|
|
|
|
|
| Wednesday, Sep 10, 2008
TANUVAS signs MoU with Mediclone Biotech
- Project involves development of mouse monoclonal antibodies employing rabies virus
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS)
on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding with Mediclone Biotech for a proposal
on production and characterisation of monoclonal antibodies against street rabies virus.
Speaking after signing the MoU, P. Thangaraju, Vice-Chancellor,
TANUVAS, said it was an important work as the government was
collaborating with a private company for providing health care to the poor.
In the last four years, TANUVAS signed MoUs with eight private companies.
A majority of the agreements were on taking up research in the field
of animal biotechnology relating to diagnostics and vaccine production,
Dr. Thangaraju said. Before the end of this year, TANUVAS would sign two
more MoUs with private companies for taking up research, he said.
The authorities continued to rely on the provisions of a 2002
Government Order, as per which the Government collected Rs.3,500
from each student on allotment of seats, and Rs.1,500 went to
the institution towards special fee.
K.K. Tripathi, Adviser, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India,
said as far as this programme was concerned, the department was only a facilitator.
Various projects were being funded by the Biotechnology Department, including Biotech
Industry Research Association and Cooperation, Biotechnology Industry Promotion
Programme and Small Business Innovative Research Initiative.
Talking about the MoU signed on Monday, Dr. Tripathi said this project would provide
an opportunity for the students to have an exposure to industry. It was an open-ended
programme, which would benefit both the students and the industry. C.J. Samathanam,
Adviser, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, said private industries
felt the need for collaborative research, which would be beneficial to society.
The proposed project involved the development of mouse monoclonal antibodies employing
rabies virus isolates. The produced monoclonal antibody would be used to study the
neutralisation efficiency with different street rabies virus isolates.
The rabies vaccines were presently used for prophylactic immunisation
and post exposure treatment (PET) in animals and humans. The current PET
involved the use of rabies immunoglobulin to neutralise the virus at the
site of bite. Currently, human rabies immunoglobulin and equine rabies
immunoglobulin were available for use in humans for PET.
Courtesy: The Hindu
|
| << Back |
|
|
