The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has announced a new initiative called First in the World Challenge. file | Photo Credit: AP
It aims to encourage Indian scientists to come up with innovative ideas to find solutions to difficult health problems. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has announced a new initiative called “First in the World Challenge”.
The council, which is the apex body in India for formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research and one of the oldest medical research bodies in the world, said the scheme proposes to promote new, out-of-the-box, futuristic ideas. Is. Generation of new knowledge, discovery/development of breakthrough health technologies (vaccines, drugs/treatments, diagnostics, interventions etc.) that have never been thought of, tested or attempted in the world till date.
“The proposal should have bold research ideas with significant broad impact and, if successful, should be ‘first-of-its-kind’ biomedical and technological innovations with the potential to lead to improved health outcomes in a global context,” the council said in its order.
It added that proposals aiming at ‘incremental knowledge’ or ‘process innovation’ will not be funded through the scheme.
The announcement states that this is a high-risk, high-reward initiative where the chances of success may be variable.
“But ICMR Considers it worth taking risks to achieve something that no one in the world has ever done before. This program believes in taking big chances for big rewards. Not every effort may be successful, but successes will lead to a major revolution in biomedical science,” it said.
Proposals can be submitted by an individual or a team of researchers (either from a single institution or from multiple institutions). The selection committee will be constituted by experts of high repute, innovators, policy makers, scientists with excellent records of conducting and nurturing research and innovation in the biomedical sector.
published – November 02, 2024 07:57 PM IST