From Bengaluru to Boston: How a $400K Indo–US Collaboration Is Using AI Medicine for Tomorrow’s Viruses!
In an era where the next pandemic could emerge without warning, the race to develop faster, smarter, and more resilient therapeutics has never been more urgent. Persist AI (based in Sacramento, USA) and DiponEd Research International (based in Bengaluru, India) collaborated for a historic Scientific event. This Indo-US collaboration has secured an extraordinary $400,000 grant under the Blue Knight™ Residency QuickFire Challenge by Johnson & Johnson Innovation.
This prestigious recognition was co-sponsored by the HHS (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) and the BARDA (Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority). The grant announcement was officially made at the BIO International Convention 2025 in Boston, the United States.
This milestone emphasises the growing global momentum toward utilizing AI (Artificial Intelligence) in therapeutic discovery, especially preparing for future pandemics and infectious disease threats such as Influenza.
Powering Innovation Through Global Collaboration
This grant provides monetary benefits and support, along with a mark of validation of transitional research as an excellent scientific collaboration. The collaboration between DiponEd and Persist AI highlights how AI, Systems Biology, and Translational Science can intersect to accelerate the discovery and deployment of next-generation therapeutics.
DiponEd, an innovative Biotechnology startup at the BBC (Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre), has consistently advanced research in Regenerative Medicine, Immunology, and infectious diseases. Its U.S.-based partner, Persist AI, brings robust AI expertise in Drug Discovery. Together, the teams exemplify the modern approach to therapeutic innovation: data-driven, globally integrated, and clinically oriented. One of their core innovations focuses on Influenza, an enduring global health threat.
According to the data provided by the WHO (World Health Organisation), around 650,000 people die from Influenza infections each year. The main reason for this mortality rate is the high mutation rate as seen in Influenza viruses. This, along with their antigenic drift mechanism, makes the virus change its Genetic makeup more often and escape the antiviral effects, making Vaccines ineffective against Influenza.
Even though influenza is smart enough to escape these medications, humans are more intelligent in tackling this by developing AI-powered Biologics. This $400K Indo–US collaboration marks a significant breakthrough; these Biologics target the conserved regions of the viral Genome, which are found to be less susceptible to mutations. With the help of this strategy, scientists can design various broad-spectrum medications. This strategy promises treatments for the existing viral antigens and emerging strains and can help develop alternative treatment methodologies.
The Blue Knight™ QuickFire Challenge
The “Blue Knight™ QuickFire Challenge” is a flagship and incredible initiative by BARDA and Johnson & Johnson Innovations. This challenge is designed to fund, nurture, as well as identify early-stage novel innovations with the capabilities to address global health emergencies. This extraordinary program offers expert mentorship, global networking, residency access, as well as financial support to novel innovation hubs worldwide.
The Challenge’s Takeaways:
- Strategic guidance & Mentorship from leaders in innovation, i.e., J&J and BARDA.
- Non-dilutive funding is needed to advance their innovations as well as support R&D (Research and Development) progress.
- Availability of Residency opportunities at JLABS (Johnson & Johnson’s global network of innovation hubs) facilities.
- Global networking with renowned Regulators, Health strategists, as well as Scientists within the Public Health and Biotechnology ecosystem.
This year’s challenge focused on technologies that enable more innovative, smarter, and faster responses to Respiratory Viral threats, with a special emphasis on pandemic preparedness for viruses such as Influenza.
The Minds Behind the Innovation
This milestone is the result of a multidisciplinary team of leaders committed to redefining antiviral development:
- Dr. Kaushik D. Deb, Managing Director, DiponEd Research International – Celebrated for his visionary leadership and commitment to global Scientific collaboration.
- Dr. Sarmistha Deb, Director and Chief Scientific Officer at DiponEd, was Instrumental in designing the Scientific strategy behind the AI-influenza therapeutic.
- Dr. Karthik Raman, AI Lead at Persist AI – Spearheaded the Computational framework that powers the therapeutic discovery process.
Their combined expertise in AI, Systems Biology, and Translational Research represents the vanguard of Biomedical innovation.
Why This Project Matters
Influenza remains one of the most challenging infectious diseases globally. The virus constantly mutates, making it difficult to manage with conventional Vaccines and Antivirals. The approach proposed by DiponEd and Persist AI aims to use AI algorithms to design novel Biologics targeting conserved regions of the Influenza virus, making the therapy potentially effective even against future variants.
This innovation promises a paradigm shift in preparing for and responding to respiratory viral outbreaks by developing smarter, faster, and more adaptive treatment solutions.
The Role of the BBC
DiponEd’s success is a reflection of the robust innovation ecosystem at the Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre (BBC), one of India’s premier Biotechnology incubators. BBC has nurtured over 100 startups by offering:
- Integration with national and international Scientific networks
- Facilitation of funding and commercialization
- State-of-the-art R&D infrastructure
BBC’s leadership hailed this recognition as a “Historic moment for Indian Biotechnology,” emphasizing how public–private partnerships can elevate Indian startups onto the global stage.
Indo–US Scientific Synergy
This award also underlines the value of Indo–U.S. partnerships in the Life Sciences sector. With India emerging as a global Biotechnology hub and the U.S. continuing to lead in innovation capital, collaborations like DiponEd–Persist AI are vital in building a resilient and shared health future.
The joint achievement of $400K Indo–US Collaboration also clearly shows that Geography is no barrier when minds align on solving real-world challenges using modern tools like AI, Systems Biology, and global Regulatory frameworks.
This synergy showcases the evolving model of Biotechnology R&D, where AI, Translational Science, and global partnerships converge to drive and effectively therapeutic innovation.
Why This Project Matters
This recognition marks a turning point in how we conceptualize therapeutic design in the age of emerging infectious diseases:
- Scientific Rigor: The focus on conserved Genomic regions aims to produce more resilient, mutation-proof therapies, a significant departure from conventional drug design.
- Technological Innovation: Machine Learning (ML) is compressing Drug Discovery timelines, improving predictive accuracy, and reducing inefficiencies in target identification.
- Innovation Diplomacy: India’s growing role in the global biotech arena is reaffirmed through this collaborative success.
- Collaborative Resilience: The Indo–US partnership symbolizes the power of shared global scientific missions.
- Preparedness and Response: AI-driven platforms offer rapid adaptability to future viral threats, bolstering global health security.
As diseases become more complex and adaptive, collaborative, cross-border, Technology-powered therapeutics will be key to future public health strategies.
What’s Next for DiponEd and Persist AI
With this funding and recognition, the next phase of the project involves:
- Preclinical testing of the AI-designed therapeutic drug candidate
- Refining AI models using real-world Biological feedback for safety and efficacy.
- Regulatory engagement with support from BARDA and global health authorities like J&J Innovation
- Exploring broader applications of the AI platform in targeting other respiratory or Zoonotic viruses
This advanced research effort will serve as a blueprint for AI-powered therapeutic development, opening doors to faster, adaptive as well as precision-targeted interventions.
The support from Blue Knight will ensure the team has access to not only technical support but also strategic guidance to bring their innovation to market efficiently as well as ethically.
Final Words from the Community
DiponEd expressed gratitude in their $400K Indo–US Collaboration announcement. “This milestone marks a key achievement towards the startup’s commitment to advancing global Health innovation through Indo-US collaborations in Biotechnology as well as Artificial Intelligence.”
The achievement is a clear reminder that innovation and research know no borders. When Science, strategy, and technology converge across nations, the possibilities for solving and facing the world’s biggest health challenges are limitless.
In their congratulatory post, BBC called this a “historic moment that reflects the power of public–private partnerships and the visionary leadership of Indian Biotechnology.”
The Future of Biomedicine Is Here – And It Speaks the Language of Collaboration and Code
As the world grapples with evolving viral threats, the story of DiponEd and Persist AI is a blueprint for what comes next: Medicine that learns, adapts, and accelerates through AI and innovation that transcends Geographies through global partnerships.
The journey of DiponEd Research International and Persist AI’s $400K Indo–US Collaboration embodies the future of Healthcare: Computational, collaborative, and cross-disciplinary. Since the world faces increasingly complex and adaptive health threats, innovative solutions are needed to combat them. Hence, innovations like these born from global partnership and scientific ingenuity would eventually shape an intelligent, equitable, as well as resilient Biomedical future.
In a time when speed, precision, and preparedness can save millions, initiatives like this illuminate a path forward where breakthroughs are born not just in laboratories but in the spaces where nations collaborate, Algorithms evolve, and humanity wins!
