Kanpur, 27 June, 2024: The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) has launched a breakthrough technology in animal health, titled 'Lateral Flow Immunoassay Strip and Method for Detection of Mastitis in Bovines', developed by Prof. Siddhartha Panda from the Department of Chemical Engineering and National Centre for Flexible Electronics (NCFlexE), IIT Kanpur; and Dr. Satyendra Kumar, Senior Project Scientist, SCDT at NCFlexE, IITK. This innovative technology aims to revolutionize mastitis detection in dairy cattle. To facilitate its widespread adoption, IIT Kanpur has signed a technology transfer MoU with Prompt Equipments Pvt. Ltd., a leading dairy technology company operating across more than 70,000 villages nationwide.

The MoU ceremony witnessed the presence of distinguished guests, including Prof. Tarun Gupta, Dean of Research and Development at IITK; Prof. Siddhartha Panda (Inventor) from the Department of Chemical Engineering and NCFlexE at IITK; Mr. Shridhar Mehta, Licensee & Chairman of Prompt Equipments; accompanied by Mr. Chirag Trivedi.

Bovine mastitis is recognized as a primary cause of economic losses in dairy industries, resulting from reduced milk yield and poor milk quality. This disease entails an inflammatory response in the udder tissue of the mammary gland, triggered by physical trauma or microbial infections. Hence, a technology has been developed to detect Staphylococcus aureus (a bacterium) which is a key contributor to mastitis, and the associated enterotoxins, using a novel polyclonal antibody and novel designs in the form of a strip test.

Prof. Manindra Agrawal, Director of IIT Kanpur, said, "IIT Kanpur is dedicated to creating practical technologies that benefit society at large, and I believe that our mastitis detection technology can address critical issues in the agricultural sector, improving the livelihood of farmers and the quality of dairy products. We are delighted to see our technology being adopted by a leading company like Prompt Equipments Pvt. Ltd., which will ensure its widespread impact. I congratulate Prof. Siddhartha Panda and the team involved in this revolutionary development."

According to market research from pashudhanpraharee.com, the Indian Veterinary Diagnostic market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 9.5% from 2022 to 2029, reaching $9.58 billion by 2029. Addressing preferences in the veterinary diagnostic market, the strip features a dual gold nanoparticle-based lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) for enhanced sensitivity and specificity, offering rapid results and user-friendly testing. Unlike conventional technologies, the current invention also exhibits long-term stability across varying weather conditions and relatively low manufacturing costs.

Prof. Tarun Gupta, Dean of Research and Development at IIT Kanpur, emphasized the importance of this technology by saying, "Early detection of mastitis is crucial for maintaining the health and productivity of dairy cattle. Our technology offers farmers a quick, reliable, and cost-effective solution, enabling prompt action to minimize economic losses and reduce the prevalence of severe mastitis cases, thereby improving overall milk quality and yield."

Through this strategic collaboration, IIT Kanpur and Prompt Equipments Pvt. Ltd. aim to innovate, enhancing both animal welfare and economic sustainability in the dairy sector. The technology has been granted Indian Patent No. 455232 by the Indian Patent Office.

About IIT Kanpur:

Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur was established in 1959 and declared to be an Institute of National Importance by the Government of India through an Act of Parliament. IIT Kanpur is best known for the highest standard of its education in science and engineering and seminal R&D contributions over the years. The institute has a sprawling lush green campus spread over 1050 acres with large pool of academic and research resources spanning across 19 departments, 25 centers and 3 interdisciplinary programs in engineering, science, design, humanities, and management disciplines with more than 580 full-time faculty members and approximately 9000 students.

For more information, visit www.iitk.ac.in.