Genomics expert aims to nourish his deep roots in Kerala

Kerala’s vibrant ecosystems – from the mist-laden Western Ghats to its sprawling coastal wetlands – are a veritable treasure trove of biodiversity. Interestingly, many plant species now thriving in Kerala arrived from far-off lands. From the distant corners of Latin America to the Indian subcontinent, these plants, like tapioca, have firmly established their roots in Kerala’s fertile soil.

In a fascinating parallel to this botanical migration, the people of Kerala have been global travellers, venturing abroad in pursuit of knowledge and trade. Keralites have thrived in diverse international domains, excelling in science and technology. Many have integrated into societies overseas, while others return home – enriched by their experiences and ready to contribute to the advancement of science here.

A good example of such a returnee is Dr Sabarinath Subramaniam. After working across Australia, Canada, and the United States, he has emerged as a respected authority in genomic studies. In 2023, he established the Sivasakthi Science Foundation (SSF), a nonprofit trust dedicated to fostering science education, research, and training young talent in this rapidly expanding field. The foundation’s flagship project, the Bharat Genome Database (BGD), launched in 2024, aims to build a comprehensive platform for plant genomes in India.

The move back to Trivandrum by the renowned scientist, who holds degrees in Biotechnology (University of Wollongong), Neuroscience (McGill University), Bioinformatics (University of Southern California), and a PhD in Plant Biology (University of California, Berkeley), was in many ways inevitable, as his roots run deep in the city.

As the grandson of the late P Subramaniam, the doyen of Malayalam cinema, who produced 69 films, established Merryland Studio, and built a chain of theatres in the city, Sabarinath’s family has deep connections to Trivandrum. His grandfather, who served as mayor of the city from 1945 to 1947, shaped much of its early cultural life. The theatres the family built – New Theatre, Sree Kumar, Sree Visakh, and Sree Padmanabha – became windows to world cinema for generations who grew up here. P Subramaniam was the recipient of several prestigious awards, including a National award for Padatha Paingili (1957) and a Kerala state award for Swami Ayyappan (1975).

After the passing of his father, renowned physician Dr MS Sivakumar, in 2021, Sabarinath relocated to Trivandrum. Dr Sivakumar had served the community for over five decades through his voluntary work at Sri Ramakrishna Mission Hospital (Sasthamangalam) and AIMS Hospital (Kochi). Sabarinath now heads the 76-year-old City Theatres Company, which runs the theatres, Merryland Studio, and other family ventures. Even as he gets busy with projects like the relaunch of the Sree Kumar and Sree Visakh theatres, Sabarinath remains focused on his enduring passion: genomics and bioinformatics.

Accolades Galore: The list of achievements he has accumulated in this field over the past two decades is as long as the genomic sequence of some plants. His work is associated with data from Arabidopsis thaliana, the first plant to have its genome completely sequenced in 2000 – a milestone in plant genetics and molecular biology. His research includes developing computational tools for analysing genomic data and has led to publications in high-impact journals, contributing to the understanding of plant genome evolution.

His tenure as a Research Associate at the University of California, Berkeley, and his association with Phoenix Bioinformatics gave him a unique perspective on both academia and industry. That experience proved invaluable for students and researchers at Amrita School of Biotechnology, Kollam where he volunteered in the role of Adjunct Professor with the Department of Biotechnology since 2004. Many of his students have since gone on to build impressive careers in Bioinformatics. 

Sabarinath now aims to expand that beginning by building a sustainable ecosystem for scientific discovery and innovation through the Bharat Genome Database. Such an initiative would connect the state’s scientific institutions and startups to global research networks and funding opportunities. In essence, Kerala could move from being a source of plant diversity to becoming a centre of scientific excellence studying it.

Closing the gaps: Both the central and state governments have started building genetic databases of the population, flora and fauna, as have several other research organisations. But some of the information collected often lies underutilised, as these databases fail to be annotated and updated regularly for scientific research.

“Genome sequencing is a complex process involving huge volumes of data, but the challenge comes after the sequencing. This data has to be constantly updated, and you need experienced biologists to annotate and curate it – only then does it become a useful pipeline for researchers. Otherwise, all that knowledge in the database becomes outdated.”

His foundation aims to build a cloud-based database that will provide research-ready material for aspiring researchers. He is hopeful that projects like the Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC), established by the Department of Biotechnology, and the Kerala Genome Data Centre, launched by the state government, can assist open-source foundations like his by providing resources such as computing power to scale up their efforts.

A Strong Foundation: If that comes through, the Bharat Genome Database aims to catalogue the genomes of plant and animal species native to India, connecting biodiversity with innovation. The Sivasakthi Science Foundation has also established an AI-driven research platform that applies artificial intelligence to genome annotation, healthcare, and biotechnology, helping transform raw data into scientific insight.

The foundation sponsors graduate-level research internships, offering students hands-on experience in projects involving genomic data analysis, AI pipelines, and database development. Many of these evolve into collaborative publications and tools for the global scientific community. Two of the interns have already developed models to study fatty liver disease and gut microbiome research.

It has also signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Vellore Institute of Technology and Amrita School of Biotechnology to foster joint programmes in genomics, AI research, and scientific communication. Sabarinath says he is exploring similar partnerships with other like-minded institutions and companies.

A legacy renewed: Making this database open-access is key to its transformative potential. It ensures that discoveries made in Kerala benefit not just a few institutions but the entire research community – locally and globally. Open access encourages transparency, collaboration, and innovation, allowing startups, universities, and even citizen scientists to build upon verified data. This openness can attract international partnerships and investments, further strengthening Kerala’s scientific standing.

“My foundation’s mission is not to make money – I am confident our family business will provide us with enough. Revenues generated by the Sivasakthi Science Foundation will be ploughed back into research and development to create a vibrant local talent pool equipped for 21st-century scientific careers.”

“I am aware that I was fortunate to be born into a family that provided opportunities very few were lucky to have. Having worked with cutting-edge technologies in genomics and bioinformatics, I also realise that the land that nurtured us is itself a treasure trove of genetic biodiversity. That is what I want to share with the people here.”

Like the DNA that links generations, Sabarinath’s pursuit mirrors his family’s legacy. Once, they opened a window to the celluloid dreams of Kerala’s youth; now, he opens another – into the vast, data-driven universe of genomics.

The Great Kerala tech rush

Kerala is being flooded with digital transformation announcements that could make even California officials turn green with envy. In recent weeks, almost every department seems to be racing to unveil new tech-driven initiatives to turn the state into a 21st-century powerhouse. From an AI city in Cochin to IT Vision 2031 and dedicated parks for various sectors, the promises are endless. The cynical might file it under “activities ahead of local polls”, but at least something seems to be moving – hopefully beyond press releases this time.

For a reality check, take the electric vehicle sector, for instance. Despite housing centres like Tata Elxsi, Nissan Digital India and Acsia Technologies, the capital city has waited years for dedicated road-testing facilities. With state rules barring test vehicles on public roads, companies, big and small, have been facing a dead end. Now, the Trivandrum Engineering Science and Technology Research Park (Trest Park) says a dedicated EV park is on the works. Global consultancy firm Ernst & Young is to give a project report and master plan by this month, and park officials hopes to start construction by January 2026 – pending government approval, of course. Hope springs eternal, as Alexander Pope reminded us.

AI firms continue to woo India

More AI goodies coming your way. Google now says it will roll out a generous free AI package – including Gemini 2.5 Pro and the video-making tool Nano Banana – to all Jio Unlimited 5G subscribers. This rush to get Indian users on board started in July, when Airtel partnered with Perplexity to offer a free one-year Pro plan, and soon after, OpenAI announced it would offer a year of free ChatGPT Go from November 4. As Greyhound Research’s Sanchit Vir Gogia pointed out, “India has just become ground zero for the global AI land grab.”

A clean idea for marine startups

This should be of interest to tech firms looking to take advantage of the newly opened Vizhinjam deep-sea port. Apparently, ships need a cleaning service to keep their hulls free of marine growth such as algae and barnacles – reducing drag, lowering fuel consumption, and cutting emissions. Singapore-based company Neptune uses an AI-powered robot to blast away such buildup, helping ships save as much as 18 percent on fuel consumption. Tech in Asia reports that the company was founded by a trio with no prior experience in ship cleaning, yet they created a product that breaks from the standard practice, which typically involves thruster-powered remote vehicles.

Jensen Huang fries up a stock frenzy

Nvidia boss Jensen Huang is clearly having his Midas moment – everything he touches turns to gold, or at least to a stock market rally. Last week, he was in South Korea and decided to grab some Korean fried chicken with Samsung boss Jay Y Lee and Hyundai chief Chung Euisun. Photos of the trio chomping on the crispy goodness instantly went viral. The next day, investors lined up, not for fried chickens, but shares of fried chicken companies, even though Kkanbu Chicken – the joint where Jensen dined – isn’t even listed. Rival franchises like Kyochon F&B soared by as much as 20 percent and even related players like poultry processor Cherrybro Co and chicken-frying robot maker Neuromeka saw a spike in demand.