With a view to accelerate the ongoing ‘vaccine grand challenge programme’, the Ministry of Science and Technology has launched some new initiatives including  creation of a separate management unit and a National Development (clinical) Service Agency (NDSA), which primarily aim to help the SMEs.

The grand programme is already operational for development of vaccines against cholera, typhoid, rabies, malaria, dengue, and tuberculosis with the involvement of public sector units and private hospitals. A separate management unit has been set up with a chief executive officer to coordinate the programme.

 In addition, NDSA has also been established to promote pre-clinical and clinical development of health technologies and products generated, in terms of providing expertise for pre clinical services, clinical trials and regulatory advices through Indian partnership with global entity for SMEs, public funded institutions and not for profit organizations. The main objective of NDSA is to provide low cost and quality services for evaluating vaccines biotech products in a clinical trial set-up, sources said.

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Translational Health Sciences and Technology Institute, Regional Centre for Biotechnology and National Institute of Immunology have launched the NDSA as a society. It will tend enterprises, particularly SME’s, involved in new technology innovation and facilitate translation of scientific know how into viable products. The NDSA will also undertake, aid and promote training by an appropriate body in preclinical and clinical product development.

The DBT has already initiated moves to form a consortium with three associate organizations to help manage and execute NDSA services. It has called for expression of interests to be part of the society as long term associates, expected for 10 years. The partners need to be esteemed departments, units or centres of institutions or organizations governed through an autonomous society or a section 25 company recognized by DSIR.

NDSA will provide a core grant to the partners towards capacity building, training& maintenance of their personnel and building a suitable infrastructure for the services provided by them, keeping in mind the evolution in life sciences and requirement of a globally operating Indian industry.