The Department of Biotechnology has stepped up its focus on bio-pharma by setting up centres of excellence, support basic and applied R&D in universities and institutions. Over the last five years, it received a Rs.7,000 crore funding to increase its biotech research and manpower training efforts. Of this Rs.400 crore has already been invested for its varied activities.
“Today, more than 200 laboratories and 1000 researchers in public and private sectors are engaged in biology; research and development; molecular marker assisted diagnostics; genome sequencing and functional genomics. Technology platforms, research resources, facilities and services coupled with training skilled human resources, networks and public-private partnerships are supported in the pathway from discovery to market for desired level of development”, said Dr S.R. Rao, advisor, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.
There is a massive effort to enhance infrastructure which includes setting up modern labs and training institutes for which funds are set aside. Vaccine development, genomics and proteomics will be some of the future areas that will be addressed by DBT. There are funding options for research, capacity building and human resource development, he added.
Dr Rao was in Bangalore in connection with a seminar organised by the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC) under the aegis of its Agro & Food Processing Expert Committee to address the issue of genetically modified crops. Delving into the area of bio-pharma, Dr Rao said that DBT would also be looking at promoting and research in basic and applied immunology for the development of new vaccines and immunological reagents for communicable diseases.
Efforts by DBT to interact with the industry for manufacture of vaccines was on. Through the National Institute of Immunology, it would also organize postgraduate courses, workshops, seminars, symposia and training programmes of a specialized nature in the field of immunology, vaccine development and related areas.
There are around 325 biotechnology companies operating in the country, employing around 20,000 scientists. The industry can be divided into five sectors which cover bio-pharmaceuticals, bio-services, bio-agriculture, bio-industrial, and bio-informatics. Initiatives like the Biotechnology Industry Partnership Programme to provide industry the support by cost sharing on high risk discovery and innovation projects are giving fillip to the bio-pharma sector as there are already 100 applicants of which 80 are in the bio-pharma space and the remaining 20 percent in the agri biotech segment.
Further, DBT will also encourage universities and colleges to seek grants to organize training programmes for technicians in lab methods and related techniques. It will also help to establish affiliation with recognized universities and institutions of higher learning for the purpose of enabling research scholars to register for postgraduate degrees. In addition, it will also promote effective linkages on a continuing basis between various scientific and research agencies/laboratories and other organizations working in the country in the field of immunology, vaccine development and related areas.