About Us
Overview
The society for Bacteriophage research and therapy was created in the year 2017 and officially registered on 19 December 2018.
Our terrific society of professionals is a network on which I have become increasingly reliant when facing these new challenges and opportunities.
The bacteriophages are naturally present in the environment and are the most abundant organism on Earth.
The society for Bacteriophage research and therapy was created in the year 2017 and officially registered on 19 December 2018.
Our terrific society of professionals is a network on which I have become increasingly reliant when facing these new challenges and opportunities.
The bacteriophages are naturally present in the environment and are the most abundant organism on Earth.
About Us
SBRT
The society for Bacteriophage research and therapy was created in the year 2017 and officially registered on 19 December 2018. The society strives to work together to explore the applications of bacteriophages, especially in the context of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and establish them as a viable option for treating drug-resistant infections. The society has created a platform where research can come together and share their knowledge and collaborate with phage scientist. The society offers annual and lifetime membership for the researchers. At present there are more than 85 members of which 70 are serving as a life member. By bringing together scientists, academicians, and clinicians conducting basic and translational research on bacteriophages, we aim to leverage the collective expertise and resources at the national and international level. Members of the society research on diverse aspects of bacteriophages such as prevalence of phages in rivers water and sewage treatment, clinical application of phages including their role as antibacterial agents, vaccines, in gene therapy, diagnostics, drug delivery, etc. Given the slow pace of drug discovery for infectious diseases and the widespread occurrence of AMR, it is about time that a concerted effort is made towards understanding the challenges of bacteriophages as therapeutics.
The society conduct technical conferences, seminars, and workshop at different parts of country to reduce the gap between curriculum and their practical implementation among students and research scholars. The society also acknowledges the contribution of the members by felicitating them with Young Scientist Awards, early career research awards and as Editorial team members for their noteworthy research in phage therapy. To enhance the scientific learning through research, society has established a scientific publishing journal. The journal strives to maintain a high standard and quality publications through peer review by experts in the field. International Journal of Bacteriophage Research publishes annually in the month of January. It publishes reviews, research papers on bacteriophage related topics, genetic engineering of phages, in-vitro and in-vivo experiments, molecular screening of phages.
President Overview
From the desk of the President, SBRT
India continues to be the largest global consumer of antibiotics in absolute terms and bears the most significant burden of bacterial infections. According to available data, India utilises the highest total volume of antibiotics compared to other countries, though per capita consumption may be lower in certain regions. A few years ago, India consumed 5,071 million DDDs (defined daily doses) of antibiotics. Consequently, antimicrobial resistance presents a substantial public health challenge in India, as the burdens of infectious diseases remain high and antibiotic consumption is extensive and unregulated. With the global pipeline for new antibiotics depleted, there is an urgent need for credible, evidence-based, scientifically sound alternatives to address bacterial infections. Phage therapy has emerged as a treatment option that has attracted interest in recent years.
Recognising the impending threat of AMR in the country, the Society for Bacteriophage Research and Therapy was established in year 2018, following the inaugural scientific gathering in August 2017 in the holy city of Varanasi. With enthusiastic participation from phage biologists nationwide, we aimed to transition bacteriophage therapy from the bench to the bedside. We have successfully navigated the past six years, organising numerous international conferences, workshops, and symposia under the SBRT banner. We have duly elected our third executive council in our esteemed democratic and secular nation. The number of participants in the annual conference and life members of the society continues to grow. Recently, SBRT has attracted the attention of the Indian government. We hope that in the coming years, under the able and collective leadership of the current governing body, we will fulfil the aspirations not only of the Indian population but also of global partners. India possesses abundant expertise in bacteriophage research; the only requirement is to channel this energy towards a common goal, establishing us as a global leader in bacteriophage therapy, which is integral to One Health. On behalf of the SBRT family, I wish SBRT every success in all its endeavours.
Dr. Gopal Nath, MD, Ph D, FAMS
President, SBRT
Dean (Research), Institute of Medical Sciences,
(Senior Professor, Department of Microbiology, IMS, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005)
https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?hl=en&user=rlDNNU4AAAAJ
Secretary Overview
Bacteriophages or simply phages are believably one of the most ancient and best understood alternatives of antibiotics. In India, a country battling a high burden of antibiotic-resistant infections, researchers are at the forefront of reviewing and advancing this forgotten therapy. The Society – SBRT has well recognized the potential of bacteriophages – ‘The Good Viruses’ with a potential to combat drug-resistant infections. Through its initiatives of conducting, conferences, seminars, webinars and workshops, the members of this society have been able to disseminate phage science to different parts of the country and develop liaisoning with international scientists as well. The Indian phage scientists are exploring ways to integrate the phages into treatment and develop prevention strategies. Despite these promising developments, the challenges remain which the Society tries to address through its rigorous efforts and help development of regulatory framework and carry out policy adaptations for ensuring consistent and effective treatment outcomes. As phage researchers offer hope for a better future where bacterial infections can be treated without the looming threat of antibiotic resistance, we are sure that with the continued efforts of the Society members, India has a potential to lead in the area of Phage therapy.
Dr Taruna Anand
ICAR-National Fellow
Principal Scientist & I/c Bacteriophage laboratory
National Centre for Veterinary Type Cultures
ICAR-NRCE, Hisar, Haryana, India
