Nobel Laureate's roadmap for India's development in science

New Delhi, Jan 14 (UNI) Nobel Laureate in Medicine David Baltimore today hailed India's success in the economic arena and said the country could take a huge lead in science and technology as well.

Delivering the inaugural Cell-Press-TnQ lecture on 'New Avenues to Health', Dr Baltimore said India had a great tradition of education but not sufficient institutions.

It should, therefore, concentrate on building new institutions so that more opportunities were offered to the young within 10-20 years.

India, he said, should also concentrate resources on particular institutions and build small environments within the large institutions so that more gifted people get the wherewithals to realise their potential.

Capital access as well as entrepreneurship were also needed for transforming scientific research into new products, he said and highlighted the role of venture capitalists in building the American society.

Acknowledging India's contribution to manufacturing cheap anti-HIV medicines, the 1975 Nobel Prize winner said the country should continue producing low-cost drugs and at the same time find solutions to various viruses such as Chikungunya.

He said providing safe drinking water and maintaining healthy diet for the young should also be the country's priority.

He said genetically modified food could be a safe route to better health, which some countries were foolishly countering.

Dr Baltimore said India should also be able to adapt to changes brought about by global warming.

Later replying to questions, the American Biologist accepted that the US should have signed the Kyoto Protocol.

''I hope the new administration see things differently,'' he added.

UNI YJ RL KP1936