Turning Research into Real-World Impact: Dr Nadeem Shabir’s Entrepreneurial Journey in Veterinary Vaccinology

At IVVN, we are proud to spotlight the stories of researchers driving forward veterinary vaccinology in new and transformative ways. Dr Nadeem Shabir, an IVVN member and a Senior Assistant Professor at SKUAST-Kashmir (India),  is one such researcher, bridging the gap between academic science and commercial innovation through his pioneering work in poultry vaccines.

In 2024, Dr Shabir undertook the prestigious Chevening Research, Science and Leadership (CRISP) Fellowship at the University of Oxford, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), where he honed entrepreneurial skills to help translate his research into real-world impact. But his journey into academic entrepreneurship began much earlier, driven by a recognition that existing poultry vaccines, particularly for Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD) and Infectious Bronchitis, often fall short in safety, stability, or effectiveness.

As Principal Investigator of  research programmes exploring advanced vaccine technologies for Infectious Bursal Disease, Infectious Bronchitis and Newcastle disease, Dr Shabir and his team developed  reverse-genetics based next-generation live-attenuated vaccine platforms which allow precision editing of viral genomes to enhance safety and cross-protectivity . This novel approach aims to deliver both high efficacy and safety, addressing a long-standing trade-off in the field.

In 2023, this work led to the founding of PouLAR Biologicals Pvt Ltd, an academic spin-off focused on next-generation vaccines for poultry viruses. With approximately $0.8 million in initial funding from the Government of India , the IBD vaccine developed by his team has now reached Technology Readiness Level 4 (TRL-4). Notably, three vaccines - IBD,  IBV, and Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) - together account for around 70% of the Indian poultry vaccine market, underscoring the strategic importance of Dr Shabir’s focus on these viral pathogens.

The road ahead is ambitious. Advancing to TRL-7 -  the stage where vaccines undergo large-scale validation and regulatory approval - requires additional early-stage investment. But the potential is immense: India’s poultry industry currently suffers an estimated $420 million in losses annually alone due to IBD vaccine failures.

Dr Shabir is also developing a reverse-genetics based Infectious Bronchitis vaccine with support from his Wellcome Trust India Alliance Early Career Fellowship, valued at $230,000. This second vaccine, currently at  TRL-4, addresses key safety issues with existing options and represents another step forward in commercialising home-grown solutions for poultry health. In parallel, the group is also developing a reverse-genetics based live-attenuated Newcastle disease vaccine with enhanced thermostability features, a project funded by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme.

Along with his vaccine development work, Dr Shabir is also engaged in disease surveillance. He leads efforts to monitor avian influenza in Jammu and Kashmir - home to more than 400,000 migratory birds each year - highlighting the broader public health importance of veterinary vaccinology and One Health approaches. Reflecting on his journey so far, Dr Shabir sees entrepreneurship not as a “departure” from research, but as a vital extension of it.

 “By navigating the entrepreneurial path, we can play a pivotal role in ensuring that groundbreaking scientific discoveries translate into accessible, market-ready products,” he shares. “This approach not only addresses existing gaps in vaccine efficacy and safety, but also ensures our innovations make a tangible difference where they’re needed most.”

We look forward to following Nadeem’s journey as his innovations continue to evolve - and we’re proud to support a network where stories like his can inspire and connect others across the global veterinary vaccinology community.

✉️ Are you an IVVN member working at the intersection of science and innovation? We’d love to feature your story. Email us at ivvn [at] roslin [dot] ed [dot] ac [dot] uk.