Speeches and Remarks

Remarks by Ambassador David C. Mulford at the Inaugural Rama-Robbins Lecture of the Indo-U.S. Vaccine Action Program

September 20, 2004

As prepared for delivery

Secretary Bhan, Director General Ganguly, Dr. Keusch, Professor Tandon, Dr. Krause, ladies and gentleman. I am honored to be here today for the inaugural Rama-Robbins lecture, an apt tribute to the success of the Indo-US Vaccine Action Program, our longest standing bilateral program in health and biomedical research.

Relations between the United States and India have been transformed in recent years thanks to the vision and leadership of our two countries.

This ongoing transformation has its roots in our shared values as free and democratic nations with common interests in a wide variety of fields, including health care and the fight against disease.

While our cooperation in many areas such as law enforcement, counter-terrorism and joint military exercises is relatively recent, health cooperation between India and the US has been ongoing for four decades.

Collaborative health projects in high-priority areas such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, polio, and other infectious diseases highlight this cooperation.

The United States Department of Health and Human Services and Agency for International Development have programs in India spending over $50 million per year to support collaborative projects on maternal and child health, research on infectious diseases- including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria and other public health issues.

Today, we are expanding such cooperation through an increasing number of research grants given by our National Institutes of Health. These grants have grown from zero in 1990, five in 1994, to more than 90 today.

Our collaboration also includes technical assistance and support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, polio elimination, tobacco control, and in many other critical areas.

As our longest running program, the Vaccine Action Program has proven to be a forerunner of other bilateral programs in health and biomedical research. In addition to VAP, India and United States have seven bilateral programs in high-priority areas such as HIV/AIDS research, maternal and child health, reproductive health, environmental and occupational health, disability technology and disease surveillance.

I am aware of the progress made by Indian and American scientists in the development of vaccine against rotavirus. I am also aware of the on-going projects on the development of vaccines against malaria and HIV/AIDS, the two most important public health problems we face today.
I congratulate the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at NIH, who as Secretariats of Indo-US VAP have worked in close association with the Health and Human Services office at United States Embassy to take this program to greater heights.

I also congratulate Prof. G. Padmanaban (pad-MAN-a-ban), Professor Emeritus and Distinguished Biotechnologist of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, who will deliver tonight's first Rama-Robbins lecture on "MALARIA: PROSPECTS FOR CONTROL".

His topic has important historical significance. More than hundred tears ago, Sir Ronald Ross made an observation working in Secunderabad, India. He noted that the malaria parasite spent part of its life cycle in mosquitoes. And, with that finding, scientists established the transmission of malaria from mosquitoes to humans.

Today, there is an international effort to develop an effective vaccine against malaria. India is part of this effort. We value our partnership with the Indian Council of Medical Research and the Department of Biotechnology. Our joint efforts one day will lead to the development of effective vaccines against both malaria and HIV/AIDS.

Until then, we must use the anti-malarial measures in our possession to control and prevent malaria. This is the topic of Dr. Padmanabhan's talk today.

The citizens of our both nations appreciate your hard work and dedication to these noble enterprises. You are true heroes. We are depending upon your continued efforts; grateful for every step you take.

I wish the Vaccine Action Program great success and thank you once again for inviting me here today. My best wishes to all of you.