Radiation Technology centre to open today

Mangalore University has established a Centre for Application of Radioisotopes and Radiation Technology (CARRT), in collaboration with Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences (BRNS) and Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology (BRIT), Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Mumbai.

The CARRT will be inaugurated on Thursday, by Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Dr Srikumar Banerjee.

According to a press release, the BRNS has provided Rs three crore to establish the centre. Mangalore University has spent about Rs 60 lakhs to establish the laboratories required for the Centre as per the guidelines of Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), Government of India. Scientists from the BRIT and BARC have worked with the university in establishing the Centre. This Centre is first of its kind amongst the Indian universities established for the purpose.

CARRT has laboratories including Gamma Irradiator, Radioimmunoassay/Immuno Radiometryassay Lab, Radioiodinaiton Lab, Carbon-14 and Other Radioisotope lab, Hybridoma and Cell Culture Lab and  Radiation Counting and Instrumentation Lab.

Through certificate courses and other educational programmes, the centre will provide the needed technical support and training for graduate and post graduate students from biological sciences, medical, pharmaceutical and agricultural sciences, and young researchers, in the field of radiation technology and applications of radioisotopes.

Summer and vacation courses for a few selected students of undergraduate science courses will be held to inspire the students to pursue the higher studies in basic and applied sciences using radiations and radio technology. The Centre will also conduct tailor-made short term training programmes to scientists and engineers from industries and other R and D organizations. CARRT will also act as nodal agency to facilitate research in areas that involve radiation and radioisotopes application.

Reserarch

The research to be undertaken in the CARRT include radiolabelling of biological molecules for biological research, development of antibodies and radioimmunoassay, tracer experiments using Carbon-14 labeled compounds for biological research, gamma radiation effect on materials, low level counting and isotope hydrology.

Studies on production of insulin and its quantification, Helicobacter pylori (responsible for gastric and duodenal ulcer) infection incidences in coastal population, radioprotective effects of some drugs (bioflavonoids), conservation of endemic and endangered trees species of Western Ghats through radiation exposure of seeds are some of the ongoing research projects sanctioned by the BRNS in the first phase of the programme.