New Delhi, June 8 (FN Bureau) The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the signing of the Memorandum of Association (MoU) between agencies under the Union Health Ministry and the United State’s vaccine research body to develop biomedical tools that will help in the prevention and treatment of emerging infectious diseases. The MoU will be signed between the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the USA’s International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI). “The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved signing of MoU among the DBT, ICMR and IAVI, USA to contribute towards the development of new, improved and innovative biomedical tools and technologies to prevent and treat HIV, TB, Covid-19 and other emerging infectious and neglected diseases,” a statement issued by central government said.
“This Memorandum of Understanding will further strengthen relations between India and the USA within the framework of international scientific and technological cooperation in fields of mutual interest,” it added. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya also took to Twitter to announce it. “Govt led by PM @NarendraModi Ji approves the signing of MoU between India and USA in the field of the health sector (sic),” his Twitter post read. The Minister also said that the MoU will further strengthen relations between both countries in fields of mutual interest.