India and Germany will soon begin joint research in priority areas in health research and biomedical sciences. The priority areas of cooperation under this programme include maternal and child health and paediatric diseases, with a special focus on adolescent health; effects of climate change on health; and research for a healthier life - strategies for prevention, health promotion and nutrition.

The purpose of this funding programme is to stimulate new collaborations, e.g. the preparation of joint projects under national funding programmes. It facilitates bilateral cooperation between the scientific communities of India and Germany by way of joint research projects, bilateral workshops/seminars, exchange visits of scientists, scientific delegations and composite (scientific and industrial) delegations. Both sides will explore the possibility of funding from European Union research programmes.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) under the department of health research (DHR) of the ministry of health & family welfare, government of India and the Project Management Agency at the German Aerospace Center (DLR-PT, European and International Cooperation), Bonn are the nodal implementing agencies from the Indian and German side respectively.

The sub-areas of importance (especially in the Indian context) under the research area of maternal & child health and paediatric diseases, with a special focus on adolescent health include burden of disease/event, biomarkers/diagnostics/process for early detection, improved treatment/management and addressing newer emerging areas of concern.

The sub-areas of importance under the research area of effects of climate change on health: mathematical modelling include climate change and its effect on heart diseases; genetics studies in genetic aspects of psychiatric conditions; environmental factors affecting epigenetic changing leading to psychiatric disorders; environmental factors in disability; osteoporosis; cartilage metabolism in osteoarthritis; head & neck cancers; hearing impairment and role of modifier gene; chronic kidney disease in adults and paediatric urological conditions as cause of CKD in children; exon skipping and therapeutics in neuromuscular disorder.

The sub-area of importance under the research area of research for a healthier life-- strategies for prevention, health promotion and nutrition includes improving dietary habits of adolescents.

Scientists/faculty members working in regular capacity in universities, national R&D laboratories/ institutes and private R&D institutes can apply under this programme.