CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CSIR-CCMB) has allied with Blockchain For Impact (BFI) on 10 April 2024, under the BFI-Biome Virtual Network Program to accelerate biomedical research and innovation in India.

BFI-Biome Virtual Network Program is a pioneering initiative bringing together research institutes and incubators under one umbrella to foster stakeholder collaborations. Under this programme, BFI will allocate over 600,000 USD during the course of three years and leverage the state-of-the-art facilities and expertise at CCMB to support interdisciplinary and collaborative translational research projects of biomedical science and innovation.

CSIR-CCMB is committed to providing research and training in the most cutting-edge areas of biology and facilitating centralised national access to the most modern techniques in the interdisciplinary areas of biology. CSIR-CCMB also promotes biomedical research endeavours in tandem with the BFI-Biome vision that cuts across traditional boundaries by encompassing both upstream and deep science, driving innovation that leads to transformative health solutions. This environment will encourage the exchange of ideas, network building, and the sharing of valuable experiences. This partnership aims to aid the acceleration of the translation of research discoveries into real-world life sciences solutions.

Dr Vinay Nandicoori, Director, CCMB, other scientists from the Institute and representatives from BFI, including Dr Gaurav Singh, CEO; Dr Pooja Agrawal, Programme Director; and Dr Satya Prakash Dash, Senior Advisor, graced the launch event held at Hyderabad.

Mr Sandeep Nailwal, Founder of BFI, expressed his excitement about CSIR-CCMB joining the BFI-Biome Virtual Network Program. With a dedicated USD 15 million programme for advancing biomedical research and innovation in India, the BFI-Biome initiative integrates both upstream and deep science, fostering an environment that drives innovation, leading to transformative healthcare outcomes. This programme aims to bring together leading researchers, technologists, and innovators to collaborate and innovate to drive the next generation of interventions for improved healthcare.

Dr Gaurav Singh conveyed his pleasure about the partnership, stating, “This partnership is exciting for BFI as it aligns perfectly with our vision for advancing research and innovation, ensuring that the benefits reach those who need them the most. As a catalyst funder, our commitment goes beyond financial support. We are working towards addressing critical gaps in India’s healthcare sector through our two verticals — biomedical research and innovation, district full-stack partnerships, and process-driven innovation funding and support. The BFI-Biome Virtual Network Program is a significant step in this direction.”

Dr Pooja Agrawal highlighted the potential impact of the collaboration, stating, “By creating the BFI Biome Virtual Network, we hope to bring partners from different sectors to develop long-term solutions through biomedical innovation. Our partnership with CSIR-CCMB is important for this effort. By leveraging the expertise at CSIR-CCMB, the goal is to accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into impactful healthcare solutions.” 
Dr Vinay Nandicoori expressed his delight, stating, “We are excited about this partnership, which would allow us to attempt projects with sound science and translational value. We hope the outcomes from these projects would benefit India’s healthcare needs at large.”

Dr Satya Prakash Dash reflected upon the achievements of CSIR-CCMB, stating, “BFI is extremely glad to partner with CSIR-CCMB, one of the top institutions in the country for biomedical research. We hope that through support to cutting-edge biomedical research at CSIR-CCMB, we would be able to accelerate translation for the benefit of society and alleviate healthcare challenges that we face.”

This partnership of CSIR-CCMB with BFI marks a significant milestone in the BFI-Biome Network Program’s ongoing efforts to advance biomedical research and innovation in India. The organisations will leverage new-age technologies in core life-sciences research to foster innovation and co-develop a resilient healthcare ecosystem.