The UK has already partnered with the Indian Serum Institute to manufacture the Covid vaccine (representation)
New Delhi:
The UK and India are deepening their existing scientific research collaboration with five new projects worth £ 8million to fight antimicrobial resistance (AMR) that could lead to significant progress in the global fight against bacteria and antibiotic resistant genes.
The grants were announced by Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for South Asia and the Commonwealth of Nations, ahead of a virtual visit to India on July 28, according to a statement from the British High Commission.
India is a major producer of antimicrobials in the global pharmaceutical industry supply chain, and research projects aim to better understand how wastes from antimicrobial manufacturing might inadvertently fuel antimicrobial resistance .
Subject to approval, the five projects are scheduled for September of this year. The UK is contributing £ 4million to the UK Research and Innovation Fund for International Collaboration, and India is matching its own resources. In total, eight million pounds will be used to fund the research, the statement said.
Ahmad said: “The UK has already partnered with the Indian Serum Institute to make the COVID-19 vaccine, if clinical trials are successful, with plans for distribution to a billion people worldwide in development. But we can do more together to tackle pressing global health problems around the world. Our thriving research and innovation partnerships will benefit citizens in the UK, India and beyond. “
Sir Philip Barton, High Commissioner to India, said: “The UK is India’s second-largest research partner, with joint research expected to be worth £ 400million by next year . This huge investment allows us to work closely together on global health challenges such as the search for a COVID-19 vaccine. “
“Today’s announcement is another demonstration of our excellent research relationship and will strengthen the important fight against antimicrobial resistance,” he added.
Ahmad will chair a virtual roundtable with key stakeholders based in India and UK on cold chain technologies that are essential for the efficient transport of vaccines, ensuring that they successfully reach their final destination , according to the press release.
Other elements of the minister’s visit include meeting with Minister of State for External and Parliamentary Affairs V Muraleedharan to discuss a number of topics including multilateral cooperation, meeting with Minister Chief of Gujarat, Vijay Rupani, talks with regional governments and others on wind power possibilities and a virtual tour of a UK-funded solar power plant in Rajasthan.
(Except for the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is posted from a syndicated feed.)
