Eight binational groups of researchers from India and the US are chosen for following cutting-edge study in pathogenesis and disease control of COVID-19, based on an official announcement on Tuesday.

The teams will pursue research in areas such as anti fungal coatings, and immune modulation, tracking SARS CoV-2 from wastewaterand illness detection mechanics, reverse genetics strategies and medication repurposing.

The study awards have been declared by the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF), a sovereign bilateral organisation jointly funded by the governments of India and the US, which promotes science, engineering, engineering and innovation via purposeful interaction among government, academia and business.

The Department of Science and Technology (DST) under the Ministry of Science and Technology, along with the US Department of States are various nodal departments.

The assignment of this Indo-US Science and Technology Forum will be to serve as a catalyst to promote long-term scientific collaborations between India and the USA through partnerships among individual scientists, scientific institutions, and the scientific community at large, '' the DST statement said.

"The eight groups are among the very best couple who had submitted proposals in response to an invitation of suggestions to harness the combined expertise of the Indian and US Science &amp; Technology communities, facilitate partnerships between teams of Indian and US engineers and scientists now engaged in COVID-related research, and leverage existing infrastructure from both nations to further advance the research and accelerate advancement," the statement said.

Ashutosh Sharma, DST Secretary and also IUSSTF India Co-Chair, said an overwhelming reaction in a short period to the distinctive call on COVID-19 shows a broad spectrum of cooperation between India and the US in the basic studies on the behaviour of SARS-Cov-2 virus to its transmission to diagnostics and therapeutic strategies.

"Our existing strong cooperation in S&amp;T on health, energy, artificial intelligence and so on also continues to deliver attention and attests to the value of Indo-US collaborations in providing compelling solutions," Sharma explained.

Jonathan Margolis, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Science, Space and Health, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, US Department of State, along with IUSSTF US Co-Chair, said the United States of America and India were able to quickly mobilise, through IUSSTF, to encourage jointly developed inventions to Resist COVID-19.

"Our people and savings both rely on technology and science to recognize tools to tackle the pressing challenges of the present pandemic," the statement quoting Margolis said.