Service through Science is the motto of VINSTROM, a research unit of the Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith, Chennai. This Institute is engaged in the study of microfungi occurring in less-studied habits and environment of the country. Currently, its research focus is on the diversity and biotechnological potential of these fungi. In addition, VINSTROM trains students in basic mycological techniques including isolation, identification and preservation of fungi.
VINSTROM specializes in the study of endophytic fungi which are constant associates of plants and form an essential constituent of their microbiome. The institute houses about 1700 cultures of endophytic fungi, the largest in the country, isolated from marine algae, seagrasses, trees of the Western Ghats and Arunachal Pradesh and mangrove forests of Tamilnadu and Andaman Islands. This major resource represents potential novel genes that could enhance the bio-economy of the country VINSTROM has established research collaborations with IIT (Madras), Indian Institute of Science(Bangalore), International Centre for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology (New Delhi), Thapar University (Patiala), University of Agricultural Sciences (Bangalore), Manipal Life Science Centre (Karnataka) and Rajiv Gandhi University (Arunachal Pradesh). At the International level, VINSTROM has research collaborations with the University of Muenster(Germany), Georg-August-University, Gottingen (Germany), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig (Germany), Aachen University (Germany), Arizona State University, Tempe (USA), Miami University, Ohio (USA), Ohio State University, Ohio (USA), Stony Brook University, New York (USA), University of New Brunswick, St. John (Canada), University of Tartu (Estonia) and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Helsinki (Finland).
VINSTROM has published its research results in peer reviewed national and international journals including Current Science, Fungal Diversity, Fungal Biology, Fungal Biology Reviews, Canadian Journal of Microbiology, Botanica Marina, Mycology, Mycological Progress, Biodiversity & Conservation etc. Research papers of VINSTROM have been cited in top-notch journals including Nature, PNAS, Evolution, PLoS etc.
VINSTROM is recognized for its contribution to the understanding of the diversity and life style of the endophytes. With funding from the Government of India (Department of Biotechnology, Department of Science and Technology and Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change) and research collaborations with various Institutions, VINSTROM has highlighted the technological potential of endophytes; some of them produce novel chitin modifying enzymes and plant biomass degrading enzymes, a few elaborate antimalarial and other metabolites active against antibiotic resistant human pathogens Some of them have the potential to function as bio control agents and produce abnormally thermotolerant spores. These pioneering observations have provided impetus for the continued and more intense study of fungal endophytes. One of the researchers of VINSTROM was awarded the Fulbright Nehru Senior Fellowship to work on fungal enzymes and biofuel (2011-2012) and was invited to give the keynote address at the COST EU meeting on endophytes in 2012.
Scientists of VINSTROM have visited Germany, Brazil, USA, Kenya, and Panama among other countries to get trained in research methodologies and to train others in the study of endophytes. VINSTROM was honoured by the visit of Nobel Laureate Prof. Sidney Altman, Sterling Professor, Yale University in the year 2008.
Fungal Endophytes and Bioprospecting- Top 25 Rank List
A Bird eye view about VINSTROM. Please Download this Presentation
Administration :
Rev. Swami Dhyanagamyanandaji Mj
Secretary
Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith, Mylapore, Chennai-04.
S.No | Name | Designation | Profile | |
1 | Dr. T.S. Suryanarayanan | Director | CV | [email protected] |
2 | Dr. V.Muruganandam | Associate-Director | CV | [email protected] |
3 | Dr. J. P. Ravishankar | Honorary Research Associate | CV | [email protected] |
4 | Dr. M.B. Govindarajulu | Assistant Director | CV | [email protected] |
Contact Us:
Director
Address:
Vivekananda Institute of Tropical Mycology (VINSTROM)
#4, Musiri Subramaniam Salai,
(Previously Known as No. 45, Oliver Road)
Mylapore, Chennai
Tamilnadu 600004, India
Phone: 9498385731