Founded in 1947 and named after the late Fr. Jean Ferdinand Caius S.J., the Caius Research Laboratory initiated research work on the medicinal plants of India. "The Medicinal and Poisonous Plants of India", authored by Fr. Caius, is still a standard reference volume in this field. Streptomyces caiuseae, a microorganism secreting the antibiotic streptomycin that is catalogued in the Bergey's Manual, is one of the early discoveries from this laboratory.

In 1978, the Caius Research Laboratory was re-designated as the Caius Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Research and had since been researching various projects involving microbiology, biochemistry, organic chemistry, botany and geology. The laboratory has produced many Ph.D. and M.Sc. holders who presently occupy important positions in academia and industry in different parts of the world.

The Caius Research Laboratory makes its expertise and facilities available to industries, pharmaceutical companies, and entrepreneurs for carrying out R&D projects on a collaborative or contract research basis. Faculty and ex-students who are now professionals with several years of experience offer their expertise in biotechnology, toxicology, bioremediation, industrial fermentation, chemical and biological process development at laboratory scale, pollution control, and water and soil analysis.

Rev. Fr. Caius was born at St. Seurin-de-Cadourne on 17 January 1877, entered the Society of Jesus on 15 November 1895, Ordained Priest on 26 July 1908 and expired on 27 July 1944.

Rev. Fr. Caius was one of the notable personalities in Bombay and for forty-nine years provided noteworthy contributions in higher education, scientific research and medicine in this country.

Rev. Fr. Caius was a notable malariologist and worked in that capacity officially for the Government of India and the provincial governments of Madras and Bombay. He was also an expert in animal venoms, especially snake and scorpion poisons, the study of which he did throughout his life. He was also a notable Biochemist and was appointed as the Director of the Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Haffkine Institute. Here, along with Dr. Mahaskar, he made valuable contributions in animal venom, indigenous drugs, and intestinal diseases, which resulted in the publication of a series of books and brochures referred by the medical fraternity. He initiated research work on the medicinal plants of India. The Medicinal and Poisonous Plants of India" authored by Fr. Caius is still a standard reference volume in this field. Streptomyces caiuseae, a microorganism secreting the antibiotic streptomycin that is catalogued in the Bergey's Manual, is one of the early discoveries from this laboratory.

Despite the extensive study and research carried out by Fr. Caius, he meticulously devoted his spare time to other activities also. He was president for many years of the "Cercle Litteraire", for which he bought a whole library of valuable French books from the sale of used postage stamps. He was also Vice-President of the local Free-French Committee, Vice-President and Hon-Secretary for many years of the Natural History Society, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Prince of Wales Museum. He was a brilliant conversationalist, highly energetic and a great priest.