As part of the XII Five Year Plan projects from CSIR, CSIR-CFTRI received a grant of more than INR 20 Cr towards establishing a centre that will focus on Lipid research. The centre was successfully established in 2016 and houses the best of instruments that are required for high end lipid research. Lipids include the commonly known oils and fats. This centre does R&D on this not-so-well-studied food molecule. From deciphering the transcriptional regulation of lipid metabolism inside yeast cells and plant cells, to identifying, characterizing and adapting new oilseed crops, this centre does extensive research on oils.
The vision and mission of this centre is to change the way oils and fats are looked at. It strives to remove the negative connotation around fats in this fast-food crazy world and is working towards having some healthy oil blends. The centre is also developing specialty oils, omega 3 fatty acid rich oils, healthy leaf oils and oil capsules as nutraceuticals.
Hard core research upon the various yeast and plant genes that are involved in lipid metabolism has resulted in identification and characterization of new genes and/ functions. These have resulted in several publications that stake claim of the quality of research that is done at this centre which is on par with international standards.
The centre boasts of instruments that are first of its kind in the country, making it comparable to the best lipid research laboratories around the world. Research on yeast and plant lipidomics have been carried out extensively at this centre for the first time in India, making it the best lipid research centre in the country.