The Federation of Asian Biotech Associations (FABA) and the University of Hyderabad, supported by the Institute of Eminence, hosted the Whale Tank 2.0 Summit on Sunday in Hyderabad. This summit was designed as a leading platform to advance the field of life sciences.
According to officials from the University of Hyderabad, the event brought together global investors, industry leaders, and visionary innovators. They explored new advancements in various areas such as biotechnology, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, digital health, artificial intelligence in drug discovery, and agricultural technology.
At the summit, innovative startups took the spotlight by presenting their groundbreaking solutions. Some of the notable technologies showcased included Beable Health’s Armable brain therapy device, Arthro Biotech’s insect protein feed, and MedvPlus’s advanced pediatric OCT technology. The event also featured pioneering developments from companies like UR Advanced Therapeutics, which presented their de novo peptides, and VeGen, which showcased their precision oncology solutions.
Round-table discussions during the summit focused on important themes like global collaborations, interactions between industry and academia, and the key elements that enable a thriving ecosystem. These discussions also addressed India’s role in biotech innovation and the challenges faced in drug discovery.
Several awards were presented during the event to recognize significant achievements. Dr. Reema Rawat received the NATCO Pharma Award for her Cervicare device. The Dr. Y Subbarow GEM Doctoral Student Award was jointly awarded to Sandeep for his BiSpekDAbTM research and Pragya Gupta for her work on fetal hemoglobin regulation. Additionally, the FABA Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Professor Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, former Chief Scientist at WHO and former DG of ICMR, who is currently the Principal Advisor at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).
The FABA Excellence Award was presented to Dr. Rahul Purwar, an Associate Professor at IIT Bombay and the Founder and CEO of Immuno ACT, as stated by a senior officer from the University of Hyderabad.
