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Department of Biotechnology

Ministry of Science and Technology

Government of India

 

CALL FOR PROPOSALS IN MEDICAL BIOTECHNOLOGY

 

In pursuance to the policy of transparency and to promote research and development in the areas of medical biotechnology in the country, the Indian scientists are invited to propose Research and Development Projects for financial support from the Department of Biotechnology. The proposals would be received from the Individuals and from Interdisciplinary Groups with demonstrative research capacities working in a defined domain. 

 

The proposed Financial support will be highly competitive and the applicants should have proven track record. It demands Originality of the Scientific Work in both Basic & Applied Biotechnology Based Research Areas combined with Teamwork, Interdisciplinary Approach, and Partnership across the Institutes. Coordinated research activities with the participation of Basic Scientists & Applied Scientists from relevant disciplines, Clinicians and ideally the nodal implementing body from Medical schools/Institutes would stand better chance of support. Any request for funding support would be considered for a period of up to 3-5 years.

 

The following specific areas have been identified for research emphasis.

 

(i)                  Infectious Diseases & Vaccinology

(ii)                Translational Biology in experimental and clinical setting (communicable & non-communicable diseases including cancer).

(iii)               Stem Cell Research

(iv)              Diagnostics and Therapeutic Biotechnology

(v)                Human Genetics, Genetic Diversity, Genomics and Proteomics

(vi)              Pharmacogenomics

(vii)             Plant based Medicines and other Bioproducts

(viii)           Nanobiotechnology

(ix)              Novel, hypotheses driven research in the broad area of life sciences.

 

Infectious Diseases & Vaccinology - Development of vaccine candidates, defining protective immunity, biomarkers, novel adjuvants, delivery systems molecular epidemiology and cohort studies.

 

Translation biology in experimental and clinical section for communicable and non-communicable diseases including cancer,  based on animal, human models and other alternative methods.

 

Stem Cell Research

 

Basic Research

·        Study of biology of stem cells.

·        Studies of expansion of haematopoietic stem cells without differentiation.

·        To establish stem stem cell lines

·        Study of factors that generate stem cells and how stem cells can be stopped from proliferation.

·        Study of gene transduction, gene regulation and plasticity of stem cells.

 

Applied Research

·        City clusters programmes for stem cell research involving basic research and clinician to share information, explore collaboration etc.

·        Focused, targeted programmes on human stem cell research involving clinician such as plastic surgeons, cardiologist, neurosurgeons, orthopaeditions and others.

·        To develop animal model for stem cell research appropriate for clinical need.

·        Establishment of stem cell bank.

 

Diagnostics and Therapeutic Biotechnology

·        Using new innovative technologies resulting in tests that are easy to perform, rapid, affordable, including those that detect multiple diseases through syndrome approach, or select (target groups for therapeutics). Focus is on diagnostics that influence medical practice or are useful in public health programmes.

 

Human Genetics, Genetic Diversity & Genomics & Proteomics

·        Sequencing of some specific Indian Pathogenic organisms such as Leishmania, Leptospira or any other organisms relevant to India.

·        Identification of genes that cause common diseases like hypertension, coronary heart diseases, diabetes, cancer, neurological and psychiatric disorders

·        Genome diversity studies – population based genotype studies to identify susceptibility/ resistance gene for various disorders & diseases, HapMap studies and others.

·        Pharmacogenomics – drug metabolism, identification of drug target, drug design, genotype analysis.

·        Gene therapy studies

·        Transcriptomics

·        Establishment of DNAand EBV transformed cell banks

·        Development of Knockout / transgenic animals

·        Development of Knockout / strains / pathogens

·        To create academic chairs in medical colleges for human genetics.

·        Mid-carrier development programme to scientists / faculty in University / Medical Colleges.

Proteomics

·        To identify protein families linked to disease pathogenesis or their outcome

·        Development of protein microarray

·        Creation of proteomic maps of protein for various biological membranes and tumor tissues for diagnostic purposes

·        Target identification and validation i.e. identifying proteins whose expression levels or activities change in disease states.

·        To identify protein families linked to disease pathogenesis or their outcome.

·        Identification for biomarkers.

·        Protein- protein interactions that influence either the disease state or the proposed therapy.

·        Any other related area

 

RNAi

·        Basic research for application of RNAi

·        Delivery mechanism for SiRNA.

 

HIV / AIDS

·        Diagnostics

·        Basic Biology

·        Therapeutic Intervention

·        Pathogenesis

·        HIV Vaccines

·        Microbicides

 

Dengue

·        Diagnostics – serological, nucelic acid based as well as using newer approaches such as linear epitopes.

·        Vaccine efforts using monovalent / quadrivalent approaches

·        Establishment of sera bank

·        Establishment of reagent bank

·        Suitable animal systems/models

·        RNAi approach

·        To take hCF work to the logical conclusion

 

Cancer

·        Development and characterization of Cancer Gene chips.

·        Blood borne disorders e.g. Lymphoma, Myeloma and Sarcoma.

·        Cancer Immunotherapy.

·        Gene-therapy.

·        Design of biomarkers / inhibitors.

·        Development of transgenic models and well characterized cell lines for Cancer research

 

Pharmacogenomics  

 

·        To assess genetic basis of the non responder/poor responder to known drugs for treatment of tuberculosis, diabetes type-II and depression to assess genotype: phenotype association for “known drugs” in volunteers and also to assess the SNP based studies for failed drugs.

           (for detailed guidelines, please visit :  http://dbtindia.nic.in/policy/polimain.html)

 

Plant based Medicines and other Bioproducts

 

·        Production of antigens in plants for infectious diseases, plantibodies, insulin, development of biomolecules, industrial enzymes etc. 

 

Nanobiotechnology – applications for medical and healthcare areas.

 

 

 

Twenty five copies of the research project on DBT format would be received by the Department. Research proposals will be peer-reviewed and approved research projects would be supported appropriately to meet research costs and other resources. The Research projects would be implemented subject to necessary approvals from Financial and Administrative aspects.

 

The research projects should be submitted to :

 

Dr. B.M. Gandhi                                             Tel : 2436 0984 (Direct), 2436 3012 / Extn. 238

Adviser,                                                          Fax : 2436 0984, 2436 2884

Department of Biotechnology                        E-mail : gandhi@dbt.nic.in

Ministry of Science and Technology  

Block – 2 (7th Floor), CGO Complex,

Lodi Road, New Delhi – 110 003.