The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Helmholtz Association (HGF), Germany have signed a signed new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on translational efforts in biomedical research for a period of next five years. The MoU was signed in New Delhi in the presence of Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh and H E German Chancellor, Dr Angela Merkel.

The MoU will provide for active translational efforts in biomedical research particularly in infectious diseases with long term capacity building for researchers and scientists. Both the countries will be benefited in multiple areas pertaining to the biomedical research and public health in terms of joint collaborative research efforts and projects. The other areas identified under the MoU are Oncology and Biomedical research related to health.

The collaboration between ICMR and HGF Germany has been running in pursuance of a Memorandum of Understanding which was earlier signed in April, 2006 at Hannover, Germany during the visit by Prime Minister of India to Germany. The earlier collaboration led to the development of four ongoing research projects between Indian and German researchers in the areas of genetic susceptibility, vaccines anti-infectives and viral diseases (HIV/HCV).