Indian Institute of Science (IISc) department of biochemistry has received the European Union funding to the tune of Euro 1 million to carry out research on tuberculosis (TB).

The funding is granted under the Framework Programme (FP-6) which is a consortium project involving countries of Switzerland, Italy, United Kingdom and India.

The funds are sanctioned for a three-year research period to each country. The allocation was made last year. The focus is on basic aspects of latent tuberculosis where scientists from all the four countries will carry out the basic research efforts in the area of the dreaded disease. In India, it is only IISc led by Dr. K Muniyappa, professor and chairman, department of biochemistry, which has been selected for the funds.

The focus of the research is to assess the progression of latent TB from a biology perspective. For the FP-6 research programme, Dr Muniyappa's team has two post doctorates and three research students working on the project.

The primary aim of the project is to gather maximum data on the latent TB which represents a vast pool from which active disease and subsequent transmission spreads.

At this point of time, it is difficult to assess the research conclusions because much of the scientific findings come up in serendipity as one accidentally discovers something fortunate, especially while looking for something else entirely. Therefore IISc is ensuring that with this research funding opportunity, the students are trained to carry out research. The funding agency too has been extremely practical about the programme. However there is need to carry out extensive research and create a base for the study of TB, stated Dr Muniyappa.

At IISc, there are around 7 vibrant groups working on TB research from the department of biochemistry, microbiology and molecular biology and bio physics. However, all these teams are still looking at the fundamental aspect of the disease and understanding the biology of Mycobacterium with the hope that some insights will come with out kind of research, he said.

The biggest challenge in research is to build the skilled workforce. The current availability of trained scientific personnel is deplorable. There is an urgent need for corrective steps to be taken in the higher education programme. Although standards of training in IISc are par excellence, students who come here are from colleges which lack both facility and faculty which is results in poor scientific talent, informed Dr Muniyappa

The academia and industry are also witnessing serious gaps because the latter is looking at immediate results and do not comprehend the time lines required for the research, he averred.