AIIMS Delhi Unites Network To Launch Pan-India Research Consortium

In a move aimed to strengthen nationally coordinated medical research, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, has spearheaded the creation of a pan-India collaborative research consortium, bringing together all AIIMS institutions under a single structured framework.

The initiative marks a shift from institution-led, fragmented research towards a unified model aligned with India’s priority health challenges and the need for large-scale, multi-centric evidence generation.

In this regard, AIIMS Delhi recently hosted a meeting of directors from all AIIMS institutions, during which a pact was inked to formally establish the consortium. According to an official statement, the platform aims to enhance coordinated biomedical and clinical research by pooling clinical expertise, infrastructure, and patient data across the AIIMS network.

The MoU provides a structured mechanism for collaboration among 20 AIIMS institutions across the country, including AIIMS Delhi, Bathinda, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Bibinagar, Bilaspur, Deoghar, Gorakhpur, Guwahati, Jammu, Jodhpur, Kalyani, Madurai, Mangalagiri, Nagpur, Patna, Raebareli, Raipur, Rajkot, and Rishikesh. The consortium will facilitate joint research projects, multi-institutional studies, clinical trials, exchange of researchers, and systematic sharing of best practices.

Officials said the consortium is envisaged as a national research network capable of addressing complex health challenges that require large and diverse patient populations—something individual institutions often struggle to achieve independently. Focus areas identified during the meeting include artificial intelligence in healthcare, affordable cancer therapies, healthcare-associated infections, and metabolic disorders.

The agreement also provides for the nomination of nodal officers and single points of contact at each AIIMS institution to ensure effective coordination and smooth execution of collaborative projects. The initiative is expected to strengthen research capacity, improve the quality of evidence generated within the public health system, and accelerate the translation of scientific findings into clinical practice and policy.

Dr. M. Srinivas, Director of AIIMS Delhi, said the establishment of the consortium reflects a collective commitment to advancing high-quality, nationally relevant research. “By bringing together the strengths of AIIMS institutions across India, we aim to generate robust scientific evidence, promote innovation, and support informed decision-making in healthcare,” he said, adding that the platform would evolve as a key driver of collaborative research in the years ahead.

Dr. Nikhil Tandon, Dean (Research) at AIIMS Delhi, noted that harmonizing research protocols and leveraging diverse patient populations would significantly improve research quality. “Large, multi-institutional studies are essential for addressing complex health challenges, and this consortium provides a structured mechanism to undertake them efficiently,” he said.

The announcement coincided with the observance of AIIMS Research Day 2026 the following day at AIIMS Delhi. Faculty members, clinicians, researchers, and students from across disciplines participated in platform and poster presentations, reflecting strong research engagement across academic levels.

Prof. Tandon informed that AIIMS Delhi currently anchors over 1,000 funded biomedical research projects with investments exceeding Rs. 300 crore, and that 57 AIIMS scientists are ranked among the world’s top two percent of researchers.

He also highlighted progress in research translation, with the institution’s innovation and incubation programme supporting 30 start-ups and facilitating more than Rs. 25 crore in external funding.

Dr. Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, CEO of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation, speaking on AI for science and engineering, underscored the role of emerging technologies in accelerating research and addressing public health challenges.