NEWS – The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has launched an initiative titled the “First in the World Challenge” to promote innovation among Indian scientists. This program seeks to encourage groundbreaking research to tackle complex health issues, with a focus on ideas that have yet to be explored globally.

PURPOSE OF THE “FIRST IN THE WORLD CHALLENGE”

• ICMR aims to stimulate original and forward-thinking research ideas.
• The program seeks to place Indian scientific research on the world stage by solving health challenges not yet addressed anywhere.

Key Features

• Focus on Breakthrough Health Technologies
  • Vaccines: Developing new vaccines for emerging or difficult diseases.
  • Drugs and Therapeutics: Creating new drugs with unique mechanisms or applications.
  • Diagnostics and Interventions: Pioneering diagnostic tools or medical interventions to address uncharted health concerns.
• Only completely novel ideas, never tested or attempted worldwide, will be considered. Incremental improvements or process innovations are ineligible for funding.

Bold Research Criteria

• Proposals must demonstrate significant potential to impact health outcomes on a global scale.
• The program is designed to support “high risk, high reward” projects that may carry uncertainties but have the potential to revolutionize biomedical science.
• ICMR emphasizes that while not every attempt will succeed, successful projects will bring transformative changes in health and biomedical sciences.

PROGRAM GOALS AND BROADER IMPACT

• Aiming for “First of Its Kind” Innovations: ICMR envisions positioning Indian biomedical science at the forefront of global health solutions.
• The initiative intends to achieve advancements that bring revolutionary health benefits.
• By funding bold research, ICMR seeks to make a lasting impact on global health and pave the way for future medical breakthroughs.
• ICMR supports taking calculated risks, viewing failures as stepping stones towards significant scientific achievements.