India will collaborate with the Seoul-based International Institute of Vaccine, an initiative under the United Nations Development Programme, with a view to take more benefits in research, training and products from the famed institute in the fight against infectious diseases like cholera, shigella, and typhoid fever.

India will join the elite band of 38 countries as signatories and will be made a member of the board of trustees to play a role in formulation of international policy related to vaccines, besides better enjoying the fruits of research in the area of vaccines. The Union Cabinet has already given a green signal for the proposal to align with the premier institute.

The Institute, an autonomous body with ace scientists in the research teams, was set up under the Vienna Convention of 1969 as centre of research, training and technical assistance for vaccine production in developing countries. It also facilitates technology transfer of production of new vaccines to producers.

"The signing of the agreement does not have any financial implication for the government. On the other hand, it will give opportunities for inputs to the direction and priorities of IVI, which would be beneficial to India'", according to official sources.

Recently, the scientists at the IVI have developed a new laboratory animal model for shigellosis with guinea pigs in a study that could speed up development of a vaccine against Shigella dysentery, a major cause of diarrhoeal deaths in countries including India.

The Institute works on formation of collaborative networks throughout Asia and elsewhere for studies of vaccines, which integrate the relevant disciplines of epidemiology, clinical trials, economic analysis, behavioural science and policy analysis.

It has ongoing programmes and studies on diseases like meningitis caused by Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib), Neisseria meningitides and Streptococcus pneumoniae, Japanese encephalitis and tuberculosis.

It also extends technical assistance and training programs for vaccine production and regulation in developing countries. It has set up a Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization for undertaking needed vaccine-related activities.

The institute would also enlarge the laboratory programs on immunology, molecular microbiology, and chemistry, create a laboratory of molecular virology to detect and characterize emerging viruses, set up improved tests for evaluating immunological responses to vaccines in children in developing countries, and develop methods for molecular characterization of known bacterial pathogens under field conditions.

Signatories to the IVI Establishment Agreement included Republic of Korea, China, Brazil, Egypt, Pakistan, Netherlands, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Ecuador, Indonesia, Israel , Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan , Lebanon, Malta, Mongolia , Myanmar, Nepal, Oman , Panama Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Romania , Senegal, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and World Health Organization.