The Institute of Clinical Research India (ICRI) is planning to expand its operations with campuses to be set up in United States (US), Singapore, China, Sri Lanka and United Arab Emirates (UAE) and three new centres in India during 2008-09.

The institute, which has already commenced operation in United Kingdom (UK), is planning to set up operations in the US, Singapore and China before September this year with a capacity to accommodate 50 students in each campus. The institute is in advanced stage of discussion with major universities in these countries, informed Shiv Raman Dugal, chairman, ICRI Research Ltd (IRL).

"We are investing Rs 100 crore in the year 2007-08 for setting up centres abroad. In the next financial year, we are planning to start operation in Sri Lanka and Dubai along with works to stabilise operations in US, Singapore and China," he added.

The centres will function as a link between the countries for global access of faculties and the post graduation diploma, which will be offered through these campuses, will have global standards of curriculum. "India is a major destination for clinical trials and we should prove it to the rest of the world. Setting up of campuses with unique features is one of the ways to express this to other nations," said Dr S K Gupta, dean and director general, ICRI.

Further, the Institute's domestic plans include projects to set up operations in Hyderabad, Kolkatta and Chennai, apart from the launching of new campus in Ahmedabad with a phase I clinical trial facility. ICRI, which has an investment plan of Rs 100 crore for domestic expansion in the financial year 2007-08, is currently carrying out the projects with investment of another Rs 100 crore. The Institute will be exceeding a Rs 200 crore investment budget in current financial year, along with the increase in the capacity of its campus, averred Dugal.

ICRI's efforts for expansion will increase the capacity to handle more than 2100 students in total, while the current infrastructure allows the institute to accommodate a total of 1500 students in India. According to reports, India has around 5000 to 10000 professionals in clinical research as against the demand of the industry is 50,000 personnel at present. The expansion plans of ICRI also targets to fill this demand-supply gap, said Gupta.