Vaccine Manufacturing: Opportunities and Challenges
Amidst the lockdown due to COVID Pandemic, Indian Chapter of CRS organized its very first National webinar titled “Vaccine Manufacturing: Opportunities and Challenges” on 2nd May 2020. Dr. S. S. Pisal was an invited speaker for this webinar. Dr. Pisal is currently working as a Director -R&D & Manufacturing at Serum Institute of India, Pvt. Ltd., Pune. Serum institute is one of the largest vaccines manufacturers of the globe.
With the long standing experience in the field of vaccine formulation development, upstream/downstream processing of vaccines, Dr. Pisal delivered an insightful and enlightening talk on the theme of the webinar. He explained the intricate details of vaccine development focusing on lyophilization process, one of the most crucial steps during vaccine manufacturing. The national webinar was well received by more than 100 participants.
Speaker
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Dr. S. S PisalDirector- R&D & Manufacturing, Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd., PuneDr. Pisal graduated from Shivaji University in 1991 and completed his Masters (1993) and Ph D (2002) from Pune University. He has guided 30 Masters and 5 Ph D students from IIT Madras, Symbiosis International University and several other Indian Universities like Savitribai Phule Pune University, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeeth. His research group has won five national awards for the best research from AICTE. He has successfully completed several R&D projects for AICTE and Pharma as well as Biotech industry (Ventri Biologicals, Lupin Ltd, Aristo). He was appointed UGC Professor for Innovative Programme in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at Poona College of Pharmacy, Pune.
Dr. Pisal has been associated with Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd (SIPL) since 2007 and currently working as a Director of R&D and Manufacturing. He also leads Intellectual Property Cel at SIPL. His groups at Serum have collaborations for vaccine/mAb therapeutics development with MIT Boston, Oxford University UK, PATH US, NIBSC UK, MBL US, Kansas University US. At SIPL, his groups have contributed to development of Anticancer formulations for US market, Rotavirus vaccine (world’s first heat stable vaccine), Rabies vaccine, IND monoclonals like Rabies human monoclonal (first time in the world), Dengue monoclonal antibody, Pentavalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine and Injectable polio vaccine.
Dr. Pisal currently holds 26 Indian/International patents/applications encompassing formulation development, lyophilization, upstream/downstream process development for vaccines and mAbs and vaccine delivery. He is the author of 40 peer-reviewed journal articles. Dr Pisal, on behalf of SIIPL, received the globally coveted “United States Patent Office’s Patents for Humanity Award- 2018- Medicine Category” in Nov 2018. SIIPL IP Cell received coveted “IP Excellence Award (Life sciences) at Questel IP Executive Summit in Aug 2019. Dr. Pisal has been an invited expert for 1. Bill and Melinda Gates foundation for deciding funding strategy for vaccine projects, 2. Indian Council for Medical Research for filing IP on polio diagnostics and, 3. WHO / MSF for IP inputs on new vaccines for developing countries.