AIIMS Delhi signed a memorandum of understanding on Thursday with 19 other AIIMS institutions to promote joint research in areas like artificial intelligence in healthcare and low-cost cancer treatments. This agreement creates a pan-India research consortium of 20 AIIMS institutes. Officials say the group will focus on multicentric clinical trials and key health challenges facing the country.
AIIMS Delhi's Director, Dr. M. Srinivas, stated that the consortium will support shared research projects, multi-institution studies, clinical trials, researcher exchanges, and knowledge sharing. He explained that it will function as a national research network, leveraging the combined expertise, facilities, and patient base of all AIIMS institutions to address major health issues in the country.
The participating AIIMS are in New Delhi, Bathinda, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Bibinagar, Bilaspur, Deoghar, Gorakhpur, Guwahati, Jammu, Jodhpur, Kalyani, Madurai, Mangalagiri, Nagpur, Patna, Raebareli, Raipur, Rajkot, and Rishikesh.
Dr. Rohit Bhatia from the Neuroscience Centre noted that discussions are ongoing to establish national research priorities. Officials indicated the consortium will strengthen multicentre clinical trials and explore new areas such as AI in healthcare, low-cost cancer treatments, hospital-acquired infections, and metabolic diseases. Each institution will appoint a nodal officer for smooth coordination.
Dean (Research) Dr. Nikhil Tandon remarked that this collaboration will facilitate large-scale studies across multiple sites. By adopting common research methods, sharing expertise, and examining patients from diverse regions, the quality of research will enhance, allowing faster integration of findings into medical practice and public health policies.
According to officials, the pan-India consortium is set to boost research capacity, accelerate the application of scientific discoveries in healthcare, and aid in formulating evidence-based health policies. Prof. M. Srinivas added that the partnership reflects a collective dedication to high-quality, nationally relevant research. Through joint efforts, AIIMS institutions aim to generate robust scientific evidence, foster innovation, and improve healthcare decision-making.
