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The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) have jointly called for proposals from firms to set up Bio-Artificial Intelligence (AI) Mulankur hubs under the BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) policy, to promote AI-driven research including in Ayurveda and genome diagnostics.
The Bio-AI is one of the enablers for building data-driven, cutting-edge, programmatic research support for the biomanufacturing initiative. The outcomes are expected to provide critical and novel research leads impacting health, agriculture and environment, said the DBT.
The Bio-AI call invites problem statements and research solutions in biomolecular design, sustainable agriculture, synthetic biology, Ayurveda and genomics diagnostics to be addressed by multi-disciplinary teams with research expertise across synthetic biology, AI/ML, computation.
The scope for biomolecular design includes engineering novel proteins, enzymes, and RNA-based molecules for advanced biomedical and biotechnological applications, designing next-generation protein, and RNA-based antibodies for targeted therapeutics and immune modulation, and developing advanced enzyme inhibitors, RNA aptamers, and de novo enzyme designs for precision disease intervention and metabolic engineering.
It also includes constructing bio-nanomachines and catalytic biomolecules with programmable molecular functions for diagnostics, therapeutics, and synthetic biology applications.
In Ayurveda, the scope includes AI-driven Ayurvedic Pharmacogenomics for developing predictive models to personalize ayurvedic treatments based on genetic, metabolic, and microbiome profiles, AI-enabled Herb-Drug Interaction Analysis for identifying potential interactions between ayurvedic formulations and modern pharmaceuticals using AI and molecular modelling.
It also includes standardization and authentication of ayurvedic formulations for leveraging AI and analytical chemistry to validate and authenticate medicinal plant extracts, AI-assisted plant-based drug discovery for mining ayurvedic texts and databases to identify bioactive compounds with therapeutic potential, and gut microbiome modulation through Ayurveda for understanding how ayurvedic diets and herbs influence gut microbiota for managing metabolic and autoimmune disorders.
In genome diagnostics, the call for proposal include int he areas of AI-powered risk prediction models for diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic disorders.
Besides, call for proposal include biomarkers for early cancer detection, disease progression tracking, and treatment response prediction, single-cell and spatial genomics for utilizing AI to analyze single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics for tumour microenvironment profiling and rare disease diagnosis, and genetic risk stratification for neurodegenerative disorders for identifying genomic and RNA-based signatures associated with conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s to enable early diagnosis and intervention.
DBT said that the proposals should be addressed by data-driven, cutting-edge, multidisciplinary, programmatic research initiatives for projected outcomes and are not for establishing infrastructure/facilities/applications of AI for screening, disseminating resources/healthcare/education etc. Proposals lacking significant biotech research questions and solutions and dwelling largely on computational programs or AI/ML methods will not be considered for support.
The proposals should be addressed in a two-year period, and based on merit and actual requirements of the proposal, a maximum of Rs. 25 crore grant will be considered. The grant is not for investigator-driven independent research efforts and will only consider applications that are from inter-disciplinary science teams led by a coordinator with the team having demonstrated expertise and significant research leads to achieve the desired outcomes, it added.
The research methodology should clearly articulate how the proposed AI based solutions/decisions are analyzed and validated in experimental settings. Intellectual property emanating from the programme will be governed by the DBT IP Guidelines 2023, and for BIRAC, it will be based on its own IP guidelines.
Researchers, scientists working with government organisations, universities, academic institutions, national laboratories, start-ups, industries and others, along with academic organisation are eligible for the grant.
Proposals are to be submitted through Department’s e-ProMIS portal and BIRAC's website, and the proposals will be assessed for scientific merit, approach and methodology, organisation and investor capabilities, and impact and deliverables. Last date for submission of proposals is June 30, 2026 and the proposals will be evaluated periodically in a rolling manner and support will be provided accordingly, it added.
DBT, with the approval of the Cabinet has announced the BioE3 policy for “Fostering High-performance Biomanufacturing”. This initiative is supported under the Cabinet Approved ‘Biotechnology Research Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (Bio-RIDE)’ scheme to foster innovation, promote bio-entrepreneurship, and strengthen India’s position as a global leader in Biomanufacturing and Biotechnology.
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