I. Healthcare
(1) India is today a leading Vaccine Manufacturing Hub:
The Vaccine Grand Challenge Programme is under implementation to encourage novel and innovative vaccine related discoveries, accelerated development of candidate vaccines for which earlier leads are available, research of basic & applied nature to improvise current understanding of vaccine science and to strengthen the scientific basis for future vaccine design. R&D projects supported through VGCP are focusing on Development of candidate vaccines & Development of vaccine related technologies. Some major initiatives are:
(i) Rotavirus vaccine launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister : The first indigenously developed and manufactured Rotavirus vaccine 'Rotavac.' from an Indian strain 116E was launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister on 9th March, 2015.The indigenously developed vaccine will boost efforts to combat infant mortality due to diarrhoea. ROTAVAC developed in collaboration with Bharat Biotech under the Public-Private Partnership mode is efficacious in preventing severe rotavirus diarrhoea in low-resource settings in India. ROTAVAC significantly reduced severe rotavirus diarrhoea by more than half - 56 percent during the first year of life, with protection continuing into the second year of life. Moreover, the vaccine also showed impact against severe diarrhoea of any cause. The developed Rotavirus Vaccine at $1 per dose has been cleared for market license. Potential to prevent >500K childhood diarrheal deaths. The NTAGI of M/o Health & FW has approved introduction of the vaccine in EPI in a pilot mode.
(ii) Malaria Vaccine: To promote the development of vaccines against P. falciparum and P. vivax malaria, Department has provided continued support to MVDP (Malaria Vaccine Development programme)- A consortium of DBT, ICGEB, Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI), PATH, EMVI and WHO-TDR. Currently MVDP is involved with developmental of malaria vaccine JAIVAC1 & JAIVAC 2 at ICGEB.
(iii) Dengue Vaccine: Department is supporting the group at International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) for developing a safe, efficacious and inexpensive tetravalent dengue vaccine. The recombinant EDIII-based sub-unit dengue vaccine candidate is being developed in the form of VLPs using the yeast P. pastoris as an expression host.
(2) DBT has significantly augmented the infrastructure for diagnosis & treatment of human genetic disorders in India
Impact
- 21 Genetic Diagnosis cum Counseling Units established
o >5 lakh affected families and >1 lakh tribal families benefited
- DNA typing of 25 autosomal markers in 53 ethnic groups (tribal, caste and religious communities) completed
o Revealed evidence of human migration from India to SE Asia.
(3) A major flagship programme on International Cancer Genome (ICG) specific to Oral Cancer is under implementation.
(4) India Bio-design makes new advances
Technologies developed: - 5
o Ostomy Management device;
o Emergency medical alert device;
o A breathable and customized cast for immobilization of the fractured limb;
o Fluid extraction device;
o Posture support device
Technologies Transferred: - 2
o Technology for Fetomaternal Parameter Monitoring System transferred to M/s. Brun Health Private Limited, Telangana, startup Company formed by Fellows 2013 Batch.
o Technology for ‘A Portable Hand Sanitization device’ transferred to M/s. Observe Design Private Limited, New Delhi.
o Fecal Incontinence device technology received USFDA 510 approval for their device.
Patents, Trademark, Industrial Design Filing:
o 6 Indian patents and 6 PCT applications filed; 6 trademark applications filed; and One design registration filed for the Accufeed Invention.
o Patents have been granted in 4 countries namely Singapore, Japan, USA and Europe for the device for collecting fecal discharge in incontinent patients
New initiatives:
o i-Fellowship program initiated with Australia as a new international partner
o BMJ Innovations launched.
(5) Major New Effort on Pre-Term Birth
Multi-institutional National Programme on pre-term birth launched
Pre-term Birth Program is the first inter-institutional program on maternal infant health and spontaneous pre-term birth sciences in India funded by the Department under Grand Challenge Program at a total cost of the project is Rs. 48.85 crore for a period of 5 years. It envisages a multidisciplinary research effort to predict & diagnose Preterm Birth (PTB) by enhancing the knowledge of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. It is expected that the clinically relevant research outputs from the study will aid characterization of biological, clinical and epidemiological risk factors to achieve appropriate risk stratification of mothers who may deliver before term. These in turn would provide a basis for discovery of novel therapeutic agents & determine appropriate timing for their clinical application. Together, it would strengthen the commitment of the Department of Biotechnology to health equity, contributing significantly to reduction in infant and maternal mortality
SOURCE-PIB,HINDU
No comments:
Post a Comment