Scientific Solutions

On December 27, 2008 former President APJ Abdul Kalam inaugurated the 16th National Children Science Congress at Dimapur, Nagaland. It may be mentioned that a few years ago, the country observed the Year of Scientific Awareness, wherein the Governor and Chief Minister’s Jatha Teams toured all the districts of Nagaland. The series of tours then conducted under the aegis of the State government was aimed at creating awareness and also to highlight how peoples’ lives are constantly being affected by science. The Children’s Science Congress now underway presents another opportunity for young minds to be inculcated with scientific temper and to cultivate interest in areas of science and technology. In fact there is immense scope for development to take place in Nagaland by applying science and technology. One can cite the examples of hydrogers, solar lightings, telemedicine, connectivity, and cane and bamboo technology in Nagaland as benefits accruing from the application of scientific knowledge. However more needs to be done to improve the present technology so as to ensure maximum benefits for people. But this can be brought about only if we have the human resources at our disposal to harness scientific technology. As such the National Children Science Congress is a welcome initiative to encourage the younger generation to explore the wide avenues available in the areas of science and human development. 

The Nagaland school curriculum must continue to give importance to the subject in a way that young minds are both able and interested to imbibe a spirit of scientific temper, which will only benefit the State and society in the long run. Science as a curriculum in education has come to be widely accepted as essential for a more complete and holistic view of life. When we speak of scientific temper, it does not only mean chemistry or physics. Science is also about applying one’s reasoning power, of looking at solutions and applying common sense to solving many of our problems. Even peace making or negotiation can be successful if only there is more common sense and less political sense. While, Nagas aversion to studying science subject in school and colleges is well known, yet the study of science is useful for the growth and development of the human mind. In societies where science is ignored and neglected, the minds of the people remain stunted and dwarfed and the reasoning faculties remain dormant. The material progress and indeed well being of a society depends on striving towards scientific activity and therefore it is imperative to make students and citizens scientific-minded. Even for democracy to thrive, it is essential fro citizen’s to raise questions on matters of national importance. And for this, citizens must have an inquisitive mind. Scientific education has another advantage in that it is not based on human emotions. In science there is no prejudice, no bias, no exaggeration, no distortion and no partiality. Science enables us to see things in their own perspective. To ignore science is to encourage falsehood, hypocrisy and superstition which have been the retarding forces in the history of mankind.

Source: morungexpress

Science Removes Mental Barriers: Kalam

Kalam Tells Students Not To Fear About Future

Former President of India, APJ Abdul Kalam asserted that no youth should fear about their future as the ignited mind of the youth is the most powerful resource.

He said that "if we have aim in life and work hard with confidence and has the confidence to defeat the problem then success is surely at hand".

Speaking as the chief guest at the 16th National Children's Science Congress in Dimapur, Nagaland on 27 December, 2008, Dr Kalam exhorted the children to have vision in life and work hard and also shared the story of three eminent scientists from India who struggled hard and achieved their goals thereby putting India on the scientific world map.

Touching on the theme of the programme "Planet Earth? Our home: Explore, Share & Care", Dr Kalam urged the children to plant more trees so as to have a sound environment in their future days.

He also expressed hope that the National Childrens' Science Congress will be a forum to ignite the minds of the young children as far as scientific temperament is concerned. He also hoped that the Science Congress would be a launching pad for the students to grapple with the environmental problems facing by the planet earth.

The oratorical skills of former President APJ Abdul Kalam were at its best, as he kept thousand of students spellbound during his lecture at the Netaji Indoor Stadium in Dimapur where he inaugurated the State Science Fair, 2008 on Saturday, 27 December, 2008.

He called upon the students to inculcate a three-fold spirit of observation, experimentation aided by thinking in their endeavours.

Kalam said science helps an individual develop his vision and remove mental barriers.

Dr Kalam, later on, interacted with the child scientists and other participants.

During his interaction with the students who had a variety of questions ranging from launch of Chandrayan-I— India’s first mission to Moon— the future of nuclear technology in the country to the link between science and spirituality, Kalam replied all.

He said the future of nuclear technology lies in devising Thorium-based reactors since the element is found abundant in India.

In his reply to a question by a student, Kalam said corruption was the biggest evil plaguing the country.

“As young children, you have to promise that you will not allow your father and mother to be corrupt. Then we will have a beautiful India,” he told students.

Kalam made his address look like a classroom lecture where he asked questions on inventions and discoveries, made the students repeat his statements and also administered them an oath of service for science and the society.

Queries from students, however, kept pouring in till the end of the programme and almost each child had something to ask.

Kalam also unveiled a wax replica of legendary bio-physicist Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose during the ceremony to mark the 150th birth anniversary of the scientist.

Illustrating the discoveries of Bose, Kalam said the legendary scientist was able to achieve the rare feat because of his will power.

He said knowledge is an amalgamation of creativity, courage and righteousness. Following a righteous path will lead to harmony at home, order in the nation and peace in the world, he added.

Speaking on his Vision 2020, Kalam insisted that a dynamic environment is necessary to reach the dream. He talked about the necessity for creating an environment that can lead the country to massive application in science and technology.

Responding to a question posed by a student as how the country should respond if it is attacked by nuclear weapons, India's missile man asked the students not to worry about the country's capability to face with such an eventuality and suggested the students to concentrate on studies.

Replying to another question on terrorism, Dr Kalam said "In my opinion the terrorism is now a global problem, so a UN mechanism should be set up to deal with this challenge, but at the same time the country should also adopt proper strategy to face this problem".

He pointed out that the young people coming from different parts of the country can learn a lot from Nagaland where the environment and nature has been protected by the Naga warriors with their wisdom.

Dr T Ramasami, Secretary, DST, Govt of India, said that science and technology holds the key for global economy and we have a large number of talented people in the country. He said that to ignite the young minds, the Govt of India has introduced a number of schemes and scholarships so that those children who are interested in the field of science can avail the opportunities.

Prof Yash Pal, President, NCSTC-Network, expressed happiness over the huge turnout of children for the programme and hoped that more children will participate in the future. He said that children should be encouraged to engage themselves on the projects on environment and also learn to communicate and cultivate true spirit of scientific temper through discipline.

He said that children should not imprison themselves with different subjects in Schools but connect with the land, the people and other humanitarian subjects. He further exhorted the children to go forward to the future and not to go back to the past.

Source: Hueiyen News Service/Newmai News Network/Express News Service

Maiden Ride To Sun Via Mars Launched In Tripura

Altogether 35 orphans of Tripura Social Welfare Home took part in a maiden ride on India's fourth simulated spacecraft at Sukanta Academy in Agartala on the evening of December 24, 2008.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar flagged off the 22-minute space ride, christened ''Journey to Sun via Mars'', along with West Bengal Power Minister Mrinal Banerjee as well as state Science, Technology and Environment Minister Joy Gobinda Debroy.

''One can enjoy the thrill of a journey through space,'' Mr Sarkar felt, after availing the ride.

The state-funded project, entailing a cost of Rs 2.5 crore, was implemented by the Tripura Renewable Energy Development Agency (TREDA) and the initiative was the first-of-its-kind in the Northeast, official sources said.

According to sources, the project was aimed at inculcating the ''spirit of enquiry'' among the students and common people about space science.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister informed that the Tripura government was in process of developing a science village, instead of a science city.

Source: UNI

CSIR Award For S&T Innovations For Rural Development- 2007 & 2008

Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh today gave away the CSIR award for S&T Innovations for Rural Development at a function in New Delhi. 

CSIR Award for S&T Innovations for Rural Development for the year 2007 is conferred jointly on National Research Centre on Yak (NRC-Yak), Dirang for “Improvement of Sustainable Yak Husbandry Practices in Himalayan Region” and Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), Phaltan alongwith National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), Pune for “Use of the FecB (Booroola) gene in Deccani breed of sheep to increase lamb production and thereby the incomes of Shepherds”. 

NRC-Yak has successfully standardized the protocol for super ovulation, embryo recovery and transfer in yak. This unique effort has enabled stabilization of the dwindling Yak population in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. The age for attaining puberty has also decreased, as a result yaks are now producing one calf/year instead of the earlier record of 1 calf/3 years. Further, the Centre has produced the first ever female yak calf "MISMO" through embryo transfer technology. The rural communities in Yak inhabited states are getting benefited tremendously from this research effort as they get more produce and services by rearing the yak. 

NARI in collaboration with NCL has successfully introduced FecB gene in Deccani sheep to enhance lamb production. A new strain of Deccani sheep with higher productivity called ‘NARI Suwarna’ has thus been developed. The FecB gene carrier ewes produce twin lambs at every alternate lambing. This increase is high enough to bring about a substantial increase in the shepherd's income. It is thus transforming the rural shepherds economy. 

It is intently hoped that this award to NRC-Yak and NARI alongwith NCL will inspire all those engaged in the profession and business of innovation in the country to find S&T inputs & solution to enable rural development and help in economic development of our rural brethren. 

CSIR Award for S&T Innovations for Rural Development for the year 2008 is conferred jointly on Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI), Bhavnagar for “Innovations in the area of Salt for Rural Development” and Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), Lucknow for “Biovillage strategy for Agri-business of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants”.

CSMCRI has developed various processes for the recovery of high purity salt by rural salt producers. The processes for removal of impurities through heap washing and desulphatation utilizing distiller waste liquor of soda ash plants are unique and helped in mitigating disposal problem. These processes enabled rural salt producers to produce salt of purity >99.5% and whiteness index of 87–91. Rural salt producers of Gujarat, Rajasthan and Orissa have greatly benefited from this innovation and enhanced their income by many folds. 

CIMAP has strategically operationalized “Biovillage Concept” for developing and disseminating technologies aimed at sustainable production and commercialization of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) in rural areas. The institute has backed the concept by developing several new cultivars of mint, artemisia, geranium, patchouli and khus suiting to diverse agro-climates. CIMAP has also facilitated linkages between farmers and industry for necessary buy back of the produce. Further, a dependable complete package for managing distillation waste, farm waste, weed waste etc. has been integrated to generate biofertilizer, a value added product. Thus, the complete solution has helped in economic upliftment of farmers in a big way. 

It is intently hoped that this award to CSMCRI and CIMAP will inspire all those engaged in the profession and business of innovation in the country to find S&T inputs & solution to enable rural development and help in economic development of our rural brethren.

(Source: Press Release of Ministry of Science & Technology, PIB)

India Prepares For The Longest Total Solar Eclipse Of The 21st Century Occurring On 22nd July 2009

The greatest eclipse of the 21st century is just a few months away. The eclipse is passing across the entire breadth of India. The wide path of totality passes over the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh. The eclipse passes through highly populated regions of India. Millions of citizens will watch the eclipse occurring in the sky over their cities. Apart from the wide path of totality the entire country will witness a partial eclipse in the morning hours of Wednesday, 22nd July. The significance of the eclipse is heightened as it is occurring in the International Year of Astronomy.

To prepare for the eclipse, Eclipse Chasers Athenæum, the eclipse sphere of SPACE, is conducting ‘Solar Eclipse Workshop’ at Shankar Lal Concert Hall, Delhi University Campus, New Delhi on 9th, 10th and 11th January 2009.

The greatest eclipse of the 21st century is just a few months away. As you all know India is at the center-stage for this eclipse. The importance of this eclipse is further enhanced by 2009 being the International Year of Astronomy. The furtherance of the commitment of India to space sciences and astronomy research is the prime mottobehind this workshop. In the ensuing year another Annular Solar Eclipse passesover southern part of India, around Kanya Kumari and Adam's Bridge on 15th January 2010. Preparations are well underway for experiments, equipmentlogistics and travel under the lunar shadow, in professional observatories and amateur astronomy circles. Those who haven't started planning, it's time to start now.

The next Total Solar Eclipse passes over India only on 20th March 2034!

This Solar Eclipse Workshop is an intensive three-day workshop. All aspects of a successful Solar Eclipse observation will be discussed. Participants will leave with a definite plan for their own eclipse observation. There will be discussions on planning experiments, instrumentation, travel and logistics, anything and everything related toeclipse watching. The aim of this workshop is 'Take-Home-an-Eclipse-Plan'. Weather you want to observe the eclipse, photographit, or show the eclipse to a large audience, all related aspects will be discussed to help you make definite plan. The workshop intends to bring together professional & amateur astronomers, Ecliptomaniacs, Umbraphiles and eclipse chasers to share their information, knowledge, and experience.

Its an accomplishment of ECa to bring together Eminent Eclipse Personalities from around the world. Speakers for the workshop include Famous Professional Eclipse Chasers from observatories in India and abroad.

* Prof. Jay Pasachoff, The famous eclipse chaser of 47 eclipses, Chairman, International Astronomical Union Working Group on Eclipses, Williams College (Williamstown, Massachusetts, USA), Visiting Faculty at California Institute of Technology (Pasadena, California, USA).

* Prof. Ashok Ambastha of Udaipur Solar Observatory is closely connected with eclipses. His research work on solar eclipses and planetary transits is well known. He plans to observe the July 2009 eclipse using a high altitude balloon or an aircraft!

* Mr. Jay Anderson, the famous meteorologist who’s weather statistics are referred by eclipse chasers all over the world. His is the first name thatcomes in any eclipse chaser's mind when planning for a site and its weatherconditions. He is the co-author, along with Mr. Fred Espenak, of all NASA eclipse bulletins.

* Dr. N. Rathnasree, Director Nehru Planetarium will be speaking on History of Eclipses and Transits. Dr.Rathnasree is an enthusiastic Professional-Amateur Astronomer and workstirelessly for promotion of amateur astronomy in India.

* Mr. Sheridan Williams, Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, Assistant Director of the Computing Section of the British Astronomical Association an Eclipse historian. Who has seen 12central eclipses and the Rocket Scientist! Author of “Total Solar Eclipse 2008 & 2009” a travel guide from Bradt.

* Mr. Xavier Jubier, the famous eclipse adventurer from France and a veteran of 10 eclipses. His interactive google maps and the eclipse calculator are famous and used by eclipse enthusiasts all over the world. His recent extreme adventure was viewing the Annular Solar Eclipse of2008 February 7 from 4,897 meter high Mount Vinson, Ellsworth Land, Antarctica.

* Dr. Satyendra Bhandari, is an avid eclipse chaser, EX-SAC-ISRO Scientist. For the August 2008 eclipse hetravelled to the arctic - Ny Alesund (Svalbard, Norway) to conduct his experiments.

* Dr. Krishnanand Sinha, a prominent solar astronomer, ARIES observatoryNainital.

* Prof. S.P. Bagare of Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore, another eclipse chaser has shot wonderful shadow bands fromhis eclipse tour of the Antarctic.

* Dr. Dipankar Banerjee, an eminent and dedicated astrophysicist, Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore.

The topics included in the workshop are - History of eclipses, Experiencing the rapid sequence ofevents during a Total Solar Eclipse, Future eclipse near India and theirplanning, Building instruments and resources for use, Charting weather patternsof places, Planning logistics for eclipse observation, Eclipse relatedsoftware, How to predict corona and Baily’s beads, Science and Experimentsduring eclipse, Automated Eclipse Photography plans, Public watches and eye safety.

Apart from lectures and presentation the workshopwill also havelive and hands-on equipmentdemonstrationsand usage for the maximum benefit of eclipseenthusiasts. In addition to it photographing the Sun live during the day willbe the highlight of the demonstrations.

Location: Solar Eclipse Workshop will be held at Shankar Lal Concert Hall, Delhi UniversityCampus. The campus grounds are a beautiful and prestigious fitting place tohold this workshop. The Concert Hall has a gardens all round to hold equipmentdemonstrations and observe the Sun. The auditorium is large enough to holdabout 350 participants.

Invitation is extended toall Amateur Astronomers, Planetarium Educators and Observatory Outreachpersons, Eclipse Chasers, Adventurers and Photographers. This is envisaged as a 'complete in all respects'workshop which will make you understand all aspects of eclipse planning, asuccessful observation and organizing a public watch. The workshop prepares youfor observing both the upcoming eclipses over India.

Registration is now open at www.eclipsechasers.org/sew/index.html/ Participation is limited to a total of 300 on a firstcome first serve basis. Please register yourself early to avoid disappointment.The last date for registration is 31st December 2008.

Web site :www.eclipsechasers.org/sew/index.html

Discussions :groups.yahoo.com/group/eclipsechasersathenaeum

[SPACE Group is a group of companies doing pioneer work in the field of astronomy and space science. It has ventured into astronomy and space sciences products, services, software and educational material. It is the first company to develop and implement astronomy and space science modules and activities in the schools all over India. Space caters to various market segments including Corporate, Educational Institutes, Universities and Individuals. The philanthropic wing of the group known as Science Popularisation Association of Communicators and Educators (SPACE) is one of the most active agencies popularising astronomy and space science among the masses.

To know more please visit: www. spacegroupindia.org, www.space-india.org, www.stepl.org]

Source: www.indiaprwire.com

Technocrat Says Skill Lacunae Putting India Back

Paucity of required skill in development of technology was putting India back by several years in terms of technological advancement, noted technocrat V K Aatre said on Dec 16, 2008.

Speaking at the EMIT-08, an annual conference, organised by International Microelectronics and Packaging Society's India Chapter in Bangalore, he said science and technology institutions suffered prolonged paucity of youth with high degree of skill sets as they were attracted elsewhere.

''Technological advancement of a country depended on young people. It all depends on how we harness them. We need to tell them that there is technology beyond IT,'' he said.

Dr Aatre said in the whole country there were hardly 30 faulty members and 50 students in microelectronic research while the country's aerospace depended on 40 top scientists.

''How can we progress with such shortage. Scale difference is putting back India. We need 100 times more technocrats than what we have in these two areas,'' he said.

The Former Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister said it was important to hear what youth wanted to say about technological development as they would be responsible in taking the country to the path of development. He said India will have to be cautious about the downsides of the technological evolution as technology had dual edge. 

''We have to be very cautious about the impact of technology we create as it can be used as well as abused,'' he added.

Noted Academician and Distinguished Chair Professor of Georgian University Rao Thummala, in his address, said India should do more than merely be satisfied with software and services.

Its share in the world IT business was just a speck at 80 billion US Dollar compared to global figures of 1.4 trillion USD. When software services was added, it was at 6.4 trillion USD.

India needs to go for applications and manufacturing than merely be satisfied with IT services.

The country required more higher learning centres like IITs and IIScs. 

''What we need is 300 more such institutions to achieve the technological development to be on par with the advanced world,'' Prof Tummala added.

UNI

Ignite Scientific Interest In Young Minds: Vice-President

Vice-President M Hamid Ansari on Dec 14, 2008 called upon scientific institutions, suffering from paucity of young scientists, to attract young minds to the domain by igniting interest in basic sciences.

Delivering the Golden Jubilee Lecture, after releasing the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Centenary Commemorative Postal Stamps in Bangalore, he said ''inspiration in teaching and creation of role models are important to attact young minds.'' ''There seems to be a disconnect here at two levels - between senior teachers and undergraduates and teaching and researchers. The net result is that science student is deprived of contact with sources of inspiration that may fire his or her imagination,'' he felt.

He said methodology of teaching should change. ''Nearly 50 per cent of school students fail in Mathematics and science. What is needed is a culture of experiment-based learning. This would also involve re-training of teachers. This should be done at once,'' he said.

He said it was worrying that there was high level of vacancies in Universities. A UGC survey showed the vacancy level was as high as 51 per cent. The situation was more depressing in state Universities where almost 90 per cent of students were enrolled.

''Academic administrators attribute this to partly the poor quality of candidates. If so it adds to the problem of quality that plagues many institutions of higher education,'' he said.

 Mr Ansari said the national count of scientific innovations and patents were inadequate due to lack of linkage between research institutions and the industry. ''Had our industry done enough for research and development ? Our modest performance is not due to lack of inventive genius. When one in ten patent owner in the US is an Indian name, why this is not happening in India,'' he asked.

''Given the requirements, capacity building in science is the need of the hour. Only this can sustain the technological advancement, which is important to national development,'' he said.

Lauding the IISc for its century long service, he said ''postage stamps are nation's tribute to an institution of rare eminence. IISc stood tall amidst institutions of excellence and had earned the right to celebrate its centenary.''

UNI

Kalam To Inaugurate NCSC In Nagaland

Former President A P J Abdul Kalam will inaugurate the week-long 16th National Children's Science Congress (NCSC) at Dimapur on December 27.

Official sources in Kohima said Dr Kalam would visit Dimapur to flag off the week-long 16th NCSC, jointly hosted by the Nagaland Institute of Health, Environment and Social Welfare and the state government, at the Livingstone Foundation Higher Secondary School.

The programme, themed upon ''Planet Earth - Our Home: Explore Share and Care'', would continue till December 31, sources added. 

Sources said students between the age group of 10 and 17 years across the country would participate in the exhibition, adding eight budding scientists from Nagaland would also showcase their creations.

''The primary objective of the NCSC is to make a forum available to children, both from formal school system as well as those out of school, to exhibit their innovative creations, particularly their ability to solve a social problem experienced locally using the methods of science,'' sources added.

UNI

Vaginal Anti-HIV Gel 'Safe For Regular Use'

A vaginal gel containing the anti-HIV drug tenofovir is safe for daily use by women, a study shows.

The research was presented at Microbicides 2008, an international microbicides conference, in Delhi, India, in the last week of February 2008.

Tenofovir is one of the primary antiretroviral drugs. It targets HIV by blocking the action of a key enzyme needed for the virus to replicate.

The Microbicides Trials Network (MTN) — sponsored by the US National Institutes of Health — conducted phase II trials on tenofovir gel in India and the United States in 2007, to test whether it is safe for women to use the gel daily instead of before having sex, and whether women complied with the procedure correctly and willingly.

The six-month study compared tenofovir with a placebo in 200 sexually active, uninfected women. It found the gel was safe — with no effects liver, blood or kidney function — both when it was used daily for a period of six months and before each act of sex.

The study also found high levels of compliance — over 80 per cent — Sharon Hillier, director at the Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh, and principal investigator of Microbicides MTN, said at the conference.

Over 90 per cent of the women involved said they would use such a gel if it were found to be effective against HIV.

A series of trials in Africa and the United States over the next two years will study if the drug is absorbed into the foetus during pregnancy, dose absorption in women and whether the drug is more effective as an oral pill or vaginal gel.

"The oral route versus topical application (of an anti-HIV drug) is the key scientific question," Hillier said.

Between 70 and 90 per cent of HIV infections in women are due to heterosexual intercourse. Women are biologically more vulnerable to HIV infection as the cells in the lining of the female genital tract rupture more easily, making it easier for the virus to enter.

The tenofovir results will be encouraging to the microbicide research community who have faced a series of setbacks in recent years, including the early closure of trials for cellulose sulphate microbicide and the announcement this month that a microbicide gel based on a seaweed extract, Carraguard, failed to prevent HIV transmission.

Anti-HIV Gel Fails To Prevent Infection

Trials of a vaginal gel in South Africa have failed to prove conclusively that it prevents HIV transmission from men to women.

The microbicide, Carraguard, underwent phase III clinical trials in 6000 women between 2004–2007. But on 14 February 2008, The Population Council, the US-based nongovernmental organisation that ran the trials, announced that the microbicide had been found to be safe but not effective.

"With Carraguard there was not a big enough difference between the number of women who contracted HIV on the placebo and those using Carraguard to prove that the microbicide had a significant impact," Sumen Govender, clinical study manager for the Population Council in South Africa, said.

Most women enrolled on the Carraguard trial reported only using the gel before sex some of the time, which could have affected the results, say the researchers. Govender said researchers were now analysing social aspects of the Carraguard data.

Researchers will report the results of the Carraguard trial at the International Microbicide 2008 Conference in New Delhi, India, in the week of 24–27 February 2008.

But Carraguard will continue to be used in further trials. The Population Council will commence phase I safety trials of a new microbicide, PC-815 — which comprises Carraguard and an antiretroviral drug called MIV-150 — this year.

Carraguard contains carrageenan, a chemical derived from seaweed that is effective against HIV in the laboratory. The addition of an antiretroviral drug to the microbicide should also prevent the HIV from multiplying.

Research into PC-815 will begin with safety testing on 50 participants in June this year in the Dominican Republic, pending government approval.

The failure of Carraguard represents another setback to microbicide research, following the termination of trials of the microbicide cellulose sulphate in 2007.

Ayesha Kharsany, project director at the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA) and head of a team developing a microbicide called Tenofovir, says researchers are united in their efforts to find a product that works.

Govender says a microbicide could never completely prevent infection but could reduce it by between 30–40 per cent and would be most effective when used with another preventive measure.

Safety Concerns Halt Trials Of HIV Microbicide

Clinical trials of a microbicide — a gel or cream designed to block the sexual transmission of HIV — have been terminated early for safety reasons, but scientists insist that this must not hinder research into other microbicides.

Researchers announced in January 2007 that two clinical trials for cellulose sulphate, or ushercell, had been stopped because one trial appeared to increase the risk of women becoming infected with HIV.

According to the International Herald Tribune, the study that led to stopping the trials involved 1,333 women in Benin, South Africa and Uganda. The other trial involved 1,700 women in Nigeria.

The Word Health Organization said the trial's failure was "disappointing" and an "unexpected setback" in the search for safe and effective microbicides.

Gita Ramjee, director of the HIV Prevention Research Unit of the South African Medical Research Council, said scientists were baffled by the trial's failure and are still trying to find the reason for it.

She said cellulose sulphate went through rigorous laboratory and clinical testing prior to large-scale trials and all data had indicated it was safe.

However, Ramjee insisted that research into anti-HIV microbicides must go on, as to do otherwise would mean "giving up for women all over the world".

"We should continue with research but ensure that data is reviewed more frequently, so that rapid action can be taken should there be a cause for concern," she said.

Three other microbicide compounds are currently undergoing phase III clinical trials in Africa.

In South Africa, trials of the Carraguard microbicide are nearing completion, and the end of 2007 expects results. Another product, Pro2000, is being tested in South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda. The BufferGel microbicide is being tested in Malawi, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

HIV specialist Jonathan Weber of Imperial College London, United Kingdom, said there was no suggestion that other microbicides currently being investigated, based on different chemical compounds, have similar problems.

"There are no silver bullets in HIV prevention research. We need a package of tools to combat the HIV epidemic, and it is hoped that a safe and effective microbicide could be part of this package," he said.

Microbicides have gained both status and funding in the past few years as a way for women to protect themselves against HIV infection in situations where they have little negotiating power to persuade male partners to use condoms.