Call For Proposal

Precision Biotherapeutics- mRNA Therapeutics has been identified as one of the thematic sectors under the BioE3 Policy for ‘fostering high-performance biomanufacturing’.

mRNA therapy can potentially transform existing therapies or target difficult indications, including respiratory, cardiac, metabolic and autoimmune diseases, as well as cancer. mRNA technology can be used for the following therapeutic applications:

• Replacement therapy: to compensate for a defective gene/protein, or to supply therapeutic proteins.
• Vaccines: mRNA encoding specific antigen(s) to elicit protective immunity
• Cell therapy: mRNA is transfected into the cells ex vivo to alter cell phenotype or function, and these modified cells are subsequently delivered to the patient. e.g. in vitro transcribed chimeric antigen receptor mRNA (IVT CAR mRNA) T cells platform.

There are many benefits of mRNA therapies as compared to similar emerging platforms, such as modular nature with easy to-switch sequences for specifically targeting different proteins or genes, the potential to directly affect the underlying cause of a disease faster manufacturing times compared to antibodies or protein-based drugs, predictable pharmacokinetics, and lack of genome integration.

Recognizing the fact that mRNA therapies represent an emerging precision medicine field with great promise for preventing and treating human diseases DBT and BIRAC invites proposals on ‘Precision Biotherapeutics-mRNA therapeutics ‘under the Bio E3 policy to further the indigenous development and manufacturing of this important biotherapeutic.

The proposals will be invited under 2 categories

• Discovery & Application-oriented Integrated Network Research (expected outcome TRL3-5)
• Bridging the Gap for scale up (expected outcome TRL5-8)

For more details please see the call document

• Companies established under the Companies Act 2013 and Startups.
• The Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) incorporated under the Limited Liability Partnership Act,2008.
• Academic from various Institutions/ Universities/ Societies/ Trusts/ NGOs/ Foundations/ Voluntary Organizations, recognized as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (SIRO).

Proposals for the Scheme is required to be submitted online only. To submit a proposal online, please log on to the BIRAC website (www.birac.nic.in).

No Hard Copy to be submitted. Proposals submitted online only would be considered.

Last date for Submission of Proposals: 31st May 2025 (midnight)

Details of the scheme including eligibility requirements, categories for proposal submission; guidelines for support as grant and loan; agreement templates etc. are available at www.birac.nic.in

Announcement Date: 11-04-2025
Last Submission Date: 31-05-2025