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Time of India
03-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Make cell and gene therapy more affordable: PSA tells experts
BENGALURU: As innovations in cell and gene therapies have taken root in India, Ajay K Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor, Govt of India, reminded scientists and innovators in Bengaluru, on Thursday, that efforts should be made to make these therapies affordable. The govt is also looking at a national mission that drives this affordability. Talking to experts at the India AMR innovation workshop at CCAMP in Bengaluru, Sood said, "Very often we see cell and gene therapies, which all of you are experts in, and if you look at the cost, that is really something which is not affordable in most countries — even in other developed countries. If you have to really make these therapies accessible, a large effort is needed. Innovations are taking place in isolated pockets, but the effort has to be amplified. " Sood, who also chairs the Prime Minister Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council, told TOI: 'Cell and gene therapy was discussed extensively in the recent meeting where we bring out various issues which have to be raised to the level of a mission. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru We all felt it has to be a multi-ministerial effort, and we will need resources for that — it will be made into a mission — 'a cell and gene therapy mission'. The idea is how do we really make affordable cell and gene therapy products. While research is going on in a few labs and institutes, lots has to be done to take it to the market.' He added, 'First, you need the science and technology to make those molecules. After that, it has to be at scale to bring down the cost. One needs a holistic view that they are not only doing it for the country but for the globe. Both things have to go hand in hand.' 'We have to create a way to make our own chemicals. Unless we make that, we cannot reduce the cost. So that has to be, that is what is being done in this, at least in the IIT Bombay, and we will do in the mission,' he said. He added that therapy like 'ImmunoACT (the CAR-T cell therapy) is heavily supported by govt with initial funding from DBT, ICMR, and DST. How they take it to further reduce the cost is where all the private factors will come in, and they are already coming in.' Quantum Computing in drug discovery Meanwhile, Sood also believed that one can't avoid the use of quantum computing in biological sciences — "Billions of dollars are pouring in on drug discovery using quantum computing. That will be a game changer because all those huge permutation combinations will be so trivially done in quantum computing. This is really the future along with materials discovery and so on.' Antimicrobial resistance Talking about antimicrobial resistance being a prevalent issue, Ekroop Caur, Secretary, IT, BT, ST department, said, "Even though we may not take antibiotics or we may not misuse antibiotics, we are still affected by it — because what happens in the animal world and plant world will have an impact on us. This also calls for very strong pharmaceutical regulations, which is part of Karnataka's AMR action plan formulated in 2024." Taslimarif Saiyed, CEO and Director, CCAMP, pointed out the risk of nearly 10 million people dying annually from AMR — "I don't think one can step back and say we will look at it when it happens. I think collectively all of us are here to say how much I can take down from the 10 million.'
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Government identifies 10 highway segments for zero-emission truck movement, the move to help India reach its climate goals
India has picked 10 key highway routes for zero-emission trucks to cut freight pollution and push green logistics (Representative Image: AI-generated) New Delhi: India has identified 10 high-impact highway segments where only zero-emission trucks (ZET) will be used for freight movement in the near future, as part of the country's larger goal for decarbonising the logistics sector, reducing air pollution, ensuring energy security and meeting the long-term climate goal of 'net zero' by 2070. These priority corridors, list of which was released by the office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the government early this month, will be used as pilots for early ZET deployment, laying the groundwork for a dedicated national infrastructure network focusing on electric and hydrogen-based fuel technologies across all highways in the country in due course. Despite comprising only 3 per cent of all vehicles, trucks are responsible for more than one-third of transport-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the country. This is particularly concerning given that road transportation accounts for a staggering 71% of overall freight movement in India. According to the Niti Aayog estimates, the number of trucks will be increased by more than four times, from 4 million in 2022 to around 17 million by 2050. It is, therefore, important to move fast towards ZET deployment for long-term benefits and that's why the Office of the PSA has undertaken the initiative to identify the top corridors for initial deployment of such trucks in India. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Đăng ký Undo 'These (10) corridors serve not only as the best candidates for ZET pilots, but as blueprints for the future of freight movement,' said Ajay K Sood, PSA, in his foreword to the 56-page report on India's priority corridors for Zero-Emission Trucking . He said, 'The adoption of ZET in India will play a crucial role in decarbonising the logistics sector, improving public health, enhancing energy independence, and showcasing the country's leadership in the global transition to a net-zero future.' ZET corridors are highway segments equipped with charging or refuelling infrastructure to facilitate seamless goods movement. "Establishing ZET corridors can help ensure the use of truck and infrastructure assets, demonstrate ZET operational and financial feasibility, help manage risks and lower costs, and unlock private capital for ZET projects," said the report. Efforts are already under way to kick-start ZET adoption in India as the central government has allocated Rs 500 crore for the purchase of such trucks under the Prime Minister Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) scheme. The top 10 corridors are: Delhi - Chandigarh; Delhi -Jaipur; Pune - Nashik; Dhanbad - Kolkata; Kolkata - Haldia; Vijayawada - Visakhapatnam; Bengaluru - Chennai; Chennai - Viluppuram; Coimbatore - Salem; and Coimbatore - Kochi These corridors were identified through a three-phase process: quantitative and qualitative assessment of an initial list of 230 corridors using parameters such as toll traffic data and mapping of supply/demand centres, stakeholder consultations and detailed field research. Other factors such as high freight traffic, industrial activity, availability of ancillary services, grid infrastructure readiness, corridor length relative to battery range, and strategic stakeholder inputs for commercial and business viability were also taken into account while finalising the corridors. The report, identifying the high priority corridors, was prepared with the support of Centre of Excellence for Zero Emission Trucking (CoEZET) - IIT Madras, Rocky Mountain Institute, and pManifold as knowledge partners.
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Govt identifies 10 highway segments for zero-emission truck movement
India has identified 10 high-impact highway segments where only zero-emission trucks (ZETs) will be used for freight movement in the near future, as part of the country's broader goal to decarbonise the logistics sector, reduce air pollution, enhance energy security, and achieve the long-term climate target of 'net zero' by 2070. These priority corridors, list of which was released by the office of the principal scientific adviser (PSA) to the govt early this month, will be used as pilots for early ZET deployment, laying the groundwork for a dedicated national infrastructure network focusing on electric and hydrogen-based fuel technologies across all highways in the country in due course. Despite comprising only 3per cent of all vehicles, trucks are responsible for more than one-third of transport-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the country. This is particularly concerning given that road transportation accounts for a staggering 71per cent of overall freight movement in India. According to Niti Aayog estimates , the number of trucks will be increased by more than four times - from four million in 2022 to around 17 million - by 2050. It is, therefore, important to move fast towards ZET deployment for long-term benefits and that's why the office of the PSA has undertaken the initiative to identify the top corridors for initial deployment of such trucks in India. "These (10) corridors serve not only as the best candidates for ZET pilots, but as blueprints for the future of freight movement," said Ajay K Sood, PSA, in his foreword to the 56-page report on India's priority corridors for Zero-Emission Trucking. He said, "The adoption of ZET in India will play a crucial role in decarbonising the logistics sector, improving public health, enhancing energy independence, and showcasing the country's leadership in the global transition to a net-zero future." "Establishing ZET corridors can help ensure the use of truck and infrastructure assets, demonstrate ZET operational and financial feasibility, help manage risks and lower costs, and unlock private capital for ZET projects," said the report. Efforts are already under way to kick-start ZET adoption in India as the central govt has allocated 500 crore for the purchase of such trucks under the Prime Minister Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) scheme. The top 10 corridors were identified through a three-phase process: quantitative and qualitative assessment of an initial list of 230 corridors using parameters such as toll traffic data and mapping of supply/demand centres, stakeholder consultations and detailed field research. Other factors such as high freight traffic, industrial activity, availability of ancillary services, grid infrastructure readiness, corridor length relative to battery range, and strategic stakeholder inputs for commercial and business viability were also taken into account while finalising the corridors.
