Question : SHARING OF VIRUS AND GENETIC SAMPLES

(a) whether India cooperates with foreign countries/institutions in the field of vaccine research and sharing of virus and other genetic samples;

(b) if so, the details alongwith the names,dates,purposes and institutions to which virus or genetic samples have been transferred during the last three years;

(c) whether the condition under which the samples have been transferred include technology transterred include technology include technology transter to India and sharing of research results with Indian instituions;and

(d) the intellectual property ownership on the transferred samples and outcome of the research?

MINISTER OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES(KAPIL SIBAL)

(a)&(b) Yes Sir,Department of Biotechnology is cooperating with Foreign countries/institutions in the field of vaccine research specially with USA through a bilateral programme called Indo-US Vaccine Action Programme which is under implementation since July,1988.Several joint projects were implemented in the area of rotavirus,malaria,HIV,Hepatitis, Leishmania,Respiratory Syncytial Virus,tuberculosis,cholera etc.Potential candidate vaccines were developed for rotavirus and malaria.However,there is no virus or genetic samples were exchanged.

(c)&(d) In view of (a) and (b) above,does not arise.