Union Minister announced launch of “Dare2eraD TB” by the Department of Biotechnology, M/o Science & Technology

What is the News?

On the Occasion of World TB Day, the Union Minister of Science & Technology has announced the launch of the “Dare2eraD TB” program.

What is the Dare2eraD TB program?

Launched by: Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology.

Full-Form: Dare2eraD TB stands for Data-Driven Research to Eradicate TB.

Components: Dare2eraD TB will be the umbrella TB program of DBT, comprising the following key initiatives:

– InTGS – Indian Tuberculosis Genomic Surveillance Consortium: It is proposed on lines of the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Consortia (INSACOG). It aims to monitor the genomic variations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb) on a regular basis through a multi-laboratory network 

– InTBK Hub-Indian TB Knowledge Hub- Webinar Series: It will be a Webinar series starting from World TB Day that will create Academia-Industry connect to discuss challenges and exchange ideas and carry forward open innovations between all TB stakeholders.

– Host Directed therapies against TB and developing an evidence-based regimen for treating extra-pulmonary Tuberculosis.

What are the other initiatives related to Tuberculosis(TB)?

Regional Prospective Observational Research in Tuberculosis (RePORT) India initiative: It is a bilateral, multi-organizational, collaborative research effort established in 2013 under the Indo-US Vaccine Action Program(VAP). It aims to advance tuberculosis(TB) research in India.

Department of Biotechnology has initiated a major network programme on “MDR-TB in North East India: a genomic driven approach” involving 22 North East Region(NER) institutes from 8 states and 14 other Institutes.

Source: This post is based on an article “Union Minister announced launch of “Dare2eraD TB” by the Department of Biotechnology, M/o Science & Technology” published in PIB on 24th March 2022