R& D Initiatives

Dr Meenakshi Munshi

Director,

Department of Biotechnology,

Ministry of Science & Technology, GOI

New Delhi, India

15th May 2015

Organization Structure

MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

Department of Science & Technology (DST)

Department of Biotechnology (DBT)

Department of Scientific & Industrial Research (DSIR)

Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)

All areas of basic sciences

Biotechnology

Technology and Industrial Development

Mission

Central coordinating and policy making organization in biotechnology

Funds research and development in biotechnology

Developing critical mass of skilled human resource

Establishment of state-of-the-art infrastructure facilities

Establishment of centers of excellence

Provide framework and guidelines for regulatory policies

• Annual Budget : 1400 crores

• Provides Extramural grants to : All universities / research institutions (CSIR, ICAR

and ICMR) and other institutions all over the country

Provides R&D support to NGOs and Industry • Core funding to 16 autonomous institutes

Funding

National Institute of Immunology (NII), Delhi Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD), Hyderabad National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS), Pune National Brain Research Centre (NBRC), Manesar National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), Delhi Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), Bhubaneshwar Institute of Bioresource and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Manipur Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapura National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institution (NABI), Mohali Translational Health Science & Technology Institute (THSTI), Faridabad Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), Faridabad Stem Cell Institute (InStem), Bangalore National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB), Hyderabad National Institute of Biomedical Genomics (NIBMG), Kolkata Bio-processing Unit (BPU), Chandigarh Bio-clusters

Autonomous Institutes of DBT

DBT-THE KNOWLEDGE

BASE

BIONERGY

Second & third generation biofuels

BASIC BIOTECHNOLOGY Genomics

Proteomics Metabolomics

Structural Biology

MEDICALBIOTECHNOLOGY Vaccines Bioactive Therapeutic Proteins Stem cell research Infectious -, Non-infectious; chronic -, neurodegenerative diseases

AGRICULTURE

Basic Research; Crop genomics GM Crops- Biotic & Abiotic stress Bio-fortification Marker assisted breeding Biopesticides Biocontrol

ENVIRONMENT BIOTECHNOLOGY Bioprospecting Biomolecule characterization-

Medicinal Plants Bioremediation for treatment of waste

ANIMAL BIOTECHNOLOGY

Molecular epidemiology : diagnostics & vaccine Breed improvement by transgenics Immuno-stimulants Animal feed

AQUACULTURE&MARINE BIOLOGY Molecular epidemiology : diagnostics & vaccines Cell line development Immunostimulants; antibacterial & anti- cancerous agents from marine sources

FOOD BIOTECHNOLOGY Neutraceuticals probiotics

DEVELOPMENT OF NEW PRODUCTS Bioinstrumentation, biomaterials and biodevices

Funding schemes

Research and Development projects through

competitive research grant schemes

Centers of Excellence/programme support

Public-Private Partnerships through

– Small Business Innovation Research Initiative (SBIRI)

– Biotechnology Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)

– Biotechnology Industry Partnership Programme (BIPP) – Details available website http://www.birapdbt.nic.in

Grand challenges programme

International Collaborations

Competitive R & D

schemes

COMPETITIVE R&D SCHEME AS AN INDIVIDUAL OR IN A COLLABORATIVE MODE

RAPID GRANT FOR YOUNG INVESTIGATORS (RGYI), GLUE GRANT

SPECIFIC PROGRAMME FOR NER

CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION IN BIOTECHNOLOGY

BIOCARE, SOCIETAL PROGRAMMES

Rapid grant for young

investigators (RGYI)

Fosters creative research in various fields of Biotechnology for

investigators below 40 yrs of age with a promising track record

A single investigator proposal or a team of young investigators

with interdisciplinary multi-institutional collaboration, holding

independent position , the CO-PI should also be a young faculty

The grant is sanctioned within 2-3 months of submitting

application without making a presentation.

Preference is usually given to candidates who are applying for

the first time

Glue Grant

The scheme has been designed to link clinical science departments through inter-institutional linkages with basic science institutes & university departments with medical or veterinary school departments. The scheme is under implementation since 2010-11 and its purpose is to establish a long term partnership programmes between clinical and basic sciences.

Twining programme NE

region

• This programme is for institutes of N-E

regions who can collaborate with

Institute/University from any part of the

country in any broad field of Biotechnology

with aim to help establish & strengthen

Biotechnology based areas.

Twinning program for

NER (few examples)

IIT - G

IGIB CFTRI

IIAR

BTI-Mersra

Ranchi DUSC

MS Swaminathan

Res Foundation

JNU

Thapar

Univ

Tezpur Univ

CDFD

Madras

Univ

Univ of Mysore

IIT-Bombay

Visva-Bharati

Shantiniketan

JNU

ICPO

Noida

NEHU

Manipur

Univ NIPER

JNU

Bose Institute

Visva-Bharati Shantiniketan

Univ of Madras

ICGEB

AAU,Jorhat

Mahyco

CIMAP

ICGEB

Funding schemes at institution

level

Centers of Excellence

Programme Support

BUILDER Programme

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Centers of excellence

The objectives of this programme are:

(1) to strengthen an institution's research infrastructure through the establishment of a thematic research centre with multi-disciplinary research effort

(2) to enhance the ability of investigators to compete independently for complementary individual research grant or other external peer-reviewed support.

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DBT-BUILDER programme

– Boost to university interdisciplinary life

science departments for education &

research programme for upgrading and

developing research & advanced technical

capabilities, adequate competency and

skill development of students/faculty in life

science & biotechnology

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Bio-CARe

A new scheme for women scientists to enhance the

participation of women scientists in biotechnology research

Targeted towards career development of

employed/unemployed women scientists

Operates under two categories:

• Scheme I – Research Grant Opportunity

• Scheme II – Career Re-orientation Fellowship

Scheme I – Research Grant

Opportunity

To build capacities for women scientists employed

fulltime in Universities and small research laboratories

or unemployed women scientist after a career break so

as to help them undertake independent R&D projects

Eligibility criteria for RGO

Employed or unemployed women scientist up to

55 years of age for whom it is the first grant

M.D/M. Tech /Ph. D/ Equivalent degree in any

branch of Life Sciences

Guidelines for submission of

application

Submit a LOI for preliminary screening

For unemployed candidates, a letter from the Mentor

Scientist/Institute in whose lab she proposes to work should

accompany the LOI

For the R&D grant, journal impact factor or even nil publications

would not be a limiting factor

Project proposal can be for a 3+2 years

First successful application and execution of the project need

not debar the women scientist from a second application

Budget/stipend for RGO

The 3 slabs stipend for fellowship would be

decided based on post Ph. D experience

For employed candidate an additional

amount of Rs. 5,000/- over her salary would

be provided as an incentive • Grade – I Rs. 35,000/- (Ph.D+ 0-5 years)

• Grade – II Rs. 40,000/-(Ph.D + 5-10 years

research/industrial experience)

• Grade – III Rs. 45,000/-(Ph.D+ more than

10 years research/industrial

experience)

Scheme II - Career re-orientation

fellowship

Women scientist trained in a particular area, but leave their

permanent jobs/or are unemployed and would like to change their

career path to take newer areas

Require training in the relevant field such as IP management,

bioinformatics, policy research and analysis, translational research,

regulation, clinical research management, etc.

Period : 3-12 months

Stipend for unemployed candidate: Rs. 25,000/-

For employed candidate an additional amount of Rs. 5,000/- over her

salary would be provided as an incentive

Eligibility criteria for CRF

M.D/M. Tech /Ph. D/Equivalent degree in any

branch of Life Sciences

Women scientists who are currently unemployed

or are presently working temporary capacity

Employed scientist, who are looking for a change

in career path

Women scientists up to the age of 55

Guidelines for submission of

application

Identify a specific area and the required skill sets

Identify a mentor/laboratory where she would like to take up this training.

A brief Letter of Intent should be submitted giving her area of specialization and the specific area of training requested

A letter from the mentor/Institute agreeing to provide training for a stipulated time period

On successful completion of the training period a report from the Mentor/Institute will be essential. The training can be extended for another 6 months if required

On completion of the training or while in training the woman scientist is eligible to apply for R&D Scheme

Criteria for scoring LOI’s

Scientific/Research merit of the proposed work

Experience of the candidate

Publications in last 3 years in indexed journals

Criteria for evaluation of

proposal

PI ’s competence (Score : 5)

Scientific merit of the proposal (Score : 20)

Publication of PI (Score : 10)

Proposed Institute (Back-up support) (Score : 10)

Awards/special Distinction of PI (Score : 5)

Strengths and weaknesses of the proposal

A Public-Private Initiative to promote discovery and innovation in biotech

industry

BIRAC

A non-for-profit Section 8, schedule B, Public sector Enterprise, set up by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) Govt. of India as an interphase agency to strengthen and empower the emerging Biotech enterprise to undertake strategic research & innovation, addressing nationally relevant product development needs

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BIRAC key strategies and

Functions

Foster Innovation & entrepreneurship

Promote affordable innovation in key social sectors

Empowerment of start ups and small & medium enterprises

Contribute through partners for capability enhancement &

diffusion of innovation

Enable commercialization of discovery

Ensure global competitiveness of Indian enterprises

IP Management

Technology Transfer and Acquisition

Access to Research Acquisition

Mentoring & Capacity Building

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BIOTECHNOLOGY IGNITION

GRANT (BIG)

SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH

INITIATIVE (SBIRI)

BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY

PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMME

(BIPP)

CONTRACT RESEARCH SCHEME (CRS)

UNIVERSITY INNOVATION

CLUSTERS (UIC)

Phase I initiative with 5 Universities

BIRAC-DBT-BMGF

GRAND

CHALLENGE INDIA

SOCIAL INNOVATION

PROGRAMME FOR PRODUCTS

AFFORDABLE & RELEVANT TO

SOCIETAL HEALTH (SPARSH)

RESEARCH

ALLIANCE FOR

PRODUCT

INNOVATION &

DEVELOPMENT

(RAPID)

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Guidelines

IP rights belong to industry

Varying models of grants, loans or grant / loan

Extent of support ranges between 30-50%

• LOAN

– up to Rs. 10.00 crore – 2% interest;

– above Rs. 10.00 crore – 3 % interest

• ROYALTY

– 5% of net sales for 5 years or

– twice the amount of grant

Small Business Innovative

Research Initiative (SBIRI)

The SBIRI aims to:

strengthen those existing private industrial units whose

product development is based on in-house innovative R&D

encourage other smaller businesses to increase their R&D

capabilities and capacity

create opportunities for starting new technology-based or

knowledge-based businesses by science entrepreneurs

stimulate technological innovation

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SBIRI

use private industries as a source of innovation and

thereby fulfil government objectives in fostering

R&D, and increase private sector commercialisation

derived from Government funded R&D.

The funds are given under the scheme to the

participating industry and collaborating partners in

installments, the first one on signing of the

Agreement and the subsequent installments on

satisfactory progress of the project as determined

by the Apex Committee of SBIRI (ACS).

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Research proposal

implementation-an outline

Proposal through RFPs

Discussion with the internal group

Technical peer review for: originality of the proposed research, quality of the

scientific plan, etc.

Communicate comments to the investigators for

clarifications

Consideration of proposal by specific Task Forces

Site visit to verify facilities, resources, etc. (If necessary

in case of mega projects)

Implementation of the programme

Post-implementation site visit, if necessary

Requirements for a research

proposal

Project Title and Affiliations

Abstract/Summary

Research Plan

• Specific Aims

• Background and Significance

• Preliminary Studies/Rationale

• Research Design and Methods including milestones

and time lines

References

Collaborative Interactions and future plans

Institutional approval

Budget and Budget justifications

Multi-institutional

collaborative projects

Key issues:

Concept development

Why multi-institutional?

Define inter-disciplinary goals?

Expertise and experience of key professionals and technical staff

Availability of Research Resources

challenges

Good coordination at institutional level

Keeping institutional identity while fostering multi-institutional collaboration

Selection of an appropriate partner

Project management capability

Past performance factor

Multi-institutional proposals-

points for brainstorming within

the group

Significance

Investigator Expertise

Innovation

Approach

Scientific Environment

Partnership mechanisms

Signing of an Inter-institutional partnership

Agreement with in the partnering

institutes/industries for Intellectual Property (IP)

management; NDA; CDA; Revenue sharing; etc.

Signing of an Agreement with the funding Agency

DBT- AWARD

SCHEMES

Cutting-edge Research Enhancement and Scientific

Training (CREST)

National Bioscience

Award for Career Development

Women Biotechnologist Awards

Innovative Young Biotechnologist Award (IYBA)

DBT-Welcome Trust Alliance

Ramalingaswami

Re-entry Fellowship

Tata Innovation Fellowship

Products & Process Development Award

CREST

Earlier know as DBT Overseas fellowship; a candidate can work

in any overseas laboratory

Each fellow should have permanent faculty position & can avail

fellowship from 3-12 months

Monthly fellowship@ 3000 US$ are paid to university/institution

for onward transmission, to & fro economy class ticket ,

contingent grant Rs 50,000 for up to 6 months , Rs 1.00 lakh up

to 12 months duration

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National Bioscience Award for

Career Development

This is for midcareer scientists ( 45 yrs age) who have

outstanding track record as evident by publications,

technologies developed, transferred etc.

Each awardee get cash award of Rs 1.00 lakh & Rs 3.0 lakh/yr

for 3 yrs to carry out the ongoing research activities with

regard to travel, both national & international, hiring of

manpower, purchase of minor equipment, & related

expenditure.

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National Women

Biotechnologist Award

Senior Category for lifetime contribution in science, Each

awardee receives Rs 5.00 lakh cash prize, citation & a Gold

plated medal

Junior Category for outstanding research in basic and applied

science, candidate should be below 45 yrs of age, Each

awardee receives Rs 1.00 lakh cash prize, citation & a Gold

plated medal & a research grant of Rs 5.00 lakhs for 5yrs.

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BIOTECH PRODUCT & PROCESS DEVELOPMENT AND

COMMERCIAZIATION AWARDS

outstanding contributions of scientists / innovators / entrepreneurs/ Indian institutions & companies both in public as well as private sector for a new process, product development and commercialization of a technology or a product in the areas of biotechnology and biological sciences including agriculture, biomedical and environmental sciences

Upto five awards shall be given every year. Each award will carry a cash amount of ` 2.00 lakhs along with a citation. ̀ 5.00 lakhs would be given if the product is commercialized and has much higher impact of utilization in the country

Innovative Young Biotechnologist

Award(IYBA)

The scheme is for young budding scientists with great passion for

doing outstanding basic & applied research in biology

Young scientists up to age of 35 yrs are eligible

Candidates with regular position receive cash award of Rs 1.00

lakh & grant Rs 50.00 lakhs for research

Candidate without regular position receive Rs 40,000 pm & Rs

50.00 lakhs for research but will be attached to a senior faculty of

the institute as mentor, awardee is expected to work

independently but will take help of mentor

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Tata Innovation Fellowship

The scheme is aimed at rewarding interdisciplinary work where

major emphasis is on innovation and translational research

with a potential towards commercialization.

Scientists holding permanent position are eligible up to age of

55 yrs

Each awardee receives Rs 25,000 pm in addition to regular

salary & contingency grant Rs 6.00 lakhs for 3 yrs which can

be extended by 2 yrs depending on the progress

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Ramalingaswami Re-entry

fellowship

For Indian nationals working in overseas laboratories & are

interested in returning to the home country to pursue their

research interests, those who have returned within less

than a year are also eligible

• Each fellow receives fellowship for 5 yrs @ Rs 85,000pm

HRA @ Rs 7500pm, research grant Rs 10.00 lakhs for ist

yr, 7.5 lakhs for 2nd yr & Rs 5 lakhs for subsequent 3 yrs.

Fellowship could be renewed after 5 yrs on a fresh

appraisal

DBT-wellcome trust alliance

The Department of Biotechnology has partnered with Wellcome Trust (WT) to launch a three-tier fellowship programme on biomedical research at post-doctoral level.

The Department of Biotechnology and the Wellcome Trust each have committed Pounds Sterling 8 million per year, for a period of five years.

The programme is being administered by a Special Purpose Vehicle, which has been registered as The Wellcome Trust/DBT India Alliance, a public charitable trust in India.

The fellowships are open to all Indians working outside of India and within India. The fellowships are also open to non-Indians willing to work in India.

Three categories of fellowships are awarded every year:

40 Early-career fellowships (with one year post-doctoral experience)

20 Intermediate fellowships (with 3-6 years of post-doctoral experience)

10 Senior Fellowships

6 renewals of ongoing senior fellowships every year

Details of the Alliance and new call for applications are available on www.wellcomedbt.org

ONGOING BILATERAL/MULTILATERAL COLLABORATIONS

COUNTRY RESEARCH AREAS OF COLLABORATION

Australia • Agreement for collaboration in all areas of biotechnology, with the Australian

Department Of Education, Science and Training. Total 14 ongoing projects

Canada • Agreement on convergent medical technologies; application to clean technologies and

Bio-pharma & health with the International Science and Technology Partnerships

(ISTP); in plant sciences with National Research Council of Canada (NRC). Total 12

ongoing projects.

Denmark • Medical Biotechnology : Stem cell research; chronic and infectious diseases;

Agriculture biotechnology and Environmental biotechnology with Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation , Denmark. Call for proposals announced in the area of health science biotechnology.

Finland • Vaccine development and technologies herein; Development of new innovative

diagnostics using different technologies & Computational biology related to drug

development with Academy of Finland (AoF) and Tekes, Finland.

Germany • Call for proposals in microbial biotechnology, bioprocess engineering, structural

biology, infectious diseases and neuroscience with International Bureau (IB) of the Federal Ministry of Education & Research (BMBF).

Netherlands • A Programme of Cooperation (PoC) has been signed between DBT and Directorate

General for Enterprise and Innovation, Ministry of Economic Affairs Agriculture and Innovation, Govt. of Netherlands in the area of Plant Sciences, Food & Nutrition and medical Biotechnology.

• A Letter of Intent (LoI) was signed between DBT and Erasmus Univ. 2 Projects

funded. 47

ONGOING BILATERAL/MULTILATERAL COLLABORATIONS: contd….

COUNTRY RESEARCH AREAS OF COLLABORATION

Norway • Vaccine development for human, fish and animal with National Research Council (NRC). Total 3 ongoing projects

Spain • A Programme of Cooperation (PoC) has been signed between DBT and Centre for Development

of Industrial Technology (CDTI), Spain. Call for proposals announced in the area of

biotechnology including biofuels and bioenergy and three proposals recommended for funding.

Sweden •Biology, diagnosis and treatment of Tuberculosis with VINNOVA. Call for proposals announced in the area of health science biotechnology. Total 12 ongoing projects.

Switzerland •Converting research leads into products and processes of social and economic value with a focus in agriculture biotechnology. Total 13 ongoing projects

United Kingdom •Main area of focus Agriculture research and Food Security with Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and Department for International Development (DFID). 5 ongoing projects: 4 proposals in the area of Sustainable Crop Development; one project with Belfast University under Cancer Research Programme: Four Projects funded in the Bioenergy and Biofuels and Twelve projects under Farmed Animal Disease and Health (FADH) .

United States of America

•Vaccine Development Programme; Contraceptive Research and Reproductive Health; Agriculture Biotechnology and Vision Research with NIH. Biodesign programme with Stanford University.

EU • India-EU synchronized joint calls announced. 4 projects funded.

• New Indigo ERA-NET.

NGOs / Trusts • Wellcome Trust

• Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation 48

Concluding Remarks

DBT has various schemes which can help Indian

scientists to do research and make significant

contributions to the science and towards the

development of the nation.

A good project proposal which fulfills the defined

criteria will always be funded

Readiness to meet various models of collaborations, in

basic research or translational research involving

industry.