Dr. Shama Bhat completed his doctoral thesis from the Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of
Science, Bangalore in 1979. His thesis work was on the regulation of Cholesterol Biosynthesis. After
completion of the Ph. D., he moved to the Department of Microbiology, University of Connecticut Health
Centre, Farmington, USA, where he worked on the regulation of Myelin synthesis. Here, his discovery on the
requirement of non-oligodendrocyte signals for the development of myelin was published in several
international journals. In 1983 he joined the faculty of the department of Neurology, University of
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA, where he continued to work on the regulation of myelin synthesis, which is
the main factor in the problems associated with Multiple Sclerosis, a degenerative disease of the human
brain. At this time the AIDS related complications were started to become a major issue. Dr. Bhat noticed
that the later stages of AIDS related dementia and the Multiple Sclerosis related dementia are similar and
started to work on the AIDS related projects. At this time, it was shown that the HIV virus enters the white
blood cells through CD4 receptor, and the brain cells do not have CD4 receptors. Dr. Bhat and his associates
have shown that Galactosyl ceramide, a specific lipid molecule in the myelin and oligodendrocyte, mediates
the entry of HIV into the brain cells. This major discovery was published in Science and several other
journals.
In 1994, Dr. Bhat decided to come back to India and with the help of a few NRI friends, set up Bhat Biotech
India (P) Ltd. The mission was to set up a company to provide quality healthcare products at affordable
price and serve the people and provide employment. He chose Diagnostic kits and reagents and Biotech
products as the means to achieve the goal. In 1996 the first product, Pregnancy test, was launched and
thereafter more than 100 products were added to the portfolio. They include HIV, Hepatitis, Malaria,
Chikungunya, Cancer markers, Dengue, cardiac markers, syphilis, etc. Started with only five people, Bhat
Biotech today employs more than 350 people directly and more than 300 people indirectly. When the Covid
pandemic spread all over the world, Bhat Biotech was at the forefront in providing diagnostic kits and
reagents for Covid. Dr. Bhat derives immense pleasure in providing employment to so many people. Bhat has
assembled a good team of scientists for the innovation on Biotech and diagnostic fronts. The R&D team now
has developed more than 80 products and going very strong with more and more innovative products. The
Chikungunya test is the first one in the world. We will be the first one to launch the snake venom rapid
test, test for the detection of silkworm parasite and Haemophilia rapid test kits shortly.
Production of antigens in animals and E. coli cells are used for the production of kits for the detection
of HIV, Malaria, Syphilis, etc. We have a group devoted to the development of monoclonal antibodies, FBA
fragments and humanized antibodies. We also have initiated work on humanization of antibodies for eventual
therapeutic applications as well as in the production of HVR fragments of antibodies in diagnosis.
We have a group that works on building instrumentation. We have built a PCR machine completely indigenously
for the first time in India.
As a social concern, Dr. Bhat has set up a Navachethana Retirement Township in Puttur, DK, exclusively for
the retired people. This houses more than 120 families and provides all the services required for elderly
people.
In addition to the products, Dr. Bhat has realised the need for hands on training for the Biotech students
and started training programs for Biotech students. Bhat Biotech is the approved training centre for DBT.
Many students from the Biotech collages and Engineering collages attend the training programs. Several
students are registered with Manipal University for Ph.D. through Bhat Biotech. Bhat Biotech is an approved
centre by Manipal University for Ph. D.
