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Depts. of Atomic Energy, Biotechnology to collaborate in advanced research
New Delhi, July 29, 2010
The Department of Biotechnology and the Department of Atomic Energy have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to institutionalise their collaboration for conducting advanced researchin areas of mutual interest.
The MoU was signed here on Tuesday by Dr M K Bhan, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, and Dr Srikumar Banerjee, Department of Atomic Energy.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for Science and Technology Prithviraj Chavan said that, though the two departments had been working together in the past also at a scientist-to-scientist level, the institutionalisation of the collaborative efforts would help break boundaries and ensure the coming together of brains and pooling of resources.
According to an official press release, the MoU would cover the areas of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine, biomedicine, biomedical technology, cancer biology, stress biology, biosensors, infectious diseases, agricultural biotechnology, nuclear agriculture, nanotechnology and nano-medicine, radiation biology, artificial photosynthesis, bioremediation, chemical biology, bioinformatics, and computational and systems biology.
The MoU is aimed at promoting joint activities between the two departments with a view to accelerate the pace of research in advanced and challenging areas to enable substantial inter-agency collaboration within the country and enhanced participation in similar projects being implemented at the international level by consortia of institutions and nations.
Dr. Bhan said the MoU would help extend the existing Bio-Technology Cluster in Bangalore where the National Centre of Biological Science and the National Stem Cell Institute have already initiated work.
Dr Banerjee said the MoU would enable extending the ambit of the outreach programme of the Department of Biotechnology to make application of science meaningful for disease-oriented research and create science for use within India as also for the global community.
NNN
