AGREEMENT OF COOPERATION ON MICROBICIDE RESEARCH BETWEEN CONRAD AND THE INDIAN COUNCIL OF MEDICAL RESEARCH

CONRAD and the Indian Council of Medical Research of New Delhi, India, have signed, in August, 2004, a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in microbicide research. The principal objective of the agreement is to facilitate broad cooperation in the development of new, safe and accessible methods of preventing the transmission of HIV/AIDS and of other sexually transmitted diseases by means of microbicides, which would be suitable for use in developing countries. Both countries would benefit from this scientific and technological progress in the area of reproductive health.

The two organizations will cooperate in the following areas: drug discovery and formulation, preclinical screening, development of animal models, the preparation of clinical sites to conduct microbicide research, and also in the conduct of safety, effectiveness and acceptability studies. CONRAD and the Indian Council of Medical Research have also agreed to exchange scientists and technical experts, as well as to exchange scientific and technological information, to jointly conduct research projects, to train young investigators, and to hold workshops, seminars and meetings, as may be mutually agreed.

The agreement was signed in New Delhi by Dr. Henry L. Gabelnick, Director of CONRAD, and by Prof. Nirmal K. Ganguly, Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research.