The ANDI Centre of Excellence for Biomedical and Biomaterials Research (CBBR) settles itself on the premises of the historic Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute at Reduit, where it aims to spearhead
innovation and scientific research on a national level. The building which now houses the CBBR was formerly the Cane Breeding Unit of the MSIRI. “Since its setting up in 1953 and throughout the years, the MSIRI has shown excellence in sugar-cane research and it is for us a matter of great pride to be given the opportunity to work on its premises in the pursuit of research excellence” said the Head of the CBBR, Prof Dhanjay Jhurry. The CBBR was inaugurated on Thursday 15 December 2011 by Dr the Hon. Rajeshwar Jeetah, Minister of Tertiary Education, Science, Research and Technology, in the presence of the Hon. Lormus Bundhoo, Minister of Health and Quality of life, Prof Konrad Morgan, Vice-Chancellor of the University, and key partners from the private and medical sectors.
A commemorative plaque was unveiled on that occasion, followed by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Cyclotron Reunion Ocean Indien (CYROI), represented by its Director, Mr. Christian Mériau. CYROI is a technology platform in the field of biosciences which offers high level multidisciplinary support to laboratories and companies involved in research development programs and innovation.
Both the Minister of Tertiary Education and the Minister of Health recommended this initiative and encouraged University lecturers to increase their research output, thereby helping to position Mauritius in the economic frontline and giving it international recognition both as a Knowledge and Medical hub. It is according to Dr Jeetah noteworthy that two members of the Research team are National Research Chairs, namely Prof Dhanjay Jhurry and Prof Theeshan Bahorun.
Over the past five years, the CBBR team composed of Prof Jhurry, Prof Bahorun, Dr Archana Bhaw-Luximon and Dr Sabrina Dyall from the Departments of Biosciences and Chemistry, have worked together and re-oriented their research on biomaterials and drug delivery. “Nothing great is possible if you do not have people around you who share the same vision and who can support you selflessly. I have had colleagues who have looked in the same direction and this makes the difference” remarked Prof Jhurry. The Research centre will now operate at the frontier of materials science, polymer science and health and medicine. Based on its acquired expertise, the research team will focus on emerging fields such as nanotechnology and nanomedicine.
So as to ensure that the centre pursues in its task of excellence, a scientific advisory committee will oversee its research activities and performance and will assist the CBBR in international networking and in its quest for funding. These experts are Dr Sudhoo, Director of the Mauritius Research Council, Dr Mohadeb, Executive Director of the Tertiary Education Commission, Mr Luximon, from the Ministry Tertiary Education, Science Research and Technology, Dr Thacoor, Mr D’Arifat, Pharmacie Nouvelle, and Dr Gerard Le Fur, former CEO of Sanofi Aventis and Member of the Academie Française des Sciences.
The CBBR has solicited the help of Leal Group and Pharmacie Nouvelle 
as partners. On Thursday itself, Leal Group announced that IT equipment would be donated to the Centre for Biomedical and Biomaterials Research for its conference room. Prof Jhurry acknowledged that now more than ever, the success of the Research centre “will depend on the support it will be receiving from the public and private sector to help it in its mission towards health innovation”.
