Bhubaneswar, Jan. 24: Institute of Life Sciences (ILS) today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Institute of Bio-resources and Sustainable Development (IBSD) of Imphal in Manipur to undertake collaborative research and development programmes for sustainable management of biological resources.

Institute of Life Sciences and Institute of Bio-resources and Sustainable Development are two autonomous institutions of the department of biotechnology, government of India.

The director of ILS, Ajay Parida, and the director of IBSD, Dinabandhu Sahoo, inked the agreement on behalf of their institutes.

According to the MoU, the IBDS-ILS partnership centre will be established on the ILS campus in Bhubaneswar. Scientists of ILS engaged in various field of research will collaborate with the scientists of Imphal to carry out research programmes.

"The partnership in the coming years aims to include other scientific institutions in the region. We will transfer the technology from the laboratories to the field for the benefit of the common people," Parida said.

He also urged the scientists to emphasise on the importance of research in japanese encephalitis, measles and breast cancer.

The collaboration is targeted to eliminate basic diseases, he said.

"We will also undertake scientific research in area of biotechnology for conservation and value addition to the bio-resources of respective regions. This initiative will also focus on developing value added products based on the traditional knowledge of the communities," said an official.

Sahoo said: "The partnership will be successful in developing programmes for sustainable development in the region and will largely benefit the communities dependant on use of biological resources."

A scientist from ILS, Sandip Mishra, said: "The collaboration between the two institutions would promote exchange programme of scientists and students and will also facilitate exposure visits of rural and tribal communities of North-East region and Odisha."