SASTRA launches laser bio-printer ‘SHRISTI’

A prototype of indigenously-designed laser bio-printer developed by SASTRA Deemed University was unveiled on Monday by V. K. Saraswat, Member NITI Aayog.

The product was designed by the Tissue Engineering & Additive Manufacturing (TEAM) lab in the campus with capabilities to make tissue and organ printing cost-effective and quick, according to the innovators.

The project taken up after 2008 when late President APJ Abdul Kalam seeded the idea during his visit to SASTRA was supported by the Mission on Nano Science and Technology (Nano Mission), Department of Science and Technology. The bio-printer will reach the market through industry partner and leading technology manufacturer AIMIL, S. Swaminathan, Director of Centre for Nanotechnology and project head of TEAM, said.

SRISHTI aligns well with the 'Make in India Mission' of the Union Government with the aim of delivering next generation solutions for healthcare focussed on tissue and organ regeneration and replacement, Dr. Swaminathan said, dedicating the product to the late President APJ Abdul Kalam.

Launching SHRISTI, Dr. Saraswat encouraged researchers to work with a 'science for society' temper and substitute borrowed knowledge with indigenous knowledge. Directed basic research leading to societal benefits and nation's progress was true value addition, he said, stressing on the need to move from individualistic to nation building research.

Dr. Saraswat informed that India was on the verge of developing an indigenous advanced super-critical material thermal power plant at Rs. 400 crore.

"This will not only improve efficiency of thermal plants but also result in substantial savings to the national exchequer, as expenditure of over Rs. 1000 crore otherwise required for borrowing or licensing technology will be obviated,” he said, adding: "India has problems like poverty, malnourishment, infant mortality, and water and energy security issues; researchers need to work on indigenous value-added research and development instead of additive or repetitive research.”

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