KVASU to Establish Translational Research Centre in Mannuthy to Improve Livestock

Translational Research Centre was created to assist academics and students in conducting research pertinent to the farming community, as per Vice-Chancellor M.R. Saseendranath.

According to Dr. Saseendranath, the project aims to bring together research, industry, and regulatory needs to promote 'productization and commercialization' in cattle and associated areas. The varsity's research operations are geared at improving the state's livestock and poultry populations, producing effective vaccines and diagnostics, establishing mitigation measures for dealing with climate change, and developing value-added livestock products, he noted.

The centre will be built at a cost of 20 crore through the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), with a core facility and specialised facilities developed on the outskirts, according to C. Latha, Director of Academics and Research at KVASU. Furthermore, biomedical research is conducted at the university, she added.

The proposed centre will house facilities such as Omics (biomolecule study) for translational research, a translational biomedical research centre for regenerative medicine and biomaterial development, a centre with diagnostic facilities for animal diseases with a special emphasis on the 'One Health' platform, a centre for research and development of vaccines against infectious diseases in livestock, poultry, and companion animals, and a centre for development and transfer of ionizing radiation.

In addition, peripheral facilities will be built. Dr. Latha stated that these include a centre for value-added meat and egg products, a centre for commercialization of value-added dairy/ethnic foods, technology transfer for start-ups, and small animal experimental facilities.