Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi, is launching adjunct faculty scheme to develop and promote strong collaboration among medical, academic and scientific institutions. ICMR as part of the scheme will fund biomedical research both through intramural as well as extramural mode.

The scientists both at the ICMR headquarters and its nationwide network of 26 institutes will be coordinating and carrying out these research activities. During their career the scientists have excelled in the area of their expertise and are updated by interacting with scientists from other organisations both national and intemational.

ICMR circular mentioned that, “In order to apprise our scientists about the activities and the latest practises being undertaken at academic institutions it is desirable that the faculty from medical/academic institutions like medical colleges, universities and other institutions are given opporlunity to spend some time at ICMR Hqrs and Institutes to get acquainted with the research being carried out and will also provide them insight into our research efforts being carried out and the trends.”

At the same time ICMR scientists will be exposed to academic knowledge by regular interactions with faculty from these academic institutions.

This will create a knowledge source both for the coming faculty as well as our own scientists which will result in joint proposals for research. This will be very useful pathway for research flowing to academic institutions and the academic needs resulting in research initiatives.

Additionally, the Scheme would also enable NRI/PIO and foreign nationals with strong Indian collaboration from overseas scientific community to participate and contribute to biomedical research in India. The Adjunct Faculty will undertake research in the field of biomedical research and ICMR priority areas of the nation where capacity building needs to be strengthened.

It is proposed that the Adjunct Faculties under this scheme i.e. ICMR scientists/ scientists of leading specialists from non ICMR organisations in India as well as the faculty from academic institutions in India and abroad as described above may be allowed to spend up to three months at a time in a calendar year and extendable for another one/two terms as the case may be.