by Maleeha Sofi
SRINAGAR: Dr Khalid Zaffar Masoodi, Associate Professor at the Division of Plant Biotechnology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), along with his PhD scholar Ms Shivani, has been conferred the prestigious D.E.S.I.G.N for BioE3 Challenge Award by BIRAC-BRIC under the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India.
The D.E.S.I.G.N BioE3 Challenge is a national initiative aimed at promoting cutting-edge innovation among students, researchers, scientists, and startups, aligned with India’s vision of a sustainable, circular, and clean bio-economy. Out of 560 applicants from across the country, Dr Masoodi and Ms Shivani were selected among the Top 10 innovators nationally, receiving a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh for their work recognised for its scientific excellence, originality, and societal impact.
Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai, Vice-Chancellor of SKUAST-K, congratulated the duo and lauded their efforts in advancing biotechnology-driven solutions emerging from Kashmir. He emphasised that such achievements reflect the growing research and innovation ecosystem of SKUAST-K, ranked among India’s top agricultural universities.
Dr Masoodi, a distinguished innovator with 11 granted patents, has consistently contributed to translational research and biotechnology solutions of national and global significance, strengthening Kashmir’s presence on India’s scientific and innovation map.
A key innovation that earned this recognition is TaxO, a plant-based functional food developed at SKUAST-K. TaxO is gaining national and international attention for its novel, diet-based approach to preventing and managing prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). The award highlighted the team’s research demonstrating that TaxO targets the androgen receptor, a crucial molecular driver of prostate cancer progression.
Preclinical laboratory and animal studies indicate that TaxO significantly reduces tumour volume, suppresses cancer cell growth and migration, lowers PSA levels, and doubles survival in prostate cancer models, while remaining safe for consumption. Worldwide, over 5,000 patients have reportedly experienced symptom resolution within 7–10 days, underscoring its potential as a functional superfood for high-risk populations.
With patent protection and regulatory approvals from FSSAI, Ministry of AYUSH, Health Canada, and GMP certification, TaxO has drawn interest from researchers, clinicians, and nutraceutical industries across India, the USA, Canada, and Malaysia.
Aligned with Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives, this breakthrough is expected to boost Kashmir’s bio-economy through local GMP-compliant manufacturing, positioning the region as an emerging hub for evidence-based functional foods and biotechnology innovation.
