CSIR–ICMR Chart Joint Roadmap for Integrated National Health Research

During detailed deliberations, both councils reviewed the status of several ongoing joint programmes that span drug discovery, diagnostics, public health surveillance, and translational science.

 

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) convened a high-level Brainstorming Meeting in New Delhi to deepen their long-standing scientific partnership and accelerate the development of an integrated national research roadmap. Held at the CSIR Science Centre, the meeting brought together senior leadership, laboratory directors, and domain experts from both organisations, marking a significant step toward creating a robust, future-ready health research ecosystem.

The session was co-chaired by Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General, CSIR & Secretary, DSIR, and Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Director General, ICMR & Secretary, Department of Health Research. Their joint leadership reflected a shared vision: leverage the scientific capabilities of CSIR and ICMR’s clinical and public health expertise to deliver high-impact, scalable, and nationally relevant solutions.

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Reviewing Progress on Key CSIR–ICMR Collaborative Initiatives

During detailed deliberations, both councils reviewed the status of several ongoing joint programmes that span drug discovery, diagnostics, public health surveillance, and translational science.

1. Drug Discovery and Novel Molecule Development

The meeting assessed the progress of CSIR-developed molecules currently moving into Phase I and Phase II clinical trials. Discussions focused on streamlining:

• Regulatory pathways

• Pre-clinical evaluations

• Clinical trial design

• Data standardisation

• Fast-tracking promising candidates

Both institutions reiterated the need for coordinated roles, with CSIR guiding molecule discovery and early development, while ICMR anchors systematic clinical trials, epidemiological studies, and public-health implementation.

2. ICMR–Supported Centres of Advanced Research

ICMR’s Centres of Advanced Research (CARs) embedded in CSIR laboratories were reviewed for progress in:

• Genomics and molecular virology

• Antimicrobial resistance

• Computational biology

• Maternal and child health

• Public health technology integration

The review emphasised expanding the research mandate, improving interdisciplinary coordination, and enhancing infrastructure utilisation.

3. Big-Ticket Projects and Integrated Research Platforms

Major joint initiatives—particularly those involving large datasets, shared testing facilities, and translational pipelines—were evaluated. Both organisations agreed on stricter timelines, improved project management frameworks, and regular monitoring mechanisms to boost outcomes.

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Strengthening Wastewater Surveillance Under One Health Mission

One of the session’s critical focus areas was wastewater surveillance for multi-pathogen monitoring. Both sides acknowledged its growing importance for:

• Early disease detection

• Tracking viral load trends

• Antimicrobial resistance surveillance

• Community-level outbreak management

• Pandemic preparedness

Under the One Health Mission, CSIR and ICMR will expand wastewater surveillance to more cities, hospitals, and rural clusters. Joint research on wastewater-based epidemiology will be enhanced through:

• Shared laboratories

• Integrated data platforms

• AI-enabled pathogen analytics

• Advanced sequencing pipelines

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Harnessing Large-Animal Facilities and Clinical Trial Expertise

Discussions also covered the structured use of ICMR’s large-animal toxicity testing facilities for evaluating CSIR-developed molecules and medical technologies.

Both sides agreed to establish:

• Standard protocols for toxicity analysis

• Accelerated assessment windows

• Joint bioethics and compliance frameworks

This convergence will help India advance preclinical research capabilities and reduce dependency on international testing infrastructure.

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Expanding AcSIR–ICMR Ph.D. Programme for Young Scientists

The meeting reviewed the joint AcSIR–ICMR doctoral programme, aimed at nurturing the next generation of biomedical researchers.

Enhancements discussed included:

• Increasing intake capacity

• Integrating ICMR fellowships with CSIR research funding

• Promoting cross-lab training and dual-mentorship Ph.D. models

• Offering exposure to public health fieldwork and clinical settings

• Strengthening the pipeline of translational scientists

Both leaders reinforced the need to offer more opportunities for young researchers to work across disciplinary boundaries.

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A Call for Convergence: Bridging Science, Technology, and Public Health

Dr. Kalaiselvi and Dr. Rajiv Bahl emphasised a strategic need to converge:

• CSIR’s deep technological expertise in chemistry, materials, biotechnology, and engineering

• ICMR’s clinical networks and public health systems, which reach hospitals and communities nationwide

They noted that such synergy would enable India to rapidly develop technologies such as:

• Scalable diagnostics

• Digital health systems

• Low-cost medical devices

• AI-enabled disease intelligence platforms

• Biomarker-driven precision medicine solutions

Both DGs called for time-bound research pipelines, transparent communication channels, and institutional mechanisms to strengthen co-development.

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New Joint Initiative: Digitally Controlled Medical Emergency Drone Service

One of the forward-looking highlights was the proposal to jointly design a digitally controlled emergency medical drone network. The envisioned system aims to:

• Deliver critical medical supplies and diagnostics

• Support remote and disaster-prone regions

• Enhance emergency response capacity

• Integrate with national digital health systems

This initiative reflects India’s growing emphasis on deploying frontier technology for public health.

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Expanding Collaboration Across Emerging Scientific Domains

CSIR and ICMR committed to growing collaboration across rapidly evolving sectors, including:

• Biomedical engineering

• Diagnostics and point-of-care devices

• Genomics and precision health

• Digital and tele-health

• Infectious disease modelling

• Environmental health surveillance

• Computational drug discovery

They agreed to expand multi-institutional networks, resource sharing, and cross-sector partnerships to maximise impact.

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A Shared Vision for India’s Health Research Future

The meeting concluded with a reaffirmed commitment to:

• Intensify interdisciplinary collaboration

• Streamline joint project development

• Remove administrative bottlenecks

• Enhance translational outcomes

• Build a national health research framework that is sustainable and future-ready

Both organisations stressed that India’s goal is not only scientific excellence but technology that transforms lives, strengthens health systems, and positions the nation at the forefront of global biomedical innovation.