The Department of Health Research (DHR) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) signed an MoU paving way for collaborative biomedical research and development of affordable technologies for the health of the people.

Several broad areas such as policy perspective, including economic analysis, and forecasting for affordable technologies for potential use in public health programs have been identified. A Joint Working Group will be set up that would steer the programmes for biomedical research in product development, process optimization and scale-up including evaluating the products for commercialization.

The MoU was signed by Dr V M Katoch, secretary DHR and Dr M K Bhan, secretary DBT.

Dr Bhan said that both sides would work together on transformative, interdisciplinary mega-projects and find out ways for speedy delivery of products at affordable cost to benefit the people of the country. He stated that DBT is already engaged in development and evaluation of vaccines, diagnostics, biomarkers, therapeutic bio-molecules and nutraceuticals.

Dr Katoch mentioned that both DBT & DHR along with ICMR would utilize and compliment their facilities and infrastructure to facilitate the scientists to work on projects/programmes of mutual interest and a consensus mechanism would be developed for harmonizing administrative and financial processes and approvals.
Dr Katoch also consented to constitute a small group of eminent scientific experts to strategise and oversee the projects/programmes and also for conducting scientific audit to review the performance and progress of the collaborative projects. These projects would be strategic in nature keeping in view the national priorities.

Both Dr Bhan and Dr Katoch expressed confidence that through this collaborative effort, a system would be developed for rapid delivery of useful health technologies/products to the people of the nation.