Cabinet approves 5-year extension of biomedical research career programme
28 Mar 2019
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The union cabinet has approved the continuation of the Biomedical Research Career Programme (BRCP), and Wellcome Trust (WT) / DBT India Alliance beyond its initial 10-year term (2008-09 to 2018-29) to a new five year phase (2019-20 to 2023-24) with the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) increasing its commitment to two times that of WT.
The total financial implication will be Rs1,092 crore with DBT and WT contributing Rs728 crore and Rs364 crore, respectively, an official release stated.
Over its 10 years of funding in a 1:1 partnership, the programme has fulfilled its objectives of building and nurturing talent of highest global standards in cutting-edge biomedical research in India, which has led to important scientific breakthroughs and applications to meet societal needs, the release said.
BRCP has made it attractive for high quality Indian scientists working abroad to return to India, and has increased the number of locations geographically within India where world-class biomedical research is undertaken.
In the extended phase, the programme would continue to build this capacity as also strengthen clinical research and work towards addressing important health challenges for India. Continuation of the programme with increased stake from the Government of India is important to bring about these returns, it added.
