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 In a significant step towards strengthening India’s biomedical research landscape, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has issued a nationwide call for Expressions of Interest (EoI) under its Intramural – Centre for Collaborative Research (CCR) Scheme 2026. The initiative aims to build a robust, collaborative ecosystem by linking ICMR institutes with external research organizations to drive translational health outcomes.
The scheme is designed to address critical gaps in public health research by fostering partnerships between ICMR’s intramural institutes and capable extramural institutions. By leveraging complementary expertise, the initiative seeks to accelerate innovations in disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, ultimately improving health outcomes across the country.
Each selected collaboration may receive funding of up to Rs. 5 crore over a period of five years, towards making sustained and impactful research partnerships.
The application process will be conducted through ICMR’s Electronic Project Management System (ePMS). Interested institutions must complete registration, profile verification, and proposal submission through the portal. The deadline for submission of EoIs is April 17, 2026, by 5:00 pm. Proposals will be reviewed by ICMR Headquarters under its intramural division.
With this initiative, ICMR underscores the growing need for interdisciplinary and inter-institutional collaboration in tackling complex health challenges. The CCR scheme is expected to not only enhance research capacity but also ensure that scientific advancements translate into tangible public health benefits for the nation.
Under the CCR scheme, a wide range of Indian institutions, including universities, medical and engineering colleges, NGOs, private research bodies, and recognized R&D laboratories, are eligible to apply. Applicants must demonstrate proven expertise in relevant research domains and clearly outline their proposed research activities, expected outcomes, and contributions to national health priorities. Each selected CCR can be a single institution or a consortium, with one designated lead institution, and may collaborate with up to three ICMR institutes.
The programme identifies key areas of national importance through collaboration with leading 24 ICMR institutes including ICMR-National Institute of Epidemiology (infectious diseases), ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health (pregnancy-related disorders), ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (malnutrition), and ICMR-National Institute of Virology (viral infections), among others. Research topics span a broad spectrum—from tuberculosis, malaria, and antimicrobial resistance to non-communicable diseases like diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular conditions.
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