In pursuance of a Joint Statement issued in November, 1997 between the Government of India and the US government on the expansion of Indo-US Collaboration on Contraceptive and Reproductive Health Research, the Indian scientists are invited to propose Joint Research Projects with and US scientists.
The Indo-US Program on Contraception and Reproductive Health Research (CRHR) is administered by a Secretariat consisting of Indian nodal agencies and staff from the US. The nodal agencies for this program are the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) of the Indian Ministry of Science and Technology and the US National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), DHHS,
In addition to the Secretariat, the overall scientific goals and procedures of the program are overseen by a Joint Working Group (JWG) consisting of independent Indian and US investigators and staff from participating agencies with expertise covering the range of topics to be addressed by the CRHR program.
The goal of the CRHR program is to "build upon previous research cooperation by drawing on the expertise of Indian and US scientists and institutions to promote and support collaborative research that will result in expanded contraceptive options and improved reproductive health." To address shared concerns in contraception and reproductive health, Indian and US scientists will undertake a coordinated program involving participation in collaborative, peer-reviewed research projects, scientific workshops and conferences, research training, and technology transfer. This cooperation will be based on mutual benefit, trust, and a shared commitment to the advancement of scientific knowledge and its application to improve health.
Specific areas to be addressed within this program include- new reversible contraceptive methods and companion diagnostics; long-acting injectable contraceptives for women; barrier methods for contraception and sexually transmitted disease prevention; microbicide and spermicide research; immuno-contraception; basic, applied, and clinical research, including the development and use of transgenic animal models for the study of reproductive health; development of improved methods of surveillance and diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and reproductive tract infections (RTIs); epidemiological studies, including studies on STDs and RTIs; and social, behavioural, and intervention research.
Other areas that can be included are studies to further elucidate the role of males in reproductive health: topical areas would include male reproductive biology and its impact on reproductive health outcomes, and contraception development and use by males and females; new advances in proteomics for research in reproductive health and contraception; and enhanced appreciation of the social/behaviour factors influencing reproductive health and contraception in both males and females.
Since the publication of the last Notice for the CRHR program, the CRHR JWG has increased the emphasis on the need for more "translational" types of research intended to move beyond basic science and discovery to product development and delivery. Several areas have emerged as high priority.
Final funding decisions will be made based on mutual agreement of nodal agencies, NICHD and DBT, and the availability of funds. Research proposals will be peer-reviewed in India and the United States and approved research projects would be supported appropriately on Indian and US side to meet research costs and other resources. The Research projects would be implemented subject to necessary clearances from the Government and laws and regulations of the host and sponsoring countries.