The 1,300-bed Amrita Hospital in Kochi has been designated as Advanced Center for Clinical Trials (ACCT) by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). 

ICMR had last year called for Expression of Interest (EOI) for participation in the Indian Clinical Trial & Education Network (INTENT), a pan-India network of institutes with proven excellence in clinical research. The network would conduct large-scale, multi-centric clinical trials in a timely and well-regulated manner.

Government and private medical colleges and institutes, as well as hospitals with experience in conducting randomised controlled trials, were invited to be nominated as ACCT. ICMR has now declared a total of 12 hospitals and healthcare institutes from all parts of the country as ACCT. 

Research priorities of INTENT include reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child and adolescent health, communicable and non-communicable diseases, nutrition, mental health, environmental health, health system research, healthcare financing, digital health, occupational health, vulnerable people’s health and oral health.