Dr. M.R. Gajendragad
Principal Scientist and Incharge Project Director
PD_ADMAS, Hebbal, Bangalore -24
Email: gajendragad@gmail.com
Phone: 080-23412531/23419576 Fax: 080-23415329
Mobile: +91-7259808324
A brief review of the work done by Dr. M. R. Gajendragad, Principal Scientist, PD_ADMAS, during
the last 10 years
Technology development:
1. Epitrak Version 2: The new version with latest data and analysis as an offline software was
developed.
2. EpiInfo™ software of CDC Atlanta was successfully adopted for analyzing the livestock disease
data under Indian conditions.
Development of Diagnostic tests:
1. Protocol for the detection of the viral antigen in the formalin fixed tissues was standardized. this
study enables the researchers for retrospective study on preserved tissues for the newly
identified diseases
2. Sandwich ELISA protocol for the detection of antibodies to Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheits was
developed and standardizes. The technique earned appreciation and Gold Medal as best article in
the Indian Veterinary Journal.
3. Immunobiosensor kit for FMD diagnosis as designed, developed and standardized. The
technology has been patented.
Research Projects
Till now I have handled over 15 research projects of which three were sponsored research projects
two were inter institutional collaborative projects and the rest were institutional projects. These
projects were need based and initiated to understand in depth the disease processes.
Pathology of Goiter in Pashmina goats The study classified the various types of microscopic
lesions noticed in the thyroid of Pashmina goats. The predominant lesion noticed was that of
Colloidal goiter. Further the change in the nutritional management at the farm reduced the
incidence.
The Pathobiology of FMD in cattle. This is an important project which brought out the
information on the kinetics of FMD virus, relationship of cellular response to persistence.
Comparative pathology of FMD in buffalo and cattle was also studied. I collaborated with the
team which was developing diagnostic test to differentiate the vaccinal antibodies from the
antibodies due to infection using FMD virus NSP.
Quality control of FMD vaccine: The laboratory, controlled experimental trials and field trials
were conducted on the FMD vaccine produced by IVRI.
Diagnostic projects on other diseases such as pneumonia in goats, goat pox, concomitant
infection of TB and JD, HCN poisoning in sheep, obscure disease in cattle in Karnataka, mixed
FMD infection; Goat pox; hydrocyanic acid poisoning in sheep; ET in sheep; IBR antibody
detection; pathology of wild life diseases.
The project on economics of livestock disease control and assessing the impact of reproductive
disorders in cattle will throw light on the disease process and prioritize the control strategies and
identify the managemental lapses and suggest remedial measures thereby help in alleviating the
poverty.
Development of spread sheet module to estimate the economic loss due to diseases. A
prototype spread sheet has been developed which is under validation.
Collaborative project with N-CAP in assessing the impact of FMD vaccination in the selected
districts of India.
Collaborative project with NIANP in assessing the role of micronutrients in reproductive
disorders and the economic loss thereby.
Externally funded projects:
I have completed two DBT projects in which I have developed protocol kits for FMD and IBR. The
kits were user friendly and cost effective. The kit developed for diagnosis of FMD is based on
immunobiosensor technique utilizing monospecific antibodies and the protocol has been
patented. The IBR kit is a sandwich ELISA which is highly specific and sensitive.
I was involved in the Indo-Swiss collaboration in Biotechnology and studied the vaccinal
immune response, carrier status and protection with regards to FMD in cattle in India.
Contributions to the physical and infrastructural development:
Development of Immunodiagnostic lab IVRI Bangalore Campus: I built up the immunodiagnostic
laboratory facilities. The work turned out in this laboratory resulted in development of prototype
immunodiagnostic kits for Ab. detection of IBR, FMD virus typing and immunobiosensor for FMD
virus typing.
Development of Computer unit at IVRI Bangalore campus I was in charge of the unit since 1994.
I conducted the in house computer awareness training programme for all the staff of the campus.
I was instrumental in creating the LAN facility at the campus.
Improvement in the Library facility at IVRI Bangalore campus The MEDLINE search facility was
introduced when I was the library in charge at IVRI Bangalore campus. All the publications of the
campus, right from its inception, were tabulated and a database was created. A separate
database on the publications of FMD was created.
National livestock serum repository Bar coding of the serum samples: Although the software
development was outsourced, the technical guidance was provided by me. The serum samples
collected &/or deposited at the PD_ADMAS were catalogued and the data base has been created.
The results of the serum analysis have been entered in the database for future reference. Bar
coding of the serum samples have been initiated.
The PD_ADMAS web page was created with the link with ERNET India. All the activities of the
Directorate are being depicted in it.
Institute Technology Management Unit, PD_ADMAS This is a recent unit started in late 2008 and
since then I am the nodal officer of the Unit. All the technologies developed at the Directorate
have been catalogued.
Currently I am involved in the infrastructure development of PD_ADMAS. this involves
coordination with agencies such as NDDB, state government departments and the Council. I have
completed the development of the Site Office at Yelahanka so that the building activities can be
carried out efficiently.
On the research side, I am the Nodal officer of the PME unit of the Institute. This involves apart
from coordinating all the research activities of the Institute, to carryout all the activities
associated with research programmes of all the scientists.
I am the Nodal officer of the Institute Technology Management Unit wherein I motivate the
scientists to develop research projects which yield deliverables.
I have been nominated by ICAR as the Nodal officer for Vigilance cell of the Institute.
I am the member secretary of the Research Advisory Committee of the Institute.
I am in the committees such as technical evaluation of the purchases, departmental promotional
committee etc.
Inter-disciplinary programme formulation and participation in research activities,
I am involved in the formulation of the research project on economics of reproductive disorders
in cattle due to infectious and non-infectious causes. The programme has been developed with
the collaboration of NIANP. The infectious causes will be studies at PD_ADMAS and the
nutritional and hormonal imbalance will be studies at NIANP. Major thrust has been given to the
problems of buffaloes.
I am associated with the project on economics of impact of FMD vaccination in the selected
villages of FMD control programme. This is a collaborative project with NCAP and PD_ADMAS and
PD_FMD are the collaborative institutes. I handle the data and their analysis to study the
economic impact.
Mobilization of external funds for projects
I was awarded two DBT research projects. The first DBT project on immunodiagnostic kit for
detection of antibodies to IBR. For this project Rs. 28.35 lakhs was allocated. I was the Co-PI for
the project.
The second project was DBT project on immunobiosensor for FMD diagnosis using monospecific
antibodies. For this project the DBT had sanctioned Rs. 6.59 lakhs. I was the PI of the project.
The IVRI campus was awarded an Indo-Swiss collaborative project on Development of molecular
and immunological tools for diagnosis and epidemiology of FMD in India. The Indian funds were
from the DBT to the tune of Rs. 45 lakhs and the Swiss amount was Sw. Fr. 666. As part of the
project I was involved in the development of immunodiagnostic kit for FMD virus typing.
Trainings conducted (Title)
Year
Duration
Number of beneficiaries
DBT-ICAR sponsored ELISA
training course for FMD
virus typing
1992
1993
1994
One week
each
DBT-ICAR sponsored short
term training course on
application of
biotechnological tools for
specific diagnosis of animal
viral infections
UAS sponsored Refresher
course on Diagnostic
techniques used in
detection of diseases of
livestock and poultry
ICAR Training on the
livestock disease data
analysis
1992
Ten days
2000
Three days
Ten candidates in each
batch. These candidates
were officers of animal
husbandry department of
state government.
Fifteen candidates in each
batch. These candidates
were officers of animal
husbandry department of
state government and
veterinary colleges.
25
2006
2007
2010
3 days
3 days
6 days
10
08
14
Co-ordinate/
associated
Course coordinator
Associate
Associate
Course coordinator
Note: Same course taught/training conducted/extension activities performed may be shown at one
place only and number of repetitions may be shown in brackets.
Organization of Kisan Melas,
exhibitions (Title and location),
etc.
Farmers’ day
IVRI campus, Bangalore
Year
Duration
1996
One day
Number of
beneficiaries
Approximately 150
farmers
Coordinator/
associated
Associate
Organization of Winter School/ Summer School/ Refresher Course/Seminar/Symposium
Name of the programme
organized
Summer institute on Recent
advances in research and
diagnosis of FMD
Short term course on
Application of
Biotechnological tools for
specific diagnosis of animal
viral infections.
Indo-Swiss international
symposium on cell virus
interaction.
Workshop on biotechnology
in animal disease control: An
idea to a product.
Level of participation
Title
Year
Duration
Faculty member
Faculty
1992
21 days
Funding
agency
ICAR
Faculty member
Faculty
1992
30 days
DBT
Organizing committee
member
Member
1993
2 days
ICAR, DBT
& SDA
Organizing committee
member
Member
1995
01 day
ICAR, DBT
& SDA
Annual scientists meet of
PD_ADMAS .
Workshop on Diagnosis of
major infectious etiology of
bovine abortions
Training – cum – analysis
workshop for the analysis of
epidemiological data on
Bluetongue disease.
Training on IBR, Brucella and
Leptospira diagnosis.
ELISA training – cum –
workshop on Bovine abortions
with special reference to
Brucellosis and IBR.
Workshop on NADRES
software.
Laboratory technique training.
Organizing committee
member
Coordinator
Member
2007
2 days
ICAR
Course
Coordinator
2006
3 days
ICAR
Coordinator
Course
Coordinator
2006
2 days
ICAR
Coordinator
Course
Coordinator
Course
Coordinator
2006
5 days
ICAR
2007
4 days
ICAR
2007
2 days
ICAR
2007
30 days
ICAR
Workshop – cum – training
programme on
ADMAS_Epitrak and NADRES
software.
Winter school “
Epidemiological analysis of
data for forecasting /
forewarning of economically
important livestock diseases”.
Workshop – cum – training
programme on The
epidemiological analysis of
important livestock disease
data.
Coordinator
Course
Coordinator
Course
Coordinator
Course
Coordinator
2007
6 days
ICAR
Director
Course
Director
2009
21 days
ICAR
Director
Course
Director
2010
6 days
ICAR
Animal Disease Informatics
Coordinator
Course
Coordinator
2012
6 days
ICAR
Coordinator
Coordinator
Coordinator
(ADMAS)