NEW DELHI: In the background of increased recognition of Indian vaccine industry globally for affordability and quality, the future strategy for Indo-US Vaccine Action Programme (VAP) was discussed at a Joint Working Group held recently by the DBT in New Delhi.
Besides discussions on progress of various initiatives being implemented under VAP, it was considered to add new vaccine development programmes, including for development of affordable vaccines for dengue, respiratory syncytial virus, malaria etc. A Joint Indo US Scientific Workshop on contemporary topics in immunology: systems immunology, infant immunity and adjuvant science was also organized.
The DBT also initiated the partnership proposal for research on human infectious diseases with an international body called Infect-ERA NET. This body comprises research organizations from Europe and one from Israel. Infect-ERA NET aims to fund joint transnational and translational research by bringing together basic and technology driven applied research approaches for addressing human infections.