1

General Information

Name of the Institute:

Central Department of Biotechnology, Tribhuvan University

Address of the Institute:

Central Department of Biotechnology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu,

Nepal.

Type of University:

Government

Quality Assurance and Accreditation approval date:

22nd

Nov 2018

Year of Establishment of the Institute:

2008

Course commencement:

2009

Conducting courses:

M.Sc. Biotechnology (2009)/Ph.D. Biotechnology(2011)/Post Doc.(2018)

Name of the Head of the Institution:

Prof. Dr. Krishna Das Manandhar

2

Introduction

Biotechnology is a cutting-edge technology as well as an applied science which can stabilize

the economy of the country. Furthermore, analysts have predicted that biotechnology will be

one of the most important applied sciences of the 21st century. Industrial countries and some

developing countries have already been benefited from the advancement in Biotechnology

improving plants, animals and microorganism and producing environment friendly products

in the form of food items, pharmaceuticals. It is also widely used in health, disease diagnosis

and treatment in addition to effective criminal investigation methods. Nepal being

agricultural country and rich in natural resources has all possibilities to break the ice. So

with the joint hands of efficient manpower in the field of biotechnology and proper national

strategies set by Tribhuvan University along with the knowledge acquired in this field and

provision of good research budget allocation can make it possible to harness the benefit of

the accumulated knowledge.

Central Department of Biotechnology was established in 2008 AD under Institute of Science

and Technology, Tribhuvan University(TU), Nepal, the premier university in Nepal. It

provides courses in diverse disciplines at various levels including modern biology subjects.

Considering the potential modern biotechnology, TU established Central Department of

Biotechnology hoping for a leading role in fulfilling the national demand of the manpower

and also to start innovative researches in various fields of biotechnology. The curriculum of

Master level in biotechnology has been formulated considering the need of the current

nation’s requirement as well as to meet the international standard in the subject. It is a

technological professional manpower preparation program as of other Institute of

engineering, Institute of agriculture & animal Science, Institute of Medicine and Institute of

Forestry programs of Tribhuvan University. Recently, this department has launched EMIS,

which keeps all the departmental information like data of students, teaching and non-

teaching staff data, store data, library and various activities going on in department.

Infrastructure (Land/building/lab equipment)

Central Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan

University is located at Tribhuvan University Compound in Kirtipur Municipality of

Kathmandu valley of Bagamati Province. The Department is within the Science Block close

by the Central Library of the university

in the premises of Physics-Chemistry-

Computer-Biotechnology complex.

Site map of the Central Department of

Biotechnology, Institute of Science and

Technology,TribhuvanUniversit, Kirtipur

3

It has approx 75m X 15 m (1125 sq mt) existing land space using as working building with a

big lawn in front side of around 500 sq mt [Fig. 2]

Current existing building area (The red line boundary area) of Central Department of Biotechnology,

Institute of Science and technology, Tribhuvan University. The building area is approx. 1125 Sq mt

and the lawn in front 500 sq mt.

Quality Assurance and Accreditation Certification

Department defined its vision mission, goal and objective as to meet the VMGO of

Tribhuvan University. This department is running in accordance to the road map set in Five

Year Plan, 2016, updated in 2018.

Department initiated the process for Quality Assurance and Accreditation from University

Grant Commission-Nepal from the year 2017 submitting the Letter of Intend (LOI). The Pre-

Review Team (Pre-PRT) from UGC inspected the Department extensively in January 04,

2018. The satisfaction to the Pre-PRT team led for the PRT visit in August 12, 2018

comprising a QAA Foreign Expert. The eight Bench Mark bases analysis of the Department

passed the criteria. Department is follows the policies and procedures of Tribhuvan

University to meet the Department policies. It is proud of its teaching learning, research, new

ongoing infrastructure, students support, information technology and public information

though there are lots of room to improve. Finally, Department received the QQA-Certificate

on November02, 2018. During the process of QAA and aftermath, Department has changed

lots of its activities improving the academic and research fundamentals. Among the 13

Central Departments under Institute of Science and Technology of the university, it has

emerged as one of the best Department and has moved for Center of Excellence with in

Tribhuvan University.

Central Department of Biotechnology

Tribhuvan University

Institute of Science and Technology

4

A NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

IN THE YEAR 2018, November

22, 2018, Department got QAA

certificate issued by University

Grant Commission

5

Motto, Vision, Mission and Objectives of the course

(Edited 2018)

Motto

Welfare of Nation and people through Biotechnology

Vision

World class Biotechnology institute for serving lives and nature through

1. An academic entity for biotechnology studies

2. An academic Centre of Excellence for Teaching-Learning and Research

3. Role model for transformation of research to nation development

Mission

Explore and conduct country specific research to contribute to science world

1.1. Well furnished attractive academic premises with enough academic and research

spaces

2.1 Establish CDBT as the first choice of bioscience study/teaching Explore the new

fields very

2.2 Equip institutional laboratory as nation’s model teaching laboratory

3.1 Emphasize on the application oriented researches

3.2 Publish original research articles in high impact factor cited journals

3.3 Produce salable manpower for national and international market

Objectives

An academic entity for biotechnology studies

1.1.1 Biotechnology Department, an academic and beautiful environmental premises.

1.1.2 Construction of building to accommodate required rooms and research spaces.

An academic Centre of Excellence

2.1.1 Develop/recruit qualified and skilled manpower (scientist/experts) in their respective

area of specialization in biotechnology.

2.1.2 Allow the students/faculties to participate international seminars and conferences as

well as bring faculties from abroad to lure the international students towards CDBT.

2.1.3 Frequent revisions of courses to make a competent syllabi and prompt examination

system.

6

2.1.4 Launch new programs associated with biotechnology array alone or in affiliations

2.1.5 Attract SAARC/international students for academic degree on biotechnology

2.2.6 Equip the department with all types of essential, general ,advance and sophisticated

scientific instruments suitable for academic and innovative researches.

2.2.7 Develop as a Center of Biological Science Training for faculties/researchers/lab

technicians/students.

Research center of Excellence

3.1.1 Identify the researches according to the specialization of faculties and need for the

country.

3.1.2 Focus to medicinally important phytochemical compound, antibody production,

transgenic plant, vaccine production, animal production, medical diagnostic

tools, food technology etc.

3.2.1 Conduct research projects either alone or in collaboration with national and

international institutions and give message to scientific community of the world..

3.3.1 Encourage the M.Sc. students, Ph.D. scholars, post doctorate degree and faculties to

give high degree performances utilizing the facilities available in the Department.

3.3.2 Allow the students and research scholars learn the knowledge and skills of advance

facilities of the Dept.

Major Activities to achieve the objectives

1.1 New Biotechnology building under completion .

2.1.1 Three faculties are facilitated for Ph.D. and 1 recently completed.

2.1.2 Students and faculties are having opportunities to participate in ICGEB/NIH like

programs.

2.1.3 Syllabus revision for 3 times and now working for next latest revision

2.1.4 New course M.Sc. Virology has been approved and yet to develop syllabus. Now

thinking of M.Sc. Bioinformatics.

2.1.5 Enquiries from SARC for Ph.D. and M.Sc. Looking forward for admission.

2.2.1 Equipping the lab is ongoing process Plan to have highly sophisticated instruments

like NGS, HPLC, Ultra centrifuge under resource Mgmt Program of HERP.

2.27 Teachers’ training in Experimental Biotechnology as winter school.

3.1.1 Course based on specialization of faculties Eg. Dengue virus, bacteriophage, biofuel.

3.1.2 Carrying some applied researches on biofertilizer, beverages, disease diagnosis etc.

3.2.1 International Collaboration with LJI, ICGEB etc.

7

3.2.2 High degree performances. Eg. Cutaneous leishmaniasis, Biofertilizer

Comparative progresses

Physical Infrastructure

Central Department of Biotechnology started foundation of its building but was stopped for

a long time. After the QAA the building is at the verge of completion of its first phase of

work, the ground floor of middle portion of the design. All the works except marble flooring

and painting have been completed. The total land area is about 15000 sq mt with on going

building constructed area 2000 sq. mt.

The ongoing new building construction of Central Department of Biotechnology. A. Land area

behind the construction B. Current status of the constructed building at the verge of completion.

List of faculties/Expertise/support staff Available

The Central Department provisioned for 18 faculties (Academicians) and 11 staffs for

administrative, technical and supportive section. Presently it has only ten faculties. Visiting

faculties are being outsourced as experts from outside according to need of specific subjects

and course cycle. Distance classes from different countries are carried out using skype/hangs

out facilities. Similarly, the staffs required for different specific purposes are also hired as

daily attendance based staffs like electrician, night gate keeper and support staff and now are

14. Ratio of Full time Teaching and Non-Teaching is 0.83:1.

List of Existing Faculties

SN

Name of Faculty Designation Status Highest Academic Qualification

1 Prof. Krishna Das Manadhar Head Permanent Ph. D./Post Doc.(Immunology/

Animal biotechnology)

2 Prof. Ganga Kharel Professor Permanent (on

sabbatical leave) Ph. D. (Food biotechnology)

A B

8

3 Prof. Rajani Mallla Former Head Permanent Ph. D. (Microbiology)

4 Jarina Joshi Lecturer Permanent Ph. D. (Bioprocess)

5 Bal Hari Poudel Lecturer (on Ph.D. Leave) M. Sc. (Biotechnology)

6 Smita Shrestha Lecturer (on Ph. D. leave) B.V.Sc/M.Sc. (Medical

Biotechnology)

7 Pragati Pradhan Lecturer Permanent M. Sc. (Biochemistry)

8 Dr. Suresh Subedi Lecturer Permanent Ph. D. (Bioprocess)

9 Preeti Regmi Lecturer (on Ph. D. leave) M. Sc. (Biotechnology)

10 Alina Shree Sapkota Lecturer Permanent M. Sc. (Biochemistry)

List of regular visiting faculties as experts

SN

Name of Faculty Designation Status Highest Academic Qualification

1 Prof. Gauri Shankar

Manandhar Visiting faculty Part-time Ph. D. (Cell biology)

2 Dr. Pramod Aryal Visiting faculty Part-time Ph. D. (Genetic engineering)

3 Dr. Bhusan Shrestha Visiting faculty Part-time Ph. D. (Agriculture biotechnology)

4 Prof. Mukunda Ranjit Visiting faculty Part-time Ph. D. (Plant biotechnology)

5 Dr. Rohit Pokhrel Visiting faculty Part-time Ph. D. (Medical biotechnology)

6 Dr. Umesh Mandal Visiting faculty Part-time Ph. D. (Animal Biotechnology)

7 Dr. Mahesh Adhikari Visiting faculty Part-time Ph. D. (Agriculture biotechnology)

8 Other Faculties Temporary Part-time Different Subjects

List of staffs

SN

Name of Staff Post Status

1 Mr. Bhupendra Lal Shahi Section Officer Permanent

2 Ms. Sumitra Manandhar Account Officer Permanent

3 Mr. Ujjwal Man Pradhan Head account assistant Permanent

4 Mr. Madanman Singh Rokaya Head assistant Permanent

5 Ms. Elen Pradhan Head Lab assistant Permanent

6 Mr. Sailendra Koirala Head Lab assistant Permanent

7 Ms. Til Kumari Gautam Technical lab assistant Permanent

8 Ms. Binu Tamang Technical lab assistant Permanent

9 Ms. Subha Maya Magar Support staff Permanent

10 Ms. Maiya Khanal Support staff Permanent

11 Mr. Guna Nidhi Dhakal Support staff Permanent

12 Mr. Rajendra Maharjan Electrician Part time

13 Mr. Pan Bhai Support staff (Rest room

maintenance) Part time

14 Mr. Lalit Gurung Gate keeper Part time

9

Comparative summary table of Full time teaching staff

Full Time

Teachers

Disadvantaged /

Janajatis Others Grand

Total

From

outside

Ktm

Valley Female Total Female Total

Before

QAA

Total 4 6 2 6 12 4

With PhD 1 3 - 3 6 2

Enrolled PhD 1 1 - - 1 -

With Masters 2 2 2 3 5 2

After

QAA

Total* 4 5 2 5 10 4

With PhD 2 3 - 2 5 2

Enrolled PhD 1 1 1 2 3 1

With Masters 1 1 1 1 2 1

Comparative summary table of Full time non-teaching staff

Staff Category

Disadvantaged /

Adivasi Janajatis Others Grand

Total

From

outside

Kathmandu

Valley Female Total Female Total

Administrative Staff 1 4 1 4 8 4

Technical Staff 1 1 2 3 4 3

Total 2 5 3 7 12 7

Teaching Learning Schedule

Department Academic has developed academic Calendar based on the calendar published by

Institute of Science and Technology. The total working days per semester will not be less

than 100 days. Department created environment for the regular and research students to

work from early morning to late evening

10

Day class work Evening time of lab work

Infrastructure, facilities and IT support

Department has existing building in the Physics-Chemistry-Computer-Biotechnology

Complex and a new separate building at the verge of completion. The existing building is

cozy but well managed and utilized spaces for the courses running in the Department. There

is only one class room which is being used both for two semesters by managing the practical

classes in two shifts. Even the seminar room is used appropriately for classes whenever

remain free. Two M.Sc. general laboratories are equipped for running two groups of students

every day in the morning and afternoon sessions. Severn rooms/compartments are

designated for specific research purposes. One Department Library is equipped with about

700 reference books. Store rooms and administrative rooms are for serving the daily

requirements for the students, faculties and staffs. There is only one rest room within the

Department premises, however, the rest rooms in the Physics and Computer Department are

also available for use. There are altogether 17 specific defined rooms/compartments in the

11

existing building facilitated with equipments [Table 8]. It is obvious that the spaces are not

enough for advance scientific equipment in the Department so it is managing the lack of

spaces by sharing the available rooms for necessary purposes. The hope “new building for

the Department” is under construction.

Physical facilities of the Central Department of Biotechnology.

Sections of Buildings Numbers

Class room/ seminar room 2

Administrative rooms / Account section 2

Store room 2

Library 1

Fresh/Wash room 1

M.Sc. laboratories

Immunology and Microbiology/Medical Biotechnology/ Bioprocess

Cell Biology and Genetics/Animal Biotechnology/ Food

Biotechnology

Bioinformatics/Seminar room

2

Research laboratories

Molecular Biology/ Genetic Engineering

Tropical Infectious Disease and Virology

In vitro fertilization/ Phyto-Bioprospecting

Bacteriophage/ Streptomyces

Bio-fuel engineering

Plant/Fungal Tissue Culture

Biofertilizer/Biopesticide

7

Total 17

Laboratory Facilities

The CDBT though a new department of Tribhuvan University at its initial stage, is equipped

with the modest and sophisticated instrumental facilities necessary to run the basic and

advanced research on the different disciplines of biotechnology. There were two general

laboratories of

1. Lab 1: Microbiology/Immunology/Bioprocess/Food/Medical Biotechnology

2. Lab 2: Cell biology and cytogenetics/Biochemistry/Animal Biotechnology

12

Masters’ student’s Laboratory in Central Department of Biotechnology. A. Laboratory 1. B. Laboratory 2.

Department provisioned s research laboratories after QAA certification. Department has 7

small rooms/chambers. Based on the researches carrying by the faculties, the laboratories are

1. Molecular Biology/Genetic Engineering,

2. Tropical Infectious Disease and Virology,

3. In vitro fertilization/ Phyto-Bioprospecting,

4. Bacteriophage/ Streptomyce,

5. Bio-fuel engineering,

6. Plant/Fungal Tissue Culture and

7. Biofertilizer/Biopesticide.

Research laboratory of Central Department of Biotechnology.

13

Laboratory with equipments in Tropical Infectious Disease and Virology laboratory

Laboratory with equipments in Natural product and drug design laboratory

Laboratory with equipments in Molecular Biology/Genetic Engineering, Bacteriophage and

Biofuel laboratory

14

Instrument facilities:

The CDBT is equipped with all basic equipment necessary for M.Sc. biotechnology practical

works and for some of the advance equipments for PhD students. Some major equipment

installed in the department are: Flow Cytometry, Real Time PCR, Lyophilizer, Fluorescent

microscopes, Nanodrop, Biosafety cabinet, Cell coulter, Fermenter, ELISA plate reader and

washer, Thermal cyclers, Spectrophotometer, -80oC Freezer, CO2 incubator, Growth

chambers, Shaking incubators, Phase Contrast Microscope with photograph facility etc. The

equipment installed in the Department explain its high efficiency in the scientific research

works of present day world and gives the glimpse of laboratory in developed countries. The

department is in the process of purchasing Next Gen Sequencing (NGS), Ultracentrifuge and

High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) in this fiscal year. Still the most advance

equipment are sought which in our opinion should be facilitated as central facility by

Tribhuvan University for all scientific researchers. This department got continuous support

from different sectors for instrument collection.

List of major instruments installed in the Department

SN Instruments Brand Funding Source

1 Flow cytometry BD NIH, USA

2 Real Time PCR BioRad HERP, UGC

3 Lyophilizer ZIRBUS Department

4 Fluorescent microscopes,

Compound

ZEISS HERP, UGC

5 Fluorescent microscopes, Inverted BEL Hombolt

6 Nanodrop Shimadzu HERP, UGC

7 Biosafety cabinet BioBASE HERP, UGC

8 Fermenter Electrolab Department.

9 ELISA plate reader and washer Thermo Department., HERP-

UGC

10 Thermal cyclers BioRad Department / HERP-

UGC/ LJI-Dengue

Project

11 Spectrophotometer Chemito Department, TWAS

12 -800C Freezer GFL TWAS

13 CO2 incubator Memmert Department

14 Growth chambers Eliete/Sonar Department

15 Phase Contrast Microscopes with

photograph facility

BEL Department

16 Oxygen, Nitrogen gas supply

system

Shanker Gas Department

17 Cooling outswing centrifuge (Not

fuctional)

Hitachi Hombolt

18 BOD incubator OpticsTechnology UGC/ Department

15

19 Shaking incubator Nauyog, India TU planning

20 Gel Doc MS major IRLASP+Department

21 Cooling Centrifuge YINGEAI

Instrument

LJI-Dengue Project

22 Cell coulter Elumina HERP

23 Chiller for rotavapor JKA UGC Project

24 Freezers (#2) Associated

Scientific

Technology/

DELTH

CDBT, TU

New arrivals after QAA process

Flow Cytometry BOD incubator

Biosafety cabinet Shaking incubator

16

Cooling centrifuge PCR machines

Previously installed instruments

Florescent microscope Phase contrast microscope

Lyophilizer and Nano Drop

17

More other instruments available in the department

18

Classroom-Teaching /Learning Facilities

Class room is well equipped with audio-visual (power-point projection) facilities supported

by wi-fi for internet access. Along with the advanced tool, the following conventional

teaching tools are also available in the lecture room.

Smart Board

LCD-Projector

Overhead Projectors

White board–Marker

Classroom with IT facilities available in the department

Class room lecture and Seminar cum class room

19

Research Activities

Before QAA [2009 – 2017]

International Projects (Faculties)

Renewable Nepal program [NORAD ] – Prof. Tribikram and Dr. Jarina Joshi

1. Development of Recombinant Sacharomyces cervicae by expressing xylose

transporter and xylose isomerase for efficient multiple sugar metabolism. 2012

2. Design of microbial fuel cell to produce ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass and

greenery waste and hence to produce electricity from fuel cell. 2012

Natural Product and Drug Development. Prof Krishna Manandhar

3. Bio-prospecting on Biological Materials of Nepal. Collaborators: Korea Research

Institute of Bioscience & Biotechnology (KRIBB), Korea; and Ethnobotanical

Society of Nepal (ESON)-2013

National Projects

1. Retrospective analysis of EGFR mutation in lung cancer patient. 2011. Prof. Mohan

Kharel. Supported by UGC.

2. Identification of antigenic protein from Leishmania donovani as marker for diagnosis

of visceral leishmaniasis.2011. PI: Dr Krishna Das Manandhar Supported by UGC.

3. Morphogenic and Genotoxic Effects of Insecticides on Vicia faba and Allium cepa

used by Farmers in Kathmandu Valley. Supported by UGC. PI: Dr Sampoornananda

Jha. 2011. UGC.

4. Screening of medicinal plants having antileishmanial property. Supported by

National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST). PI: Dr Krishna Das

Manandhar. 2012. NAST

5. Detection of BRCA1 mutation in breast cancer cases in Nepal: a pilot study. 2012.

Supported by UGC.

6. Analysis of anticancer effect of different indigenous medicinal plants of Nepal.

Supported by Ministry of Education PI: Bal Hari poudel

7. Muscular Distrophy study on Nepalese patients by continuous PCR. Supported by

Institute of Medicine, TUTH, IOM, T.U. PI: Dr. Smita Shrestha Chhetri. 2012.

8. Production of Ethanol in Electrochemical cell. Supported by UGC, Nepal. PI: Jarina

Joshi 2013.

9. Screening of medicinal plants having flavonoid, antioxidant and anticancerous

properties . Supported by UGC, Nepal.

20

Status of Ongoing Projects of the Institute:

International Projects

Department started to receive the international projects from the year 2012 and it was

supported by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation- Nepal Chapter in

renewable energy for Prof. Tribikram Bhattarai and Dr. Jarina Joshi, In 2013 a project of

Prof. Krishna Das Manandhar funded by Korea Research Institute of Bioscience &

Biotechnology (KRIBB), Korea had been conducted. Similarly, Prof. Manandhar received a

grant from ICIMOD to develop proposal on study overall quality of water from Nepalese,

Bhutanese and Indian Himalayas and its health impacts on dependent population in 2018.

The Dengue project is an examplenary for international network development in research.

Prof. Manandhar who worked as Fulbright Senior Research Scholar in La Jolla Institute for

Allergy and Immunology, Calaifornia, USA in 2015/2016 could develop and continue the

work as a five year project from 2016-2020. Based on the grant support, The Tropical

Infectious Disease and Virology Lab (TIDAV Lab) of the Department is able to support

many M.Sc. theses and a PhD. on Dengue disease.

TIDAV Lab is continuously applying the NIH Grants forming a international groups,

however, success is still awaited. Interestingly, in 2019, Department could join hands with

Dr. Manju Jain from Central University of Punjab using the research data generated by Prof.

Manandhar’s Lab for Nepal chapter to apply for a international collaborative research grant

application called by International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology

(ICGEB)-Italy. The project is accepted and is the ever first grant of its kind. Hence,

Department has entered to the international competitive grant application showing its

competent international strength. Currently there are 3 International Projects running in the

Department and all are of Prof. Manandhar.

Ongoing International Projects in Central Department of Biotechnology

Year Title Funding body Grants Status

Dec 2016-

Dec 2020.

Dengue – CDBT-LJI-KARIUS

Project. PI – Prof. Krishna Das

Manandhar, International

Collaborator: Dr. Sujan, USA

Dengue fever and Dengue like

illness in Nepal.

La Jolla Institute

for Allergy &

Immunology and

KARIUS Inc. USA

25000 USD Ongoing

2020 – 2022

Leishmaniasis – ICGEB Project,

PI – Dr. M Jain, Central

University of Punjab, CoPIs:

Prof. Krishna D Manandhar, and

Prof. Greg Matlewenski, Cananda

A Molecular. & Immunological

Investigation of leishmaniasis

from an unusual foci of cutaneous

and visceral disease in India and

Nepal .

International Center

for Genetic

Engineering and

Biotechnology

(ICGEB), Trieste,

Italy

39000 Euro Accepted and

yet to start

2019-2020 Epstein Barr virus- Switzerland Prof. Cristian Lab, Reagents At the end of

21

Pilot Project, PI- Prof. Krishna

Das Manandhar and Prof. Cristian

Munz.

Screening of Epstein Barr virus

and Kaposi Sarcoma antiserum

in Nepalese healthy population

and molecular diagnosis

Immunology

Department,

University of

Zurich and Tropical

Infectious Disease

and Virology lab,

CDBT-TU

only project

National Projects

Department has envisaged at least one project for each faculty in its five year plan developed

in 2012 which continued in its next plan 2016. As per the vision, all the faculties are having

their own projects either of international or national. Department boast University Grant

Commission Nepal for making available of the collaborative research project (CRP) grants

with good sum of funds to start a good research. This Department is proud enough to get two

such grants and are running very smoothly in the departmental laboratory. Further

Department highly appreciate the effort carried by each faculties to bring research projects.

Currently there are 7 national grants running funded all most all by UGC-Nepal.

Ongoing national Projects in Central Department of Biotechnology

Year Title Funding body Grants Status

2018 - 2020

(2074 - 2076

B.S.)

Streptomyces – UGC collaborative

Project. PI – Prof. Rajani Malla.

Biodiversity of Streptomyces from

soil collected from various parts of

Nepal and screening for potent

bioactive compounds.

UGC Institutional

Grant

NRs.

2,000,000.00

At the end of

project

2019-2022

(2075 –

2078 B.S.)

Dengue – UGC collaborative

Project. PI – Prof. Krishna Das

Manandhar. Profiling Cellular

Immune Responses in Dengue Virus

Infected Nepalese Population.

UGC Institutional

Grant.

NRs.

2,000,000.00 Ongoing

2019-2020

Ayurved Drug – National

collaboration. PI- Prof. Krishna Das

Manandhar Cytotoxicity and Anti-

cancer activities of “Heerak

Bhasma” (Diamond Particles) on

different cell lines.

National Ayurveda

Training and

Research Center,

Gov. of Nepal.

NRs.

200,000.00 Ongoing

2020-2022

PI- Ms. Jarina Joshi:Design of

Microbial fuel Cell to Manage

Household Organic Wastes Using

Mixed Culture of Microbes.

Faculty Research

Grant by UGC

NRs.

400,000.00 Ongoing

2020-2021 PI – Dr. Suresh Subedi Screening of

Novel Genes Involved in Biofilm-

Small Research

Development and

Innovation Grant by

NRs.

200,000.00 Ongoing

22

mediated Carbapenem Resistance

in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

UGC

2020-2021

PI – Ms. Pragati Pradhan.

Application of Bacteriophage to

treat the multidrug resistant

bacteria infection in mouse model

Small Research

Development and

Innovation Grant by

UGC

200,000.00 Pilot work

Ongoing

2020

PI – Dr. Pramod Aryal. Molecular

charaterization of plant pathogen

and control (plant tissue culture

model and field trial). Focus on

Coffee Leaf Rust, Fall Army Worm

and Dadhuwa disease of L.

cardamom.

Department and

targeted to propose

in UGC grants

Reagents Pilot work

Ongoing

Besides the faculties, the Ph.D. and M.Sc. students are also carrying their separate projects

for their respective thesis works supervised by their supervisors (Faculties). The trends of

receiving thesis grants to the students of the Department are very encouraging. All the six

Ph.D. students’ projects are being funded by different institutions except the recent enrolled

ones.

Ongoing research projects with funds carrying by Ph.D. students in the Central Department of

Biotechnology.

Year Title Funding body Grants Status

2016 - 2020

Characterization of TNF-alpha gene

polymorphism and its impact in

Influenza A/Pandemic( H1N1)

patients in Nepal

National Public

Health

Laboratory,

Kathmandu

All facilities

in kinds On Going

2017-2020

Molecular and immunological

characterisation of hepatitis- e virus in

Nepal

UGC- Nepal NRs.

600,000.00 On Going

2018-2020 Characterization of Bacteriophage

against Multidrug Resistant Bacteria.

UGC-

Nepal/NAST

NRs.

600,000.00 On Going

2017-2021 Effect of medicinal plants on the

immune response of stem cells. NAST

All facilities

in kinds On Going

2018-2022

Role of Selective immunological

Marker for Dengue Severity in

NepalRole of Selective immunological

Marker for Dengue Severity in Nepal

UGC- Nepal NRs.

900,000.00 On Going

2019-2024

Designing of Transdermal Patch from

Natural Polymer and Oils for

Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapy

UGC- Nepal NRs.

900,000.00 On Going

Similarly, the students carrying M.Sc. thesis works are also being funded by the different

institutions like UGC-Nepal, Nepal Youth Council, Nepal Academy of Science and

23

Technology (NAST) and Central Department of Biotechnology itself. There are 10 projects

supported by the other national institution besides CDBT [Table 7].

Ongoing research projects of M.Sc. students with funds from national funding organizations

carrying at the Central Department of Biotechnology.

Year Title Funding body Grants Status

2019 Cutaneous Leishmaniasis UGC 50,000.00 Ongoing

2019 Chronic Myeloid Leukemia UGC 30,000.00 Ongoing

2019 Dengue- Cytokine Profiling UGC 30,000.00 Ongoing

2019 Bio-film mediated antibiotic

resistance

National Youth

Council Nepal 50,000.00 Ongoing

2019 Dengue – Host Genetics UGC 50,000.00 Ongoing

2019 Dengue – Vaccine candidate

development

Chinese Academy

of Science 80,000.00 Ongoing

2019 Bioethanol Production National Youth

Council Nepal 50,000.00 Ongoing

2019 Isolation of BT strain and

identification of VIP gene NAST In Kinds Ongoing

2019 Biodegradation of Lignocllulose

Biomass using microogranism NAST In Kinds Ongoing

2019 Anti diabetic effect of Plant

extracts NAST In Kinds Ongoing

Ph.D. Graduates

2016 Graduation

1. Molecular characrerization of Lactobacillus spp. from Diiferent parts of Nepal

Ranjan Koirala 2012 Prof. Rajani Malla and Dr. Sangeeta Shrestha

2018 Graduation

2. Immunological and Molecular Epidemiology of Emerging and Circulating Viral

Diseases of Nepal

Birendra Prasad Gupta 2013 Prof. Krishna D Manandhar

2019 Graduation

3. Molecular cloning of thermophilic Cellulase

Poonam Yadav 2013 Prof. Tribikram Bhattarai and Dr. Jyoti Maharjan

4. Study On Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome (Iris) In Hiv/Aids

Infection

Shrawan Kumar Mishra 2013 Prof. Krishna D Manandhar

2020 Graduation

5. Enhancement in ethanol production by electrochemical redox combination of

microbial cells from lignocellulosic biomass.

24

Jarina Joshi 2013 Prof. Tribikram Bhattarai and Prof. Amar Yadav

Ongoing Ph.D.

1. Characterization of TNF-alpha gene polymorphism and its impact in Influenza

A/Pandemic( H1N1) patients in Nepal

Bimlesh Jha 2015 Prof. Krishna D Manandhar

2. Molecular and immunological characterisation of hepatitis- e virus in nepal

Smita Shrestha 2015 Prof. Krishna D Manandhar

3. Characterization of Bacteriophage against Multidrug Resistant Bacteria.

Guna Raj Dhungana 2016 Prof. Rajani Malla

4. Effect of medicinal plants on the immune response of stem cells.

Bhuvan Saud 2017 Prof. Rajani Malla and Dr. Kanti Shrestha

5. Role of Selective immunological Marker for Dengue Severity in NepalRole of Selective

immunological Marker for Dengue Severity in Nepal

Ramanuj Rauniyar 2018 Prof. Krishna D Manandhar

6. Designing of Transdermal Patch from Natural Polymer and Oils for Rheumatoid

Arthritis Therapy

Prasansha Pant 2018 Prof. Rajani Malla and Prof. Dr. Rameshwar Adhikari

7. Nutritious values of fermented vegetables

Rajesh Shrestha 2019 Prof. Ganga Kharel

8. Febrile of Unknow origin

Dr. Eans Tara Tuladhar 2020 Prof. Krishna D Manandhar

9. Epstein Barr Virus & Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Soma K Baral 2020 Prof. Krishna D Manandhar

10. Anti MDR Bacteriophage isolation and characterization

Deependra Mandal 2020 Prof. Rajani Malla

Researches on national issues

Local Farmer Mr. Rajendra Kunwar

and friends From Jumla District of

Nepal interacting with faculties of

CDBT for protection of indigenous

threatened walnut plant found in

Jumla District

25

Research team and the Boipesticide and Biofertilizer developed in the Department using the

cocktails of bacteria

26

Research team of Tropical Infectious and Viral Disease Laboratory in the Department and

coming in front line in the national issue of infectious and viral diseases

27

Publications: Comparison before and after QAA

Regular projects and thesis are running in the Department. All the faculties are equally active

to write manuscript and publish paper. Most of the papers are published in reputed

international journal though TU policy has not given any credit hour for doing project,

guiding thesis and making manuscript.

Number of publications: In the first five years of the Department establishment i.e. 2009-

2013, it could publish only 7 international and 16 national research articles..In the next three

years (2014-2016) the ratio reversed and there were 23 international and 3 national. The 3

senior faculties retired after then and replaced by fresh faculties. Despite the situation,

Department could increase its publication number during and after the initiation of QAA

hiking them to 29 (25 international and 4 national). The data showed that the researchers

both students and faculties wished to published in international journals in comparison to

national ones. In the Departmental history, it has published 79 papers in total comprising 55

international and 23 national papers.

Publication Status of department (Phase wise and year wise)

2009-2013 2014-2016 2017-2019

7

23 25

16

3 4

Publication in three phases of Departmental history

International National

Year Int Nat Total

2019 8 1 9

2018 9 1 10

2017 8 2 10

2016 7 1 8

2015 8 0 9

2014 8 2 10

2013 1 7 8

2012 2 5 7

2011 2 1 3

2010 1 2 3

2009 1 1 2

Total 55 23 79

1st 5 yr before QAA after QAA

28

Research Papers published from establishment year (2009) to 2019

2019

1. Shrestha, Mitesh & Khatri-Chhetri, Medha & Poudel, Ram & Maharjan, Jyoti & Dumre, SP & Manandhar, Krishna & Pandey, Basu & Pun, Sher & Pandey, Kishor. (2019). Molecular evidence supports the expansion of visceral leishmaniasis towards non- program districts of Nepal. BMC Infectious Diseases. 19. 10.1186/s12879-019-4083-3. (Peer-reviewed journal)

2. Sunil Timilsena, Sakkarin Ardsiri, Surada Lerdwana, Krishna Das Manandhar, Kovit Pattanapanyasat, Egarit Noulsri (2019). Accuracy of lymphocyte counts from UniCel DxH 800 in β-thalassemia/HbE patients having various numbers of nucleated red blood cells. Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol. doi: 10.12932/AP-170119-0472 (H index, Impact factor 1.747)

3. Bastola, Anup & Shrestha, Mitesh & Lamsal, Mahesh & Shrestha, Srijan & Prajapati, Sabita & Adhikari, Anurag & Gupta, Birendra & Hide, Mallorie & Devkota, Lina & Chalise, Bimal & Pandey, Kishor & Manandhar, Krishna. (2019). A case of high altitude cutaneous leishmaniasis in a non-endemic region in Nepal. Parasitology International. 74. 101991. 10.1016/j.parint.2019.101991. (Impact factor 2.017, SCI Rank 0.849)

4. Bhuvan Saud, Rajani Malla and Kanti Shrestha. Stem Cell Therapy in Nepal: Challenges and Opportunities. Hosa Journal of Stem Cells Research, Development and Therapy. 2019. DOI: 10.24966/SRDT-2060/100022. (Indexed journal)

5. Bhuvan Saud, Rajani Malla and Kanti Shrestha. A Review on the Effect of Plant Extract on Mesenchymal Stem Cell Proliferation and Differentiation. doi: 10.1155/2019/7513404, 2019 (Impact factor- 4)

6. Jarina Joshi, Pradip Dhungana,Bikram Prajapati, Rocky Maharjan, Pranita Poudyal, Mukesh Yadav, Milan Mainali, Amar Prasad Yadav, Tribikram Bhattarai and Lakshmaiah Sreerama (2019). Enhancement of ethanol production in electrochemical cell by Saccharomyces cerevisiae (CDBT2) and Wickerhamomyces anomalus (CDBT7). Front. Energy Res. - Bioenergy and Biofuels. 7:70. (Q2 journal)

7. Mukesh Yadav, Garima Bista, Rocky Maharjan, Pranita Poudyal, Milan Mainali, Lakshmaiah Sreerama, Jarina Joshi (2019). Secretory laccase from Pestalotiopsis species CDBT-F-G1 fungal strain isolated from high altitude: Optimization of its production and characterization. Appl. Sci. 9: 340. (Q2 journal)

8. Kathleen m. Kelsey, Michal Zigo, Winston E. Thompson, Karl Kerns, Gaurishankar Manandhar, Miriam Sutovsky, Peter Sutovsky (2019). Reciprocal surface expression of arylsulfatase A and ubiquitin in normal and defective mammalian spermatozoa. Cell and Tissue Research. DOI: 10,1007/s00441-019-03144-1. (Impact factor- 3.043)

2018

29

9. Shrestha M., Pandey BD., Maharjan J., Tiwari PN., Manandhar KD, Pun SB, Dumre S., Pandey

K. (2018). A Case of Visceral Leishmaniasis from the Non-endemic Himalayan region of

Nepal. Parasitology Research . 2018 Jul;117(7):2323-2326. doi: 10.1007/s00436-018-5887-6.

Epub 2018 May 2.

10. Sunil Kumar Sah, Joaquin V. González, Sadina Shrestha, Anurag Adhikari, Krishna Das

Manandhar, Shyam Babu Yadav, David A. Stein, Birendra Prasad Gupta and María Alejandra

Picconi. Human papillomavirus genotype distribution in cervical cancer biopsies from

Nepalese women. Infectious Agents and Cancer (2018) 13:4 DOI 10.1186/s13027-018-0176-7.

11. Seroepidemiology study of Hepatitis B virus infection in Nepal Smita Shrestha1,Sudhamshu

KC2,Balram Gautam2,Sher Bahadur Pun3,sila Mahatara1,Krishna Das Manandhar.SciUn

research journal,2018

12. Gupta BP, Tuladhar R, Kurmi R, Manandhar KD. Dengue periodic outbreaks and

epidemiological trends in Nepal. Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials.

2018;17:6. doi:10.1186/s12941-018- 0258-9

13. P Yadav, S Korpole, GS Prasad, G Sahni, J Maharjan, L Sreerama,. Morphological, enzymatic

screening, and phylogenetic analysis of thermophilic bacilli isolated from five hot springs of

Myagdi, Nepal 2018. Journal of Applied Biology & Biotechnology Vol 6 (3), 1-8

14. Birendra Prasad Gupta, Mahesh Lamsal, Sudhikshya Chaulagain, Ramanuj Rauniyar, Rajani

Malla, Smita Shrestha, Roshan Kurmi,Krishna Das Manandhar. Emergence of dengue in Nepal.

VirusDis. 2018.https://doi.org/10.1007/s13337-018-0439-3

15. Punam Yadav, Suresh Korpole, Gandham S Prasad, Girish Sahni, Jyoti Maharjan, Lakshmaiah

Sreerama, Tribikram Bhattarai (2018) Morphological, enzymatic screening, and phylogenetic

analysis of thermophilic bacilli isolated from five hot springs of Myagdi, Nepal. Journal of

Applied Biology & Biotechnology Vol. 6(3), pp. 1-8, May-Jun, 2018

16. Birendra Prasad Gupta, Mahesh Lamsal, Sudhikshya Chaulagain, Ramanuj Rauniyar, Rajani

Malla, Smita Shrestha, Roshan Kurmi,Krishna Das Manandhar. Emergence of dengue in Nepal.

VirusDis. 2018.https://doi.org/10.1007/s13337-018-0439-3

17. MiteshShrestha ,HemantaKumari Chaudhary, Pradip Kumar Chaudhary,Bal Hari Poudel*

Sequence Analysis of Rifampicin Resistance Determining Region (RRDR) of Mycobacterium

tuberculosis journal of tropical lifesciencesVOL. 8, NO. 1, pp. 87 – 90, 2018

2017

18. Shravan Kumar Mishra, Sundar Khadka, Subhash Dhital, Raj Kumar Mahto and Krishna Das

Manandhar*.Biomarkers in Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome (IRIS) among

People Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

(HIV/AIDS). J AIDS Clin Res 2017, 8:9 DOI: 10.4172/2155-6113.1000728

19. Ananta Shrestha, Anurag Adhikari, Manjula Bhattarai, Ramanuj Rauniyar, Jose D. Debes,

André Boonstra, Thupten K. Lama, Mamun Al Mahtab, Amna Subhan Butt, Sheikh

Mohammad Fazle Akbar, Nirmal Aryal, Sapana Karn, Krishna Das Manandhar and Birendra

Prasad Gupta. Prevalence and risk of hepatitis E virus infection in the HIV population of Nepal.

Virology Journal.2017. 14:228 DOI 10.1186/s12985-017-0899-x

20. Krishna K. Shrestha, Yadu N. Paudel, Krishna D. Manandhar, Gyandra P. Ghimire2 Sangho

Choi and Sabina Shrestha. Bio-prospecting of plant resources for validation of indigenous

knowledge and the search for novel herbal drugs in Nepal. Madhav Karki, Rosemary Hill,

Dayuan Xue, William Alangui, Kaoru Ichikawa and Peter Bridgewater (eds.). 2017. Knowing

30

our Lands and Resources: Indigenous and Local Knowledge and Practices related to

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Asia.Knowledges of Nature 10. UNESCO: Paris. pp.

200. France. 157-168

21. Neupane, Surendra , Sijapati, Jaishree , Bhattarai, Tribikram Shrestha, Sangita (2017)

Genetic diversity in Nepalese population of Swertia chirayita (Roxb. Ex Fleming) H. Karst

based on intersimple sequence repeats (ISSR) markers. Afr. J. Biotechnol. 16(16), 895-907

22. Baidya Nath Jha, Mitesh Shrestha, Durga Prasad Pandey, Tribikram Bhattarai, Hari Datta

Bhattarai and Babita Paudel (2017) Investigation of antioxidant, antimicrobial and toxicity

activities of lichens from high altitude regions of Nepal. BMC Complementary and Alternative

Medicine 17:282-289

23. Punam Yadav, Bhagwat Rimal, Jyoti Maharjan, Sujan Shrestha, Lakshmaiah Sreerama,

Tribikram Bhattarai (2017) “Physico-Chemical Analysis of Hot Springs of Myagdi District,

Nepal for the Balneotherapy and Drinking Purposes”. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF

ADVANCED BIOTECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH 8: 699-709’

24. HemantaKumari Chaudhary1 , Mitesh Shrestha , Prakash Chaudhary , Bal Hari Poudel

Amplification Refractory Mutation System – Polymerase Chain Reaction for Rapid Detection

of rpoB Gene Mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis International Journal of Applied

Science & Biotechnology 2017; Vol 5(1): 81-85

25. Evaluation of Flavonoid Content, Antibacterial,Antioxidant and Anticancerous Properties of

Six Medicinal Plants of Nepal. Deepak Raj Pant, SilaMahatara, UshaAdhikari ,smitashrestha

Journal of academic research,2017

2016

26. Prabin Shrestha, Bishnu Joshi, Jarina Joshi, RajaniMalla, Lakshmaiah Sreerama. Isolation

and Physicochemical Characterization of Laccase from Ganoderma lucidum-CDBT1 Isolated

from Its Native Habitat in Nepal. BioMed Research International Volume 2016 (2016), Article

ID 3238909, 10 pages

27. Panday R, Bhatt P S, Bhattarai T, Shakya K and Sreerama L. Aldehyde dehydrogenase

expression in Metaphire posthuma as a bio-indicator to monitor heavy metal pollution in

soil. BMC Res Notes. 9:491.

28. Bibek Bhatta, RoshinaThapa, Sanjay Shahi, YogeshBhatta, Dipendra Raj Pandeya, BalHariPoudel. A Pilot Study on Screening of BRCA1 Mutations (185delAG, 1294del40) in Nepalese Breast Cancer Patients. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 2016. Vol 17,

29. Birendra Prasad Gupta, Thupten K Lama, AnuragAdhikari, Anant Shrestha,

RamanujRauniyar, BinaySapkota, Sandeep Thapa, Pawan Prasad Gupta, Krishna Das

Manandhar ; First report of HEV viremia in healthy blood donors from Nepal;Virus

Disease. 2016. doi:10.1007/s13337-016-0331-y.

30. Upadhya BP, Malla R, Manandhar KD, Gupta BP, Adhikari A, Rauniyar R, Tamarkar

CS, Jha BK, Kurmi R. Zika and Its Preparedness in Nepalese Scenario. SM Virol. 2016;

1(2): 1008

31

31. Katawal I., Kharel G.P., Poudel BH.Antioxidant Activity and Cytotoxicity of Nepalese Nak Cheese Journal: Biological and Chemical Research,2016. Volume 3, 234-245

32. Moonens, K.; Gideonsson, P.; Subedi, S.; Bugaytsova, J.; Romao, E.; Mendez, M.; Norden, J.;

Fallah, M.; Rakhimova, O.; Shevtsova, A.; Lahman, M.; Castaldo, G.; Brannstrom, K.;

Coppens, F.; Lo, A. W.; Ny, T.; Solnick, J.; Vandenbussche, G.; Oscarson, S.; Hammarstrom,

L.; Arnqvist, A.; Berg, D. E.; Muyldermans, S.; Boren, T.; Remaut, H. (2016). Structural

Insight in Adaptive and Redox-sensitive ABO Glycan Binding by Helicobacter pylori. Cell

Host & Microbe 2016 January 13; 19(1): 55-66.

2015

33. Gupta BP, Adhikari A, Rauniyar R, Kurmi R, Upadhya BP, Jha BK, Pandey B,

DasManandhar K; Dengue virus infection in a French traveller to the hilly region of

Nepal in 2015: a case report;BMC J Med Case Rep. DOI 10.1186/s13256-016-0847-1.

34. AnuragAdhikari, Birendra Prasad Gupta, Krishna Das Manandhar, Shravan Kumar

Mishra, Hari Krishna Saiju, RajendraMaan Shrestha, Nawneet Mishra and Shishir

Sharma; Negative feedback circuit for toll like receptor-8 activation in human

embryonic Kidney 293 using outer membrane vesicle delivered bi-specific siRNA;

BMC Immunology.2015. 16:42 DOI 10.1186/s12865-015-0109-9.

35. Singh S, Gupta BP, Manakkadan A, Manandhar KD, Sreekumar E;. Phylogenetic

study reveals co-circulation of Asian II and Cosmopolitan genotypes of Dengue virus

serotype 2 in Nepal during 2013; Infect Genet Evol. 2015. 34: 402–409

36. Adhikari A, Rauniyar R, Raut PP, Manandhar KD, Gupta BP, 2015.Evaluation of

sensitivity and specificity of ELISA against Widal test for typhoid diagnosis in endemic

population of Kathmandu. BMC Infectious Disease; 2015, 15:523.

37. Birendra P Gupta, Sneha Singh, RoshanKurmi, Rajani Malla, EaswaranSreekumar,

Krishna Das Manandhar. Re-emergence of dengue virus serotype 2 strains in a 2013

epidemic in Nepal. Ind J Med Res; 2015,142 (Supplement), pp 1-6. DOI:10.4103/0971-

5916.176564

38. Satya Prakash, Avishek Mishra, Tilak Ram Shrestha, NagendraAwasthi, Isha

Pradhan, Anushuman Mishra and Krishna Das ManandharInternational. Evolutionary

prospective of Indian Subcontinent Population. Techno Consultancy Services Journals.

2015, 4(1):124-129.

39. Bhim Prakash Khatri; Tribikram Bhattarai; Sangita Shrestha and Jyoti Maharjan.

Alkaline thermostable pectinase enzyme from Aspergillusniger strain MCAS2 isolated

from Manaslu Conservation Area, Gorkha, Nepal. Springer Plus.2015. 4:488.

40. BimalaDhakal and Jarina Joshi. Neutral Red Immoblized Graphite Felt Anodic Microbial Fuel Cell for Wastewater Treatment and Generation of Electricity. J. Bioprocess Bioprocessing Biotech, 2015.5(11):261 (http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2155-9821.1000261).

32

2014

41. Manandhar Krishna Das, Yadav Thakur Prasad, Prajapati Vijay Kumar, Basukala

Om, Aganja Ram Prasad. Nanonization increases theantileishmanial efficacy of

amphotericin B: an ex vivo approach. Advances in experimental medicine and biology.

2014; 808 doi:10.1007/978-81-322-1774-9_7

42. Gupta BP*, Adhikari A, Chaudhary BK, Manandhar KD, Yadav SB, Shrestha N,

Chaudhary P, Rauniyar R, Patel BD. 2014. Hepatitis E outbreak in Nepal during 2014.

Journal of Advance in Biology. 5: 610-613

43. Bishnu Joshi, Basant Pant, Pravesh Rajbhandari, Ram Prasad Aganja, Rajani Malla,

Krishna Das Manandhar and Lakshmaiah Sreerama. The Epidemiology and Health

Burden of Neurocysticercosis in Nepal. International Journal of Tropical Diseases &

Health,2014.4(2): 204-223.

44. Gupta BP*, Mishra SK, Manandhar KD, Malla R, Tamarakar,CS, Bajarcharya A,

RauniyarR, Raut PP, Sah SK and Pokhrel S. Comparison of CPE NT and PRNT assays

for estimating Neutralizing antibody titres against Japanese Encephalitis Virus,

Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci.2014.3(1): 407-413

45. Jarina Joshi, Rejeena Shrestha, RojlinaManandhar, Krishna Manandhar, LakshmaiyaSreerama, TribikramBhattarai.. Improvement of ethanol production by electrochemical redox combination of yeast cells. International Journal of Biological Sciences and Applications, American Association of Science and Technology. 2014.1(3), PP 44-51. (http://www.aascit.org/journal/ijbsa).

46. Baplu Rai, Ashish Shrestha, Shishir Sharma and Jarina Joshi. Screening, Optimization and Process Scale up for Pilot Scale Production of Lipase by Aspergillusniger. Biomedicine and Biotechnology. 2(3): 54-59 (pubs.sciepub.com/bb/2/3/3 © Science and Education Publishing DOI:10.12691/bb-2-3-3)

47. Ritambhara Aryal, Anil K. Sah, Deepak S. Paudel, Bishnu Joshi, Sunil P. Lekhak, ReemaRajbhandari, BalHariPoudel, Bijaya Pant, Ganesh Prasad Neupane, Basant Pant. Polymerase chain reaction using the mpb64 fragment for detection of mycobacterium tuberculosis complex DNA in suspected TB cases. International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health. 2014. Vol 3. Issue 11.

48. RanjanKoirala, Giovanni Ricci, Valentina Taverniti, Chiara Ferrario,RajaniMalla,

Sangita Shrestha, Maria GraziaFortina, Simone Guglielmetti.Isolation and molecular

characterization of lactobacilli from traditional fermented Dahi produced at different

altitudes in Nepal. Dairy Sci. & Technol. Vol. 94:397–408 DOI 10.1007/s13594-014-

0167-4, 2014

2013

49. Chhipi Shrestha, J. K.,.Bhattarai, T., Sijapati, J., Rana, N., Maharjan1, J., Rawal D. S.,

Raskoti B. B., Shrestha S. Assessment of Genetic Diversity in Nepalese Populations

of Swertiachirayita (Roxb. Ex Fleming) H. Karst Using RAPD-PCR

Technique. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 2013. 4: 1617-1628.

33

2012

50. Geroge P., Timothy D. Smith, Heather Howard, Fahd Al-Mulla, LotfiChouchane,

AndreaseHadjisavvas, Tilak Ram Shrestha et al. Human Variome Project Country

Nodes: Documenting Genetic Information within a Country. Human Mutation. 2012.

33(11):1513-1519.

51. Buddha Bahadur Basnet1, Til Bahadur Basnet, Bishnu Joshi, Rajan Kumar Dahal,

Rajani Malla. Multidrug resistance Acenetobacterbaumannii: A systematic review for

microbial and clinical study. International journal for applied biology and

pharmaceutical technology. 4 (2),166-184, 2012.

2011

52. Bishnu Joshi, Govind Prasad Shah, Buddha Bahadur Basnet, Meg Raj Bhatt, Dinita

Sharma, Krishna Subedi, Janardhan Pandey and Rajani Malla. Phytochemical

extraction and antimicrobial properties of different medicinal plants: Ocimum sanctum

(Tulsi),Eugeniacaryophyllata (clove), Achyranthesbidentata (Datiwan) and

Azadirachtaindica (Neem). Journal of microbiology and antimicrobials. Vol. 3 (1):1-7,

2011

53. Bishnu Joshi, Megh Raj Bhatt, Dinita Sharma, Jarina Joshi, Rajani Malla and LakshmaiahSreerama. Lignocellulosic ethanol production: Current practices and recent developments. Biotechnology and Molecular Biology Review, 2011, Vol 6(8), 172-182.Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/BMBR

2010

54. R. Maurya , R. Kumar , V. K. Prajapati , K. D. Manandhar , D. Sacks , S. Sundar& S.

Nylén. 2010. Human visceral leishmaniasis is not associated with expansion or

accumulation of Foxp3+CD4 cells in blood or spleen. Parasite Immunology.

2010.32(7): 479 – 483.

2009

55. Pant, D.R., Bhattarai T., Beck, E and Fettig, S. Genetic transformation of Nepalese

wheat (Triticumaestivum,L) cultivars with ipt gene under the regulation of a senescence

induced promoter from maize. Pak. J. Biol. Sci. 2009. 12(2):101-109

Biotechnology Products in Country Development

Students engaged in different fields (nationally/internationally)

Fields Numbers of students

Ph. D. USA 22

Ph.D. other countries/ Nepal 16

Civil services/ Government

institute

9

Research Lab 28

34

Teaching 10

Miscellaneous (thesis

remaining + dormant)

36

Besides, several students have owned their one biotech-business and benefitting themselves

and providing job opportunities for others.

1. Arya Diagnostics (Bagbazar, Kathmandu): molecular disease diagnosis (Raju Lama)

2. Dirghayu Biotech (Godawari, Lalitpur): use of molecular tools in new innovations

(Mitesh Shrestha, Rajendra Napit, Roshan Nepal, Sujindra Subedi).

3. Praramva Biotech (Sitapaila, Kathmandu): biofertilizer and biopesticide production

(Baidyanath Jha)

4. Ficus Biotech (Dhulikhel, Kavre): tissue culture propagation and distribution of

Paulownia, Bamboo plants (Santosh Dahal)

5. Rara Biotech: Diagnostic kit development.

6. Sumeena Karki, Bimala Dhakal, Gauri Thapa

Conferences/Workshops/Schools (2017 – 2020)

International

1. "International Workshop on Advancing Biological and Clinical Research with

Flow cytometry-2019" on March 2-6, 2019.

2. Himalayan Cysticercosis International Conference (HCC) 2018 [Co-

organizer]. December 7-8, 2018

3. International Workshop on Application of Flow Cytometry in Biotechnology-

2017, on September 14-17, 2017

4. 3rd

international conference “South Asian Biotechnology Conference -2017”-

March 16-18, 2017)

National

1. IInd

CDBT-TU Winter School-2020 on Experimental Biotechnology: A

Teachers’ Training (Hands on training) on January 27-31, 2020

2. First ELOQUENCE and Academia-Industry Interaction program 2019.

3. CDBT-TU Winter School-2018 on Applied Molecular Biology (Hands on

training) on January 7-10, 2018

4. First Biotech - TU Summer School - 2017 on Applied Molecular Biology, on

April 06-09, 2017

5. Workshop on Bio-prospecting of Nepalese medicinal plants and Drug

Development, 2017

35

36

Foreign delegates: Flow cytometry workshop - 2018

Participants after "International Workshop on Advancing Biological and Clinical

Research with Flow cytometry-2019" on March 2-6, 2019.

Workshop and Seminar

37

Three-Day Workshop on "Screening of Natural Products (microbes and plants)

and their anti-infective activities" and Interdisciplinary Seminar on "Natural

Products and Drug Discovery"

Four-Day Workshop on “Molecular Biology on Hand Training“ -2017

38

Winter School -2018

Eloquence -2018

39

Winter School – 2020 [Experimental Biotechnology: A Teachers’ Training ]

A Day Seminar on Viral Diseases

Scientific and Academic Visitors, faculties and scientists

40

Scientific and Academic Visitors, faculties and scientists

41

Scientific delegates in international conference organized by Department

42

Talk with Prof. Poul, NIH 2019

Group Photo after talk with VC from Sikkim University, India- 2019

43

List of some Visitors (Scientists/Researchers)

1. Prof. Paul K. Wallace Roswell Park Cancer Institute, USA

2. Dr. William Telford Aational Cancer Institute, NIH, USA

3. Dr. Sujan Shrestha La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, USA

4. Dr. Annie Elong Ngono La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, USA

5. Dr. Melanie M'cCauley University of California San Diego, USA

6. Prof. K.R.S Sambasiva Rao Mizoram University, Mizoram, India

7. Mr. Matthew Ellenbogen La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, USA

8. Ms. Jenna Hambrick La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, USA

9. Dr. Rekha Gaur Tata Memorial Center, India

10. Dr. Hemant Agrawal Flow Cytometry Solution, India

11. Dr. David Hedley University of Toronto, Canada

12. Ms. Sue Chaw University of Toronto, Canada

13. Prof. Brook Milligan New Mexico State University, USA

14. Prof. Christian Koch Friedrich Alexander Universitat, Germany

15. Prof. Alok Srivastav Mumbai, India

16. Prof. Mamoru Yamada Yamaguchi University, Japan

17. Dr. Yogan Khatri University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

18. Dr. Prabhat S. Kunwar Biogen Inc., USA.

19. Prof. Jing Che Kunming Institute of Zoology, CAS, China

20. Prof. Dr. Christian Koch Friedrich-Alexander Universitat Erlangen-Nurnberg, Germany

21. Prof. Dr. Jyoti Prakash Tamang Sikkim University, Gangtok, Sikkim, India (Acting VC)

22. Prof. Leah Gheber Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel

23. Prof. Livio Tvainotti University of Padova, Padova, Italy

24. Dr.BishesPoudel/Dr.Sampurna Civil Hospital, Baneshwor

National and International Collaborations

This department has established Collaboration with different institutes and regularly

collaborating research work with the institutes.

Table 11: List of MOU with different National and International Institutes:

S.N Title Start Date End Date Remarks

1 Alpha Agro. Pvt. Ltd. January 12, 2020 Unlimited

2 Medi Quest Laboratory Clinic P. January 12, 2020 Unlimited

44

Ltd. (Magh 6, 2076)

3 Natural History Museum,

Tribhuvan University,

Swayambhu, Kathmandu

June 1st , 2019

(Jestha 18, 2076)

June 1st, 2022

4 State Key Laboratory of Genetic

Resources and Evolution,

Kunming Institute of Zoology,

Chinese Academy of Sciences,

Kunming, China

13th

August,

2019

13th

August,

2023 (4 years)

5 Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious

Disease Hospital, Teku

18 December,

2018

2022

6 National Public Health

Laboratory (NPHL), Department

of Health Services (DoHS), Teku,

Kathmandu, Nepal.

29th

Dec 2014

Unlimited

7 Muscular Dystrophy Foundation,

Nepal.

17 August

2012

Unlimited

8 Department of Food Technology

and Quality Control (DFTQC),

Babarmahal, Kathmandu, Nepal.

07/05/2066 10 Years after

the date of

signature

Ended

9 Rastria Suntalajat Bali Bikash

Karyakram, Kirtipur, Krishi

Bibhag.

25/11/2067

One year Ended

10 St. Cloud State University, MN,

USA.

April 4, 2011 Unlimited

11 Rajiv Gandhi Centre for

Biotechnology (RGCB),

Thiruvananthapuram, India.

15 Jan 2014 3 years Ended

12 La Jolla Institute for Allergy and

Immunology, San Diego, and

KARIUS Inc. San Fransisco,

California, USA.

Unlimited

13 Centre for Health and Disease

Studies- Nepal (CHDS-Nepal),

Kathmandu, Nepal.

Unlimited

14 Karius, Inc. 1505A Adams Court,

Menlo Park, CA 94025.

Unlimited

15 The Western Australian

Neuroscience Research Institute.

28th

October

2016

4 Years

16 Hester Biosciences Nepal Private

Limited, Nala Sera, Ugrachandi

VDC-7, Kavre, Nepal.

15/10/2015 3 Years from

the date of sign

Ended

17 Mega Agrotech Pvt. Ltd. 06/03/2067 10 Years

18 Apeejay Stya University

Sohna -Gurgaon, NCR India

31st March 2015 3 Years Ended

19 National Ayurveda Research and

Training Center(NARTC),

Government of Nepal, Kirtipur

July, 2018 Unlimited

20 Institute de Rechurche pour le

Development (IRD)- France

45

21 University of Zurich

Faculty and students in International universities/research centers

Institute where Faculties doing Ph. D. and M.Sc. students participated in Conference and

short scientific visits from department presented papers and got best awards

Recognitions

Science Awards

46

a. Nepal Academy of Science and Technology Award [Nabil Science and Technology

Award] in 2017 and 2018 to Prof. Krishna Das Manandhar and Prof. Rajani Malla

b. Best poster award from ICGEB-Italy to a student in 2018

c. Seventh batch student Ms. Srijan Shrestha supervised by Prof. Krishna Das

Manandhar was awarded in the international workshop organized by ICGEB,

Trieste-Italy got the Best Poster Award on the research work presented in the topic

“Immuno-molecular study of cutaneous leishmaniasis: an alarming and emerging

disease of Nepal”

d. Dayananda Bajracharya Best Thesis award of NAST - 2019

Sixth batch student Mr. Mahesh Lamshal supervised by Prof. Krishna Das

Manandhar got the award of the Best Master Thesis titled on “Development and

Evaluation of an in-House IgG-Capture ELISA for the Detection of Dengue virus “

nominated by Nepal Academy of Science and Technology.

Industry.

Recognition of research product by Industry - 2019

• Alpha Agro Pvt. Ltd., Birganj has recognized our thesis research supervised by Dr.

Pramod Aryal and 4 of our graduates who worked on “Biofertilizers” are instantly

recruited as researcher in the company.

• The Biopesticide produced by the graduates became successful to control ARMY

WORM which has been a chronic issue for the farmers due to devastating damage of

crops

.

47

Nepal Academy of Science awards to Prof. Krishna Manandhar, Prof. Rajani Malla

and Student Roshan Nepal

Students receiving toper (Mr. Rajindra Napit) and best thesis (Ms. Sthapit) awards.

IT supports

48

The Department has 25 desktop computers and 12 laptops installed in different teaching-

learning rooms and provided to the faculties. The facilities have been found beneficial to the

Department and faculties.

Table 10: Laptop and computers available in department

S. N Number of Computer Remarks

1. Bioinformatics Lab 12

2. Faculty 10 Laptop

3. Computer /library 1

4. Store 1

5. Account 1

6. HOD Office 1 + 1 all in one PC + 1 laptop

7. Instruments 6 + 1 laptop

8. Lab Assistant 1

9. Class room 1

Faculties with laptop handed over by department

The administrative and library function has been regulated by the Education Management

Information System (EMIS) developed as per need of the Department. The system is

functional and has been easy to get required information instantly.

49

EMIS developed for the analysis of administrative data of the Department

Student support

Library

50

The Library of the Central Department of Biotechnology has approximately a collection of

614 volumes best reference books on biotechnology. In addition, Department has regular

provision of deposition of masters’, Ph. D. students thesis and research projects. The

students and faculty have access to use Tribhuvan University central library. Central

Department has access for different national and international online journals.

Journals/Periodicals subscribed by the library Journals available in Central Department of

Biotechnology library

Fig 18: Library in the department

National

RevoScience (Half yearly Journal)

Nepal Chemical Society (Annual Journal)

National Academy of Science and Technology Journal (Annual Journal)

International Journals and Journals in the process of ordering

Current trends in Biotechnology and Pharmacy (INDIA)

Applied Microbiol. Biotechnology

Indian Journal of Biotechnology

Trends Biotechnology

Nucleic acid research

Yeast

Scientific journal of Biotechnology

E- Journal access in Central Library, Tribhuvan University

1. American Institute of Physics journals

2. Annual Reviews

3. OUP - Oxford Journals

4. Project MUSE journals

5. Nepal Journals Online (NepJOL) www.nepjol.info

List of Online Journals (NepJOL)

3 Agronomy Journal of Nepal

5 Asia Pacific Journal of Environment Ecology and Sustainable Development

51

31 International Journal of Applied Science and Biotechnology

32 international Journal of Environment

43 Journal of Biomedical Science

49 Journal of Food Science and Technology Nepal

54 Journal of institute of Science and Technolgy

62 Journal of Nepal Agriculture Research Council

63 Journal of Nepal Chemical Science

67 Journal of Nepal Pharmaceutical Association

79 Journal of The institute of Agriculture and animal Science

83 Journal of Universal College of Medical Science

85 Kathmandu University Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology

86 Kathmandu University Medical Journal

89 Nepal Agriculture Research Journal

90 Nepal Journal of Biotechnology

94 Nepal Journal of Medical Science

97 Nepal Journal of Science and Technology

100 Nepalese Hart Journal

101 Nepalese Journal of Biosciences

111 Our Nature

114 SAARC Journals of Tuberculosis, Lung Diseases and HIV/AIDs

122 Tribhuvan University Journals

125 Water Nepal

Other Facilities

Besides this department has facilities of shearing Tribhuvan University properties. Students,

staffs and faculties are getting the facilities every year.

Tribhuvan University Central Library is located about 100 meter away from existing

department. Plenty of books related to biotechnology are available there. List of

books related to biotechnology available in Central library are listed in

appendix.Besides online journal facility is also available in Central library.

A sheared playing ground is available in front of department where students and

faculties can play outdoor games. Besides, Tribhuvan University has plenty of free

spaces which can be utilized freely, as this department is constituent to Tribhuvan

University]

Central Hostel of Tribhuvan University is located about 500 meter away from

existing Department. However, very few students of biotechnology are staying in the

hostel

Central TU press and Guest house is present in the TU campus premises.

There is a central health facility in the kirtipur campus where students and staffs can

go for health check up.

52

53

Different facilities available to the department by Tribhuvan University

Extra Curricular Activities

54

55

Components of University

Departmental organizational set up.

56

Curriculum Development and instruction

Central Department of Biotechnology was established in 2007 AD under Institute of Science

and Technology, Tribhuvan University, Nepal. Tribhuvan University is the premier

university in Nepal, which provides courses in diverse disciplines at various levels of

modern biology. Considering the potentialities of modern biotechnology, TU established

Central Department of Biotechnology hoping for a leading role in fulfilling the national

demand on the manpower and also to start innovative researches in various fields of

biotechnology. The curriculum of Master level in biotechnology has been formulated

considering the need of the current nation’s requirement as well as to meet the international

standard in the subject. It is a technological professional manpower preparation program as

of other Institute of engineering, Institute of agriculture & animal Science, Institute of

Medicine and Institute of Forestry programs of Tribhuvan University.

Department is in the process of curriculum revision. It has send letters to the experts for 2nd

phase suggestion. Recently a close meeting was held along with experts to get comments on

curriculum. Two workshops held at three years interval time (2010/11 and 2014/15) and

those meetings amended the curriculum and forwarded to Academic Council, TU for

approval. As this department was new, there were plenty of flaws in the first time when the

department was formed, those pitfalls were corrected. Now and then faculty meeting are

conducted along with the national and international experts of Biotechnology in Nepal to

evaluate suitability of the curriculum so that true matching of academic goals and objectives

with teaching is judged.

Curriculum are showing positive effects for students learning. Those positive effects are

being noticed specially in students final examination, proposal defense, final thesis defense

and paper presentation outside the University. For strengthening of students’ confidence, 2

non-credit courses and several elective courses are introduced in the curriculum and students

are given freedom to choose elective courses offered by department. No inferior report on

students’ performance is received from any of the scientists or expert under whom the

students worked. Department has sufficient evidence of the possession of international

qualities of the students both in theory and practical field. All students have ability to run use

bioinformatics lab with access of computer and internet facility.

This department encounters some dilemma now and then with regard to the curriculum

development: whether it should focus its curriculum for training students for the advanced

studies in abroad or it should train the students to make able to address national issues. If it

57

focuses to the latter, the problem is that there is less employment opportunities in the field of

biotechnology in Nepal. Hence this scenario urges for immediate increment of employment

opportunities in the field of biotechnology of Nepal so that graduates of this department

would be fully utilized within the country.

Specific priorities area

1. Tropical Infectious and vector born Diseases diagnosis

2. Viral Disease molecular characterization and development of diagnostic kits/vaccine

candidate molecules

3. Immune responses of Nepalese population against infections

4. Bacteriophage as control of MDR bacterial infection

5. Biofertilizers and Biopesticides

6. Bioactive compound production from microorganisms like Streptomyces

7. Bioprospecting of the medicinal plants

8. In vitro fertilization in animal models to large animals

9. Bio-fuel engineering

10. Plant and Fungal culture

Hugely expecting Major instruments in 2020

With support from QAA

Higher Education Reform Project called application from QAA certified academic

institution for Resource Management fund. The applicant sought one part of investment from

its own resources for which two part of the budget will be supported by UGC-Nepal. Central

Department of Biotechnology with its available fund resources (10 million) planned to

propose 3o0 million procurement plan in which it plans for hugely required Next Generation

Sequencer (NGS) with bioanalyzer, HPLC, Ultra centrifuge, compound microscope, biosfety

cabinet etc as mentioned in the table below. Besides it has applied for laboratory

strengthening grant support of equivalent amount 5 million Nepali currency and scheduled to

purchase Ultra Centrifuge machine. Department envisages a well equipped advance

laboratory after the completion of the grant utilization.

58

Procurement Plan under Higher Education Reform Project -2020

59

Ultra centrifuge HPLC

Next Generation Sequencing

Hugely expecting Major instruments in 2020

Advancing the Laboratory with highly sophisticated equipments with support from QAA

60

Dream Biotechnology Complex

On going construction Building Site

On going construction Building Plan

61

Current construction Building Plan

Building Sketch

62

Strengths Learnings Opportunities and Challenges (SLOC) analysis

STRENGTH

1. High demand of the course (Applicant 4/5 times higher than capacity, Skill oriented

course, Coverage of diversity of knowledge)

2. Well established laboratory (Few advance equipments and all functional, All M.Sc.

based research works doable)

3. Twenty four hour working environment (Solar backup, water supply)

4. National and International research grant are on going

5. Many international scientists, researchers, faculties visit frequently

6. Vibrant faculties (Every Faculty has grants).

7. Capability to conduct national and international seminars/conferences/workshops/

training programs.

8. Research conductive environment.

9. Viable academia to industry approach

10. New building with enough space to expand

LEARNINGS

1. Very applied science in the context of Nepal.

2. Huge expenses in running the research and course.

3. Long run research grants are required to keep laboratory sustained.

4. Qualified and dedicated faculties and staffs are required.

5. Regular visits of scientists/researcher are sought.

6. National and international networking is must.

7. Honesty and sincerity in the students makes possible to run lab day-night.

8. Rooms of scope for biotechnology research in Nepal.

OPPORTUNITIES

1. Agriculture: Masters’ students have to take 3 credit course on Agriculture

biotechnology with 1 credit practical. This makes the student suitable to work in

agriculture sector. The syllabus includes mushroom culture, vermicompost, tissue

culture etc.

63

2. Medical: The syllabus includes 3 credit hour course on Medical biotechnology with

1 credit practical. This makes the student suitable to work in medical sector. The

syllabus includes disease diagnosis, immunology, vaccine production etc.

3. Environmental: After completion of Masters’ degree, students will be able to work

on different environment clinic techniques and use of waste to convert into value

added products.

4. Development: Stdents will be able to think for establishment of own industries.

5. Beautification: Masters’ students will be able to work on plant tissue culture so that

required plant seedling coul be cultured.

CHALLENGES

1. Number of senior faculties are retiring and new competent faculties through regular

and fast track to be recruited

2. Completion of its own building.

3. Initiation of new courses like M.Sc. Virology, Bioinformatics etc

4. Country base research identification and search of funds.

5. International grants to sustain the research activities

6. Sustainability of the Departmental strengths

Financial sustainability

The Department draws on various sources of revenues mentioned above, allowing it to

support its ongoing efforts and to undertake new initiatives. The flow chart shows how all of

these streams of sustainability will be exercised in the Department. The strategic plan is the

anchor, in which an organization’s programs, structure and systems, as well as financials are

reviewed and new opportunities are identified.

The new program opportunities are pursued using a distinct resource mobilization strategy.

All of these instruments are designed to showcase Department’s programs, institutional

structure, and financial health.

64

Rules and regulations

Tribhuvan University is an autonomous academic institute which develops the rules and

regulations independently within its vision “Tribhuvan University, as a credible central

university with a higher rank in the global arena, will be recognized for quality education

blended with research, innovation, knowledge creation, and transformative teaching and

learning at an affordable cost ensuring access and diversity through effective and efficient

utilization of its human and physical resources”. The rules and regulations approved by the

Executive Board of the university is being followed exactly by the Department in all

academic, administrative, economic and social works.

However this department has its own autonomous rules to conduct everyday works. All

executive works in the department is conducted under the leadership of Department head.

Overall, the department itself is under Tribhuvan University norms and policies and has its

own organizational structure which runs under Vice chancellor, Registrar, Rector and Dean-

Institute of Science and Technology. The activities in the Department are being carried out

forming a suitable organizational structure/committee as required. The detailed rules and

regulation required while working at the Department level will be formulated by the

Management Committee or Department Meetings which will be implemented only after

approval from the TU authorities.

Recruiting human resources

For recruiting permanent teaching staff and non-teaching staff, procedure adopted by

Service Commission, Tribhuvan University is followed.

Vacancy is announced in national newspaper which is later followed by written test

and interview. Generally, minimum requirement for eligibility of any teaching staff is

master’s degree in biotechnology or related subjects.

For contract post of teaching and non-teaching staff, vacancy is announced in national

newspaper and applicants are interviewed for selection.

For non-teaching staff, vacancies for the required post will be recruited based on

defined qualification according to Tribhuvan University rules.

Department has right to manage some academic programs as per need such as:

Entertaining visiting faculty: Department can hire visiting/part-time faculties but has to

get approval from center office. Under the Fulbright Program, three full time visiting

65

faculties/experts (Prof Dr. Lakshmaiah Sreerama, Prof. Alanka Hozaicand and Dr.

Melanie McCauley) were recruited under the leadership of HOD.

Organizing seminar and conferences: Pertaining to the Departmental academic programs,

it can organize activities without in notification to the TU authorities. Several national

and international seminars/conferences has been organized without prior information to

Tribhuvan University authority.

Running projects: Department can apply and receive research grants, however, it has to

inform to the TU center office. Several faculty grants research projects were completed

and more are running in the Department. For applying a grant, faculty and students can

get approval from Head of Department.

Financial mobilization

Department is run as of Self-Sustained Program. University provides the salary of its

permanent teaching and non-teaching staffs. Remaining all other expenses are to be cover

wither by the students’ fee or by research projects. Besides, university provides

Development Funds which has to spend as per the defined job of Tribhuvan University.

Department need to request optimum budget required for the expenses in different

categories beforehand the fiscal year starts for all expenses it incurs.

There is need of financial audits from TU level and Government Level every year.

a. Governance mechanism

The Department is led by Head of the Department, however, it runs in the direction provided

by the management committee. For the support to run the daily issues of the Department, it

has formed many committees.

Management committee: The committee led by Head of the Department comprises at least 5

members which advices the HOD to manages the daily routine work of the Department. The

team members are represented by the heads of account, administration office and faculties.

Subject committee: There is a full body subject committee comprising maximum 21

members from Department faculties, experts, ex-faculties and faculties from other TU

institutions which is chaired by HOD. The committee has responsibility to look after course

revision, new courses, equivalency issues required for the Department. Among the team,

66

there is provision of Executive Subject Committee led by HOD comprising at least 3

members which take care the frequent issues which really do not need full body consensus.

Research committee: All the research related activities of the Department is managed by this

committee which also has provision of chair by HOD comprising at least 3 members among

the Department faculties. It looks after the activities of M.Sc. projects and thesis, Ph.D.

Thesis, national and international projects, research ethical issues etc.

Entrance/Examination committee: A faculty nominated by the HOD will function as chief of

the committee and conduct any kind of examination especially the entrance exam.

Table 12: Different working committees formed in the department

SN Name of the Committee

1 Management committee

2 Subject committee

3 Research committee

4 Entrance examination committee

5 Internal Quality Assurance Committee (IQAC)

6 EMIS Committee

7 Purchase Committee

8 Nepal Biotechnology Society

67

SUMMARY

List of Achievement/Impact of QAA

1. Science Awards

a. Nepal Academy of Science and Technology Award [Nabil Science and

Technology Award] - 2017 and 2018 [Prof. Krishna Das Manandhar and

Prof. Rajani Malla]

b. Best poster award from ICGEB-Italy to a student - 2018

c. Krishna Chandra Best Thesis award to a student – 2018

d. Dayananda Bajracharya Best Thesis award of NAST – 2019

e. International conference awards (Microbiology conference) - 2020

f. Research Grants

g. ICGEB International Collaborative Research Programme Grant- Italy 2020

h. LJI-KARIUS Grant –USA 2016 – 2020

i. Epstein Barr Virus Pilot project -2019 -2020

j. Every Faculty has research project fund

2. There are three international projects and 7 national project and all the faculties

do have either national or international grants for their research projects.

3. Industry [Recognition of research product by Industry]

a. Biofertilizer

b. Biopesticide

c. Classical swine virus molecular characterization

4. Internationalization

a. Fulbright specialist program

b. Humbolt research scientist

c. Research scholar at NIH

5. Attraction for other streams

a. MBBS-MD to the PhD course

b. Medical Laboratory Technology to M.Sc /PhD.

c. Microbiology/Botany/Zoology/ Vet. Science

6. Procurement Plan for purchasing advanced equipment

a. Next Generation sequencer,

b. Bioanalyzer,

c. HPLC

d. -800C Deepfreezer etc.

7. Model Department for training to university teachers, students, professionals on

biotechnology tools

• Winter schools

• Summer Schools

• Workshops (National and Internationals)

8. Students are regularly involved in indoor and outdoor sports activities.

• Karante

• Footsal

• Cricket

• Vollyball etc.

68

Student Strenth

Summary of students flow in the department

Batch Enrollme

nt Year No. of

M.Sc.

Students

appeared in

Final Exam

Distinction First

Divisi

on

Second

Division Thesis/

Transcript

Pending /

Remarks

1st

Batch 2009 22 7 15 0 0

2nd

Batch 2010 23 13 9 1 0

3rd

Batch 2011 21 9 12 0 0

4th

Batch 2013 22 9 12 1 0

5th

Batch 2014 20 6 11 3 0

6th

Batch 2015 20 5 15 0 0

7th

Batch 2016 21 5 15 1 0

8th

Batch 2017 24 1 3 0 20

9th

Batch 2018 22 Ongoing

10th

Batch 2019 24 Ongoing

11th

Batch 2020 24 Under joining

0

5

10

15

20

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th

No

. of

stu

de

nts

Batch of Students

Students Profile of different batches of students enrolled

Male

Female

Left after admission

Janajati Male

Janajati female

69

List of thesis title provided to students currently in the year 2020

S N Thesis Title

1 Competitiveness of different serotypes of dengue viruses and genotypes of JEV in vitro

(c6/36, BHK, Vero) and in vivo (mosquito, baby chicks).

2 Study of T cell subset population as host Immune Response in Leishmania infection

3 Development and optimization of low-cost LAMP-based assay for the detection of

dengue virus

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th

Nu

mb

er

of

stu

de

nts

Batch of Students

Placewise distribution of students

From kathmandu valley Out of Kathmandu valley

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

Nu

mb

er

of

stu

de

nts

Batches of students

Result distribution of different batches of students

Distinction First Division Second division

70

4 Identification of pathogen specific bacteriophage from sewage sample and utilization of

phage to develop highly specific diagnostic tool using same phage for rapid diagnosis.

5 Purification of antimicrobials produced by Streptomyces coelicolor by co-feeding

different precursor: CysG riboswitch modulation as mechanism.

6 Riboswitch mediated inhibition: A novel approach towards antimicrobials production.

7 Treatment of kitchen waste by using microbial fuel cell.

8 Generation of ethanol using cheaper electrodes in electrochemical cell.

9 Use of pectinase and amylase producing strains for degradation of potato peels in

electrochemical cell.

10 Optimisation of copy number detection and ELISA of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen

Negative patients.

11 Genotype detection and cell viability testing by MTT assay

12 Detection of H25L mutation in Hepatitis B patients by PCR

13 Application of Lytic bacteriophage against MDR bacteria causing urinary tract

infections

14 Enhanced proton and electron generation through water splitting to augment CO2

reduction in dark through engineered RuBisCo enzyme.

15 Identifying the pathways for anti-cancer properties of natural plant extracts rich in

flavonoid compounds

16

Cloning of CobA protein of Salmonella typhimurium and purification of protein for

enzymatic activity inhibition in elucidating probable inhibitory effect of antimicrobial(s)

developed in Central Department of Biotechnology by S. coelicolar.

17 Cloning of Dam protein of Salmonella typhimurium and purification of protein for

enzymatic activity inhibition in search of SAM analogue as antimicrobial agent.

18

Molecular charaterization of plant pathogen and control (plant tissue culture model and

field trial). Focus on Coffee Leaf Rust, Fall Army Worm and Dadhuwa disease of L.

cardamom.

19 Use of nano-biotechnology for atmospheric CO2 reduction in dark and electro

biocemical synthesis of ethanol and polymers.

71

20 Micro-nano cellulose biosynthesis through genetic cloning from reduced CO2 as above.

21 Effect of bioactive phytocompounds in primary fibroblast cell

22 Collection of Cordyceps spp. from high hills of Kathmandu Valley and investigation on

their in vitro culturability

23 Molecular Detection of chikungunya virus in Nepal.

24 Evaluation of plant derived antidiabetic product by in vivo method.

25 DNA barcoding of High value Medicinal plants or Exploration of beneficial

microorganisms for industrial application

26 Molecular characterization of Hepetofauna in Ilam, Kathamndu valley and Panchase hill

area (Kosi Parbat and Syngja)

27 Effect of diluents and freezing techniques on post-thawed buck semen quality

Team Togetherness for the Department