UKTI inks Life Sciences MoU with ABLE

BANGALORE, INDIA: UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) and the Association of Biotech Led Enterprise (ABLE) has signed a memorandum of understanding to encourage and develop collaborative opportunities between Indian Life Sciences organisations and the United Kingdom, in Bangalore.

This MoU is a milestone for the UK Oncology Mission, which is on a tri-city tour (Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai) from 2 September to 7 September 2013. The 12-member UK delegation comprises prominent members from universities, healthcare companies, cancer research organisations and healthcare providers such as diagnostics and drug delivery systems.

British deputy high commissioner, Ian Felton, said: "Oncology is a key area of concern in the UK and in India. This mission is here to firm up relations on some extremely innovative work in the area of oncology. UK-India Joint Innovation in the discovery and delivery of oncology will help to make this element of healthcare accessible and affordable to patients in both countries."

Dr P. M. Murali, president, ABLE, said: "ABLE is pleased to be signing an MOU with UKTI for collaborating on a range of opportunities, one of which is happening today. Cancer represents one of the most challenging disease areas that require researchers and clinicians to work together at a global level. We recognize the importance of this delegation and appreciate its purpose."

The MoU will aim at combining UK's heritage and leadership in the area of healthcare and Life Sciences and India's emerging and thriving healthcare ecosystem to promote and develop the Life Sciences sector in both countries. ABLE and UKTI also run the Core Initiative Groups in different sector strands in Life Sciences.

The partnership will include the participation of UK and Indian experts in Life Sciences in the areas of industry, research and trade. It will further promote UK and India as each other's partner of choice in Life Sciences such as drug discovery, bioinformatics, regenerative medicine, clinical research, agri-bio, oncology and regulation. This will be done through on-going research and discussion, identifying areas of potential business opportunity that can be addressed by Indian and UK firms.