NEW DELHI: The Indian
Council of Medical Research
and the Helmoholtz
Association of National
Research Centres on Tuesday
announced the setting up of
an Indo-German Science
Centre for Infectious
Diseases (IGSCID).
The proposed five projects
will be set up over three
years at an estimated cost
of 4.5 million Euros. The
cost will be shared equally
by the two partners. The
centre will work in the
areas of virology,
developing vaccines and
anti-infectives, animal
models of infective diseases
and zoonosis.
The scientific cooperation
between the two countries,
started three decades ago,
was strengthened through
signing in April 2006 of a
memorandum of understanding
in the presence of Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh and
Chancellor of Germany Angela
Merkel. A high level
delegation from Germany, led
by Prof. J. Mlynek,
president of Helmoholtz
Association of National
Research Centres, along with
a team of scientists
comprising 11 members are
currently on a visit to
India.
Speaking on Tuesday, Prof.
Mlynek said the centre would
bring the scientific
community of both the
countries together to work
in the frontier areas of
research in infectious
disease plaguing the globe.
In the light of the global
diseases, the Indo-German
Centre will nurture the
effort of providing a
benchmark as well as a
collaborative channel to
coordinated efforts in an
international plane.
Prof N.K. Ganguly, Director
General of ICMR, said the
proposed Indo-German Centre
would provide adequate
funding opportunity for twin
objects of the projects,
administering collaborative
budgetary efforts, promoting
exchange of scientists and
holding joint workshops. The
promotion of
interdisciplinary research
in basic medical science of
infectious disease would
lead to a deeper
understanding of
cross-cutting areas and
promote capacity building of
scientists in the two
countries.
Courtesy:
The Hindu, 04 April, 2007 |
