Blockchain For Impact (BFI) Signs Pact With CSIR-CDRI To Strengthen Biomedical Research And Drive Healthcare Innovation

The collaboration is under the BFI-BIOME Virtual Network Program, which aims to tackle the country's unmet clinical needs

Blockchain For Impact (BFI), a healthcare fund established during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in India, has signed an agreement with CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI) to bolster biomedical research and drive innovation in healthcare.

The collaboration falls under the BFI-BIOME Virtual Network Program, which aims to address unmet clinical needs in the country, focusing on research in malaria, dengue, and metabolic diseases. The partnership seeks to forge new pathways for translational research that will shape the future of healthcare and revolutionize India's public health landscape.

BFI, a catalyst funder within the global blockchain industry, works with partners to build multi-sector collaborations that create long-term, equitable solutions to strengthen India's strained healthcare infrastructure and support marginalized and vulnerable communities.

BFI has also announced a partnership with the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) under the BFI-BIOME Virtual Network Program to accelerate translational research in vaccines, infectious diseases, diagnostics, and metabolic diseases. BFI said the collaboration aligns with the nation's Viksit Bharat (developed India) goal by 2047 and contributes to India's vision of becoming a global leader in biotechnology.

BFI has been actively working with leading Indian institutions to drive advancements in healthcare in the world's most populous country. In 2024, it allocated over $150,000 over three years to support healthcare-focused startup initiatives at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK), renowned for its excellence in science and engineering education. This cooperation aims to develop innovative solutions to address critical challenges within India's healthcare system.

Moreover, BFI has committed $900,000 over three years to the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, a leading institution in engineering and research, to accelerate biomedical research across the country. Furthermore, it partnered with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) to fund select life sciences research projects led by IISc faculty, fostering further innovation in the field.

India's healthcare sector has been leading the way in adopting emerging technologies, like blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI), to improve patient care, streamline operations, and strengthen data security. Despite these advancements, managing patient data securely and efficiently remains a significant hurdle. Blockchain technology presents a promising solution, providing a secure and transparent platform for data management that helps prevent breaches by creating an immutable record.

Moreover, blockchain can facilitate seamless data sharing between pharmaceutical companies and researchers, enhancing the development of new therapies and treatments.

In addition to strengthening data security, blockchain can facilitate seamless data exchange between pharmaceutical companies and researchers, accelerating the discovery of new therapies and treatments.

According to a report by PwC, the Bengal Chamber, and Medica Hospitals, “Globally, healthcare organizations have started reaping the benefits of blockchain technology in terms of its various applications, such as in health data management, health information exchange, provider credentialing and accreditation, and pharmaceutical supply chain management.”

“[The] Adoption of blockchain technology by the Indian healthcare industry will happen over a period of time as the effectiveness and sustainability of each use case are currently under research and development. At the same time, healthcare organizations need to undertake the necessary planning activities before entering into blockchain-based partnerships and programs,” the report said.

India plans Bio-Artificial Intelligence hubs

India recently introduced the BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Employment, and Environment) Policy, marking a significant milestone for the local biotechnology sector and reinforcing its potential to shape the economy, employment landscape, and environmental sustainability in the years to come.

The objective of the BioE3 Policy is to set forth a framework that ensures the adoption of cutting-edge advanced technologies and aligns innovative research to promote biomanufacturing.

Biomanufacturing is closely tied to healthcare, as it leverages living organisms like cells and microorganisms to produce therapeutic drugs, vaccines, and diagnostic tools. This process is crucial in developing modern medical treatments, including monoclonal antibodies, proteins, and cell-based therapies, and plays a vital role in advancing healthcare through personalized medicine and targeted treatments.

India's BioE3 Policy aims to accelerate the development of technologies for bio-based products and their commercialization by setting up BioEnablers, including Bio-Artificial Intelligence (bio-AI) hubs, foundries, and biomanufacturing hubs across the country.

Bio-AI hubs will be set up to augment research and innovation for developing technologies for bio-based products across the identified thematic sectors and subsectors of biomanufacturing by powering data-driven research and AI-informed predictive analytics. The bio-foundries and biomanufacturing hubs will focus on establishing infrastructure to scale up technologies for bio-based products.

According to Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh, India is among the top six bio-manufacturers in the world and has one of the most cost-effective and efficacy-based biomanufacturing and healthcare destinations.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a vision for a healthy India with the elimination of communicable diseases and reduction in non