New Delhi: An Indian scientist has hit the jackpot. The European Research Council (ERC) has awarded Dr Ramesh Pillai a grant worth Rs 6 crore for a research project.
A student of Mahatma Gandhi College in Thiruvananthapuram and IIT Roorkee, Pillai will work in a French lab, researching the mysteries of human DNA for the next five years.
DNA is a storehouse of info we receive from our parents. The cell has a value in controlling the flow of info from that DNA. There are certain molecules in the cell, kind of a PIN CODE on a letter, which will guide a certain silencing mechanism, to these target regions, to turn it off.
Dr Pillai said that he will be trying to understand how the cell controls the flow of genetic information within it. According to him, this can allow us to perhaps create artificial molecules which can then target regions of interests.
Only four other Indians have ever got grants from the European Research Council, though it funds 1,600 researchers around the globe.
Pillai's family is very happy. It took him 12 years of work after his PhD to qualify for the grant. The ERC also asked for published research papers and citations from fellow scientists before supporting him.
“We know that the US is a major hub of scientists and research students. Europe is making an attempt to get a portion of that crowd to its own shores, to make the place a multinational, multi-cultural environment for research,” said Dr Pillai.
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from p.srikanta at 20:32, Jan 19, 2011
Its not a lottery for a jackpot to be won. Its the hard work which has fetched him the fundingReply | Offensive
from karthikramkrist at 12:56, Jan 19, 2011
This is going to be a great work by pillai.This not only makes india proud,if the outcome of this work comes positive this is going to help the whole humanity.His work will help in understanding diseases like cancer where the DNA is reponsible. All the Best, Let you be the chosen oneReply | Offensive
from killwhale at 18:40, Jan 18, 2011
I think we are getting ahead of ourselves here. THE MONEY IS A GRANT. Not personal income. The scientist can use the money only for lab related expenses. Moreover, he is usually supposed to submit a report to the grant giving agency every 6 months or so, regarding project progress.Reply | Offensive
from Balaganesh Jagadeesan at 18:40, Jan 18, 2011
Journalists are increasingly loosing common sense. Dr.Pillai has earned the grant and its not a lottery he got. In fact, I would give a different title to the topic. India lost another son to foreign grant.Reply | Offensive
from padmasethu at 16:26, Jan 18, 2011
Congratulations, Mr.Pillai. You have made India proud. Let India produce more such Pillais.Reply | Offensive