Inside our exclusive roadshow at one of India’s premier drug discovery institutions
On 13th May, 206, deNOVO Biolabs was on the ground at CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Lucknow – one of India’s oldest and most respected drug discovery institutions.
Since 1951, CDRI has been at the forefront of:
- Antimalarial drug development
- Tuberculosis therapeutics
- Immunomodulatory agents
- Metabolic disease research
- Infectious disease interventions
The research happening here shapes healthcare outcomes for millions.
But world-class science requires world-class tools. And for too long, Indian research institutions have faced a choice:
Wait 6-8 weeks for imported reagents, or compromise on quality with inconsistent local alternatives.
We founded deNOVO to eliminate that false choice.
About CSIR-CDRI Lucknow
CSIR-CDRI (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – Central Drug Research Institute) is a premier multi-disciplinary research organisation with a focus on:
Research Areas:
- Drug discovery and development
- Immunology and infectious diseases
- Metabolic disorders (diabetes, obesity)
- Neurological diseases
- Cancer biology
- Traditional medicine
Infrastructure:
- 100+ active researchers
- State-of-the-art laboratories
- Flow cytometry, cell culture, molecular biology, and proteomics facilities
- Clinical development support
- Regulatory liaison capabilities
Impact:
- 30+ drugs developed and licensed
- 500+ patents filed
- Collaborations with pharma, academia, and government agencies
- Training ground for India’s next-generation drug discovery scientists
The challenge CDRI researchers face:
Their experimental timelines are ambitious.
Their scientific questions are cutting-edge.
But reagent availability often becomes the bottleneck.
This is where we come in.
What did we showcase at CDRI?
Our roadshow was not a generic vendor booth. It was designed as a targeted solution showcase for CDRI’s specific research needs.
1. Cell Culture Media
Why does CDRI need it?
CDRI researchers work extensively with:
- Primary immune cells (T cells, B cells, macrophages, dendritic cells)
- Stem cells (for differentiation studies)
- Hybridoma cell lines (for antibody production)
- Cancer cell lines (for drug screening)
Each cell type has unique nutritional and environmental requirements.
What are we providing?
✓ DMEM, RPMI, Opti-MEM: Standard media with custom formulations available
✓ Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS): Multiple grades (research, GMP, heat-inactivated)
✓ Serum replacements: For defined culture conditions
✓ Supplements: L-glutamine, antibiotics, growth factors, cytokines
Advantage:
Consistent lot-to-lot performance. Local stock availability (no 6-8 week wait).
Technical support for media optimisation.
2. Research Grade ELISA Kits
Why does CDRI need it?
Immunology and infectious disease research requires quantifying:
- Cytokines: IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, TNF-α, IFN-γ
- Biomarkers: CRP, ferritin, insulin, leptin
- Pathogen antigens: For diagnostic development
What are we providing?
✓ High sensitivity: pg/mL detection limits
✓ Validated: In serum, plasma, and cell culture supernatants
✓ Reproducible: Intra-assay CV <10%, inter-assay CV <15%
✓ Fast delivery: 1-2 weeks vs 6-8 weeks for imports
Example:
Our IL-6 ELISA kit (detection range 3.12-200 pg/mL) has been validated in inflammatory disease models at multiple research institutions.
3. Primary & Secondary Antibodies
Why does CDRI need it?
Flow cytometry, Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and immunocytochemistry are daily techniques at CDRI.
What are we providing?
✓ Validated primary antibodies: CD4, CD8, CD25, FOXP3, cytokines, signaling proteins
✓ Secondary antibodies: HRP, FITC, PE, APC conjugates
✓ Isotype controls: For accurate flow cytometry gating
✓ Custom conjugations: Available on request
Advantage: Application-specific validation data provided. Not generic “works in most applications” claims.
4. Biosimilar ELISA Kits
Why does CDRI need this?
Some CDRI teams work on biosimilar development and biopharmaceutical quality control.
What are we providing?
✓ E. coli HCP ELISA: 1.95-500 ng/mL range (validated across 6 strains)
✓ CHO HCP ELISA: 0.78-100 ng/mL range
✓ DNA HCP ELISA: 0.5-50 ng/mL range (detects fragmented DNA)
Advantage:
C-CAMP validated (100% concordance with imported reference). Indigenous alternative with regulatory-ready documentation.
5. Bioprocess Monitoring Kits
Why does CDRI need it?
Teams working with fermentation, cell culture scale-up, and bioprocess optimisation need real-time analytics.
What are we providing?
✓ Glucose & lactate quantification: Monitor metabolic status
✓ Glutamine & ammonia detection: Optimise media replenishment
✓ Amino acid profiling: Understand nutrient consumption
✓ Cell viability assays: Track culture health
6. Custom Antibody Development Services
Why does CDRI need this?
CDRI researchers often work with novel targets that don’t have commercially available antibodies.
What are we providing?
✓ Monoclonal antibody development: From immunisation to hybridoma screening to purification
✓ Polyclonal antibody production: Rabbit, goat, chicken hosts
✓ Recombinant protein expression: For use as antigens or standards
✓ Assay development: ELISA, lateral flow, immunoassay optimisation
Timeline: 12-16 weeks for monoclonal antibodies, 8-12 weeks for polyclonal antibodies.
Why do researchers prefer deNOVO?
1. Validated Performance
We do not blindly claim our reagents work. We provide validation data from institutions like yours.
2. Faster Delivery
1-2 weeks vs 6-8 weeks for imports. Your experiments don’t wait; your reagents shouldn’t either.
3. Local Technical Support
Email-only support with 24-hour response times isn’t enough. We offer on-site assistance when needed.
4. Collaborative Pricing
Academic institutions and government research labs receive preferential pricing. We want to support your science, not strain your budget.
5. Indigenous Innovation
Choosing deNOVO supports India’s self-reliance in critical research infrastructure.
Live from the Roadshow
Our team and our dealer partner engaged with researchers throughout the day.
Next steps for researchers
If you attended today’s roadshow:
✓ Follow up with our team directly: info@denovobiolabs.com
✓ Request free sample evaluation for any product showcased
✓ Schedule a follow-up visit for in-depth technical discussions
If you missed the roadshow:
✓ Visit our home page
✓ Request product catalogs and validation data
✓ Connect with our team: info@denovobiolabs.com | +91 80 29575711
Conclusion
CSIR-CDRI’s mission is to discover drugs that improve lives.
deNOVO’s mission is to provide the reagents that make those discoveries possible.
The roadshow was just the beginning.