Kolkata: Aimed at bridging the gap between researchers and clinicians to provide innovative and affordable solutions in advanced therapeutics and diagnostics, a leading healthcare provider has signed an agreement with the country`s premier research institute.
The Narayana Health and the Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (IICB) under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research here have agreed to collaborate on translational research ranging from advanced molecular diagnostics in infectious diseases and oncology, immune therapeutics, regenerative medicine and cell therapies to molecular epidemiology.
"Huge clinical diversities handled by the Narayana hospitals and understanding of clinical problems are invaluable resource for the translational research. Narayana hospitals will align clinicians with defined areas to work with the IICB scientists to develop innovative solutions to clinical pain points, Biju Jacob, group head, clinical research and healthcare innovations and director of technology business incubator, Narayana Health, told IANS.
"Vast research experience and state-of-the art research facilities and valuable scientific resources would be aligned to work with the clinical team of the Narayana Health to solve unmet clinical needs," he added.
The outcomes expected would include novel cancer therapies, new therapeutic protocols for personalised medicine, affordable diagnostics in oncology, and infections, added Jacob.
He said the alliance would make the discovery process cost-effective and would increase affordability of the products.
"Generally there is a time lag between a clinical problem identified to the solution developed, as there is a disconnect between the broad work areas of the researchers and clinicians. This association will facilitate and accelerate drug and therapy discovery by bridging the gap. This would lead to more cost effectiveness in the process of discovery and hence increase affordability," Jacob said.
Work has started and initially the steering committee comprising members of both the institutes "is looking into approving the initial proposed studies."
