Indian researchers will soon be able to join hands with US scientists to boost their scientific endeavour, thanks to an initiative funded jointly by the Indian and US governments. The research will be focused on blinding eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) that affect millions of people in the country.

The collaborative research programme, being facilitated and funded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under the US Department of Health and Human Services, will focus on determining genetic susceptibility and key biomarkers that could provide the basis for accurate diagnosis and future therapy.

The proposed research initiative also covers serious visual disorders such as congenital cataracts, retinitis pigmentosa, refractive error and corneal injury. While basic, translational or epidemiological research will be encouraged, clinical trials will not be supported under the plan.

The DBT will provide funds for the Indian component and the NIH Research Project Grant will directly support salaries of US personnel and research activities within the US.