Thursday, December 1 2005 19:24 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Vellore (TN): With HIV/AIDS cases increasing in the country, Indian doctors should initiate a 'mission' to develop a vaccine for the disease, President A P J Abdul Kalam said today (Dec 1,2005).

"Time has now arrived to take up this development in a mission mode so that an effective vaccine will be available for our country within two years," Kalam said after laying the foundation stone for the country's first stem cell research institute at the Christian Medical College here.

He said the country reported an increase in the number of HIV infections and 'it is critical that the transmission of HIV infection is prevented.'

Recalling that today was World AIDS Awareness Day, Kalam said the scientists of National Institute of Cholera and Enteric diseases, in collaboration with the National Aids research institute, Pune and Therion Biologics, US had developed a vaccine containing six genes isolated from HIV 1-C strain.

This would go into Phase-I trial in healthy uninfected adults at Tuberculosis Research Centre, Chennai, this year.

In addition to this, two vaccines, including a DNA based one, are under development, he said.

The stem cell research center is being set up at a cost of Rs.40 crore with the assistance from the Department of Biotechnology. National institute of Bio-Sciences, Bangalore would be partnering with the CMC in setting up the center.