Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) has invited research proposals from scientists, technologists, engineers and technopreneurs to carry out indigenous research to better understand and address challenges pertaining to the recent spread of COVID-19.
Official of PSF said that the research proposals have been invited under the Competitive Research Programme (CRP) which is one of the projects of PSF.
Researchers from Higher education Commission (HEC) recognized public and private sector universities, public sector Research and Development organizations and industry can apply for submitting Proposals on COVID-19 under PSF.
Principal Investigator should be from the HEC recognized university or public sector Research and Development organization and private industry can be on board for pilot scale/ commercial trials, production and marketing activities.
The funding would be provided under three categories including Consortium Research Grants, Triple Helix Model and Individual Researchers.
The official informed that the research will focus on Indigenous Technology and Development includes Low cost Diagnostic Kits and rapid point of care diagnostic. Test for detection of COVID-19 , Personal Protection Equipment including Masks, Tyvek Suits, Gloves, Goggles, Head Covers, Sanitizing Agents for individual use or mass level using indigenous raw material, ventilators for medical applications, Temperature Screening Devices and Microsystems for COVID-19.
The research will also focus on Targeted Studies for Infection Prevention and Control includes COVID-19 outbreak in Pakistan and its pattern of spread , Population Cohort studies including vulnerable populations, Test ranges, Recovery ratio, gender division and geographical division, ICT-assisted Augmented Discovery of Potential Inhibitors, Evaluation of Intervention Strategies in response to the COVID-19 outbreaks, harnessing human mobility and surveillance data of disease forecasting during the COVID-19 epidemic, Multi-node Telehealth system for COVID-19.
The research will also emphasize on Epidemiology i-e Causes, Clinical manifestation and diagnosis, Critical aspects of viral infection, replication, pathogenesis and transmission, long-term protection against disease).
The funding for each project would be Rs. 20 million.
The official PSF told that the project proposals for immediate solutions should be emailed to PSF before April 12. Forms and guidelines can be downloaded from PSF website.
Official added that the soft copy of the complete project proposals along with CV can be sent to PSF.COVID19@gmail.com.