The CAR-T cell based therapy has emerged as a breakthrough in cancer treatment. It is a type of treatment in which a patient's T cells are changed in the laboratory enabling them to specifically attack cancer cells and these cells are then infused back into the patient’s body.

Clinical trials conducted globally have shown promising results in endstage patients especially in patients suffering from Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia.

Though this technology has a remarkable therapeutic potential for cancer patients, at present this technology is very expensive and not available in India. The challenge therefore is to develop this technology in cost-effective manner and make it available for the patients.

Purpose of the Call: The goal of this Call is to support milestone-driven multi-institutional/multi-investigator proposals focused on developing CAR-T technology in India. Accordingly Request for Concept Proposals are invited on “Approach to develop CAR T Cell therapy at an affordable price in India” for consideration under the Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine Programme of the Department. Applications are expected to have defined Milestones and Timelines detailing how the project will move forward with identified deliverables and expected outcomes.

The Concept proposal should be submitted in the prescribed format (4 hard copies) to the following address:, Dr.Niloo Srivastava, Scientist ‘E’, Department of Biotechnology, Block-2, Room No.621, 6th floor, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi – 110003 alongwith soft copy (both word and pdf format) to be emailed to nsrivastava.dbt@nic.in and manoj.kr09@gov.in. The deadline for submission of Concept Proposal is 15th March, 2020 For any queries, contact Dr. Manoj Kumar, Scientist-C, Email-manoj.kr09@gov.in / Dr.Niloo Srivastava, Scientist-E, Email- nsrivastava.dbt@nic.in

The goal of this Call is to support milestone-driven multi-institutional/multi-investigator proposals focused on developing CAR-T technology in India.