Boundaries removed for Indian PhD students

16 June 2010

Mumbai-based students Saroj Yadav, Jubina Balan, Priyanka Gupta and Siddhart Gadkari with Vice-Chancellor Professor Ed Byrne.

Mumbai-based students Priyanka Gupta and Jubina Balan have swapped laboratories in Mumbai for those at Clayton.

As part of their PhD program with the IITB-Monash Research Academy, a joint initiative between the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) and Monash students are required to spend six months of their study at the Monash Clayton campus. The students are jointly supervised by IITB and Monash.

Their stay at Monash provides them with the opportunity to work closely with their Monash supervisors, further progress their PhD research, and also benefit from the use of Monash facilities. Upon graduation the students will receive dually-awarded degrees.

Priyanka said the opportunity to study outside of India meant she could further her research, while also experiencing a new culture.

Priyanka's work involves the design of a bioreactor to assist in the large scale production of stem cells for use in medical treatments.

"Stem cell research is a vast field with huge potential in a variety of biological areas starting from cellular therapies to maintaining biodiversity," Priyanka said.

"Stem cell research is in its nascent stage in India. The exposure to the world class facilities at Monash and fruitful interaction with the world renowned experts in the field has created a shift in my understanding of the science and has helped fast-track my research," Priyanka said.

My stay here has been a true all-round learning experience and I am going back with a lot more expertise, knowledge and confidence in my field of research," Priyanka said.

Jubina is developing a method to generate pluripotent stem cells without the integration of viral genes.

"Pluripotent stem cells are the cells which are seen during the early stage of development of an individual and give rise to all the specialised cells and tissues of the body. These cells are of special interest in cell therapy, for treatment of various diseases like Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and diabetes," Jubina said.

"These early stage cells give rise to all the specialised cells like neurons, muscles and all the other cells of the body. So once a cell is committed to form a specialised cell it doesn't revert back into a stem cell."

Jubina is excited by the medical possibilities of stem cells and plans to continue research in this area through to a post doctoral career.

"After the completion of my PhD I want to earn a post doctoral fellowship and continue to pursue research. My aim is to apply all the knowledge and skills that I have gained throughout my PhD in the area of medical genetics and contribute something so that stem cells can be applied for cell therapy for various diseases."

The joint program was recently endorsed by Australia's Trade Minister Simon Crean when he toured the Academy located on the IITB campus.

A recent intake resulted in 25 students being offered a place out of 1800 applications.

For more information email Mohan Krishnamoorthy at mohank@iitbmonash.org or visit the IITB-Monash Research Academy website.