Indian scientists bring nearly 200 tech solutions to fight Covid-19, CSIR chief releases 3Ts list

Representtaive photo

New Delhi: Rising to the occasion, Indian scientists from across the country have, so far, come out with about 200 Covid-19 related technologies, including tracing and testing solutions, and research activities on treatment or prevention such as repurposing of existing drugs to either treat existing patients or prevent frontline health staff from being infected.
Among tracing solutions, the list carries various Apps such as GoCoronaGo, Sampark-O-Meter, KAWACH and the most popular one Aarogya Setu – the App which is loosely based on Singapores tried and tested community tracing App called TraceTogether.
A day after sharing details of the solutions and research activities on vaccines and repurposing of drugs, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) – premier R&D body – on Wednesday released a compendium on Indian technologies which summarises emerging technology landscape under 3Ts – Tracking, Testing and Treating – to fight the menace of the Covid-19 spread.
“It is very timely and would benefit the micro, small & medium enterprises (MSMEs), startups and the public at large,” said Shekhar C Mande, director general, CSIR, while releasing the compendium.
Prepared by the National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) of the ministry of science & technology, the compendium comprises of most relevant and emerging indigenously developed technological innovations, including those which are at the research stage. Several of the technologies, compiled by the NRDC, have also been approved by the ICMR and therefore will serve as a ready reference for policymakers, industries, entrepreneurs, research scholars and scientists.
The information presented in the compendium is sourced from various government bodies and premier institutions including ICMR, department of biotechnology, CSIR, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), IITs, IISc and department of science & technology.
Besides various kinds of handheld digital IR thermometer and tracing Apps, the compendium has also enlisted rapid testing kit, RT-PCR detection kit, paper strip based testing assay, rapid antibody test and identification of drugs by computation.
Among protective solution, it has listed nasal gel, UV-tech fitted sanitising trunk, low-cost 3D face shield, bio bodysuits, anti-microbial fabric and disinfection drones.
On the vaccine front, the research team of various institutions is attempting to design and test variants of the spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 as vaccine candidates.
Referring to anti-viral drugs, the compendium enlisted few WHO approved drugs such as Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), Remdesivir, Falaviparavir and Lupinivir as key drugs which can be helpful for coronavirus treatment in India.
“The pharmaceutical company Cipla has already announced that it is fast-tracRead More – Source

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