The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Ministry of AYUSH signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) yesterday for mutual collaboration to explore the possibility of cooperation, convergence and synergy to bring out the expertise under one platform towards evidence-based biotechnological interventions in AYUSH sector. Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH and Dr Rajesh S Gokhale, Secretary, DBT were present on the occasion, along with other officials of both the ministries.
Through this association, it is expected that traditional healthcare and biotechnology together would enable possibilities to undertake innovative and path-breaking research, which can be used for the exploration of various fundamental principles of AYUSH systems. There is a need of multi-pronged and technological ways for the exploration and application of this ancient scientific system of healthcare into the public healthcare domain.
Biotechnological R&D and AYUSH interventions will improve quality of life as well as life span (vayahsthaapana rasayana) and bring down the associated morbidity pertaining to chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis, cachexia, pain management and infectious diseases.
Speaking on the occasion, Kotecha said that the MoU between the Ministry of AYUSH and DBT is expected to pave way for coordinated researches in AYUSH sector and the huge untapped potential of AYUSH healthcare system may be utilised for the community benefit.
Addressing the gathering, Gokhale said that this inter-ministerial cooperation between the Ministry of AYUSH and DBT is expected to generate knowledge and new means of intervention strategies for difficult-to-treat diseases.
This joint R&D effort ranging from fundamental science to validation and thereafter product development, will significantly help in the growth of the Indian contributions to this important sector, not only nationally, but internationally as well. Emphasis would be given to mechanistic studies of Ayurveda therapeutics using animal models of disease and other advanced analytical methods, along with data analytical tools.