or Vijayawada,' says Atmaram. In Karnataka and Kerala too, there wasn't much opposition to Hindi. 'Tucked away in Ernakulam south stands the Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha, active since the 1930s,' he said. Hindi grew more organically with the advent of mass media — radio and TV. 'At radio stations in Madras and Trichy, Hindi programming, along with regional languages, continued in independent India,' said Atmaram. By the 1970s, Doordarshan had reached homes in the South with its Satellite Instruction Television Experiment (SITE). The experiment, which began in 1975, focused on Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, where instructional programming with shows dedicated to agriculture and education would have one visual component and two language components. For instance, a person in Andhra watching one of these programmes could opt to do so in Telugu. 'But while instructional programming had a language option, mass media programming, including news and entertainment which were aired through SITE, were mainly in Hindi,' says Prof B P Sanjay, who worked on SITE and was former director of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication. The popularity of Doordarshan's blockbuster TV shows — Ramayana, Mahabharata, Chitrahaar, etc — meant that while few homes spoke Hindi, the language wafted uninterrupted into their homes and hearts. In the 1970s and '80s, another phenomenon contributed to the spread of Hindi — magazines published in Hindi. For instance, Dakshinanchal Hindi Samiti translated Bhakti literature into southern languages and vice versa. 'Also, there were famous Hindi language magazines, Kalpna and Golconda Darpan, which were being published from Hyderabad. These magazines were popular even in the North,' says Atmaram. These magazines gave writing in Hindi a push. The focus was on schooling students in Hindi and the NEP of 1968 paved the way with its recommendation of a three-language policy which foregrounded Hindi and English along with the regional languages. Except for Tamil Nadu, which followed the two-language (English and Tamil) policy in government- and aided-schools, all other southern Indian states had adopted the three-language policy. In recent times, with migration, the language and its dialects spread faster. In certain Kerala districts, there are bus boards displayed in Hindi to cater to migrants from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. Operating out of Erode's Periyar Nagar — a neighbourhood named after Tamil Nadu's social reformer E V Ramasamy, who spearheaded the anti-Hindi agitations of the1930s — is the Tamil Nadu Hindi Prachara Sabha, an NGO run by M Krishnamurthy, 60, which conducts spoken Hindi classes. 'In Tamil Nadu, no one will stop you from teaching or learning Hindi. We have been running the institution from 2009 onwards,' he said. His institution caters not just to school students and civil service aspirants but also to Erode's turmeric traders. 'They need to converse in Hindi for their business interests and we help them,' he says. The writer is Assistant Editor, The Indian Express
