CSIR-CDRI & Cipla Foundation partner for a one-of-its-kind research & outreach initiative

New Delhi: Cipla Foundation, the corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm of Cipla Ltd, and the CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI) in Lucknow has signed a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ to implement a Corporate Social Responsibility Project at CDRI.

The project will focus on the development of New Chemical Entities (NCEs) for Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR) & Cancer and promote science outreach in communities especially amongst college students, teachers, etc.

This is a unique research and outreach initiative supported through the CSR arm of Cipla Ltd, a leading Indian pharmaceutical company. The project takes forward the Foundation’s consistent efforts to foster scientific learning and research. This step comes in the wake of Government of India’s recent provision for permitting corporate funding under CSR towards research in science, technology, engineering and medicine through clause (ix) of Schedule VII to the Companies Act 2013.

The partnership would also boost industry-academia collaboration for research under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs guidelines. Speaking about this collaboration, Rumana Hamied, Managing Trustee, Cipla Foundation, “Public health research is critical for improving the overall state of healthcare in India and thereby fulfils the objectives set out in the UN Sustainable Development Goals. A partnership like this, between Cipla Foundation and CSIR-CDRI will encourage scientific research for the welfare of society and benefit all by making quality healthcare affordable and accessible.”

On this occasion, Director, CSIR-CDRI, Professor Tapas K Kundu said, “CSIR-CDRI, the premier Drug Discovery & Development institute of the country and Cipla Foundation are focussed on the development of affordable healthcare products and promotion of science outreach activities to benefit the underserved and neglected sections of society.”