Call For Proposal

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) DISEASE (COVID-19)

The current outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) got reported first from Wuhan, China, on 31 December 2019. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a new virus that had not been previously identified in humans. COVID-19 has been declared as a pandemic by WHO due to the alarming levels of spread and severity. Till date, there is no specific medicine to treat or prevent COVID-19.

In response to the outbreak, there is an urgent need to accelerate development of diagnostics, vaccines, novel therapeutics and re-purposing of drugs for this novel coronavirus. In view of the limited current level of knowledge about the new virus, critical research questions need to be answered urgently, and ways have to be found to fund priority research that can contribute to curtail this outbreak and prepare for future outbreaks. Urgent need to develop safe and effective countermeasures that can be available, accessible and suitable for use in populations most in need. Research is an important integral component of the response to be able to identify key knowledge gaps and research priorities, and thereby accelerate the generation of critical scientific information and the most needed medical products to contribute to the control of 2019-nCoV emergency.

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To support the preparedness, readiness and response for COVID-19, project proposals are being solicited for developing Diagnostics, Vaccines, Novel Therapeutics, Repurposing of Drugs or any other intervention for control of COVID-19 by Industry/Academia/ Industry-Academia participation.

The theme of the current RFP is:

  Developing Diagnostics, Vaccines, novel Therapeutics, repurposing of drugs and any other   intervention for control of  COVID-19 outbreak”. Projects submitted must take into account the criteria for affordability, wide-spread adoption and have a realistic possibility for scale-up. The scope of the RFP is inclusive of and not exhaustive of the following areas:

Diagnostics :

• To develop technologies/Assays/components for diagnosis of coronavirus and SARS-CoV-2 including diagnostic methods such as ELISA, Lateral Flow assay, Molecular diagnostics (PCR, Real Time PCR), Colorimetric tests, Chemiluminescence, Immunoassays, cell culture

Vaccines:

• Vaccine technology platforms, novel vaccine manufacturing technologies, vaccine candidates and enabling disciplines for corona virus vaccine development

• Type of candidate vaccine can be DNA, RNA, Live Attenuated Virus, Non-Replicating Viral Vector, Protein Subunit, Replicating Viral Vector at any stage of development
• In-licensing technology for optimization, scale-up and manufacturing

Novel Therapeutics:

• To develop in-vitro assay/animal models and standardize challenge studies
• Screen existing libraries (Biologicals and Chemicals) and identify potential hits for development
• Novel methods of B-cell isolation/ monoclonal antibody development

Repurposing of Drugs:

• Develop prophylaxis clinical studies and prioritize in healthcare workers

• Evaluate existing marketed drugs under a standard protocol in patients of COVID-19

Any other:

• Development of any other intervention/technology related to SARS-CoV-2 outbreak prevention and control

1. Key requirements for the proposed technologies/ products that will be considered:
   1. Developed process should be sustainable from an economic and environmental point of view
   2. The technology should be scalable

1. EXCLUSIONS- Examples of areas that will not be considered:
   1. Proposals not related to SARS-CoV-2
   2. Projects not having product development component
   3. The proposed concept not having commercialization potential
      1. The grant is not a research fellowship.

   ELIGIBILITY: The proposals can be submitted by:   

                           a. Company (Start-up, Small, Medium or Large) incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013 having a minimum of 51% of the shares of the Company to be held by Indian Citizens (Indian passport holders).

                            b.Limited liability Partnership (LLP) incorporated under the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008 having a minimum half of the persons who have subscribed their names to the LLP document as its Partners

                                should be Indian citizens

                                (NOTE: The applicant Company/LLP should have adequate in-house facility to address the project implementation

                               (which shall be    evaluated during the proposal evaluation) or incubated with any of the recognized incubation facility. DSIR 

                               certificate is  not mandatory).

                             c.  Academia (Public or Private Research Institute, University) having a well-established support system for research. The institute should have been established in India and have NAAC/ UGC/ AICTE or any

                                 equivalent recognition certificate or any other Public/Government supported organization

                            d.  Non-academic Individuals (NAI)

                     Application can be submitted by any of the above entities (a - d) jointly or severally

Proposals are required to be submitted online only. For submission of proposals, applicants need to register with BIRAC through “User Registration”. Additional information on user registration and proposal submission are available online at BIRAC website at www.birac.nic.in.

No Hard Copy to be submitted. Proposals submitted online only would be considered.

Last date for Submission of Proposals :    30th March, 2020 02:00 PM

BIRAC will ensure maintenance of strict confidentiality of the proposals as per DBT norms.

For any queries, please contact:

Dr. Artee : inv03.birac@nic.in

Announcement Date: 19-03-2020
Last Submission Date: 30-03-2020 02:00 PM