Acclaimed Ayurveda practitioners and academicians in India
and the US are set to undertake joint clinical trials of Ayurvedic formulations
against the deadly Covid-19.

Indian Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu said Ayurveda
experts from the two countries have started exchanging knowledge and research
resources.

“Our Institutions have been collaborating to promote Ayurveda
through joint research, teaching and training programs. Ayurveda practitioners
and researchers in both the countries are planning to initiate joint clinical
trials of Ayurvedic formulations against Covid-19,” he said during a virtual
discussion on ‘Deepening the knowledge partnership between India and the US’
the other day.

The Indo-US Science Technology Forum (IUSSTF), which played a
key role in strengthening the science and innovation ecosystem, has extended
support for the joint research works.

Meanwhile, Sandhu said the scope of collaboration in the
fight against the viral infection also extends to areas like vaccine development
among others.

“Indian pharmaceutical companies are global leaders in
producing affordable low-cost medicines and vaccines and will play an important
role in the fight against the pandemic. There are at least three tie-ups between
Indian vaccine companies and US research organisations,” he said.

Besides, there are over 200
on-going NIH funded projects in India involving 20 institutions from the NIH
network. The collaboration under the Vaccine Action Program (VAP) resulted in
development of ROTAVAC vaccine
against rota virus which causes severe diarrhoea in children.

The vaccine was developed
by Indian company Bharat Biotech at an affordable cost. Development of many
other vaccines such as TB, Influenza, Chikungunya are also in progress under
the VAP, he said.