The central government has decided to establish a National Institute of Translational Research to groom world-class clinical researchers in the country. The institute is to come up in Delhi.

According to Dr M K Bhan, the institution will have the joint patronage of Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The institute will impart specialized training to medical graduates to farewell in clinical research activities.

Explaining the importance of such an institution, Dr Bhan said that best way to ensure quality clinical research/trial activities is to hand over the responsibilities of such trials to competent clinical researchers. "The Drugs Controller General of India cannot bring in regulations unless good clinical trial researchers are there. We need many institutions that can equip medical graduates with translational skills." He said.

Dr Bhan felt that the neglect of medical school system has been a serious mistake made by the country during the last 30 years. "Our medical school research system needs to be reformed. ICMR and DBT have signed an agreement in this regard and we are committed to see it happen in the next five years." He said. Interestingly, a status report brought out by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) had also identified capacity building in clinical research at medical institutions as an urgent requirement. According to them, the medical institutions should identify clinical research as an important area to attract funding by the pharmaceutical industry. It has also said that the principal investigators should be encouraged by the institutions to actively participate in early phase drug development studies for Indian as well as MNCs.