DIRECTORATE OF RESEARCH

Activities of Directorate of Research

The University has a strong research base with an exclusive Directorate of Research involved in strategic planning of research endeavours, establishment of linkage with research organisations at National and International level, monitoring of research projects/schemes and research documentation. The research programmes are undertaken through the research stations/farms and laboratories functioning under the Directorates of Animal Production and Animal Health and through constituent colleges for the benefit of livestock and poultry farmers, entrepreneurs and society at large. The Research Council, a policy making body on research activities of the university is involved in identifying thrust areas and formulation of research programmes and projects funded by National and International agencies, linking teaching, research and extension activities and orienting research to meet the needs of farmers.

Research Council

The Research Council is the policy making body on research activities of the University with the Vice-Chancellor as its chairman. The research council shall consider and make recommendations in respect of:

  • Identifying thrust areas and formulation of research programmes and projects by the various university units in the field of animal and veterinary sciences with a view to promote effective cooperation.
  • Infrastructure facilities required for implementing research projects.
  • Linking teaching, research and extension activities
  • Orienting research to meet farmers need.
  • Analyze the reports of on-going / completed research projects submitted by the scientists concerned.
  • Any other matter pertaining to Animal Husbandry / Veterinary Sciences Research which may be referred by State / BOM/ Vice-Chancellor or any other authorities of the University / Agencies.

Specialised Research Laboratories

  • Translational Research Platform for Veterinary Biologicals (TRPVB), Madhavaram
  • Central University Laboratory (CUL), Madhavaram
  • Poultry Disease Diagnostic and Surveillance Laboratory (PDDSL), Namakkal & Thalaivasal
  • Vaccine Research Centres (Viral & Bacterial), Madhavaram
  • Zoonoses Research Laboratory, Madhavaram
  • Pharmacovigilance Laboratory for Animal Feed and Food Safety (PLAFFS), Madhavaram
  • Animal Feed Analytical and Quality Assurance Laboratory (AFAQAL), Namakkal
  • Institute of Animal Nutrition (IAN)
  • Native Cattle Breed Research Centres – Bargur, Kangayam, Pulikulam
  • Ethno-Veterinary Herbal Research Centres

Research Activities

The University is actively engaged in sponsored research programmes and has attracted external funding from various National and International agencies.

State level funding agencies
  • Government of Tamil Nadu
  • State Planning Commission
  • Tamil Nadu State Land Use Board
  • Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology, Chennai
  • Tamil Nadu Livestock Development Agency
  • Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation
National level funding agencies
  • Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, New Delhi (NADP, NPBB, NLM)
  • Ministry of Food Processing Industries, New Delhi
  • Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi
  • Department of Biotechnology (DBT), New Delhi
  • Department of Science and Technology (DST), New Delhi
  • Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi
  • Ministry of AYUSH, New Delhi
  • National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR), Karnal
  • All India Council for Technology Education (AICTE), New Delhi
  • Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of India, New Delhi
  • National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)
International Agencies
  • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), UK
  • Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation  Commonwealth of Learning, Canada
  • SEPPIC, France
  • International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA), Vienna, Austria

A total of 110 externally funded schemes with a financial outlay of Rs.17,511.84 lakhs are in operation during April 2019 in the faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Basic sciences and food sciences at TANUVAS.

Abstract of Ongoing Research schemes
S.No. Name of the Funding Agency No. of Schemes Total budget (in lakhs)
1
Dept. of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries-GOI, New Delhi
i National Agricultural Development Programme 8 1760.56
ii National Livestock Mission 1 200.00
iii National Programme for Bovine Breeding 5 1081.77
2 Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi 23 1956.38
3 Dept. of Biotechnology, New Delhi 19 3144.32
4 Dept. of Science & Technology, New Delhi 15 659.40
5 Directorate of Oil Seeds Development, Hyderabad 1 150.00
8 Ministry of AYUSH, New Delhi 4 166.56
7 Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi 2 14.65
8 AICTE, New Delhi 1 3.91
9
Government of Tamil Nadu and State Agencies
i Govt. of Tamil Nadu - State Funds 4 3580.48
ii SPC - TANII 4 2005.80
iii SPC - SBGF 1 37.53
iv Tamil Nadu Council for Science & Technology 217.06
v Tamil Nadu Irrigated Modernisation Project 1 200.00
vi DRDA, Sivaganga 2 25.17
vii ATMA, ( Dept. of Agriculture) 1 5.00
viii National Egg Coordintaion committee 1 5.00
10 NABARD, Chennai 4 1986.67
11 Foreign Agencies - Collaborative Projects (BBSRC, UK / Queens University Belfast / Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, USA/ Seppic, France/ Nutreco, The Netherlands) 5 242.66
12 Private Agencies 5 33.92
Total 5110 17511.84

A total of 37 schemes/projects to a total budget outlay of Rs. 5969.90 has been sanctioned by various National and International agencies during 2018-19. The split up of projects sanctioned (funding agency wise) are as follows :-

Schemes /Projects sanctioned during 2018-19
S.No. Name of the Funding Agency No. of Schemes Total Budget (Rs. in Lakhs)
1
Govt. of India and National Agencies
a National Agriculture Development Programme (NADP) 2 301.10
b National Programme on Bovine Breeding 1 251.00
c Ministry of AYUSH, New Delhi 1 9.65
2 Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) 2 74.32
3 Department of Biotechnology (DBT) 11 1144.05
4 Department of Science & Technology (DST) 5 105.25
5
Govt. of Tamil Nadu and State Agencies
a Govt. of TN - State Fund 4 3580.48
b TNIAM Project, Chennai 1 200.00
c Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDII, Chennai) 1 235.00
d District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) 2 25.17
e ATMA ( Dept. of Agriculture) 1 5.00
f National Egg Coordination committee 1 5.00
6 Foreign Agency 1 4.01
4 Private Agencies 4 29.87
TOTAL 37 5969.90

Some of the major research schemes/projects sanctioned during 2018-19 are :-

  • Accelerating bovine tuberculosis control in developing countries-India (AbTB CD)-collaboration with Pennsylvania state university, USA (Funded by Bill and Mellinda Gates, Foundation, USA).
  • Institutional Development Plan of TANUVAS (ICAR-NAHEP, New Delhi)  DBT – TANUVAS Canine Research centre & nteworks (DBT, New Delhi) Bovine tuberculosis control:Mycobacterial diseases in animals network (MyDAN) Programme (DBT, New Delhi)
  • Genomic and proteomics approaches to develop specific diagnostic assay for detection of estrus/silent estrus in buffaloes ( Multi-centric project in collaboration with IISc, Bengaluru and NDRI, Karnal.
  • Establishment of Livetsock and Poultry Feed technology centre (NADP-RKVY)
  • Establishment of Rural Poultry inputs and skill development centre (NADP-RKVY)
  • Establishment of Alambadi cattle breed research centre at Dharmapuri district (GoTN)
  • Establishment of centre for disease monitoring, surveillance and control of livestock and poultry diseases at Madhavaram,, Chennai (GoTN)
  • Establishment of low cost hydroponic fodder production device in landless / small farmer households for sustainable livestock farming in drought affected districts of Tamil Nadu (GoTN)
  • World bank funded project on Sensitising farmers on “Nutritional supplemental strategy” developed at TANUVAS to increase productivity in dairy cattle and mitigate methane emission (Tamil Nadu Irrigated Agriculture Modernisation Project)
  • Establishment of embryo production centre for conservation of indigenous breeds of cattle of Tamil Nadu (GoI – NPBB)

New facilties created

  • Centre for Stem cell research and Regenerative medicine (first of its kind)
  • Bio-Safety Level –III (BSL –III) laboratory with small animal experimentation facility
  • Translational Research Platform for Veterinary Biologicals (TRPVB)
  • University Innovation and Instrumentation centre
  • Veterinary Incubation Foundation @ TANUVAS

Technologies Commercialised

TANUVAS has developed several innovative technologies and some of the technologies that were commercialised are as follows.

Technologies Commercialised Company / Agency to which the technology has been transferred
Multivalent Bluetongue Inactivated vaccine M/s. Brilliant Bio-Pharma Ltd., Hyderabad
Products on Bovine TB alert kit, ABT choice kit and EndoMetB M/s. Genomix Healthcare India Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad
Rapid plate agglutination for Mycoplasma gallispeticum M/s. Venkateshwara Hatcheries Ltd., Pune
TANUVAS live attenuated Goat pox vaccine Bio-Pharma Ltd., Hyderabad
Nano NDV for oral delivery and platelet therapy for mastitis M/s. Hester Pharma Ltd., Ahmedabad

Technologies/products developed during 2018

  • An extraction method for detection of Bacillus anthracis DNA by Triple marker multiplex Polymerase chain reaction, a simple and cheaper method for DNA extraction
  • Nano-IVMEC Shampoo
  • A1A2 Detect for the benefit of the dairy farmers
  • CPV and Rabies antibody detection kit for the detection of Rabies and CPV antibodies simultaneously in dogs
  • Teat spray (a value added product) helps to reduce product wastage
  • Low Cost Somatic Cell Counting Technique for Udder Health Care
  • Farm Gate Test for Early Mastitis Detection
  • Low Cost Mobile Cow Lifter & Downer Mobility Cart
  • Livestock Disease Forecasting Software
  • ECG markers for early detection of bovine hypocalcemia
  • Technology on Development of Vitamin D fortified Ice cream
  • Milk protein enriched noodles
  • Fibre enriched noodles
  • Omega 3 enriched designer chocolate
  • Millet ice cream
  • Fruit yoghurt
  • Technology on Preparation of barbecued pork from low value head meat

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)

  • Patents granted : 4
  • Copy rights obtained : 1
  • Patents filed : 23

Patents Granted :

  • A test strip for qualitative detection of antibodies to peste des petits ruminant virus for a term of 20 years from 06.09.2006 (Patent No. 243290). Patent granted on : 04.10.2012
  • Polymerase Chain reaction (PCR) primers for detection of Whitespot syndrome virus (WSSV) in Shrimp for a term of 20 years from 22.08.2005 (Patent No.275441). Patent granted on 02.09.2016
  • “Development of primers for detection of hepatopancreatic parvovirus (HPV) in shrimp by Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)” for a term of 20 years from 23.01.2006 (Patent No. 300445). Patent granted on 29.08.2018
  • “An Improved Egg Candler” (1939/CHE/2010 Dt. 08.07.2010) for a term of 20 years from 08.07.2010 (Patent No. 305814) - Patent granted on 17.01.2019

List of copy right obtained – 1

  • Information Retreval Package – Mrs. M. Seetha Lakshmi and Dr. G. Thulasi, Bioinformatics Centre, MVC, Chennai – 7

Breed Registration

TANUVAS undertook identification, evaluation and characterization of indigenous sheep and goats and submitted the details to ICAR – NBAGR, Karnal which resulted in registration of Chevvadu sheep and Kodiadu goat as breeds in 2016-17 and Salem Black as goat breed in 2017-18 by the Breed Registration Committee, ICAR - NBGAR, Karnal and Breed Registration Certificates were issued to TANUVAS. The accession number of the above three breeds are as follows:

  • Kodiadu goat (INDIA_GOAT_1800_KODIADU_06026)
  • Salem Black Goat (INDIA_GOAT_1800_SALEMBLACK_06027)
  • Chevvadu sheep (INDIA_SHEEP_1800_CHEVAADU_14041)
  • Bargur buffalo (INDIA_BUFFALO_1800_BARGUR_01015)

List of MoU/MoA signed by TANUVAS with research and development institutions

International
2007 : Michigan State University, Lansing,USA
2007 : Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary medicine,Virginia Tech University, USA
2008 : University of Nebraska, Lincoln, USA
2011 : Auburn University, College of Agriculture, Alabama, USA
2011 : University of Arizona, Tuczon, Arizona, USA
2011 : Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Virginia, USA
2011 : Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong, China; Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia; Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensing, Bangladesh; Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS), Chitwan, Nepal
2011 : University of Cantabria, Spain
2012 : Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast
2012 : Ghent University, Belgium
2013 : Wakeforest University Health Sciences, North Carolina
2013 : Universitat Autonoma De Barcelona, Spain
2013 : Loma Linda University, Loma Linda California, USA
2013 : University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK
2014 : University of Nottingham, UK
2017 : Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chittagong, Bangladesh
2017 : Washington State University, Washington, USA
2017 : Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, USA
National
2011 : RVS of Indian Army for skill development training for clinical subjects (MoU)
2011 : Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), New Delhi (MoU)
2011 : National Meat & Poultry Processing Board, New Delhi (MoU)
2012 : National Research and Development Corporation, New Delhi (MoA)
2013 : Laboratory Animal Scientist Association (LASA) and National Institute of Animal welfare/Committee (NIAW) to offer FELASA "C" type training to Veterinarians (MoU)
2013 : Commonwealth of Veterinary Association , Bangalore (MoU)
2013 : Entrepreneurship Development Institute, Chennai (MoU)
2013 : Sri Ramachandra University, Porur, Chennai (MoU)
2013 : National Institute of Animal Welfare, Haryana (MoU)
2013 : National Research centre on Meats, Hyderabad (MoU)
2014 : K.J. Research Foundation, Chennai (MoU)
2016 : Central Council for Research in Siddha, Govt. of India (MoU)
2018 : Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai (MoU)
2018 : National Institute for Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Bengaluru (MoU)
2018 : Agriculture Skill Council of India, Haryana (MoU)
2018 : Indira Gandhi National Open University (MoU)
Linkage with Industries (MoU)
Year Industry Purpose of MoU
2008 : M/s/ Globion India Pvt. Ltd. Secunderabad Commercialisation of Lentogeneic Newcastle disease virus strain TANUVAS D 58 for vaccine production
2010 : M/s. Ega tools and Instruments, Chennai Commercialisation of TANUVAS - RUSITEC apparatus
2010 : M/s. Biovet Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore Commercialisation of inactivated Fowl cholera vaccine
2010 : M/s. Fort Pharma, Chennai Commercialisation of Lip L.32 recombinant antigen latex agglutination kit for detection of leptospiral antibody
2010 : M/s. Medox Biotech India Pvt. Ltd., Commercialisation of Single radial Immuno diffusion test kit
2010 : M/s. Mediclone Biotech Pvt. Ltd., Chennai Production and characterisation of Monoclonal antibodies against street rabies virus
2011 : MOU signed jointly by TANUVAS and ICAR with Indian Immunologicals Ltd. Hyderabad and M/s. Biovet Pvt. Ltd. Bangalore (MoU) Commercialisation of Multivalent inactivated vaccine against Blue tongue
2012 : Royal swine Genetics, Coimbatore (MoU) Commercialisation of TANUVAS Anthelmintic incorporated mineral block
2012 : Orchid Research Laboratories, Chennai (MoU) Project implementation on Effect of PDE4 inhibitors on osteoarthritis of the canine hip and stife joint
2012 : Carbon Neutrals Energy Pvt. Ltd., Andhra Pradesh (MoA) Providing technical expertise in the operation of meat and poultry mega food park at Andhra Pradesh
2012 : Sanvita Biotechnologicals Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad (MoU) Commercialisation of Bluetongue inactivated vaccine with seed virus
2012 : Pfizers Pharmaceutical India Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai (MoU) Research work on study of prevalence of Mannheimia haemolytica in India
2012 : Kemin Industries South Asia Pvt. Ltd. (MoU) Trials on Kemin products and organising training and seminars in Nutrition & Health
2014 : Charoen Pokphand Foods India Pvt. Ltd. (MoU) To offer skill development programmes
2015 : M/s.Endhiram Innovations LLP, Chennai Technology transfer of instruments - Photolyser, Portable static incubator and LAMP device
2015 : M/s. Hester Biosciences Ltd. Gujarat Technology transfer of Nano particle based ND vaccine, collagen bead based delivery and Bovine platelet lysate
2016 : M/s. Genomix Healthcare India Pvt.Ltd., Hyderabad Technology transfer of products on Bovine TB Alert kit, ABT Choice kit and EndoMet-B
2016 : M/s. Venkateswara Hatcheries Ltd., Pune Commercialisation of Rapid Plate agglutionation for Mycoplasma gallisepticum
2016 : M/s. Genome Life sciences, Research on livestock genome
2016 : M/s. Brilliant Bio-Pharma Ltd. Hyderabad Technology transfer of product on TANUVAS Live attenuated goat pox vaccine
2017 : M/s. Brilliant Bio-Pharma Ltd. Hyderabad Technology transfer of product on TANUVAS Multivalent Bluetongue inactivated vaccine

Salient Achievements

  • The Government of India has sanctioned two schemes entitled “Establishment of Livestock and Poultry Feed Technology Centre” and “Establishment of Rural Poultry inputs and skill development centre” with a total budget outlay of Rs.301.10 lakhs to improve the livelihood of the rural sector under NADP / RKVY for the year 2018-19.
  • TANUVAS has obtained a grant of Rs.28 crores from ICAR, New Delhi under its flagship National Agricultural Higher Education Programme (NAHEP) funded by the World Bank for the project on Institutional Development Plan of TANUVAS to improve infrastructure and human resource under competitive mode.
  • The Government of Tamil Nadu has sanctioned a World Bank assisted Tamil Nadu-Irrigated Agriculture Modernisation project on Sensitising farmers on “Nutritional supplemental strategy” developed at TANUVAS to increase productivity in dairy cattle and mitigate methane emission with a budget outlay of Rs.200 lakhs.
  • An ICAR funded project on “Improving the livelihood security of farmers through technological interventions has been implemented in six villages of Tiruvallur district in Tamil Nadu under the “Farmer FIRST programme” with a budget outlay of Rs.95.34 lakhs.
  • A Tribal Sub Plan Project on “Technological empowerment of tribal farmers through adoption of TANUVAS technologies in Tamil Nadu” funded by ICAR, New Delhi with a budget outlay of 116.04 lakhs to improve the socio-economic status of tribal farmers has been implemented in five districts of Tamil Nadu .
  • The Bargur Cattle Research Station, functioning at Bargur under TANUVAS was conferred with the prestigious National Kamadhenu Award (First prize), South Zone, for maintaining the best indigenous cattle herd by Institution, for the year 2017-18 by the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India on 01.06.2018.
  • The ‘Salem Black’ goat, indigenous to Tamil Nadu has been recognized as a breed by National Bureau of Animal Genetics and Resources, Karnal and the Animal Breed Registration Certificate was issued on 10.01.2018 during the Awarding Ceremony held at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi.
  • The TRPVB, a joint venture of TANUVAS and DBT has been awarded Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) certification for manufacturing unit under the Schedule-M during 2018
List of Directors of Research, from 20.09.1989
Name Tenure
From To
Dr.I.Alfred Jayaprasad 20.09.1989 27.01.1992
Dr.V.Sundararasu 28.01.1992 10.09.1995
Dr.I.Alfred Jayaprasad 11.09.1995 04.06.1996
Dr.V.Sundararasu 05.06.1996 12.12.1996
Dr.A.M.Shanmugam 13.12.1996 13.12.1999
Dr.R.Manickam 14.12.1999 17.12.2000
Dr.R.Kadirvel 18.12.2000 14.09.2001
Dr.F.R.Sheriff ( I/C ) 15.09.2001 28.02.2002
Dr.K.S.Palaniswami ( I/C ) 01.03.2002 31.01.2003
Dr.K.Gajendran ( I/C ) 01.02.2003 27.02.2003
Dr.K.Nachimuthu 28.02.2003 31.07.2005
Dr.A.Mahalinga Nainar ( I/C ) 01.08.2005 12.03.2007
Dr.V.Purushothaman 13.03.2007 12.03.2010
13.03.2010 31.05.2010
31.05.2010 29.08.2011
Dr.D.Thyagarajan ( I/C ) 29.08.2011 04.04.2012
Dr.S.A.Asokan 05.04.2012 09.04.2012
Dr.K.Kumanan 10.04.2012 19.06.2013
Dr.C.Balachandran ( I/C ) 20.06.2013 21.06.2013
Dr.K.Kumanan 22.06.2013 10.04.2015
Dr. S. Balasubramanian 10.04.2015 31.12.2015
Dr. M. Babu 01.01.2016 -
Dr.T.J.Harikrishnan (I/C) - 06.09.2016
Dr.T.J.Harikrishnan 07.09.2016 -

Faculty

Dr. Cecilia Joseph, Director of Research (i/c)

Dr. D.Cauveri, Associate Professor

Dr. B.Nishanth, Assistant Professor