Structural Proteomics Laboratory Directed by Prof. Dr. Amit Kumar Mandal Recognized for Global Disease Research

Milford, Mass. – April 9, 2013 – At a ceremony at St. John’s Research Institute (Bangalore, India) Waters announced the selection of the St. John’s Research Institute for its Centers of Innovation Program for research in the field of structural proteomics. It is the first institution in India to receive the designation of a Waters® Center of Innovation.

Under the direction of Prof. Dr. Amit Kumar Mandal, a Professor of Molecular Medicine and Clinical Proteomics, St. John’s has earned a reputation for its research in blood disorders and other diseases that disproportionately affect disadvantaged populations.

“What you see today is a culmination of a great amount of dedication and passion on the part of Prof. Mandal. Our relationship with Waters is not just one of a client and vendor; it is a true working partnership and has been ever since this laboratory came into existence in 2009,” said K. Srinivasan, Dean, St. John’s Research Institute in remarks during the ceremony.

On hand to congratulate Prof. Mandal and his team was K.V. Venugopalan, President, Waters India Pvt. Ltd. “We are proud to be associated with Prof. Mandal’s outstanding and pioneering work in structural proteomics,” he said. “Partnering with St. John’s Research Institute is a reflection of our mutual interests in serving society by improving the health of patient communities through science.”

(L. to R.) Dr. John Gebler, General Manager, Waters Centers of Innovation Program; Dr. K. Srinivasan, Dean, St. John's Research Institute; Dr. P.R. Krishnaswamy, Professor and Consultant, St. John's Research Institute; Prof. Dr. Amit Kumar Mandal, and K.V. Venugopalan, President, Waters India Pvt. Ltd. Photo courtesy of Waters Corporation

Prof. Mandal told his audience that as a physical chemist with a special interest in molecular structure, he came to mass spectrometry in 2005 when his professor encouraged him to learn mass spectrometry. “The boss is always right I guess,” he said. “I did an internet search and found the citation report for Prof. John Fenn’s paper on electrospray mass spectrometry of large molecules. The citation index growth of this paper convinced everyone that electrospray mass spectrometry was an important breakthrough in science. So I gradually started learning about mass spectrometry. It’s made all the difference.”

Prof. Mandal’s relationship with Waters began when he first began using a combination of a nanoACQUITY UPLC® System and a Waters SYNAPT® HDMS Mass Spectrometer equipped with an electrospray ionization source, a MALDI source, and an option for doing hydrogen deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDXMS). The instrumentation is giving Prof. Mandal and his research colleagues new insights into the structural changes associated with post-translational modifications of hemoglobin variants.

Waters became one of the first analytical instrument industry companies to establish a direct presence in India in 1988. Now with headquarters in Bangalore and satellite offices in six cities throughout the country, Waters supports its many customers directly with training, applications development and service support.

About St. John’s Research Institute

The St. Johns Research Institute (SJRI) is a part of the St John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, which is run by the CBCI Society for Medical Education.

From its inception St. John’s set before it an ideal of excellence in academic courses as well as service to society, as a result of which it has truly become holistic both in its outlook and in its approach to the problems of community health.

In 2000, the Academy decided that its commitment to excellence in research required the setting up of an Institute that was dedicated to the pursuit of research and capacity development in St John’s. This vision encompassed the improvement of the health of the community and patients through research, and the development of a center of excellence in medical research in India.

From this vision, a specific mission for the SJRI was developed around population health.