The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has announced a Call for Funding for Clinical Trials under its Intramural Research Program.
Proposals from ICMR institutes are invited to conduct high-quality, academic, and non-regulatory Randomised Clinical Trials (RCTs).
This initiative aims to generate high-quality evidence that influences national health policy and clinical guidelines.
Interested researchers/scientists can send their research proposals by 9th March, 2026.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Organising Body | Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) |
| Funding Program | ICMR Intramural Research Program |
| Call Title | Call for Funding: Clinical Trials by Functional Clinical Trial Units (CTUs) |
| Eligible Disciplines | All medical disciplines (medical, surgical, digital health, lifestyle, behavioural interventions) |
| Maximum Grant Amount | Up to INR 8 Crores per trial (Above INR 8 Cr subject to ICMR approval) |
| Project Duration | Maximum 4 years |
| EOI Duration | 4 weeks |
| EOI Submission Deadline | 9 March 2026 (17:00 hrs) |
Scope
The program supports high-impact, non-regulatory RCTs addressing priority health conditions, preferably aligned with the mandate of the respective ICMR institute.
Proposals may come from any medical discipline and can evaluate:
- Lifestyle, dietary, or behavioural interventions
- Medical or surgical treatment options
- Digital health interventions to improve clinical care
The objectives of proposed clinical trials may be one or more of the following:
i. Reduce adverse effects
ii. Increase efficacy
iii. Reduce costs
iv. Increase acceptability
v. Increase feasibility
vi. Newer indications for an existing medicine
vii. Precision and stratified medicine
Eligibility Criteria
Investigators: Each proposal must have one Principal Investigator (PI) and one Co-PI from the same ICMR institution.
Team: Scientists from clinical subjects, epidemiologists, laboratory scientists, basic scientists, etc., should be part of the team. The Technical staff are also encouraged to be part of the PI lead research team.
Intrinsic capacity: Each participating site should have an intrinsic capacity to conduct an RCT because no funds will be provided for Contract Research Organizations.
Two-Stage Application Process
Stage 1: Expression of Interest (EOI)
Duration: 4 weeks.
Requirements: An expression of interest with a maximum of 4 pages with a brief description of Rationale, Objectives, Design, Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcomes, Sample Size, Study Implementation Strategy, and Budget outline
Stage 2: Full Proposal (For shortlisted EOIs only)
Duration: 4 weeks.
Requirements: Full study protocol, with detailed Rationale, Objectives, Design, Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcomes, Sample Size, Study Implementation Strategy, Statistical Analysis Plan, Data Management Plan, Ethics Committee approval, and a detailed budget.
Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be assessed by the Project Selection Committee based on:
| Criterion | Weightage |
|---|---|
| Clinical Impact | 30% |
| Study Design | 30% |
| Feasibility | 20% |
| Collaborative Strength | 20% |
Official Notification: https://www.icmr.gov.in/icmrobject/uploads/Call/1770697744_im-cturevisedversion310022026.pdf