Microsoft India funds two IIT Delhi projects on Covid-19 test kits

Microsoft India has supported two projects of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi that focuses on research to tackle the Covid-19 crisis

The two IIT Delhi projects are the PCR-based Covid-19 detection assay and ELISA based diagnostic serological assay against Covid-19 which has already got a nod from ICMR.

A press release from the IIT-Delhi said, “One of them pertains to ICMR approved probe-free real-time PCR-based Covid-19 detection assay developed at the Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, IIT Delhi. This probe-free technology will be more affordable and easily scalable”

“The other project is a collaboration between IIT Delhi and National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, and aims to develop an ELISA based diagnostic serological assay against Covid-19. If successful, it will create an economical, commercial process for manufacturing the antigens used in ELISA and home-based diagnostic kits to offer an effective, quick, robust and affordable diagnostic solution to Covid-19 outbreak” it added

Also, Rohini Srivathsa, National Technology Officer, Microsoft India said, “We want to make sure researchers working to combat Covid-19 have access to the tools and resources they need”