Deadline: 03-Jul-20
The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) & Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) has announced a call for proposals for the Anti- SARS-CoV-2 /nCoV-2 Virus Studies using Botanical Ingredients and Traditional Formulations.
Areas
To manage COVID-19 pandemic through the application of medicinal and aromatic plants, project proposals are solicited by Industry/Academia/ Industry-Academia in following research areas:
- Development of experimental models for evaluation of anti-viral activity of extracts, fractions and phytochemical constituents from medicinal and aromatic plants:
- In vitro anti-viral activity (nCoV2, non-infective, pseudo-RNA virus);
- Antiviral (anti-nCoV-2) efficacy in animal model;
- MTT / PI / CCK8 assay for cell toxicity.
- Screening of extracts, fractions, phytochemical constituents and traditional formulations from medicinal and aromatic plant against SARS-CoV2
- Development of research lead candidates based on screening to take forward towards developing phytopharmaceuticals.
- Development of phytopharmaceuticals for prevention, co-administration and mainstay therapy
- Development of herbal products for prevention against COVID-19 – Proof-of efficacy, pre-clinical and clinical.
- Studies on extracts, fractions and phytochemical constituents from medicinal & aromatic plants
- Immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activity (PBMC, Neutrophils, Th1/Th2 driven T-cell responses, antigen presentation;
- Effect if any on obesity, diabetes, lung fibrosis and
- Drug-drug interaction studies (CYP450 studies)
- Essential oils compounds inhibitory to SARS-COV-2 proteins & infections.
Funding Information
The extent of funding will depend on the proposed activities. However, under no circumstances the total project cost would exceed Rs. 100 lakhs.
Duration
Grants up to 18 months.
Eligibility Criteria
The proposals can be submitted by:
- Company (Start-up, Small, Medium or Large) incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013 having a minimum of 51% of the shares of the Company to be held by Indian Citizens (Indian passport holders).
- Limited liability Partnership (LLP) incorporated under the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008 having a minimum half of the persons who have subscribed their names to the LLP document as its Partners should be Indian citizens
- (NOTE: The applicant Company/LLP should have adequate in-house facility to address the project implementation (which shall be evaluated during the proposal evaluation) or incubated with any of the recognized incubation facility. DSIR certificate is not mandatory).
- Academia (Public or Private Research Institute, University) having a well-established support system for research. The institute should have been established in India and have NAAC/ UGC/ AICTE or any equivalent recognition certificate or any other Public/ Government supported organization Application can be submitted by any of the above entities (a – c) either singly or in collaboration.
Evaluation Criteria
The proposals will be evaluated on following criteria:
- Scientific Merit
- Technical strength of proposal
- Clarity of technical strategy
- Innovation level
- Investigator’s Credentials and/or collaborative team’s expertise.
For more information, visit https://birac.nic.in/desc_new.php?id=724