The government has pulled all stops to help Israel conduct COVID-19 research on patients admitted to four Delhi hospitals, including transfer of saliva samples and patients’ data to Israel, The Hindu has learnt.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is collaborating with Israel’s Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DRDD) to conduct trials on Indian patients that include an audio test, a breath test, thermal testing and a polyamino test to isolate proteins related to COVID-19.
Ministry nod
The trial obtained “expedited approval” by the Health Ministry’s Screening Committee (HSMC) chaired by Dr. Balram Bhargava of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on July 28, a day after the Israeli team had arrived in India. The decision is yet to be endorsed by the full committee that is expected to meet in August.
Though the ICMR is the apex body for biomedical research and foreign-aided research in the country, the current trials will be controlled by the DRDO.