Dr. Manish Paul, CEO, Microvioma, Lead Co-Investigator and Program Director, Anti-Infective Enmetazobactam, Orchid Pharma, Dr. Vasan Sambandamurthy, Senior Vice President, Bugworks Research India Pvt Ltd, Dr. M. M. Balamurali, Professor, Center for Health Development, Innovation and Research, VIT, Chennai, talks to Athira Elsa Johnson at The Hindu’s Bio Tech Conclave 2026 at Chennai, September 11, 2026 | Photo credit: B. Velankanni Raj.
Hindu–VIT Conclave 2026 organized by VIT Chennai in partnership with Hindubrought together experts from academia, research and investment to discuss advances in biotechnology and healthcare.
The technology application session looked at its use in medical education, healthcare, biobanking and neuroinformatics. The second session focused on gene editing and precision medicine, highlighting its potential to better understand and combat disease.
The panel discussion on India’s position as a global biopharmaceutical hub discussed drug discovery, new anti-infective treatments, and the role of biotech firms and academic institutions in driving research and innovation. The panellists also looked at the ecosystem needed to support drug development in India.
In addition, the conclave discussed funding for biotechnology research and the importance of increasing the availability and affordability of new treatments. Experts assessed India’s research and innovation ecosystem, focusing on the links between scientific research, drug development, precision medicine and clinical care, and emphasized that healthcare advances must reach a broader segment of the population.
Published – September 11, 2026 7:57 pm EST.