The article in The Hindu (“ >New centre to study infectious diseases ,” Sept. 14) highlighted that the U.K.’s Medical Research Council (MRC) and India’s Department of Biotechnology (DBT) are running a joint call for proposals to establish a number of new U.K.-India joint research centres, including one on anti-microbial resistance (AMR). This is an important area of research for both countries. Indeed, AMR was the subject of an excellent two-day discussion between experts from both countries in Bangalore last week.
However, I wanted to clarify that the call for proposals is still open and submissions from eligible applicants will be accepted until September 29, 2014. Any suggestion that the funding for this joint centre has already been decided or awarded is, therefore, incorrect.
It would be unfortunate if researchers got the wrong impression about the status of the call and, as a result, strong researchers were discouraged from applying. Further information on the call is available on the >MRC and >DBT websites
Mark Sinclair,Head, U.K. Science & Innovation Network, India, British High Commission, New Delhi
