Sibal launches 80 million pound fellowships

New Delhi, Sep 10 (UNI) Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal today launched the 80 million pound fellowships to boost biomedical reseacth in India.

The scheme, jointly funded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the UK-based Wellcome Trust over 5 years, aims to strengthen the research base of Indian biomedical science by providing fellowship programmes to support researchers.

Mr Sibal said the biomedical research career programme would fund cutting-edge biomedical research in India, and complement recent Wellcome Trust investment to support public health research in the country.

DBT Secretary M K Bhan said: ''We are committed to ensuring that these and already developed places are nurtured to become centres of quality research and learning comparable to the best. By attracting the best scientists back to work in these locations, we hope to make research a real contributor to health and well- being of the people.'' Wellcome Trust Director Mark Walport said: ''India has a wealth of academic talent and it is important that we can support the best researchers throughout their careers.'' He said the initiative had the potential to have a significant impact on the health and prosperity of India and South Asia.

''We aim to nurture and develop a world-class cohort of biomedical researchers.'' he added.

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