The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) held a high-level brainstorming meeting in the capital on Tuesday to strengthen ongoing collaborations and develop a unified roadmap for future joint health research under the government’s “whole-of-government” approach.
The meeting, held at the CSIR Science Centre, was co-chaired by CSIR Director General and DSIR Secretary Dr N. Kalaiselvi and ICMR Director General and Department of Health Research Secretary Dr Rajiv Bahl. Directors of laboratories under both organisations and senior officials participated in the discussions.
The two sides reviewed progress in major collaborative projects, including CSIR-developed molecules advancing into clinical trials and the functioning of ICMR-supported Centres of Advanced Research operating in CSIR labs. They also examined the implementation status of large-scale programmes and agreed on the need to strengthen wastewater surveillance for multiple pathogens across cities, hospitals and communities as part of the One Health Mission.
Discussions also focused on defining the roles and responsibilities of CSIR and ICMR in drug development, including structured clinical trials and the utilisation of ICMR’s large-animal toxicity testing infrastructure. The joint AcSIR–ICMR PhD programme was reviewed with an emphasis on expanding opportunities for young researchers and integrating ICMR fellowships with CSIR’s.
Dr Kalaiselvi and Dr Bahl stressed the importance of aligning CSIR’s scientific and technological capabilities with ICMR’s public health mandate to deliver high-impact national outcomes. They called for stronger coordination, time-bound targets and co-development of new technologies, including a jointly planned, digitally controlled medical emergency drone service.
The meeting concluded with both organisations committing to deepen collaboration, streamline joint project development and expand work in emerging areas such as biomedical science, diagnostics, digital health and environmental health surveillance.
