Health for all needs a stronger push: CSIR chief

“While the CSIR’s initiative of using solar electric rickshaws has helped Delhi-based cycle rickshaw pullers reduce physical stress and also bring down TB,its new open source drug discovery programme has had the world’s scientists getting connected in a virtual laboratory,” Brahmachari said.

The CSIR chief spoke about how scientific knowledge has to be leveraged for social and economic solutions and cited the example of the Vadu rural health programme and the Ballabgad health and demographic surveillance system at Haryana that provided a platform for social transformation. These programmes are basically a public-private partnership to provide medical care to those in the rural areas.

Elaborating on the theme of scientists working closely to find solutions for complex problems such as infectious diseases,Brahmachari said the open source drug discovery (OSDD) programme had 1,400 scientists working on 100 projects in a virtual lab. “The idea is to discover novel therapies for neglected tropical diseases,” he said,pointing out that the OSDD is a unique opportunity for scientists,doctors,technocrats,students and others with diverse expertise to work for a common cause.

The OSDD provides a platform for collaborative research,data on pathogens,tools for data analysis and discussion forum for members to share ideas and projects for students to participate in drug discovery. Brahmachari said TB would be the first disease target and urged the experts gathered from Africa to think of solutions. “Why can’t TB be treated in a month rather than a treatment protocol for nine months? While 400 drugs are being developed for the treatment of cancer,sadly only six drugs are in the fray for research for TB. We need a new molecule and a new way of bringing those drugs to treat TB,” he said.