Aiming to advance research in the areas of RNAi biology, foster innovations and promote the development of translational research in collaboration with industries, Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has invited concept notes to address various issues in the areas of health, agriculture, food and environment using RNAi science/technology approaches.

The priority areas include identification of genome wide RNAi factors in various organisms to manipulate the RNAi potential; identification of total cellular factors responsible for disease susceptibility or resistance using genome wide RNAi; identification of pathways for miRNA biogenesis and function in animal and plants; unraveling the underlying molecular process for various diseases/ metabolic/ physiological processes in animal or plant model using RNAi approach; profiling, prediction and manipulation of miRNAs responsible for organism- development and stress; and pi RNA biogenesis and function.

Other priority areas include search for miRNA biomarkers for known diseases; developing genome wide shRNA libraries; small RNA mediated heterochromatin formation; chemical synthesis of stable small RNAs and their target specific delivery; developing transgenics with economic traits using RNAi approach; and development of RNAi based diagnostics and  therapeutics for important diseases.

Academia, companies (in collaboration with academics) partnering with clinicians will be encouraged under this scheme.

Under the use inspired discovery and early translational science, the research objectives of the proposal should have clearly defined roadmap for scientific outcomes and for future application strategies. Under the translational research, the proposals should already have demonstrated proof of concept, requiring further application oriented translational studies and/ or support for product development and commercialisation and under the developing critical tools for translational research category, the proposals should aim at developing innovative tools and process for translational research in the priority areas.