Aus welcomes research deal with India

"Australia is delighted to be associated with such an important project that would help prevent avoidable maternal mortality in India," Australian High Commissioner to India Peter Varghese said yesterday.

Queensland University of Technology (QUT) announced singing the million dollar deal with India's Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) to help stamp out iron-deficiency anaemia, a major cause of maternal death during childbirth.

The agreement was signed in India on behalf of QUT and Department of Biotechnology's BIRAC.

The project is said to see new strains of iron-rich bananas developed and will be jointly led by QUT