Indo-US Virtual Networks selects 8 joint teams for Covid-19 research
19 Aug 2020
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Eight binational teams consisting of researchers from India and the US have received awards to pursue cutting-edge research in pathogenesis and disease management of Covid-19 through Indo-US virtual networks.
The teams will pursue research in areas, including antiviral coatings, immune modulation, tracking SARS CoV-2 in wastewater, disease detection mechanisms, reverse genetics strategies, and drug repurposing.
The Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) announced the awards to eight binational teams, consisting of leading researchers from India and US to find solutions to the Covid-19 pandemic and emerging global challenges through Indo-US Virtual Networks.
The IUSSTF is an autonomous bilateral organisation jointly funded by the governments of India and the US to promote science, technology, engineering and innovation through substantive interaction among government, academia and industry. The Department of Science & Technology, Governments of India and the US Department of States are respective nodal departments.
The eight teams are among the best among those who had submitted proposals in response to an invitation of proposals to harness the combined expertise of the Indian and US science and technology communities, facilitate partnerships between teams of Indian and US scientists and engineers currently engaged in Covid-related research, and leverage existing infrastructure from both countries to further advance the research and accelerate progress.
"An overwhelming response in a short time to the special call on Covid-19 demonstrates a wide spectrum of cooperation between India and USA from the basic studies on the behavior of SARS-Cov-2 virus to its transmission to diagnostics and therapeutic approaches,” Ashutosh Sharma, secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India and IUSSTF India co-chair, said.
“Our existing strong cooperation in S&T on health, energy, artificial intelligence and so on also continues to bring value and attests to the importance of Indo-US collaborations in providing compelling solutions," he added.
"We are pleased that the United States and India were able to quickly mobilise, through IUSSTF, to support jointly developed innovations to fight Covid-19. Our people and economies both rely on science and technology to identify tools to address the pressing challenges of the current pandemic,” Jonathan Margolis, deputy assistant secretary for science, space and health, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, US Department of State, and IUSSTF co-chair said.
Global challenges call for global collaborations and partnerships, a shared vision bringing together the best and brightest scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs to work together to find solutions, not only to address the current pandemic, but also for the challenges that lie ahead. “Through the sharing of expertise across scientific communities and geographic boundaries, the Indo-US Virtual Networks will enable breakthroughs, leading to the development of innovative and transformative solutions to combat this pandemic”, said Dr. Nandini Kannan, executive director, IUSSTF.
The mission of the binational Indo-US Science and Technology Forum is to act as a catalyst to promote long-term scientific collaborations between India and the United States through partnerships amongst individual scientists, scientific institutions, and the scientific community at large.
