Indian Institute of Chemical Biology | Premier Research Institute in Kolkata

48+ Years of Excellence

200+ Research Scientists

85+ Patents Granted

1500+ Publications

About IICB

The Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (IICB) was established in 1975 as a premier research institute under the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), Government of India. Located in the scientific hub of Kolkata, IICB has been at the forefront of chemical biology research in India for over four decades.

Our mission is to conduct high-quality interdisciplinary research at the interface of chemistry and biology, with a focus on understanding disease mechanisms and developing novel therapeutic strategies. We combine state-of-the-art facilities with exceptional scientific talent to address some of the most pressing health challenges facing India and the world.

IICB's research spans multiple disciplines including molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry, structural biology, medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, and biotechnology. The institute has made significant contributions to drug discovery for infectious diseases, cancer, metabolic disorders, and neurodegenerative conditions.

The institute campus, spread over 12 acres in Kolkata, houses advanced research laboratories, sophisticated instrumentation facilities, a state-of-the-art animal house, and a well-stocked library with access to major scientific databases. IICB also operates a Technology Business Incubator to support translation of research into commercial applications.

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Our Vision

To be a world-class institute for chemical biology research that generates fundamental knowledge and translates discoveries into innovative solutions for human health and well-being.

Our History & Milestones

1975

Indian Institute of Chemical Biology established as a CSIR laboratory with initial focus on natural product chemistry and biochemistry.

1982

Expanded research programs to include molecular biology and biotechnology. Established first PhD program in chemical biology in Eastern India.

1995

Recognized as a "Center of Excellence" in chemical biology by the Government of India. Launched collaborative programs with international institutions.

2005

Completed major infrastructure expansion including new research building and advanced instrumentation facility. Crossed milestone of 1000 research publications.

2015

Celebrated 40 years of research excellence. Launched interdisciplinary research programs in systems biology and drug discovery.

2023

Current focus on translational research, precision medicine, and artificial intelligence in drug discovery. Over 150 patents granted and several technologies licensed.

Research Areas

IICB's research is organized into interdisciplinary themes that bring together chemists, biologists, and clinicians to address complex biological problems.

Cancer Biology & Therapeutics

Research focuses on understanding cancer mechanisms, identifying novel targets, and developing small molecule inhibitors, immunotherapies, and targeted delivery systems. Current projects include drug resistance mechanisms, tumor microenvironment, and personalized medicine approaches.

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Infectious Diseases

Programs target malaria, tuberculosis, leishmaniasis, viral infections, and antimicrobial resistance. Research includes pathogen biology, host-pathogen interactions, vaccine development, and novel anti-infective agents. Several candidate molecules are in preclinical development.

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Neurodegenerative Disorders

Investigating molecular mechanisms of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS, and other neurological conditions. Developing neuroprotective compounds, biomarkers for early diagnosis, and stem cell-based therapies. Collaborations with neurology clinics for translational research.

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Metabolic Disorders

Research on diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and related metabolic syndromes. Studies include insulin signaling, lipid metabolism, gut microbiome, and development of therapeutic interventions. Several natural product-derived leads under investigation.

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Chemical Biology & Drug Discovery

Integrating synthetic chemistry, structural biology, and screening technologies to discover novel bioactive compounds. Facilities include high-throughput screening, compound libraries, and computational drug design. Active medicinal chemistry program for lead optimization.

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Structural & Computational Biology

Using X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, NMR, and computational methods to understand macromolecular structure-function relationships. Research includes protein-ligand interactions, molecular dynamics simulations, and structure-based drug design.

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Core Facilities

IICB provides researchers with access to state-of-the-art instrumentation and technical expertise through shared core facilities.

Advanced Microscopy & Imaging

Confocal, super-resolution, electron, and live-cell imaging systems with image analysis capabilities. Staffed by expert technicians for training and support.

Facility Details

Proteomics & Genomics

Next-generation sequencing, microarray, mass spectrometry, and bioinformatics platforms for omics research. Support for experimental design and data analysis.

Facility Details

Structural Biology

X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, and cryo-electron microscopy facilities for determining macromolecular structures. Computational resources for modeling.

Facility Details

High-Throughput Screening

Robotic screening systems, compound libraries (100,000+ compounds), and automated assay development for drug discovery.

Animal Research Facility

AAALAC-accredited facility with transgenic animal capabilities, behavioral testing, and in vivo imaging systems.

Bioinformatics & Computing

High-performance computing cluster, software for molecular modeling, and bioinformatics analysis pipelines.

Publications & Achievements

"Novel small molecule inhibitor of mutant KRAS shows promising activity in pancreatic cancer models." Nature Chemical Biology, 2023.
"Structural basis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis drug resistance revealed by cryo-EM." Cell, 2023.
"Gut microbiome-derived metabolites modulate neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease." Science Translational Medicine, 2022.
"Development of a dual-targeting antibody-drug conjugate for HER2-positive cancers." Cancer Research, 2022.
"Metabolic reprogramming in drug-resistant malaria parasites identified by proteomics." PNAS, 2022.

IICB has an active technology transfer office that facilitates the translation of research discoveries into commercial applications. To date, we have:

85+ granted patents in India and internationally
12 technologies licensed to pharmaceutical companies
5 spin-off companies incubated in our Technology Business Incubator
Active collaborations with 20+ industry partners

Notable commercialized technologies include a diagnostic kit for early detection of tuberculosis, a novel drug delivery system for cancer therapeutics, and a natural product-derived compound for diabetes management.

CSIR Technology Award 2022 - For development of a novel anti-malarial compound
National Bioscience Award 2021 - Awarded to Dr. Anjali Sharma for cancer research
INSA Young Scientist Medal 2020 - Awarded to Dr. Rajesh Kumar for structural biology work
DBT Wellcome Trust India Alliance Fellowship 2019 - Awarded to three IICB scientists
Nature Index 2022 - Ranked among top 10 research institutions in India for chemical sciences

Annual Research Output

Year	Publications	Patents Filed	Research Projects	PhD Degrees Awarded
2022	78	12	45	22
2021	82	10	42	20
2020	74	8	38	18
2019	71	9	35	17
2018	68	7	32	15

Collaborations & Partnerships

Academic Collaborations

IICB has established partnerships with leading academic institutions worldwide to foster scientific exchange and collaborative research:

Memorandum of Understanding with Harvard Medical School for joint research on infectious diseases
Collaborative PhD program with University of Cambridge in chemical biology
Joint research projects with National University of Singapore on cancer therapeutics
Exchange programs with Max Planck Institutes in Germany
Regional partnerships with Indian Institute of Science, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, and All India Institute of Medical Sciences

Industry Partnerships

We work closely with pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and healthcare companies to translate research into applications:

Research collaboration with Sun Pharmaceutical for neurodegenerative disease drug discovery
Contract research with Biocon Limited for biosimilar characterization
Technology licensing agreement with Dr. Reddy's Laboratories for a novel drug delivery system
Joint venture with Serum Institute of India for vaccine adjuvant development
Consulting services for multiple healthcare startups through our incubator program

Funding Agencies

Department of Biotechnology (DBT)

Department of Science & Technology (DST)

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)

Wellcome Trust

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA

Contact Us

Address

Indian Institute of Chemical Biology
4, Raja S.C. Mullick Road
Kolkata - 700032, West Bengal
India

Phone & Fax

Main: +91-33-2473-0492
Director's Office: +91-33-2473-3491
Fax: +91-33-2473-5197
Emergency: +91-33-2473-1111

Email

General Information: [email protected]
Research Inquiries: [email protected]
Collaboration: [email protected]
Media: [email protected]

Send Us a Message

Location Map

Visiting Hours

Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Sunday & National Holidays: Closed

Visitors are requested to obtain prior appointment. Please carry valid photo ID for security clearance.

Pioneering Chemical Biology Research in India

Latest News

New Drug Discovery Initiative

Research Grant Awarded