Integration of basic sciences with clinical research key to India’s health innovations, says Union Minister

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology; Earth Sciences; and Minister of State for Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions; Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the healthcare sector must move away from overdependence on government funding and encourage a culture of extensive private-sector participation for synergised healthcare, philanthropy, and collaboration to achieve global benchmarks in healthcare research, inaugurating the Diabetes Conference "TREAT-DM 2025 – Translational Research, Adiposopathy, Technology for Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases" through a virtual address at the J N Tata Auditorium.

Dr Jitendra Singh emphasised that the age of working in silos is over, adding that integration between academia, research, and industry is the way forward. “The boundary between public and private sectors has gradually faded. Thanks to Prime Minister Modi’s reforms, India has opened its space, nuclear, and biotechnology sectors for wider participation, leading to historic outcomes,” he said.

Citing examples, Dr Jitendra Singh noted that India’s space economy has grown from a single-digit valuation a decade ago to over $8 billion, with projections to reach $40–45 billion within the next decade. “Similar transformation is happening across science and technology domains, including biotechnology and biomedical research,” he remarked.

Highlighting recent breakthroughs, the minister said India achieved its first-ever successful indigenous gene-therapy trial for Hemophilia, conducted under the Department of Biotechnology in collaboration with Christian Medical College, Vellore. The findings, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, recorded a 60–70 per cent correction rate with no post-therapy bleeding incidents.

Union minister also stated that India has developed its first indigenously discovered antibiotic Nafithromycin effective against resistant respiratory infections, particularly in diabetic and immunocompromised patients. The drug, developed through collaboration between government and industry partners, represents a major leap toward Atmanirbhar Bharat in pharmaceutical innovation.

He further recalled India’s success in vaccine research and export. “Our indigenously developed DNA vaccine and other vaccines have been supplied to nearly 200 countries. This reflects India’s dual commitment to self-reliance and global welfare – the spirit of Vishwabandhu Bharat,” he said.

Union Minister also underlined that India’s Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) is structured to ensure sustainable funding with Rs 50,000 crore earmarked for five years, of which Rs 36,000 crore will come from non-governmental sources. This is a remarkable shift toward building a self-sustainable research model that mirrors global best practices, he added.

Pointing to India’s growing role in bio-manufacturing, the Minister said the country now ranks third in the Indo-Pacific region and twelfth globally. Devices developed at institutes like Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, are being exported, showcasing the success of indigenous R&D.

Dr Jitendra Singh also referred to life-science experiments conducted aboard the International Space Station by astronaut Subhanshu Sharma using kits developed by the Department of Biotechnology, including studies on muscle regeneration and cellular effects of prolonged exposure to electronic environments. “These are Indian experiments with global implications,” he observed.

Concluding his address, the Minister urged researchers to align their efforts with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, stating that India’s growth in science and technology will be driven by innovation, self-reliance, and international collaboration.

The inaugural session was also addressed by Dr CN Manjunath, Member of Parliament (Bengaluru Rural) and Guest of Honour; Prof Govindan Rangarajan, Director, IISc; Prof Navakanta Bhat, Dean, Division of Interdisciplinary Sciences, IISc; Dr Rohit N Kulkarni, Harvard Medical School; and other eminent scientists and clinicians from India and abroad.