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DBT to invest a few thousand crores to expand work in drug discovery and vaccine research

India’s biotechnology sector may get a boost as the Department of Biotechnology is in the midst of finalizing several programs and global partnerships, according to the secretary K Vijay Raghavan.

DBT is looking to invest close to Rs 1000 crore in a programme to expand the existing centres for drug discovery and vaccine research in the country. The department will take up the possibility of investing “a few thousand crores” over the next few years with the finance ministry and hopes the proposal will be approved, he said.

“We’re going to see a multiple hub model where there will be many more top quality centres in India for drug discovery and vaccines,” VijayRaghavan told on the sidelines of the Science and Technology in Society (STS) Forum India-Japan workshop.

“We want to expand this so that bringing to bear genomics into (these areas) is a big thrust,” he said. The programme is expected to be announced this financial year around August or early September, according to VijayRaghavan.

In addition to national investment programmes, DBT is in the process of finalizing international collaboration in vaccines and to

combat the country’s growing problem of anti-microbial resistance, he said. “We are likely to see big announcements over the next few months.”

DBT invested close to Rs 6.7 crore ($1,00,000) as seed funding in India-focused biotech startups and to tackle the issue of anti-microbial resistance earlier this year.

 

 

Peace-lover, creative, smart and intelligent. Prapti is a foodie, music buff and a travelholic. After leaving a top-notch full time corporate job, she now works as an Online Editor for Biotecnika. Keen on making a mark in the scientific publishing industry, she strives to find a work-life balance. Follow her for more updates!