CSIR-COVID-19 and MLP Projects

CSIR has advantageously positioned itself to pursue the focused R&D to develop, integrate, scale up, and deploy necessary technological interventions for combating the Coronavirus pandemic in the Country. Considering the multifarious problems created by the coronavirus which require interventions in several areas and a multi-pronged strategy, CSIR has set up five technology verticals for addressing the emerging situation due to the pandemic, namely:

Digital and Molecular Surveillance
Rapid and Economical Diagnostics
Repurposing of Drugs, Vaccines, and Convalescent Plasma Therapy
Hospital Assistive Devices and PPEs
Supply Chain and Logistics Support Systems

Since 2020, a total of 51 distinct COVID-19 projects along with 3 other Major Laboratory Projects (MLPs) were sanctioned. With the conclusion of the COVID-19 pandemic, the scope of this funding category has been broadened. It now encompasses significant ongoing projects that originated in the labs and are classified under Major Laboratory Projects, transitioning away from the exclusive focus on COVID-19-related initiatives. The following table contains the list of COVID-19 MLPs and other MLPs (S.no. 3, 5, 6) that have been running in the FY 2023-24

S.No.	Project Name
1	Wastewater-based Epidemiological Monitoring for SARS-CoV-2 Virus and Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
2	Development of mRNA platform for Vaccines and Biotherapeutics
3	Phenome India-CSIR Health Cohort Knowledgebase
4	CSIR Multi-centric long-term T cell immune monitoring for COVID-19 (PoV-CoV)
5	Thermoresponsive Materials as Vaccine Vial Monitors – Launched in 2023-24
6	Microbial Type Culture Collection and Gene Bank (MTCC)