National Symposium on Fish Proteomics Held at ICAR-CIFA, Bhubaneswar

13 June 2025, Bhubaneswar

ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Bhubaneswar, organised a National Symposium on Fish Proteomics today, marking a significant step forward in India's efforts to advance proteomics research in aquaculture.

The event was inaugurated by Dr. Debasis Dash, Director, BRIC–Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar. In his keynote address, he emphasized the critical role of proteomics in addressing the challenges of climate change and highlighted the vast potential of brain proteomics in understanding neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. He also discussed recent advancements in peptide identification using computational tools such as PgxSavy developed by his team.

Dr. Bimal Mohanty, Former Assistant Director General (Inland Fisheries), ICAR, provided an in-depth overview of the evolution and democratization of aquaculture proteomics, underscoring its accessibility and relevance across scientific disciplines. He revealed the formation of the “Bhubaneswar Proteomics Club,” a new initiative aimed at fostering innovation and collaboration in the field.

Dr. Jyotirmaya Mohanty, Organising Secretary, reflected on ICAR-CIFA’s early initiatives in protein biomarker research and its ongoing leadership in stress physiology and proteomics.

Presiding over the inaugural session, Dr. Pramoda Kumar Sahoo, Director, ICAR-CIFA, acknowledged the efforts of scientists advancing proteomics research and reiterated the institute’s commitment to interdisciplinary scientific excellence.

The symposium brought together experts from leading institutions including BRIC-ILS, North Odisha University, ICAR-CIFE, ICAR-CICR, CCARS-Kolkata, and Novelgene Technologies Pvt. Ltd. Discussions spanned applications of proteomics in aquaculture, animal sciences, and human health. The event also saw enthusiastic participation from students and early-career researchers.

The day concluded with a shared vision to establish a national collaborative framework integrating proteomics with other omics platforms such as genomics and transcriptomics. Led by the Association of Aquaculturists and ICAR-CIFA, the symposium set the stage for a unified approach to decoding fish biology and advancing sustainable aquaculture practices in India.

(Source: ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Bhubaneswar)