National Institute of Immunology
New Delhi
Date of inception: 24th June, 1981 Mandate
The National Institute of Immunology (NII) is committed to advanced research to understand the body’s defense mechanisms for developing modalities of immune system manipulation that can intervene with disease processes.
Campus
The main campus of NII is located within the premises of Jawaharlal Nehru University. The total land utilized by NII (17.39 acres) has been leased/allotted to it vide agreement dated 04-08-1983. In addition, NII has flats at Dwarka, land for the construction of residences at Dwarka, and land at Faridabad for the Bioscience cluster.
Research Focus
The institute’s research thrust areas under immunology and related disciplines cluster in three main themes: i) Immunity and Infection, ii) Genetics, Cell Signaling, and Cancer Biology, and iii) Chemical Biology, Biochemistry, and Structural Biology.
NII is a founder partner in the supra-institutional Biotech Science Cluster in the National Capital Region.
Human Resource
The institute currently has 28 scientists and around 100 Research Fellows, engaged in high-quality research, supported by 101 technical staff and 71 administrative staff at the institute.
Key Scientific Achievements
Major achievements in the last 5 years (2017-22) are as follows:
Publications
127
PhD Degrees Awarded
818
Postdocs and research fellow
Patents awarded
Technologies commercialized
- A therapeutic vaccine trial has been initiated in patients of cervical cancer and ovarian cancer. The translational cancer research program seeks to develop new modalities for the treatment of cancer. NII has received a Trademark for its tumour antigen SPAG9-ASPAGNIITM. ASPAGNIITM is being used in dendritic cell-based immunotherapy in patients of cervical and ovarian cancer; trials will soon be initiated in patients of breast cancer as well.
- Infection and Immunology studies have provided new insights into the role of NF-κB pathways in shaping antiviral innate immune responses; host-cell Salmonella interactions; role of dendritic cells in the development of the immune cell compartment.
- An aerosolized formulation of BCG encapsulated alginate particles was demonstrated to be safe and efficacious when evaluated in infant rhesus macaques.
- In the area of pathogen biology, studies include drug targeting of Mycobacterium tuberculosis; investigation into the molecular basis of infection caused by Plasmodium, Toxoplasma, and Leishmania, amongst others
- Several Indigenous products have been developed for therapeutic interventions in Chronic Diseases.
- A method for treatment for osteoarthritis using a collagen-based herbal formulation has been developed at NII, and the technology has been transferred to a company.
- In aging and metabolic disease, mechanisms underpinning aging are ongoing in well-defined genetically tractable model systems, and metabolism of muscle wasting and bone development are areas of active investigation.
- NII has initiated a Flagship Programme in Immuno-Engineering. This umbrella project encompasses research on novel adjuvants and vaccines (for infectious diseases and cancer), immunotherapy strategies and artificial antigen-presenting cells, scaffolds, and drug delivery devices, and new methods and protocols for regenerative medicine.
- NII is the lead coordinator for Indo-EU Horizon 2020 program grant titled “Indo-European Consortium for Next Generation Influenza Vaccine Innovation” and will conduct pre-clinical vaccine efficacy studies for Computationally Optimized Broadly-Reactive Antigen (COBRA) vaccine for which the field trials will be conducted in India as well as Europe.
- The faculty and researchers at NII have received numerous major national and international awards and recognitions for their scientific contributions. These include Padma Bhushan and Padma Shree, awarded to two former directors, and the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize. NII faculty have been recognised by the J.C. Bose National Fellowship, National Bioscience Award, Ranbaxy Research award, Fellowships of leading Science Academies, TWAS fellowship, BM Birla Science Prize, Wellcome Trust Fellowship, HHMI Award, NASI-Reliance Golden Jubilee award, Tata Innovation Fellowship, Swarnajayanti Fellowship, Goyal Prize, Vasvik award, Bhashin award, Ramalingaswamy Fellowship, NASI-SCOPUS young scientist award, SERB STAR Award, Lifetime Achievement Award (India Society for the study of Reproduction and Fertility), OPPI Woman Scientist Award, Shakuntala Amir Chand Prize etc. Research scholars have received best poster/presentation awards at several conferences.
- The institute has organized outreach and public engagement events by participating in the India International Science Festival, Global Bio India, and interactions with students from various colleges.