Research Projects

In line with the vision of the Revered Founder Chancellor, all research at SSSIHL is needs-based, and therefore helps alleviate problems affecting the poorer sections of society, ultimately leading to societal benefit. Thus, the topics for doctoral research across all departments are chosen with great diligence. This extends to the research projects chosen by researchers in each department.

The University is a Public Charitable Trust. Should you like to get involved and contribute either specifically to a particular project or in general, kindly see our get involved page.

Big Data Analytics and High Performance Computing
Maestro Technology, USA – ₹90 Lakhs (2017-2020)

Principal Investigators: Dr. Pallav Kumar Baruah

The project will develop solutions and tools for handling problems related to Big data using emerging High Performance Computing techniques and technologies like Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain.

This will aid in the execution of Methods and Tools for handling data in domains like Healthcare, Insurance, Streaming conditions, Disaster Relief systems, etc.

AI in Sports
Grey Scientific Lab – ₹5 Lakhs (2019-2021)

Principal Investigators: Dr. R Raghunatha Sarma and Sri Srikanth Khanna

The project will generate useful analytics for sports persons automatically through computer vision and machine learning techniques. It will help deliver a prototype module for extracting analytics of sports person in cricket. This will in turn help coaching institutions deliver effective coaching to youngsters.

Whole Slide Imaging (WHI)
Grey Scientific Lab – ₹5 Lakhs (2019-2021)

Principal Investigators: Dr. R Raghunatha Sarma and Sri Srikanth Khanna

Computer Vision and Machine Learning (ML) techniques will be employed to grab high resolution image of a pathology slide and ML algorithms will be used to classify the slides as disease or non-disease.

Fabrication of glass- ceramics comprising of semi conducting metal oxide crystallites at different length scales and study their gas sensing characteristics
UGC-BSR Startup – ₹10 Lakhs (2019-2022)

Principal Investigator: Dr. Gadige Paramesh

The glass-ceramics (glasses embedded with nanocrystallites) of semiconducting oxide phases crystallized in glass-matrices will be novel materials that possess unique properties and find various applications as sensors, photocatalysts and for biomedical applications. The semiconducting metal oxide glass-ceramics are not explored fully and has great significance in the current research. In the present project, it is intended to develop glass-ceramics of semiconducting oxide phases such as TiO2, ZnO, CuO or Cu2O, NiO etc. and study their physical as well as gas sensor characteristics.

The project will deliver fabrication of semiconducting oxide glass-ceramic sensors and studying gas sensing characteristics.

Social Relevance: Various gases are widely used in industries, hospitals as well as emitted during mining, drilling or due to chemical wastage dumping. Their detection and control is very important for social safety. Gas sensors serve the purpose and there exists great importance to develop stable gas sensors.

Gamma-Ray and Ion Beam Irradiation Studies on Lead-Free Piezoelectric Ceramics and their Polymer Composites
UGC-DAE-CSR Kolkata – ₹45,000 (2019-2020)

Principal Investigators: Dr. Gadige Paramesh

Lead based ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties were studied with radiation exposure. Recently, lead-free piezoelectric ceramics are in focus due to high toxicity of the lead element. In this prospect, there exist great importance in understanding the properties of lead-free piezoceramic materials under high energy irradiations and evaluating their performances.

Gamma ray and ion beam irradiation studies and investigating the post-irradiation performance of piezoceramics and their polymer composites.

Social Relevance: High energy radiation is emitted in the space has impact on materials used for space applications. Therefore, it needs to be understood, the behavior or performance of the materials used in sensors/devices irradiated with high energy gamma rays/ionic radiation that exist in space.

Understanding the jamming dynamics and nonlinear viscoelasticity of non-equilibrium viscous liquids with non-linear dielectric and rheo-dielectric studies
DST SERB – ₹37.1 Lakhs* (2019-2020) *Project funds going to RRI (not SSSIHL)

Principal Investigators: Prof. Ranjini Bandyopadhyay (Raman Research Institute, Bangalore) and Dr. Gadige Paramesh

Glasses and soft materials are the important class of materials with widespread applications in various fields of technology (Civil, optical, biomedical sectors, etc.). All glass forming liquids exhibit universal slowdown of the dynamics (of its constituents with which it makes up) and an evolution of regions of heterogeneous dynamics as the mysterious glass-transition is approached.

In this project, we use dielectric and rheological studies to understand the origin of the glass transition which is associated with the universal slowdown of the dynamics of glass constituents (atoms, molecules, macromolecules or colloidal particles). This basic understanding will further help to develop new glassy materials for various applications.

Design and Development of nanomaterial based dip sticks and tea bags for instant removal of fluoride from water
Kurita Water and Environment Foundation (KWEF) – ₹2.8 Lakhs (2019-2020)

Principal Investigators: Dr. (Mrs.) C Prathibha

Nanoscience has opened new avenues to many useful and powerful applications in the field of environmental remediation. Nanomaterials offer the possibility of efficient removal of various pollutants like fluorides, nitrates and various toxic ions from drinking water. By developing the hybrid nanoadsorbents, the efficiency of the existing technique, adsorption for contaminant removal can be enhanced. a common problem of using nanomaterials as adsorbents for defluoridation is their removal from aqueous solution, post defluoridation treatment. Development of hybrid nanoadsorbents is a solution to this problem. These nanoadsorbents pave way to transform our work in to technology development.

Developed nanoadsorbents could be directly used as tea bags and dip sticks for instant removal of fluoride from water. They could also be used in development of cost-effective filters for defluoridation of water.

The most significant inorganic pollutant in groundwater affecting human health at the global scale, according to the WHO, is fluoride. Nineteen states of India have been identified as endemic to fluorosis due to excess of fluoride in drinking water. Nanoadsorbents developed in the project can be used to design a simple, affordable and safe fluoride water filters, tea bags and dipsticks, which can be used in the fluoride affected areas of several parts of India and more particularly Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, which is one of the most affected states.

Experimental Investigations on the level structures of doubly odd Ta isotopes
UGC-DAE CSR Kolkata – ₹6.8 Lakhs (2019-2020)

Principal Investigators: Dr. Gowrishankar R, Dr. (Miss) Deepa Seetharaman and Dr. K Vijay Sai

The Scope of this project is experimental investigations on the level structures of a few Tantalum isotopes like 186Ta, 184Ta and 178Ta. The work is carried out on collaboration mode, wherein the PI can access the experimental facilities like particle accelerators, reactors, Gamma Array detectors, etc. from any of the DAE institutions, such as VECC, BARC, etc.

The analysis of the experimental results would throw light on the low-lying levels of the doubly odd Ta isotopes for which the current data is minimal and inconclusive. The collaborative work will utilise the National facilities set up by Govt of India and establish good relationship between Universities and such central facilities.

Design and Development of Gamma-Florescence Dual Imaging Sentinel Lymph Node Navigation Surgery Intraoperative Probe
DAE-BRNS – ₹94 Lakhs* (2018-2021)

Principal Investigators: Prof. S Siva Sankara Sai

Scope: The Dual Imaging Intraoperative probe for imaging the sentinel node is an innovative step towards providing the doctor with ease of access to technology at the operation theatre. The probe consists of two parts. The one which assesses the functionality (metabolism) of the ROI and the other which provides the anatomical details. This equips the surgeon to identify the exact location of the ‘sentinel’ lymph node located amongst 40 other lymph nodes at the axial region. The convenience of the bedside imaging facility allows the surgeon to perform post-operative validation of the surgery to avoid repeated incisions.

Deliverables:

• A prototype of portable Dual Modality Intra-Operative probe for Sentinel Node Surgery Navigation.
• Establishing the validity of its use through clinical trials in the operation theatre.

Social Relevance: Presently, nearly 13 million new cancer cases and 7.6 million cancer deaths occur worldwide each year. The availability of a low-cost bedside imaging device will reduce the need for repeated medical interventions by allowing post-operative validation. This will ensure affordability of high-quality technology to patients thus providing better healthcare.

Femtosecond laser Enabled Micro-fabrication of Micro-Total-analysis Optofluidic Systems (FEMTOS)
Department of Science & Technology (DST) – ₹24 Lakhs (2018-2021)
Principal Investigators: Dr. S Venketesh

FLAP-MED: Femtosecond laser Assisted Prototyping Micro Electro-Optofluidic Devices
Department of Science & Technology (DST) – ₹48 Lakhs (2018-2020)
Principal Investigators: Dr. S Venketesh

Design and development of Glass based optofluidic platform by Femtosecond Laser Micromachining
Department of Science & Technology (DST) – ₹46 Lakhs (2020-2022)
Principal Investigators: Dr. S Venketesh

The projects (all three above) aim to realize opto-fluidic lab on chip devices for lost cost settings with applications in disease detection and cell manipulation.

There are two main parts:

1. The ‘chip’ design optimization and fabrication
2. The chip reader: which is being co-developed by industrial partners

The low-cost technologies will help in resource limited settings.

Synthesis of Novel Andrographolide derivatives as potential anticancer and antibacterial agents
CSIR – ₹24 Lakhs (2017-2020)

Principal Investigator: Prof. G Nageswara Rao

Studies have reported that andrographolide and its analogues possess a wide range of biological activities such as anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, etc. Hence, our objective is to isolate of the active compound andrographolide from Andrographis paniculata. Also, synthesizing various compounds from this lead compound to enhance biological activity and synthesis of pharmacologically important semi-synthetic compounds.

Objective: Provide new compounds with good anti-cancer and anti-bacterial activity which are less toxic.

Social Relevance: Cancer and resistant bacterial infections are two of the major health problems in the world today. This work aims at synthesizing compounds to address this problem

Surface Plasmon-Coupled Emission based Benchtop Device for Cardiac Troponin T Quantification
DST-IDP (TDT) – ₹45.68 Lakhs (2017-2020)

Principal Investigator: Dr. R Sai Sathish

Troponin T (cTnT) measurement is important for ruling in or ruling out heart attacks and evaluation of patients with acute coronary syndromes. With the inclusion of high-sensitivity cTnT (hs-cTnT) assays, an early and more frequent diagnosis of AMI has been made possible. However, there is an increased need for individualized care in patients with heart disease, especially in resource limited settings. Ironically, the reliability, sensitivity and rapid diagnostics of current cTnT detection platforms come with the need for sophisticated instrumentation due to the non-specificity of the existent low-cost methods and increasing health care expenditure.

Deliverables: The project envisages the design and development of SPCE based benchtop device for cTnT quantification resulting in near real-time cardiac damage assessment and clinical decision making in rural India and emergency conditions.

Social Relevance: The current capital-intensive technology that’s in use towards quantification of cardiac Troponin T, restricts its reach to a large segment of the Indian population. A low-cost affordable technology would help widen the impact and also to render timely treatment during first Aid and emergency conditions.

ANIRVID: A Cellphone based Point-of-Care Diagnostic Device to Evaluate the Effect of Alternative Therapeutic Interventions on Depression and Heart Ailments
Tata Education and Development Trust – ₹97 Lakhs (2017-2020)

Principal Investigator: Dr. R Sai Sathish

Mobile health (m-Health) technology is predominantly significant to India, where cellphone ownership is growing rapidly, but access to health care is inadequate.

Deliverables: The main goal of this project is to develop a rapid, hand-held, m-Health diagnostic device- ‘Anirvid’ for monitoring of perinatal depression biomarkers, at low-cost than current existing systems. This device will facilitate early diagnosis, prognosis and modification in the management of depression (during pregnancy and in postpartum mothers) and heart ailments.

Social Relevance: A forecast of an increase in depression to 5.7% of the total burden of disease in India by 2020 is indicative of the requirement of an m-Health technology for catering to this major public health concern, especially for rural and emergency health.

Water Treatment of Identified Physico-chemical parameters in the three mandals of Ananthpur district of Andhra Pradesh
4S Foundation – ₹5.03 Lakhs (2018-2020)

Principal Investigator: Prof. Chelli Janardhana

A proper geo-spatial mapping of geo-genic minerals and water quality assessment would tremendously aid in planning and implementation of water catchment for water-shed management in this drought prone area of Anantapur District.

In the 1^st phase, Puttaparthi mandal, Bukkapatnam mandal and Kothacheruvu mandal surrounding Puttaparthi town are being analyzed for their drinking and irrigation water quality vis-à-vis the geo-spatial mapping and identification of recharge and discharge zones.

SONEERA: Surface-water quality observation ‘N’ elimination of effluents using radio-frequency transmitter technology
Prasanthi Trust, USA – ₹31.34 Lakhs (2018-2020)

Principal Investigators: Dr. R Sai Sathish

About 25% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, the leading greenhouse gas causing climate change, is absorbed by water bodies. This leads to significant imbalance within the environment. Intense pollution has worsened the problem, particularly in rivers and freshwater lakes. In some urban areas, pollution has become so intense that some lakes have even caught on fire.

Deliverables: We will evaluate the ability of novel radio-frequency technology to reduce the concentration of CO2 and other pollutants within freshwater bodies.

Social Relevance: On completion of the project, we intend to deploy the RF transmitter device on autonomous fixed platforms such as buoys, or access points in freshwater lakes in the area.

Hand-held mobile for non-invasive monitoring of Bilirubin in neonates
Indian Council of Medical Research – ₹64.45 Lakhs (2018-2021)

Principal Investigator: Dr. R Sai Sathish

Rapid advances in spectroscopy have enabled the development of technologies with great impact on healthcare; however, there are tremendous opportunities to source new technologies for integrated development. In the proposed research, our deliverable is a non-invasive transcutaneous bilirubinometer for neonates.

Deliverables: Development of a rapid, non-invasive smartphone spectrometer based transcutaneous bilirubinometer for neonates at low-cost & high-sensitivity than current existing systems specifically for use in resource limited settings.

Social Relevance: The proposed device addresses the concerns and gaps in technology in a developing country like India and will replace the capital-intensive imported equipment in healthcare centers and present a novel and unique ‘Make in India’ product.

Mobile Dengue Diagnostic Technology (m-DDT): A Smartphone-based Point-of-care Diagnostic Device
Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) – ₹40.67 Lakhs (2018-2021)

Principal Investigators: Dr. R Sai Sathish and Dr. S Venketesh

Dengue is a debilitating viral disease caused by dengue virus that is transmitted by mosquitoes. The symptoms of dengue are observable from days 3-14 after onset of infection and turns fatal in the absence of proper medical attention. World Health Organization recently declared dengue as hyper-endemic in India and there is no specific treatment available yet. Proper care can be taken to avoid severe effects with early detection of the infection.

Deliverables: Development of a rapid, low-cost, mobile health, plasmonic platform for dengue diagnosis and prognosis.

Social Relevance: The present study would lead to development of a quick detection tool for dengue, thus facilitating early diagnosis, finding out the disease state and modification in the treatment of the disease.

REsCUE Device: Rapid Estimation of COVID-19 based on Ultrasensitive Emission Detection
SSSIHL-CSR – ₹120 Lakhs (2020-2021)

Principal Investigator: Dr. R Sai Sathish

COVID-19 is a recently emerged highly infectious coronavirus that has never been found in humans before. The World Health Organization has classified the COVID-19 outbreak as public health emergency of international concern. The growing number of suspected cases are exceeding the capacity of many hospitals, leaving many patients untested, challenging the control of the disease.

Our research work aims to deliver a point-of-care, mobile health diagnostic device for ultrasensitive identification of selected COVID-19 virus antigen and relevant antibodies in real time clinical samples using aptamer systems studied on Surface Plasmon-Coupled Emission SPCE platform. This will enable screening of huge populations in India in near real time.

Grant for Infrastructural Support to the Department of Biosciences
UGC SAP DRS III – ₹111 Lakhs (2018-2023)

Principal Investigator: Dr. B E Pradeep and Dr. S Venketesh

Thrust Areas: Health and Environment, and, Medically Active Natural Products

Augmenting Postgraduate Teaching & Research Facilities in Dept. of Biosciences
DST FIST – ₹88 Lakhs (2017-2020)

Principal Investigator: Dr. B S Vijayakumar

Augmenting Postgraduate Teaching & Research Facilities in Dept. of Biosciences by helping the students perform translational and applied research in the field of Biotechnology.

Perturbation in Metabolic pathways might drive Avascular Necrosis of Femoral Head by modulating bone biology: Mechanisms, Potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets
DST – ₹60.8 Lakhs (2018-2021)

Principal Investigator: Dr. S Venketesh

Avascular necrosis of the femur head (AVNFH) is a debilitating disease, which fall into three major categories: Alcohol induced, Steroid induced and idiopathic AVNFH. Clinically AVNFH is associated with impaired blood supply to the femoral head resulting in bone necrosis and collapse. The disease is characterized in some population by mutations in the MTHFR gene and elevated HC. We focus on the impairment in metabolic pathways leading to changes in HC, extracellular nucleotides and mechanisms that trigger the manifestation of AVNFH. Our data suggest an association of homocysteine pathway with AVNFH. Our model could explain all the observed symptoms and help to identify some of the events associated with AVNFH. Targeted metabolomic analysis shows elevated levels of metabolites belonging to methionine-HC, Polyamine and urea pathway as well as low levels of B12, B6 and Betain in AVNFH patients, which correlate with biophysical and histopathology of bone (Scientific Reports 2017). Further clinical and mechanistic studies are being carried out. The project will help to understand the biology of AVNFH, potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets to manage the disease.

Deliverables: The deliverables include the correlation of metabolic deregualtion with gene expression and biophysical changes in the AVNFH bone. To show the role of metabolites and cytokines like RANKL on osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation and function. To find potential biomarkers associated with disease progression and prognosis. To identify potential therapeutic targets.

Social Relevance: AVNFH is a debilitating disease which affect the productive age group between 30-50. The disease is progressive and eventually lead to total hip replacement. Hence biomarkers for early detection, progression and prognosis as well as newer therapeutic targets are imperative for managing the disease. The present project might help to achieve some of the objectives by providing a better understanding of AVNFH disease biology.

Mechanism of resistance involved in the emergence of nitrofurantoin resistance among uropathogenic enterobacteriaceae
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) – ₹60 Lakhs (2020-2021)

Principal Investigator: Dr. B E Pradeep

Globally, urinary tract infections (UTI) are the most commonly encountered community and nosocomial infections and are a major cause of morbidity, significantly impacting health care related expenditure across all age groups. Enterobacteriaceae, which are gram negative, facultative anaerobic and non-spore forming bacteria, are most frequently associated with UTIs. Nitrofurantoin is recommended as the first line drug of choice for empirical treatment of uncomplicated UTIs involving Enterobacteriaceae. Of late, nitrofurantoin resistance (NR) is being reported among drug resistant Enterobacteriaceae. Very little information is available about the mechanisms employed by the pathogens in developing NR. Therefore, the proposed studies intend to fill a critical void in our understanding of the mechanisms involved in the development of resistance against one of the well tolerated antibiotics for the treatment of uncomplicated UTIs.

First, a total of 100 uropathogenic Enterobacteriaceae will be screened for the presence/absence of genes associated with NR. Second, mutations in the genes will be correlated with the resistance phenotype. Next, whole genome sequencing will be performed on select isolates to identify any novel genes/mechanisms that may have been employed to counter the antibacterial effects of nitrofurantoin. Knockout mutants will be generated and complementation assays will be performed to understand the role of the target genes in the emergence of NR. Growth curve analysis will be done to look at the fitness costs involved in the development of NR. RT-qPCR and nitro reductase activity assays will be performed to understand the genotype-phenotype relation and to delineate the signaling mechanisms underlying the emergence of NR.

The proposed study would help in understanding the mechanisms involved in Nitrofurantoin and hence may be useful in developing ways to combat the rise of Antimicrobial resistance.

Antidiabetic evaluation of Indian pigmented rice varieties: A mechanistic metabolomic based approach
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) – ₹24 Lakhs (2019-2022)

Principal Investigators: Dr. (Miss) N Srividya

Pigmented rice varieties have been reported to contain functional components such as phenolic acids, anthocyanins etc. with potential therapeutic properties. This project uses an innovative combinational approach involving food metabolomics, in vitro chemical and enzyme mechanistic assays, and in vivo study to provide an in-depth scientific insight on possible antidiabetic potential of Indian pigmented rice varieties.

Deliverables:

• To provide a comprehensive understanding of antidiabetic mechanism observed in pigmented rice varieties with antidiabetic potential
• Knowledge on the glycemic response of pigmented rice varieties
• Development of pigmented rice varieties based convenience food products for therapeutic use with validation could be a novel contribution to the diabetic functional food market in India

Social Relevance: Rice consumption across the world is anticipated to grow rapidly and reach a market volume of 570 million tonnes in 2025 making it a global staple. Production and consumption of rice is maximum in Asia and also has sociocultural importance in Africa, Europe and Latin America. White rice is implicated in the increasing risk of diabetes especially among Asian population. However, it has been challenging for rice consumers to accept and adopt other staple foods such as wheat and millets due to cultural background and physiological compliance issues. Further, wheat protein, gluten, is reported to be a diabetogenic factor leading to high diabetes incidence in predisposed individuals. Hence, exploring the potential of pigmented rice varieties as gluten free functional foods to reduce the risk of life style diseases would provide global and national relevance to this project.

XRF based profiling of essential minerals in native and bio-processed pigmented rice varieties
UGC-DAE-Consortium – ₹45,000 (2019-2020)

Principal Investigators: Dr. (Miss) N Srividya

Overcoming micronutrient malnutrition is a prerequisite to ensure holistic development of the nation. The primary objective of the proposed study is to use EDXRF to carry out mineral profiling in Indian pigmented rice to identify varieties rich in essential minerals. The second objective would be to evaluate the effect of the bioprocess chosen on the mineral profile of germinated pigmented rice using XRF.

Deliverables:

• Identification of pigmented rice varieties rich in essential minerals such as Fe, Zn, Ca, Mg and analysis of distribution of minerals these rice varieties
• Effectiveness of bio-processes (soaking and germination) and agronomic biofortification in improving the mineral content of the pigmented rice varieties
• Improved mineral bioavailability in germinated pigmented rice varieties which is demonstrated using in vitro mineral availability methods
• Social Relevance: The term ‘Hidden Hunger’ addresses mineral malnutrition, which is often untreated in the affected large populations as the symptoms are not visible. Overcoming micronutrient malnutrition is a prerequisite to ensure holistic development. The common and traditional approaches to alleviate mineral malnutrition include: identification and recommendation of mineral rich foods; food fortification; increasing mineral bioavailability and supplementation. This project centers on finding a cost-effective dietary measure for preventing and managing mineral malnutrition.

A Structural Model of the Current Account of India’s Balance of Payment Under the New Economic Policy Regime
Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) – ₹3 Lakhs (Jul 2019 – Jan 2021)

Principal Investigators: Dr. G Raghavender Raju and Dr. Gopakumar K U

The work will identify and quantify linkages between the domestic and world economic developments on the one hand and the current account of India’s BoP on the other, so as to make them more meaningful in terms of policy initiatives. Applied econometric methodology, in keeping with the modern time series analysis, will be utilised to ensure rigorous analysis and valid inferences. Utilising the available econometric techniques an attempt will be, first to analyse the trends, growth rates, composition & direction of India’s exports and imports of goods and services so as to be able to identify the determinants of these flows at aggregate and disaggregate levels.

A substantive objective of this study (to be taken up later) is to work out a structural model for current account of India’s balance of payments. The estimated models will be subjected to meaningful simulation exercises in order to bring forth the important policy implications. This will be done by exploring the inter dynamics among the current account variables and macroeconomic variables using VAR model and Impulse Response Function By highlighting the dynamics between Current Account Balance (CAB) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) through Structural Break Analysis and Regime Switching Models. And Finally, by identifying the major issues relating to the Sustainability Current Account Deficit (CAD) for India.

This research work is highly relevant to pursue sustained economic growth, an equitable income distribution and overall stability for the economy and the society. The IMPRESS integration of the domestic economy through the twin channels of trade and capital flows have accelerated in the past two decades for India and other emerging market economies. It also has lot of policy implications and thus effects the economy and society at large. In particular, it will be useful for policy analyses of our economy with regard to the external sector, which is going to be increasingly important in shaping the future prospects of India’s growth. This comprehensive structural model will help deal with different policy issues in an integrated manner.