The Central Government has finalised the specifics of its Golden Triangle Research (GTR) Programme after year long consultations across various research centres of the country. The programme is to be kicked off officially on February 6 here. GTR is the first of its kind initiative meant for scientific validation of classical medicines and development of new drugs of ayurveda, unani and siddha.

According to sources, 18 time tested traditional drugs linked to five therapeutic areas have been picked up for validation through GTR in the first phase. The scientists have zeroed in on these drugs after several national consultations and workshops, where dozens of similar drugs were proposed.

The therapeutic areas include prostrate diseases, osteroarthritis, rheumetoarthritis, post-menopausal problems, benign prostate hypertrophy etc. In GTR programme, the Department of Ayush has joined hands with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). The scientists in the research institutions that come under these agencies will work together to scientifically validate the therapeutic properties of these medicines.

GTR, announced last year, is a five-year research initiative with private participation. The Central Government has allocated Rs 60 crore for the year 2005-06 to fund GTR. GTR was planned after the government realised that the traditional medicine manufacturers have limited resources to carry out R&D activities like finding new properties of a phytoconstituent or the discovery of new phytoconstituents. The government therefore wanted the premier research institutions in the country, which conduct research taking modern science as the base to help these companies in their R&D activities.