Context: Recently, the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) has approved funding for 11 projects under MATRICS scheme for studying Mathematical modeling and computational aspects to tackle the COVID 19 pandemic.
Key Points

• Most of these studies attempt to propose mathematical/ simulation models to account for various factors relevant to COVID 19 by modifying the basic SIR (Susceptible-Infected-Recovered) models.
• Some of such factors are heterogeneity of population, the role of asymptomatic population, migration and quarantine, effect of social distancing and lockdown, socioeconomic factors and so on.
• These studies will be primarily aimed to study Indian conditions and will provide an estimate of Basic Reproduction Number— the qualitative indicator of the degree of contagiousness of the disease.
• The proposed studies also aim to identify the maximum likelihood infection tree when infection reports and contact network structure are known to substantially reduce the efforts of the administration by targeting a subset of manageable size.

Significance

• These will be helpful to forecast future pandemic by using the data available and provide fundamental insights into kinetics and management of infectious diseases.
• They will address the spread of pandemic and the impact of preventive issues through a parametric prediction process with an outcome consisting of a packaged solution in the form of usable software.
• The software may be made available for ready use by the Government of India and identify possible cure of COVID 19 through the study of DNA structures by creating patterns of DNA of different viruses.

About Mathematical Research Impact Centric Support (MATRICS) Scheme

• It was launched in 2017 by Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB).
• It aims to provide fixed grant support to active researchers with good credentials in Mathematical Sciences.
• It offers the Research grant of Rs. 2 lakh per annum plus overheads for a period of three years.
• The main attribute of this scheme would be submission of a simple one or two-page mathematical proposal along with curriculum vitae.

About Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB)

• It is a statutory body under the Department of Science & Technology.
• It was established under the Science and Engineering Research Board Act, 2008.
• Its objective is to promote basic research in Science and Engineering and to provide financial assistance to persons engaged in such research, academic institutions, research and development laboratories, industrial concerns and other agencies for such research and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto are the primary and distinctive mandate of the Board.
• It aims to build up best management systems which would match the best global practices in the area of promotion and funding of basic research.