Institutions like Indian Council of Medical Research(ICMR) and Department of Biotechnology (DBT) need to come together with a common focus on identifying research projects for medicinal cures, said ICMR director-general Dr V M Katoch on Friday.

Katoch was in Pune to inaugurate the national conference of the Society of Biological Chemists at the Yashwantrao Chavan Academy of Development and Administration (YASHADA).

Katoch spoke about the need for institutions like DBT and others to coordinate on similar issues so that a fresh impetus is given to research projects on cancer, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes among others. He also said that urban health infrastructure needs to be strengthened so that important research work done at various institutions like the National Centre for Cell Science can be translated for medicinal use in the community.

H1N1 VACCINE IN DEC
Imported H1N1 vaccine will be available by December while the indigenous one will be ready by March, said Dr V M Katoch. People had started developing resistance to H1N1, Katoch added.