On October 20, 2020, Union Minister for Science & Technology, Harsh Vardhan launched ‘CuRED’ or ‘CSIR Ushered Repurposed Drugs’ (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-CSIR) a website for providing information on Repurposed Drugs for COVID-19.
i.CuRED can be accessed at https://www.iiim.res.in/cured/ or http://db.iiim.res.in/ct/index.php.
Key People:Dr. Shekhar C Mande, Secretary, DSIR and DG-CSIR, Dr.Ranjana Aggarwal, Dir, NISTADS and Dr. Geetha Vani Rayasam, Senior Principal Scientist & Head, Science Communication and Dissemination Directorate CSIR HQ participated in the event.
Key Points:
i.The website provides information regarding clinical trials of diagnostics and devices in which CSIR is involved.
ii.It provides information about Partnering institutions which are involved in the trials, their role in the trials and other details.
Clinical trials of CSIR:
i.CSIR is working with AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha & Homeopathy) Ministry for clinical trials of AYUSH drugs.
ii.Five Clinical Trials involving Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha), Tinospora Cordifolia (Guduchi) & Piper Longum (Long Pepper) – Combination, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Liquorice), Tinospora Cordifolia (Guduchi) & Adhatoda Vasica (Malabar Nut) – Individual and Combination & AYUSH-64 formulation is undergoing safety and efficacy trials.
iii.Another Key Clinical Trial of CSIR is the Sepsivac (Mw) against COVID-19 in partnership with Cadila.
Recent Related News:
i.On 5th May 2020, the Constituent lab of CSIR, Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology(CSIR-IGIB) and TATA Sons signed an MoU for licensing of KNOWHOW related to the development for FELUDA – for Rapid Diagnosis of COVID-19.
ii.September 1, 2020, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CSIR – CMERI) developed the world largest Solar Tree with customisable features for application in different locations and installed it in the residential colony of CMERI at Durgapur, West Bengal.
About Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR):
President – Prime Minister (Narendra Modi)
Director General – Shekhar C. Mande
Headquarters – New Delhi
