|
 The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has invited Expressions of Interest (EOI) from its institutes and centres to become part of the Indian Clinical Trial and Education Network (INTENT), a national initiative aimed at strengthening India’s clinical research ecosystem.
Launched by ICMR, the INTENT network is designed to promote high-quality, regulation-compliant clinical trials that address the country’s health priorities. It provides a national platform for conducting multicentre trials and aims to enhance the capabilities of Indian investigators and institutions in the field of clinical research.
Currently comprising 79 public and private medical colleges, hospitals, and research institutions, the network is now looking to expand its reach by including ICMR’s own research institutes. This strategic move is intended to further establish ICMR’s leadership in India’s clinical research landscape.
The INTENT initiative supports clinical investigations involving drugs, diagnostics, medical devices, biologics, and vaccines, particularly those developed through academic collaborations, start-ups, or industry partnerships. It also facilitates trials under inter-ministerial collaborations or aligned with public health programs. Selected trials may receive financial aid, technical support in data management and statistics, and opportunities for capacity building.
Institutes selected to join INTENT will gain access to centralized support services such as regulatory compliance assistance, trial insurance, monitoring, and structured training programmes. Importantly, participation in INTENT does not limit institutes from conducting independent clinical trials outside the network.
Eligibility is open to all ICMR institutes engaged in clinical, translational, or public health research. Applications must be submitted by a team led by a designated nodal officer and include 5 to 10 team members. Endorsement from the institute’s director is a mandatory requirement. Once selected, the institute is expected to actively involve its research personnel in INTENT’s activities.
Applications will be assessed by an expert committee based on the experience of the principal investigator and team, institutional infrastructure, access to patient populations, prior trial involvement, and collaborations with national or international networks.
"Interested ICMR institutes must submit their EOIs online via the official form. Last date for submission of application is September 25, 2025. Shortlisting of centres will be done by December 15, 2025. Selected institutes will be notified via email," according to an ICMR official.
|