Published April 10, 2023 | Version 1
Proposal Open

Expanding the Indian Knowledge System inspired biomedical science in the USA

  • 1. Thoreau Laboratory for Global Health, M2D2, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA
  • 1. Thoreau Laboratory for Global Health, M2D2, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, mA
  • 2. KaviKrishna Stem Cell Laboratory, Research Park, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, India
  • 3. Thoreau Laboratory for Global Health, M2D2, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA

Description

Summary: To meet the complex challenge of the 21st century, science needs the support of philosophy. Yet, modern scientists, especially biomedical scientists, rarely seek philosophical guidance to gain conceptual insight or formulate new ideas/theories on basic science as well as public health. In this context, the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) may play a key role as it is enriched in great philosophical thoughts. We and others have applied philosophical ontology to gain insight into stem cell biology, especially stemness (the identity and state of a stem cell) [1-4] (Figure 1-2). Importantly, by implementing the Vedic philosophy of "Avatarvada" and "Satavata Tarka" (Figure 3), we have gained insight into stem cell altruism and stem cell niche defense [3-5] as well as global health diseases like tuberculosis and covid19 [3], [5-6]. Moreover, based on Vedic Altruism's metaphysic of community healing through temple networks (Figure 4), we have developed a hybrid digital therapeutic regime for bio-social medicine, an emerging area of global health practice [7-8]. These are a few examples of the practical applicability of Vedic philosophy-inspired biological altruism in clarifying and formulating new concepts in stem cell biology and its application in diseases such as tuberculosis and cancer. Significantly, these examples shine the need for the IKS for modern science to progress. In this context, as per new UGC guidelines, we have developed a Vedic Altruism-based Project course for the undergraduate and graduate students of IKS. We have achieved this success through the KaviKrishna lab at Guwahati (est. 2010), and its sister lab, the Thoreau Lab for Global Health at Lowell, Massachusetts (est. 2018), plus two philosophical centers, the Suad Muni Pond campus of rural Sualkuchi (near Guwahati), and Walden Pond campus of Concord (near Boston, Massachusetts). The Walden Pond is the site, where the famous American Vedic philosopher Henry David Thoreau meditated on Hindu philosophy. Reviving the traditional Vedic Philosophy and Science study at Walden Pond has been a key mission for us since 2015 when Dr. Bikul Das talked about this plan in a speech at Harvard University (https://youtu.be/XyUhs6rCJcM). Thoreau and his mentor Emerson had regular ancient Indian philosophical and scientific discussions at Harvard, but that tradition is somewhat lost or not being fully utilized for the advancement of modern biomedical science, especially stem cell science. We now would like to revive Thoreau's tradition by expanding Thoreau Lab for Global Health to Kendall Square, a world-renowned hub of innovation, ingenuity, and imagination (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kendall_Square) that serves as the tech hub of MIT/Harvard and allied institutions, including Forsyth Institute, where Dr. Das worked as a faculty for five years. The Thoreau Lab at Kendall Square will then connect to greater India's emerging IKS academics through KaviKrishna Laboratory, Guwahati. Through these two centers as one hub, the International Vedic Center of Health Sciences (Figure 5), we would like to accomplish the following objectives in the next three years.

 

  1. Consolidate our gain in the application of IKS in bio-medical science (Figure 1-3).
  2. Consolidate our gain in the application of IKS in Public Health and Global Health Theory (Figure 4).
  3. Development of an IKS based Medical Humanities research project for USA students interested to pursue short term research in rural India.

References: 

  1. Laplane L, Mantovani P, Adolphs R, Chang H, Mantovani A, McFall-Ngai M, et al. Why science needs philosophy. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2019;116(10):3948-52. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.190035711
  2. Das B, B.-M.R., Tsui M, Lotfi S, Tsuchida R, Felsher DW, Yeger H., HIF-2α suppresses p53 to enhance the stemness and regenerative potential of human embryonic stem cells. Stem Cells, 2012; 30(8):1685-1695. PMID: 22689594; DOI: 10.1002/stem.1142
  3. Pathak L, Gayan S, Pal B, Talukdar J, Bhuyan S, Sandhya S, et al. Corona virus activatesan altruistic stem cell mediated defense mechanism that reactivates dormant tuberculosis: implications in COVID-19 pandemic. Am J Pathol, 2021;7:1255–68. PMID: 33887214; DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2021.03.011
  4. Akeel IS. Oral Microbiome Induced Tumor Stemness Pathway in Oral Cancer. PhD thesis. Harvard School of Dental Medicine Boston, Massachusetts, 2020. https://dash.harvard.edu/handle/1/37365590.
  5. Das B, Pathak L, Gayan S, Pal B, Saikia P, Baishya T, et al. Stem cell basis of a host driven transmission of antigen packed aerosols: a novel mechanism of natural vaccination for tuberculosis. BioRxiv, 2020;11.14.382572. DOI:10.1101/2020.11.14.382572
  6. Das B, Kashino SS, Pulu I, Kalita D, Swami V, Yeger H, Felsher DW, Campos-Neto A: CD271(+)  bone marrow mesenchymal   stem cells may provide a niche for dormant Mycobacterium  tuberculosis. Sci Transl Medicine, 2013: 5(170). PMID:23363977.DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3004912
  7. Baishya T, Pathak L, Das R, Baishya S, Saikia P, Mitra S et a. A Vedic Jiva UpakaraCikitsha Tantra (Vedic altruism) based telemedicine program for rural health care in India. Proceeding of the North East Research Conclave, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati.2022. https://zenodo.org/record/8062404
  8. Das, B. Kavikrishna Laboratory: Recovering the spirit of Jiva Upakara Tantra (Vedic Altruism).Kavikrishna Prakash.Sualkuchi.2019, ISBN:978-81-939858-3-0https://www.amazon.in/Recovering-Spirit-Upakara-Tantra-Altruism/dp/8193985834/

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2023-04
Concept Note

References

  • 1. Laplane L, Mantovani P, Adolphs R, Chang H, Mantovani A, McFall-Ngai M, et al. Why science needs philosophy. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2019;116(10):3948-52. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.190035711 2. Das B, B.-M.R., Tsui M, Lotfi S, Tsuchida R, Felsher DW, Yeger H., HIF-2α suppresses p53 to enhance the stemness and regenerative potential of human embryonic stem cells. Stem Cells, 2012; 30(8):1685-1695. PMID: 22689594; DOI: 10.1002/stem.1142 3. Pathak L, Gayan S, Pal B, Talukdar J, Bhuyan S, Sandhya S, et al. Corona virus activatesan altruistic stem cell mediated defense mechanism that reactivates dormant tuberculosis: implications in COVID-19 pandemic. Am J Pathol, 2021;7:1255–68. PMID: 33887214; DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2021.03.011 4. Akeel IS. Oral Microbiome Induced Tumor Stemness Pathway in Oral Cancer. PhD thesis. Harvard School of Dental Medicine Boston, Massachusetts, 2020. https://dash.harvard.edu/handle/1/37365590. 5. Das B, Pathak L, Gayan S, Pal B, Saikia P, Baishya T, et al. Stem cell basis of a host driven transmission of antigen packed aerosols: a novel mechanism of natural vaccination for tuberculosis. BioRxiv, 2020;11.14.382572. DOI:10.1101/2020.11.14.382572 6. Das B, Kashino SS, Pulu I, Kalita D, Swami V, Yeger H, Felsher DW, Campos-Neto A: CD271(+) bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells may provide a niche for dormant Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Sci Transl Medicine, 2013: 5(170). PMID:23363977.DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3004912 7. Baishya T, Pathak L, Das R, Baishya S, Saikia P, Mitra S et a. A Vedic Jiva UpakaraCikitsha Tantra (Vedic altruism) based telemedicine program for rural health care in India. Proceeding of the North East Research Conclave, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati.2022. https://zenodo.org/record/8062404 8. Das, B. Kavikrishna Laboratory: Recovering the spirit of Jiva Upakara Tantra (Vedic Altruism).Kavikrishna Prakash.Sualkuchi.2019, ISBN:978-81-939858-3-0https://www.amazon.in/Recovering-Spirit-Upakara-Tantra-Altruism/dp/8193985834/ 9. Background notes of a press release by Elsevier, "Stem Cells may hold a key to developing newvaccines against Covid-19", June 2021.https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/696977 10. KalitaPrabin,Oncologyasper Vedanta(thephilosophyofaltruismunderlinesDrBikulDas"s research into the growth of deadly cancer cells). Cover story in Time Crest, August 2012https://www.academia.edu/85009383/Article 11. Talukdar J, Pathak L, Dutta P, Das R, Pal B, Therrien J, Mohanty S, Karmakar S, Bhai H, Das B.Hindu bioethics view on CRISPR based embryo editing. Center for Vedic Altruism, Research Park,Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati in the book, CRISPR Revolution in Science, Religion and Ethics, edited by Ted Peters and Arvin Gouw (Bloomsbury, New York, 2023). 12. Das K.R. Manavatar Tantra, a poem on the meaning of Jiva Upakar Tantra, in Sonali Nakhar Jui,secondedition,KaviKrishnaPrakash,Sualkuhci,Kamrup, Assam,2019.ISBN.9788193985847; Page 90. 13. Das,B.EjonVigyanirHindutvaYatra (A scientist journey to realize the essence of Hindu knowledge system, Hindutva).KavikrishnaPrakash,Sualkuchi,2018,ISBN:9788193985 809https://www.amazon.in/Ejon-Vigyanir-Hindutva-jatra-Bikul/dp/819398580X/ 14. Das B, and Das M: KaviKrishna's r kabitat Sri Sri Hatisatra r avadan (the contribution of Sri Sri Hatisatra in the poetry of KaviKrishna, in Santa-Yashamrita. 2013, Sualkuchi Budram Madhav College (www.sbms.com), Sualkuchi, Kamrup, Assam https://sbmscollege.org/library/college-publications/santa-yashamrit.pdf 15. Das B. The Science Behind Squalene: The Human Antioxidant. Toronto, Canada: Toronto Medical Pub., for the International Council for Bionutrient Research (2000). ISBN 1– 890412-95–3. https://www.academia.edu/85471724/The_Science_Behind_Squalene_the_Human_Antioxidant 16. Das B. Globalization and Emerging Opportunities for Indigenous Cultures. International Center for Cultural Studies (ICCS) proceeding, Mumbai. 2003. https://www.academia.edu/7882695/Globalization_and_Emerging_Opportunities_for_Indigenous_Cultures 17. https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2012/06/researcher-identifies-unusual-altruistic-stem-cell-behavior-with-possible-link-to-cancer.html 18. Pal B and Das B*. In vitro Culture of Naïve Human Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells: A Stemness Based Approach. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2017; 23;5:69. PMID: 28884113 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2017.00069 19. Bhuyan S, Pal B, Pathak L, Saikia PJ, Mitra S, Gayan S, Mokhtari RB, Li H, Ramana CV, Baishya D, Das B. Targeting tumor stemness defense phenotype by activating pathogen induced stem cell niche defense. Front Immunol. 2022;29 (13):933329. PMID: 36248858 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.933329 20. Pathak L, Baishya T, Saikia P, Das NR, Baishya S, Das R, Dutta P, Das C, Maral M, Das G, Das B. The development of immunotherapy agents from the indigenous herbal plants and microbes used by the tantric practitioners of Vedic Jiva Upakara Cikitsha Tantra (Vedic altruism-based medicine system) of Assam, India. Cancer Research 2023, 83 (7_Supplement): 2772. https://doi.org/10.1158/1538-7445.AM2023-2772 21. PathakL,BaishyaT,DasR,BaishyaS,SaikiaP,MitraS,DasT,KalitaN,PuloI,SwamiV,McGorrayM,DasB. Applicationofdigitaltherapeutics-based Avatartherapyinglobalhealthincluding tuberculosis and cancer. Center for Vedic Altruism, KaviKrishna Laboratory, Research Park, Indian Institute ofTechnology, Guwahati (Manuscript under preparation). 22. DasB.CovidrvirudheKaviKrishnarSankhanaad(KaviKrishna"sRoaragainstCovid19pandemic), inAssamese.April2021,KaviKrishnaPrakash,Sualkuchi,Kamrup,Assam.Pages65.ISBN9788193985830. 23. Baishya T, Pathak L, Das R, Baishya S et al. A Vedic altruism based telemedicine approach reducesprogression of covid19 diseases in rural India. Center for Vedic Altruism, KaviKrishna Laboratory, Research Park, IndianInstitute of Technology, Guwahati (Manuscript under review). 24. Pathak L, Pal B, Baishya T, Sarma A, Das B. (2019). Abstract 3342: A novel indigenous knowledgesystem based approach to study cancer health disparities in rural population of North East India.Cancer Research. 79(13 Supplement):3342.https://doi.org/10.1158/1538- 7445.AM2019-3342 25. Das B, Yeger H, Freedman M, Koren G, Baruchel S. In vitro cytoprotective activity of squalene in a bone marrow versus neuroblastoma model: its implication in cancer chemotherapy. Eu J Cancer, 2003 (39): 2556-2565. PMID:14602142; DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2003.07.002 26. Das B, Antoon R, Tsuchida R, Lotfi S, Morozova O, Farhat W, Malkin D, Koren G, Yeger H, Baruchel S. Squalene selectively protects mouse bone marrow progenitor against cisplatin and carboplatin-induced cytotoxicity in vivo without protecting tumor growth. Neoplasia, 2008; 10 (10): 1105-19. PMID: 18813359; DOI: 10.1593/neo.08466 27. Tsuchida R, Das B*, Yeger H, Koren G, Shibuya M, Thorner PS, Baruchel S, Malkin D. Cisplatin treatment increases survival and expansion of a highly tumorigenic side-population fraction by upregulating VEGF/Flt1 autocrine signaling. Oncogene, 2008; 27 (28): 3923-34 (*equal first author). PMID:18332870; DOI: 10.1038/onc.2008.38 28. Das B., Pal B., Bhuyan R., Li H., Sarma A., Gayan S., Talukdar J., Sandhya S., Bhuyan S., Gogoi G.,Gouw A. M., Baishya D., Gotlib J. R., Kataki A. C., & Felsher D. W. MYC Regulates theHIF2αStemnessPathwayviaNanogandSox2toMaintainSelf-RenewalinCancerStemCells versusNon-StemCancerCells.CancerResearch, 2019; 79(16),4015–4025.PMID:31266772;doi/10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-18-2847 29. Das B*, Tsuchida R, Koren G, Malkin D, Baruchel S, Yeger H. Hypoxia enhances tumor stemness by increasing the invasive and tumorigenic side population fraction. Stem Cells, 2008; 26 (7):1818-30. (*corresponding author). PMID:18467664;doi/10.1634/stemcells.2007-0724 30. Das B. Altruistic stem cells and cancer stem cells. Book chapter in Cancer Stem Cells, Wiley Press, NJ, 2014. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/9781118356203.ch7 31. Garhain J, Bhuyan S, Kalita D, Pulu I, Das B*, Bhatnagar R. Preclinical and clinical evidences of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis persistence in the hypoxic niche of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells after therapy. Am J Pathol, 2015; 185 (7): 1924-1934. PMID: 26066709. (*corresponding author).DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2015.03.028 32. Das, Sonali; Das, Rupam; Dutta, Prajna Paramitta; Singh, Raunak Raj; Baishya, Tutumoni; Baishya, Sailen; Pathak, Lekhika; Das, Bikul. An Indo-American Medical Humanities program promoting Kamrup's IKS-based healthcare: a model for innovative rural and global health practices. National Conferences on Indian Knowledge System and Cow-Science, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, May 2023. https://zenodo.org/record/8071027