Union Minister for Health Ghulam Nabi Azad has called upon the scientists of the premier research organisation in the country Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to play an active role in realizing the potential of stem cell research and its technology in modern therapeutic and regenerative medicine.

Although India remains totally opposed to reproductive cloning owing to the doubtful nature of its safety success utility and ethical acceptability, therapeutic cloning can be considered on case to case basis. "A 'Draft guidelines for Stem Cell Research/Regulation' on regulatory aspects of stem cell research and its applications prepared by ICMR will be very useful in this regard," Azad said. He was speaking after giving away the ICMR awards in New Delhi on September 18.

Azad also emphasized the need for robust and vibrant public health research system for dealing with the challenges of public health in the country. Terming health research as the brain of health system, Azad underlined the government's commitment to promote health research by upscaling the infrastructure and providing a conducive environment for research.

Detailing the various contributions of ICMR, Azad specifically mentioned the Council's work in the areas of tuberculosis, indigenous rotavirus vaccine and HIV vaccine against sub-type C. The two vaccines have completed phase I trials in India and there is promise of having a vaccine against this dreaded disease, the Health Minister said. Azad also expressed happiness over the setting up of a BSL 4 facility in Pune which is the highest level of bio-safety lab in the world and will be the first of its kind in India.

Speaking on the occasion Minister of State Gandhiselvan said that in the wake of growing challenge of non-communicable disease ICMR faces new challenges which will require considerable up-gradation of its material and human resources.

Secretary, Health Research Dr V M Katoch said that ICMR is committed to encourage science. The ICMR Awards represent the spirit of science. However, he lamented that there are some categories of research which do not attract many nominations. He said ICMR will continue to work to give its input in the public health policies and supporting the research initiatives and infrastructure in the country.