Page 24 - COVID_19_June_4_2020

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EFFORTS ON COVID-19
BY
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (DST)
DST initiates COVID-19 India National Supermodel for monitoring infection transmission & aid decision-making by policymakers
The DST has initiated a COVID-19 Indian National Supermodel to help monitor the future transmission of infection, thus aiding decisions involving health system readiness and other mitigation measures.
While the Government is keeping a close watch on infectivity and mortality, it is imperative to bring in a robust forecasting model for predicting the spread and enhancing disease surveillance. Numerous mathematical models for COVID-19 forecasting and surveillance are being worked out by investigators funded by DST-SERB (Science and Engineering Research Board) and other agencies.
Inspired by India’s history of using mathematical models for disaster management planning of metrological events, DST has initiated this exercise to pool in expertise in the field and create one model for the entire country that will be subjected to rigorous tests required for evidence-based forecasting, routinely practiced in weather forecasting communities.
Website link:
https://dst.gov.in/dst-initiates-covid-19-india-national-supermodel-monitoring-infection-transmission-aid-decision
DST-SERB supports study for identification of structure-
based potential antivirals against COVID-19
The SERB under DST has recently supported a proposed study by Prof. Pravindra Kumar from IIT- Roorkee for identification of structure-based potential antivirals against SARS-CoV-2.
The Study, to be funded under Intensification of Research in High Priority areas (IRHPA), will search for small molecule inhibitors targeting some of the most important viral replication enzymes. These enzymes are viral proteases
Figure:Three-dimensional structure focusing on the Mpro active site.The substrae peptide (black color) is shown to bound at the active site.
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