Professor Nitin Mantri
Details
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College: School of Science
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Department: School of Science
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Campus: Bundoora West Australia
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nitin.mantri@rmit.edu.au
Open to
- Masters Research or PhD student supervision
About
Professor Mantri is an internationally recognised expert in plant functional genomics and pharmacology, traditional medicine research. He is the leader of The Pangenomics Lab and Program Manager for Master of Biotechnology.
Core interest
My basic training is in Plant Functional Genomics. However, I strategically extended my research to Medicinal Plants and Functional foods to improve health of Australians. I have published over 110 Refereed Articles and successfully obtained over $12 million funding in these areas.
Prof Mantri has established research partnerships and received over $12 million dollars funding in collaboration with various Australian industries namely, GRDC, Horticulture Australia Ltd, Strawberries Australia, Sanitarium Health Foods, Stiefel Research Australia, Kenkay Pharmaceuticals, Skybury Coffee Pty Ltd, Sun Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Global Health Retreat, The Good Brew Co and MGC Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
Professional Awards and Distinctions
2021 Chair of the International Conference on Traditional Medicine and Phytochemistry
2021 Appointed Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Western Australia
2020 Chair of the Medicinal Cannabis Conference
2019 Dean’s Award for Research Excellence (School of Science)
2016 Teaching Achievement Award (85+ category)
2013 Dean’s Award for Research Excellence (School of Applied Sciences)
2013 RMIT ECR Travel Award
2010 RMIT ECR Award
Media statements / interviews (selected 2014 onwards)
2021: Chickpea gene editing work. SiriusXM 143: Top of Mind with Julie Rose. A daily, live news talk and interview show heard in the US by over 26 million listeners.
2021: Chickpeas are in peril. Gene editing could save them. Experience Magazine Boston, USA
2020: MGC Pharma partners with RMIT to Build Digital Cannabis Database. The Green Fund
2019: Education is key if the medical cannabis industry is to grow and prosper. Starinvesting
2019: MGC Pharma and RMIT develop the 'Google of medicinal cannabis' to support R&D and NPD. NutraIngredients-Asia and IT NEWS
2019: CannHub – A Medicinal Cannabis Hub. Ozdial
2018: RMIT University and MGC Pharmaceuticals partnership to launch international medicinal cannabis research hub. Biotech Capital
2018: More Discoveries on Horizon in Medical Cannabis Research. Kalkine Media
2018: ‘Cannabusiness and Academia; Building for the Next Generation’ – CannaTech Sydney 2018.
2018: Prime Time: Cannatech Sydney Day 1. Mary’s Publications
2017: Announcing our Medical Cannabis research collaboration with RMIT University: A step forward in Cannabis research. Medium.com
2017: Can weed fight melanoma? MGC pays RMIT University to find out. Stockhead.com.au
2014: Steps Towards Bioactive Honey. SBS Radio October 2014
Supervisor projects
- Development of early detection kit for citrus pathogens
- 2 Aug 2024
- An integrative approach to assess the impact of heat stress on C3 and C4 pseudocereals of Amaranthaceae
- 5 Jan 2024
- Technological interventions for value addition of polyherbal spent materials from ayurvedic industries
- 19 Dec 2022
- Fabrication/Development of bio functional Phyto-glycogen (PG) based Nanoparticles for gene and drug delivery
- 30 Aug 2022
- Broad spectrum resistance to bacterial blight in Pomegranate using CRISPR-CAS gene editing
- 23 Aug 2022
- Design and characterisation of nanodelivery method in plants
- 7 Jul 2022
- Hyaluronic Acid-Based Nanohydrogel as Effective Carrier for Transdermal Delivery of CBD for Melanoma Cancer Therapy
- 21 Sep 2021
- Production of Cannabinoids by Alternative Methods
- 1 Sep 2021
- Synthesis of Polyphenol based Cannabimimetic compounds with anticancer properties
- 9 Jun 2021
- Study of Whole-Body Thermotherapy (Sauna) in Human Health and Wellness
- 10 Dec 2020
- Evaluating the Use of Cannabis Extract (PHEC66) as an Anti-Cancer Agent for Melanoma
- 17 Jun 2020
- Designing Treatment Strategies for Prostate Cancer Using Cannabinoids
- 28 Feb 2020
- Analysis of gene co-expression networks using local measures of dissimilarity.
- 27 Mar 2019
- A Recombinase Polymerase Amplification-lateral Flow Assay (RPA-LFA) for Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Food and Beverages – Towards Assured Point-of-care Diagnostics
- 1 May 2018
- Selection of highly specific aptamers to detect Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium pseudograminearum
- 2 Oct 2017
- Understanding the Drought Mechanism and Designing Strategies to Mitigate Drought Stress in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)
- 18 Jul 2016
- Neurocognitive and Physiological Effects of Tulsi Tea
- 29 Feb 2016
- Medicinal Honey for Cholesterol Homeostasis and the Structure of Delivery Hydrogels
- 20 Jul 2015
- Production of Pure Mono-Floral Honey from Agastache rugosa (Fisch. et Mey.) O. Kuntze and its Biological Activities
- 1 Nov 2013
- Chemical and sensory approaches for improving the flavour of Australian strawberries
- 22 Jul 2013
Teaching interests
Research interests
Technologies delivered (last 5 years)
1. Identification of microbes in bathing water from global hot springs:
Hot Springs are popular wellness destinations globally. They however do not completely know the nature of beneficial microbes present in hot springs water and how microbial content changes after customer bathing. I worked with Peninsula Hot Springs, Victoria (largest in Australia and awarded ‘Best in the world’) and Global Hotsprings Retreats to determine natural and customer introduced microbial content in their bathing water through which a comprehensive microbial profile and physiochemical characteristics of their hot spring water samples was delivered.
2. International Library of Cannabinoids:
In 2018, MGC Pharmaceuticals commissioned a project to develop a ‘Medicinal Cannabis Database’ that can be used by growers, patients, doctors and researchers to curate information about strains and their clinical use. I collaborated with Dr Maria Spichkova to recruit 2 batches of 5-6 Master of Information Technology students in 2018 and 2019 to deliver the ‘International Library of Cannabinoids’ (https://cannabinoidslibrary.com).
3. PMeV detection kit developed for Skybury Coffee Pty Ltd:
Skybury Coffee is largest papaya producer in Australia (produces 60%). An exotic pathogen, Papaya Meleira Virus was introduced in Australia in 2017-2018 posing serious threat to this industry. They approached me to develop a rapid field detection test as one of my students developed biosensor for a wheat pathogen. In just over a year, we developed a Lateral Flow Device based assay that they are now using to screen for ‘disease free clones’ before they are planted in the field. The first-year crop planted after testing with our assay is currently free of this disease.
4. Kombucha research for The Good Brew Co:
The Good Brew Co is one of the largest kombucha manufactures in Australia. They are interested in comparing microbial composition and health benefits of their kombuchas to other commercial brands. We used Next Gen Sequencing to analyse the complete bacterial, archaeal and fungal profile of 40 commercial kombuchas. We also performed comprehensive physio-chemical analysis of the kombuchas (normal and herb infused). The Good Brew kombuchas were found to lower Glycemic Index post meal by 15%. Our analysis indicate that it may be due to higher amount of glucanobacteria in their kombuchas.
