Centre to study food impact on human genome

Prakash met Union Minister for Science and Technology, Pawan Kumar Bansal, New Delhi on Monday to inform the minister why he was taking voluntary retirement from CSIR seven months before his tenure comes to an end. The Mysore-based scientist who was appointed as the director general of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research  four years ago, but could not take over on health grounds might be appointed as an emeritus scientist in CFTRI and allowed to set up a centre on nutragenomics with collaborations from the state government and private organisations.

“It’s too early, but I am expecting some help from Karnataka government on this initiative,” Prakash said. Oriental Research Institute and JSS Ayurveda Hospital could also be involved in this venture, which will also explore Indian traditional knowledge with modern scientific tools.

Pointing out out food based nutraceuticals were better than capsules, he said though there is a huge market for food based nutraceuticals, India’s contribution was very less.

Venkateshwara Rao G will be the acting director of CFTRI until a permanent appointment is made. Another senior scientist on condition of anonymity said that Prakash was taking decisions unilaterally. Prakash had stopped conducting meetings with HoDs on a regular basis denying them the opportunity of carrying out research projects, he added.