ICMR’s 'First in the World Challenge' for Innovation | 06 Dec 2024

Source: TH

Recently, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has announced the “First in the World Challenge” aimed at encouraging innovative solutions to pressing health issues.

This initiative seeks to foster novel, out-of-the-box ideas and promote the discovery and development of breakthrough health technologies, including vaccines, drugs, and diagnostics.
Proposals must present bold, impactful global health research concepts, not ‘incremental innovations’ or ‘process innovation’. The high risk, high reward challenge aims for revolutionary biomedical breakthroughs, despite potential failures.
- Proposals can be submitted by individuals or teams from single or multiple institutes, evaluated by a selection committee of experts.
In a recent advancement, ICMR has formalised agreements under its ‘Network for Phase 1 Clinical Trials’, which includes collaborations for developing treatments for various diseases such as multiple myeloma and Zika virus.
- This initiative aims to position India as a leader in the clinical development of pharmaceutical agents and innovative health solutions.
ICMR is the apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research.
- It comes under the Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW).