The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) awarded funds to help the U.S. and India develop low-cost diagnostic and therapeutic medical technologies to use in underserved communities worldwide. The supplemental funding announced at the U.S. India Science and Technology Joint Commission Meeting held in June in Washington D.C. is an initiative between NIBIB and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) of the Ministry of Science and Technology in India.
Some of the technology needed includes:
• Glucose monitoring for diabetes
• Low-cost platform technology for multiple diagnostic tests
• Point-of-care technologies especially to use to screen infants
• Diagnostic tests for early detection of cardiovascular disease
• Networked and mobile technology for diagnostic devices
• Non-invasive or minimally invasive screening technology
• Low-cost diagnostic imaging devices
Applications are now being accepted. Funding amounts will vary and are limited to 25 percent of the direct costs of an existing NIBIB grant. The funding opportunity closes on September 1, 2011. More information and examples of other potential low-cost technologies can be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-EB-10-002.html.
To provide for collaboration between U.S. and Indian researchers, NIBIB and DBT have established an online networking group at Linkedin.com. For more information, go to www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid+2949818&trk=anet_ug_hm. Scientists, engineers, and clinicians are encouraged to participate in the Indo-U.S Coalition for Low-Cost Medical Technologies LinkedIn group.
For more information, email John Haller, PhD at haller@mail.nih.gov.
