Canada to fund four new health science projects with India

Bal Krishna

Toronto, Jun 11 (PTI) Canada has announced to fund
four new health science projects with India in the field of
cancer, sexually transmitted diseases and malaria worth USD
6.7 million.

Canada's Minister of International Trade and for the
Asia-Pacific Gateway Stockwell Day said "Canadians are leaders
in the field of health sciences and these projects will help
connect pure research in laboratories with applied research."

"These projects will contribute to improving the lives
of Canadians and people around the world," Day said while
delivering key note address at a function organised by
Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC).

All four of the joint projects are in the health
sector. Two are seeking advances in the field of cancer, one
in the field of sexually transmitted diseases and one in the
treatment of malaria, according to Secretary of India's
Department of Science and Technology,Thirumalachari Ramasami.

Ramasami said that Canada and India have a close
relationship in science and technology including in
biotechnology, health science, nano-science and nano-medicine,
energy, aerospace, environmental technologies, information and
communications technology and earth sciences.

Ramasami added that Science and technology relations
between Canada and India have made good progress at the
federal, provincial, academic and private-sector levels over
the past years.

Ramasami was in Ottawa to attend a joint meeting of
the Canada-India Science and Technology Joint Cooperation
Committee.

"The International Science and Technology Partnerships
Programme, which supports these outstanding collaborative
projects, is an example of the important role played by both
governments in promoting leading-edge research," Henri
Rothschild, President and Chief Executive Officer of
ISTPCanada said.

"At ISTPCanada, we will continue to deliver similar
bilateral activities in support of this role, one that can
only grow in significance in the coming years."

Much of this progress is due to the work of the
Canada-India Science and Technology Joint Cooperation
Committee, which is co-chaired by Ramasami.

Thursday's new projects are in addition to eight
projects and two joint initiatives announced in June 2008.

International Science and Technology Partnerships
Canada (ISTPCanada), an independent organisation that provides
networking opportunities and funding to support Canadian
participation in collaborative research projects, will deliver
the Canadian portion of the funding. PTI Corr
SKT
NNNN