A Tribute to Dr. Suman Kapur: her passion and dedication for innovation

She once said, age is cumber for others but for me, it is just a number.

Her commitment to research was phenomenal. She was not just Dean of Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani, but rather an institution herself.

She joined BITS Pilani in 2004 as a Professor at the Centre for Biotechnology and Biological Sciences. During her 18 years of service, Prof. Kapur's path-breaking, innovative work led to the development of a cost-effective and rapid point-of-care device for detecting antibiotic resistance: the RightBiotic. This detection platform can select the right antibiotic in an antibiotic sensitivity test in just 4 hours as opposed to 4 days (as in a standard culture test).

Her revolutionary research also led to the development of a point-of-care device for cost-effective detection of glucose in blood at just 2.00 INR, and requires 1/1000 amount of blood compared to glucometers commonly used.

She later formulated a mouthwash with the potential to halt the spread of the coronavirus during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a dedicated researcher and academician, she received numerous awards and accolades in recognition of her remarkable achievements in the fields of Biotechnology and Biological Sciences.

That includes the National Technology Award for recognizing the development of indigenous technologies with potential for commercialization, from former president of India Ram Nath Kovind on May 11, 2018.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, honoured Dr. Kapur as among the 100 women achievers under the category of Science and Innovation.

She was also honoured with the Innovate for India Award by Marico Foundation, the Women Entrepreneur Quest award in TiEcon event in Santa Clara, the 10th Aegis Graham Bell Awards in the Health Tech Category, the Innovation Ninja Award by Ricoh Education Foundation, the Photon Research Award, and many more.

People who worked with her recall that Dr Kapur inspired young people for technology innovation and had a vision to see India on the global map.

In her memory, BITS Pilani in 2023 introduced the Prof. Suman Kapur Memorial Best Ph.D. Thesis Award to recognize academic excellence of students in Biological Sciences.

In conclusion, I can say that she meant the world to me.

Image credits: Authors

Authors: Dr. Rupak Kumar, Indian Council of Medical Research- Head quarter (ICMR-HQ), New Delhi. Srinivasa Rao Vulichi, S V University College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh.