C-CAMP Launches One Health AMR Challenge 2025 in Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Jul 7 (PTI) The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP), with the support of the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, has introduced the One Health AMR Challenge 2025. This initiative aims to identify, support, and expand breakthrough technologies to combat Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) across humans, animals, and the environment.

In a recently held event at the C-CAMP campus in Bengaluru, Prof Ajay Sood, the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, inaugurated the initiative during the India AMR Innovation workshop. Sood highlighted that this challenge aligns with India's formal adoption of the 'One Health' approach, which integrates health across human, animal, and environmental domains to tackle AMR.

Sood added, "The challenge provides a distinctive scale-up support model, moving beyond mere funding to pinpoint solutions specifically tailored for the Indian scenario. As the chair of the India AMR Innovation Hub (IAIH), the innovative segment of the India National Agrofood Policy 2.0, I anticipate a dynamic response from all stakeholders."

Dr Taslimarif Saiyed, Director-CEO of C-CAMP, emphasized the seriousness of AMR as a threat, particularly with India being at its center. He stated, "We have substantial funding reserved and aim to foster and elevate advanced-stage technologies that are nearly market-ready for swift commercialization and impact."

The challenge is focused on identifying mid to late-stage innovations for backing. Up to 12 AMR solutions ready for deployment will be chosen for an 11-month support program, with funding that could range from USD 50,000 to 250,000 (approximately Rs 40 lakh to Rs 2 crore), based on the technology's readiness level.

Apart from financial backing, winners will gain technical support, which includes regulatory guidance, legal aid, intellectual property (IP) support, manufacturing assistance, and market-readiness coaching.

The application process is open to innovators from within India as well as internationally, with a closing date set for August 3, as mentioned in the release. This initiative is further bolstered by support from the International Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions (ICARS).