Indian Council of Agricultural Research
CENTRAL MARINE FISHERIES RESEARCH INSTITUTE

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Winter School during 15 FEBRUARY to 6 MARCH 2024

WINTER SCHOOL ON "HARNESSING RECENT ADVANCES IN HIGH-VALUE COMPOUND DEVELOPMENT AND SEAWEED BIOMASS UTILIZATION FOR HUMAN WELL-BEING: PROPELLING ATMANIRBHAR SWASTHA BHARAT AND EMPOWERING FARMERS" DURING 15 FEBRUARY TO 6 MARCH 2024


ICAR Winter school titled "Harnessing Recent Advances in High-Value Compound Development andSeaweed Biomass Utilization for Human Well-being: Propelling Atmanirbhar Swastha Bharat and Empowering Farmers" approved for the year 2023-24

Institute Name: ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Cochin, Kerala

Training Period: 15 February to 6 March 2024

Duration: 21 days

Subject Area: Bio-active compounds from Marine organisms: A wealth of novelties and opportunities

 

Marine Biotechnology, Fish Nutrition and Health Division of ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi is organizing a 21 days Winter School on “Harnessing Recent Advances in High-Value Compound Development and Seaweed Biomass Utilization for Human Well-being: Propelling Atmanirbhar Swastha Bharat and Empowering Farmers” during 15 February to 6 March 2024 under the aegis of Agricultural Education Division, ICAR, New Delhi. The objective of the National level ICAR Winter School is to provide up-to-date information and acquaint the participants with the recent advances in high-value compound development and seaweed biomass utilization for human well-being. Seaweeds are often termed as the “wonder herbs of the ocean” on account of their potential pharmaceutical properties. This training will enable the participants to efficiently carry out their academic programmes, and to plan research on seaweed biomass utilization to develop health food products in their respective laboratories and institutes so that they can formulate the strategies for research. The Winter School is very ideal for the current scenario of increasing interest in seaweed-based nutraceuticals to maintain and improve human health and well being. The knowledge to be imparted in the Winter School will add to the present knowledge and build a culture of basic and strategic research in the National Agricultural Research System.

 

In all, 25 participants will be selected for participation in this training programme. Interested personnel fulfilling the eligibility conditions may apply through proper channel (by filling the online application form through CBP Vortal available at https://cbp.icar.gov.in/ by December 22, 2023.

 

Please find the below mentioned URL for brochure and other details of the training programme.

 

https://cbp.icar.gov.in/Data/Coordinator/68247/ICAR-CMFRI%20Winter%20School%20%20Brochure%2015-02-2024%20to%2006-03-2024%20_Harnessing%20Recent%20Advances%20in%20High-Value%20Compound%20Development%20and%20Seaweed%20Biomass%20Utilization%20for%20Human%20Well-being.pdf


For further Information contact Course Director: 

Kajal Chakraborty
Course Director of the Winter School (15 February to 6 March 2024)

Head of the Division and Principal Scientist, Marine Biotechnology Fish Nutrition and Health Division

Post Box No.1603, Ernakulam North P.O., Kochi - 682018, Kerala, India
Mobile: 9446418432, 8921985355

E-mail:  chakrabortycmfri@gmail.comkajal.chakraborty@icar.gov.in

   


   

Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Food Processing visits ICAR-CMFRI

Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Food Processing visits ICAR-CMFRI

A delegation of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Food Processing visited the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Kochi on 28th June 2023. Headed by PC Gaddigoudar, Loksabha Member from Bagalkot constituency in Karnataka, the panel visited various research facilities at the institute, including laboratories and interacted with scientists to assess CMFRI’s research programmes on marine fisheries and allied areas. The committee consisted of six Members of Parliament and other officials, including Uttam Chand Bharadwaj, Secretary to the delegation. Dr Shubhadeep Ghosh, Assistant Director General (Marine Fisheries) of ICAR was also present on the occasion.The committee was briefed on ICAR-CMFRI's works encompassing marine capture fisheries; mariculture activities like cage fish farming, seaweed farming, integrated multi-trophic aquaculture and technology development for breeding commercially important marine fishes; marine biodiversity and environment management; fish genetics and marine biotechnology; socio-economic aspects and extension activities, etc.  

Dr A Gopalakrishnan, Director of ICAR-CMFRI and the Heads of various Divisions discussed the Institute's plans for the future, emphasising its efforts to maintain the sustainability of the marine fisheries with the committee members. The panel was impressed with ICAR-CMFRI's research and its contributions to the development of the marine fisheries sector in India. They said that the institute is playing a vital role in ensuring food security and promoting sustainable fisheries.Besides the Committee Chairman, the panel comprised MPs Dr Anil Sukhdeorao Bonde, Masthan Rao Beeda, Ram Nath Thakur, Devendra Singh and Ramilaben Becharbhai Bara. 

 

ICAR-CMFRI develops nutraceutical to boost immunity related to post-COVID complications

ICAR-CMFRI develops nutraceutical to boost immunity related to post-COVID complications

Kochi: In continuation of its major research works on developing natural remedies from marine organisms against various lifestyle diseases, the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has come up with a nutraceutical product from select seaweeds to boost the innate immunity related to post-COVID complications. Named as CadalminTM Immunalgin extract (CadalminTM IMe),  the product also has antiviral properties against the delta variant of SARS CoV-2 virus.“The product is a synergistic combination of seaweed-based nutraceutical product, which is a 100% natural blend of highly nutritious bioactive ingredients extracted with eco-friendly ‘green’ technology”, said Dr Kajal Chakraborty, Head of the Marine Biotechnology, Fish Nutrition and Health Division of the CMFRI who led the research works to develop the product.This marks the 10th product in a series of nutraceuticals developed by the CMFRI deriving from marine organisms. The institute, in the past, has successfully brought out nutraceuticals targeting a range of lifestyle diseases, such as type-2 diabetes, arthritis, cholesterol, hypertension, hypothyroidism, osteoporosis and fatty liver.Bioactive pharmacophore leads from seaweeds were used to develop the nutraceutical product. A promising reduction of viral infection rate was observed by administering CadalminTM IMe  on SARS CoV-2 (delta variant) induced cells. CadalminTM IMe elevates innate immune responses by the regulation of the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines.The CadalminTM IMe interacts with membrane-associated pattern recognition receptors to prevent the virus entry through cellular signaling pathways and also stimulate inflammatory cytokine production. Hence, it will act as a good naturally derived alternative source for health benefits against inflammation and autoimmune disorders, he said.The nutraceutical does not have any side effects as established by detailed preclinical trials. It does not have toxicity concerning clinical and behavioural symptoms. The active ingredients in the product would be packed in plant-based capsules. Large-scale extraction of the active principles from the raw material was optimized in a factory unit, which demonstrated the commercial feasibility of the nutraceutical product. The process for commercialisation of the product is in progress.