The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has invited research proposals under its Intramural Research Program 2026.
Each proposed project must address one or more of the priority areas identified and approved for the concerned institute.
ICMR Intramural Research Program 2026: Key Highlights
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Funding Agency | Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) |
| Program | Intramural Research Program 2026 |
| Research Area | Biomedical research |
| Maximum Project Budget | ₹8 crore |
| Funding per Institute | ₹3 crore to ₹30 crore |
| Project Type | High-risk, high-reward research |
| Call Opens | 1 September 2026 |
| Last Date | 30 September 2026, up to 5:00 PM |
Types of Research Projects that can be Proposed
The ICMR call considers several categories of research.
1. Discovery Research
Discovery research focuses on finding novel interventions and conducting basic research.
Indicative areas mentioned in the call include:
- Pre-clinical and Phase-I studies
- Phytopharmaceuticals and traditional medicines
- Genomic methods
- Algorithms and tools for personalized medicine
2. Development Research
Development research focuses on developing or improving interventions for:
- Screening
- Diagnosis
- Disease prevention
- Treatment
- Point-of-care tests and devices
- Molecular diagnostic tests
- Animal models
- Dosage and formulations
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning predictive tools/models
- Phase 2/3 or equivalent clinical trials of vaccines and therapeutics
3. Delivery/Implementation Research
This category focuses on overcoming barriers that prevent effective interventions from reaching people who need them.
Projects may address:
- Health-system interventions
- Improving access to healthcare
- Implementation of national health programs or schemes
- Reducing inequity
- Improving healthcare quality
4. Descriptive Research
Research aimed primarily at describing disease burden, risk factors, determinants or pathogenesis will generally not be prioritized. However, such research may be funded when ICMR considers it critical for moving toward solutions.
Who Can Apply?
The call is specifically intended for scientists from ICMR institutes.
Deadline
The last date to submit the proposal is 30 September 2026, up to 5:00 PM.
Download Official Notification