SCIENCE MINISTRY ANNOUNCED ANIMAL CHALLENGE STUDY PLATFORM

Subject: Governance

Context: Recently, the Ministry of Science & Technology has announced the establishment of Animal Challenge Study Platform.

Concept:

Animal Challenge Study Platform

Its foundation stone was laid at the Institute of Life Sciences (ILS) Bhubaneswar.
It will be set up inside the campus with an estimated cost of Rs 12 crore.
It will be funded by the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) of the Centre’s department of biotechnology (DBT).

Significance of Animal Challenge Study Platform

The platform can be used for animal trial of drugs and vaccines.
The platform will have biosafety levels-3 (BSL-3) facility for animal study and it will house animals for this purpose.
It is aimed at undertaking evaluation studies of potential drug and vaccine candidates.