Category: Records, India

NATIONAL: INVESTMENTS IN MEDICAL & HEALTH SERVICES: Philips Launches Innovation Campus in Bengaluru; gen AI provides more Opportunities, says CEO

The company has over 9,000 employees in India, and of these 5,000 employees in Bengaluru will be working on innovative health technologies. The company employs over 70,700 employees globally.

Generative AI (Artificial Intelligence) provides a lot of opportunities, and it is the next wave of new technology that can help solve the problems of customers, said Roy Jakobs, CEO of Royal Philips.

The company launched its new innovation campus in Bengaluru that can accommodate 5,000 employees. Speaking on the sidelines of the launch in the city on Thursday, Jakobs said if you look at healthcare, our customers are asking how we can serve more patients.

“So, we are looking at how technology can help them process more patients,” he said, explaining the significant role that AI plays in innovation.

The company has over 9,000 employees in India, and of these 5,000 employees in Bengaluru will be working on innovative health technologies. The company employs over 70,700 employees globally.

It also has a Healthcare Innovation Centre in Pune, Global Business Services in Chennai, and commercial teams in Gurugram.

For the Netherlands-headquartered Philips, India plays a significant role and it is a major hub for innovation.

“Philips has been innovating for more than 130 years and started doing business in India some 92 years ago. In the last 27 years, the Philips Innovation Campus in Bengaluru has grown to represent almost all our business categories and supporting roles,” the CEO said.

 “In India, we not only want to speed up access to care but also locally develop and contribute to solutions for the rest of the world,” he added.

Last year, with an investment of Rs 400 crore under the PLI scheme, the company’s healthcare innovation centre in Chakan, Pune, started manufacturing radio frequency coils for MRI machines. The company also plans expansions in Pune. It spends yearly over $1.7 billion on innovation, of which 50% goes into software development. Philips also sees growth opportunities in the beauty and grooming verticals of its business in India.

The company’s group sales increased 11% to euro 4.5 billion for the third quarter of this year, and it also raised its full-year guidance to 6-7% comparable sales growth and an Adjusted EBITA margin of 10-11%.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL / KARNATAKA: MEDICAL & HEALTH CARE SERVICES: Mangaluru’s ‘First Neuro, Brain & Spine Speciality Hospital’ Conferred with ‘Best Emerging Stroke Unit in India’ Award

First Neuro, Brain & Spine Super Speciality Hospital, Mangaluru is proud to announce that it has been honoured with the prestigious award for Best Emerging Stroke Unit in India. This recognition comes in light of the hospital’s unwavering commitment to excellence in stroke care and its continuous efforts to enhance patient outcomes.

The VOH (Voice of Healthcare) in association with ISA (Indian Stroke Association) recognized First Neuro, Brain & Spine Super Speciality Hospital for its outstanding contributions to stroke care, particularly in the areas of rapid response, advanced treatments and patient-focused care and presented The Best Emerging Stroke Unit award. This acknowledgement reaffirms the hospital’s dedication to providing high-quality stroke care services to the community. Dr Mohammed Shameem K A, consultant neurologist, received the award at the event, which took place on October 27 at the Taj Skyline in Ahmedabad.

“We are deeply honoured to receive the Best Emerging Stroke Unit award,” said Dr Rajesh Shetty, managing director at First Neuro Brain & Spine Super Speciality Hospital. “This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team who strive relentlessly to deliver exceptional care to our stroke patients. We remain committed to advancing our stroke care services and ensuring the best possible outcomes for our patients.”

Stroke is a leading cause of disability and death worldwide. First Neuro Brain & Spine Super Speciality Hospital is committed to raising awareness about stroke prevention, symptoms, and treatments. The hospital’s multidisciplinary team of experts, employ the latest technologies and evidence-based practices to provide comprehensive stroke care to patients, including emergency interventions, rehabilitation, and ongoing support for stroke survivors and their families.
This award serves as a validation of First Neuro Brain & Spine Super Speciality Hospital’s efforts to continuously improve its stroke care services. The hospital remains dedicated to investing in training, research, and state-of-the-art facilities to ensure that patients receive the best possible care when it matters the most.

First Neuro Brain and Spine Super-Specialty Hospital in Mangaluru is indeed a significant development in the healthcare sector for the coastal city. Neurological issues related to the brain and spine are complex and often require specialized expertise and state-of-the-art facilities for diagnosis and treatment.

Here are some potential benefits and highlights of having such a dedicated neuro hospital in the region:

Specialized Care: With a team of highly professional and specialized doctors and healthcare staff, the hospital can provide focused care for patients dealing with neurological disorders. This includes conditions such as brain tumors, spinal injuries, epilepsy, stroke, and more.
Advanced Technology: Specialized neuro hospitals typically invest in advanced medical equipment and technology to ensure accurate diagnosis and treatment. This ensures that patients have access to cutting-edge medical care.
Comprehensive Services: Neuro hospitals often offer a wide range of services, including neurosurgery, neurology, neuro-rehabilitation, and pain management. This comprehensive approach to neurological healthcare can greatly benefit patients in need.
Improving Healthcare Standards: The presence of a specialized neuro hospital can also lead to an overall improvement in healthcare standards in the region. It may encourage other medical facilities to enhance their services and competencies.
Patient Convenience: Having a dedicated neuro hospital means that patients can access specialized care in a single location, which can make the healthcare journey more convenient and less stressful.

In summary, the introduction of First Neuro Brain and Spine Super-Specialty Hospital in Mangaluru is a significant development that can enhance the region’s healthcare services, particularly in the field of neurosciences. It represents a commitment to improving patient care, advancing medical knowledge, and offering specialized treatments for neurological conditions, ultimately benefiting the local community.

For more information about First Neuro Brain & Spine Super Speciality Hospital and its stroke care services, please visit www.firstneuro.in

Email: info@firstneuro.in
Ph: 0824 2276633/0824 4293333, Mob: 9343442488

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL / KARNATAKA: BUSINESS / FINANCE : Kannadiga Nikhil Kamath becomes Youngest Billionaire of India at 37

The company which Nikhil Kamath and Nitin Kamath have built has booked a profit of more than Rs 2000 crore.

Kamath is originally from Karnataka. They started Zerodha, a fintech company in 2010. They needed funds to build the company. However, with their talent and hard work they made up for the lack of education.

Nikhil Kamath was topper in the Hurun India Rich List of 2022. His net profit was Rs 17,500 crore at that time. He became a billionaire when he was just 34 in 2021.

Nikhil did not like to go to school when he was young. He dropped out of school as he was not allowed to take 10th grade board exams.

At the age of 17, Nikhil joined a call centre for just Rs 8,000 salary. But he began to deal in shares at the age of 18. This was a major turning point in his life.

In 2010, Nikhil along with his brother Nitin founded Zerodha, a company, which gave support, cost and technical support to businessmen and investors. They also founded a Hedge fund called True Bekan.

The company made a profit of Rs 2094 crore. The company does not have any employees that are qualified from IIT or IIM. It has one crore users.

Now Nitin and Nikhil have a salary package of Rs 100 crore each. Nikil is ranked 40th in the list of richest people of India. According to Forbes, the net value of Kamath brothers is USD 5.5 billion at present.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL / NATIONAL – KARNATAKA: Bengaluru-based students get United Nations (UN) Recognition for efforts to tackle poverty on October 17th the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

United Nations (UN) has recognised the efforts of Bengaluru-based students to tackle poverty among internal migrants in India, on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

The United Nations (UN) has recognised the efforts of Bengaluru-based students to tackle poverty among internal migrants in India, on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, October 17.

Kristu Jayanti College, a member institution of the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) in India, introduced an ‘adult literacy and migrant labour’ as a general elective this academic year to create better understanding of community-related issues.

Under the leadership of Assistant Professor Dr Juby Thomas, students analysed employment stability, emotional well-being, financial literacy, substance abuse, digital safety awareness, food and nutrition, among the internal migrants. This research provides a grassroots-level understanding of issues affecting internal migrant communities, emphasising the need for all-round support. “The efforts of these students are a testament to the potential of higher education institutions to drive positive change,” he explained.

In the second phase, students designed awareness campaigns. “Our students started a campaign with the theme Sip Right, Live Bright, to empower internal migrants to access and utilise safe and clean water sources. This initiative seeks to educate migrants on purifying water independently,” Dr Augustine George, Principal of Kristu Jayanti College, said.

Through live demonstrations, students could explain the usage of simple purification methods. Students are designing adult literacy plans in the third phase, understanding how adults equipped to read, write and comprehend information can access opportunities. Rudri Dave, Department of Psychology, said, “Through this course, I have learned that comprehending human behaviour and motivation is essential when tackling social and public health issues.”

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL / NATIONAL / KARNATAKA: TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OF MEDICAL RESEARCH: Sepsis Treatment SUR-101 Developed by Researchers in Bengaluru and Bhubaneswar licensed to Dutch Biotech firm SurvivX

The development of the treatment was announced by C-CAMP director Dr Taslimarif Saiyed at an event with Netherlands PM Mark Rutte last month.

A novel sepsis treatment, called SUR-101, developed collaboratively by the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP), Bengaluru, and the Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar, was licensed to Dutch biotech firm SurvivX in the presence of Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Thursday.

The development of the technology, presently at the preclinical stage, was announced by Dr Taslimarif Saiyed, director-CEO of C-CAMP, at an event with Rutte on the latter’s visit to Bengaluru on the sidelines of the G20 summit last month.

Sepsis is a life-threatening medical emergency. It happens when an infection that a patient already has triggers a chain reaction throughout the body. According to C-CAMP, existing interventions for sepsis are found to be effective only at the very early onset of sepsis. By modulating the immune response, the current technology allows a longer time window for administering targeted interventions for sepsis.

“Sepsis is a worldwide challenge, with approximately 50 million cases and 11 million sepsis-related deaths worldwide, accounting for 20 per cent of all global deaths. The new compound, called SUR-101, is an immune-stimulating therapeutic in sepsis patients with signs of immune suppression. It could be the first step towards personalization and precision in sepsis medicine that has thus far been treated as a drug discovery problem. The technology presently at the preclinical stage is a discovery by a team of scientists led by Prof Ravindran Balachandran from ILS. It has been translated and co-developed by the translational research group of Dr Saiyed at C-CAMP,” said a media release from the Bengaluru centre, which is an initiative of the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science, Technology and Earth Sciences.

Speaking on the licensing effort, the Dutch ambassador to India, Marisa Gerards, said, “Life sciences & health remains a priority sector for the bilateral cooperation between the Netherlands and India. We have successfully been working in this field for many years, and this new partnership is a great example of what India and the Netherlands can do together. Sepsis is an important global societal challenge, and it is in need of innovative solutions.”

“This is one of the first global technology transfers by C-CAMP of an academic invention developed exclusively in India. We are excited about the partnership with SurvivX, a biotech company in the Netherlands, in the antimicrobial resistance domain. This agreement will be a model in innovation-focused bilateral partnerships that addresses global issues together,” Dr Saiyed said.

SurvivX CEO Remko van Leeuwen said, “Our technology is based on a specific protein excreted by a tropical parasite: the filarial roundworm. The team in India made the remarkable observation that people infected by this parasite typically do not end up at an ICU unit when they develop sepsis. They started studies to find the cause of this protective effect that an infection with this worm seems to have.”

According to Leeuwen, the researchers discovered that a specific protein secreted by the worm was responsible for the effect. “We have already shown that the protein leads to a much better survival of mice with sepsis, confirming the protective effect seen in filaria patients. But mice are not human, Thus, SurvivX needs to show the safety and activity of the protein in humans before it can be tested as a novel therapeutic approach,” he added.

source/content: indianexpress.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL, NATIONAL & KARANATAKA / HEALTH & MEDICAL SERVICES : Bengaluru-based Dr Sandeep Nayak among 3 Winners of top ‘KS International Robotic Surgery Innovation Competition’ by Michigan based Foundation

Bengaluru-based robotic surgeon Dr Sandeep Nayak has been named among the three surgeons from the US and India who won top honours at the ‘KS International Robotic Surgery Innovation competition’ by Michigan-based Robotic Surgery evangelist Vattikuti Foundation.

The video entry by eminent robotic surgeon from MACS Clinic and Fortis Cancer Institute, Bengaluru was placed at the third spot for devising a novel approach for removal of thyroid tumours using minimally invasive robotic surgery.

Dr Nayak presented results of over 50 surgeries conducted over five years using this method with better patient outcomes and negligible scarring.

Robotic surgeons Dr Somashekhar SP, Aster Hospitals, Bengaluru, and Dr Aditya Kulkarni, Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune were among the top 10 vying for KS international robotic surgery award, the foundation said in a statement during the awards ceremony at Orsi Academy, Ghent, Belgium over the weekend.

“By focusing on robotic technology and surgeon education, the Vattikuti Foundation has proven the transformative power of innovative technology in revitalizing patients’ health at the hands of inventive humans,” said Raj Vattikuti, Founder, the Vattikuti Foundation.

Dr David Neal, Professor Emeritus, University of Cambridge and Oxford, Cambridge, UK; Dr Rajeev Kumar, Professor of Urology and Associate Dean (Academics), AIIMS, New Delhi; and Dr Sherry M Wren, Professor of Surgery, Stanford University, US were in the final jury that chose the top 3 from among the 141 submissions.

The video entry of Dr Adeel Khan, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, demonstrating the first Robotic Liver Transplant (RLT) in the US using a deceased donor in the world was judged No 1.

The video entry of Dr Ahmed Ghazi, director of minimal invasive and robotic surgery and director of simulation training at Johns Hopkins University, US was adjudged No 2 for devising a novel patient specific simulation platform before complex robotic renal cancer surgeries.

Video submission on robot-assisted total knee transplant by Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr Suhas Masilamani, Sunshine Bone & Joint Institute and KIMS-Sunshine Hospital, Hyderabad won the people’s choice award based on rankings by surgeons from 63 countries.

Entries from procedures in 10 specialties, including urology, gynaecology, gastro-intestinal, organ transplant and head and neck, from 14 countries were received in the global competition.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

WORLD / NATIONAL/ KARNATAKA: WORLD RECORD SPORTS : Sibling Sisters, 10-year old Ovee Malve and Ruchi Malve from Bengaluru become World’s Youngest Certified Scuba Diver Sisters

Their interest in scuba diving stemmed from those videos and they started swimming and later training for scuba diving.

A day after turning 10, Bengaluru-based Ovee Malve set a world record of becoming the youngest certified scuba diver.

With this, both Ovee and her sister Ruchi, daughters of Bangalore Mountaineering Club founder Neeraj Malve, have become the youngest certified scuba diver siblings in the world. Neeraj himself has been a scuba diver for 16 years now. Ovee achieved the feat in Puducherry at 7.18 am on October 11, becoming the youngest Professional Association of Diving Instructors-certified open water diver. 

Elated and proud, Neeraj said he understands that adventure sports are not easy, especially at a young age. He never pressured his children and ensured that they underwent proper training. The daughters were water babies since they were little and were fascinated with his scuba diving videos.

Their interest in scuba diving stemmed from those videos and they started swimming and later training for scuba diving, he said. Ovee enrolled for a junior open water diver course at Temple Adventures, Puducherry and trained under coach Shreya Mehta. 

Her sister Ruchi (14) trained under Shaurya Tarni of Dive Goa in Goa. Ruchi enrolled for the Junior Open Water Diver certification course on October 27, 2022 and received the Scuba Schools International certificate on October 30, 2022. At the age of 10 and 13, both Malve sisters have become the world’s youngest scuba diver sisters.

Previously, a Mumbai-based boy, Dwit Nandu, at age 10 set the world record around 8 am on August 25, 2023.

Both the sisters underwent two-day rigorous training which included a 200-metre nonstop swimming and floating for 10 minutes without any support. 

They studied five chapters of theory about performing underwater skills in confined waters, passed a written exam and successfully performed four dives in open water up to 18-metre depth to earn their open water diver certification.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY: RESEARCH / NANOENZYMES: Scientists of Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Develop Enzyme Mimetic with potential applications in Wastewater Treatment, Healthcare

The nanozyme can degrade pollutants in wastewater by oxidising them in the presence of sunlight, thereby reducing the toxicity of wastewater.

Scientists at the Materials Research Centre (MRC), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), have developed a new type of enzyme mimetic that can degrade toxic chemicals in industrial wastewater effectively in the presence of sunlight. 

Enzymes are proteins that catalyse a majority of biological reactions in living systems. However, the practical use of natural enzymes is hindered by inherent limitations such as sensitivity to denaturation (breakdown/damage), complex production procedures, high costs, and difficulties in recycling, says Subinoy Rana, Assistant Professor at MRC and corresponding author of the paper published in Nanoscale. 

Mass producing these enzymes is an expensive and time-consuming process. Another problem is storage – most of the natural enzymes are temperature-sensitive and require storage at cooler temperatures, often as low as -20°C. 

Nano-sized enzyme mimetics or “nanozymes” manufactured in the lab can mimic such natural enzymes and overcome these practical challenges.  

In the current study, the IISc team synthesised a platinum-containing nanozyme called NanoPtA, which can be converted into powder form for industrial use. 

When the NanoPtA comes in contact with wastewater, the benzene rings and long alkyl chains present in the molecule form multiple non-covalent interactions. Individual NanoPtA molecules connect together to form tape-like structures that start emitting light, which is the origin of its oxidising capacity. The nanozyme can then degrade pollutants present in wastewater by oxidising them in the presence of sunlight, thereby reducing the toxicity of wastewater. 

The team found that the nanozyme could degrade even small (micromolar) quantities of common effluents like phenols and dyes within ten minutes when placed under sunlight. The researchers also found that the NanoPtA complex was quite stable, lasting for up to 75 days at room temperature.  

The team believes that the nanozyme can also have applications in healthcare and could be a potentially useful diagnostic tool for neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. 

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL & KARNATAKA: SPORTS / GOLF: Kavery Muthanna Represents India As A Golf Official At Asian Games

Mukkatira Kavery Muthanna, a resident of Mysuru, is currently serving as a member of the officiating team in the game of golf at the ongoing 19th Asian Games, which are taking place in Hangzhou, China. 

She holds a role in the Technical Rules Official team, which consists of 24 referees from various countries. The official rounds are scheduled to take place from Sept. 28 to Oct. 1 at the West Lake Golf Course in Hangzhou, featuring 121 players.

Kavery Muthanna is well-qualified, having completed the Level 3 Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar (TARS) under the R&A. (R&A is a leading body within the world of golf and engages and supports activities to ensure it is a thriving sport for all on a global scale.) 

She has actively officiated various amateur and women’s professional golf tournaments in India, showcasing her expertise in the field. Her experience also extends to her role as a Rules Official at the 36th National Games in 2022, held in Ahmedabad.

In addition to her involvement in golf and sports officiating, Kavery Muthanna is part of the Kavery Education Trust in Virajpet and serves as its Chairperson. She is married to Mukkatira Manju Muthanna and is the daughter of Guddanda Kanthy and Nanda Ganapathy.

source/content: starofmysore.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL & KARNATAKA: Sudha Murty, the First Woman to get Global Indian Award by the Canada India Foundation

Renowned author, philanthropist and wife of Infosys co-founder N. R. Narayana Murty, Sudha Murty, was conferred with the Global Indian Award by the Canada India Foundation at the biggest Indo-Canadian gala here.

The Global Indian Award, which is worth $50,000, is given each year to a prominent Indian who has made a major mark in his or her chosen field.

“We are so pleased to present the Global Indian Award to Sudha Murty. She has spent her entire career paving the way for future generations to find success in whatever field they choose, and is passionate about giving back to society,” said Canada India Foundation chairman Satish Thakkar on Saturday night.

Accepting the award from Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma, Sudha Murty said, “It is my honour to get this award from your country.”

Thanking the Canada India Foundation (CIF) for choosing her for this award, Murthy said, “The CIF is like Krishna in the Mahabharata. Krishna is the son of Devki as well as Yashoda. Devki was his biological mother and Yashoda brought him up. You are born in India but settled here – that is Yashoda – and your mother is India. You belong to both mothers.”

Lauding the Indo-Canadian diaspora as a bridge between the two countries, she said, “You are the carriers of Indian culture in a different land. Please keep it up.”

As her husband was also given the same award in 2014, Sudha Murty said amid laughter, “There is a funny thing about this award because Narayana Murty also got it in 2014 and I got it in 2023. So we’re the first couple to get this award.”

She donated the award money to The Field Institute (University of Toronto) which is internationally renowned for strengthening collaboration, innovation, and learning in mathematics and across a broad range of disciplines.

Sudha Murty was accompanied by the parents of her son-in-law and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to the Toronto gala event.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)