The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) recently signed a collaborative agreement with US based National Institutes of Health (NIH) for conducting joint research in the field of bio-pharmaceuticals. Through this collaboration NIH and DBT plans to support research projects by sharing technological know-how between the two countries for the betterment of public health.

In a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Director of NIH and Dr Bhan from DBT on December 5 both the countries agreed to work together to boost research and development (R&D) and conduct clinical trials. The agreement also focuses on taking forward initiatives that will focus on exchange of ideas on latest technological innovations between the countries.

According to Dr K K Tripathi, advisor, DBT, “We are very happy to initiate a strong working relation with NIC as it will help in strengthening the research efforts of both the countries. Most importantly it will aid us in jointly developing innovative research strategies that will help us in our goal of protecting and improving the healthcare in the country.”

He informed that as of now both the DBT and NIH  has identified government institutes like Council of Scientific and Industrial Research(CSIR), National Institute of Immunology (NII), Institute of Genomics & Integrative Biology (IGIB) etc. for conducting research activities. However he added that since things at at a very early stage it would be difficult to comment any further on this.

Dr Tripathi said, “By signing this MoU, we have initiated a process to work together, however things will start to roll only after both the countries submit a proposal on this matter. It is our estimate that if things go as planned, then we can start our joint operations for the research in the area of biopharmaceuticals by early February next year.”

Sources inform that this collaboration between the DBT and NIH is in the lines of the Indo-US Vaccine Action Program (VAP) which was developed earlier in order to expand collaborative vaccine research projects to reduce the burden of infectious diseases in India, US, and other parts of the world.