Human lives can be saved and quality of life improved with the application of knowledge. Scientists at the Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), an independent nonprofit biomedical research institute created as a public-private partnership, are guided by this fact as they pursue their goal of understanding the basic biological processes fundamental to life and good health. Whether the focus is genetic changes and signalling pathways that lead to cancer or complex metabolic pathways, ILS researchers are working to add new vital information to the repertoire of scientific knowledge. They are exploring the biological mechanisms underlying such illnesses as cancer, diabetes and infectious diseases.

The Institute of Life Sciences has been dedicated to address human health problems by creating knowledge at the interface of Chemistry, Biology and Medicine. Founded in 2004 as the first institution of our kind devoted to medical research and training in India, we are now recognized as centre of excellence in Tuberculosis by DBT. In 2009, we were officially recognized as an Associate institute of the University of Hyderabad, in whose campus we are located.    

ILS discoveries have led to the development of platform technologies in co-crystal engineering to help repurposing of drugs. We have partnered with several pharmaceutical industries to help in improving drug properties using co-crystal technology and other research technologies and tools. The Institute is committed to transferring its inventions to pharmaceutical and other industries to ensure that the application of its research provides solutions to unmet medical needs of humans.    

Today, ILS has 12 laboratories which are engaged in research programs on TB, Metabolic disorders and Cancer.  We have created an environment to foster collaborations among the scientists at ILS and several of our research programs are being carried out at the interface of biology and chemistry. We have recently created a zebrafish facility which will actively work with other groups to utilize basic research in identifying novel targets and mechanisms for human diseases, and explore the use of zebrafish as a vertebrate animal model for pharmacology.

A significant part of the ILS mission is to train the next generation of scientific researchers for academia and industry. We have recently started a PhD program in Biology and Chemistry where the focus will be to provide training in chemical biology and chemical genomics to our graduate students. Our students will be awarded their Ph.D. degree by the University of Hyderabad, which has recognized the scientists at ILS as adjunct faculty.

We are keen on maintaining a close working relationship with the University and other research organizations in the Hyderabad area. We look forward to a productive year and reaching significant milestones ahead.