The Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) has signed a memorandum of Understanding with William Harvey Research Institute of University of London to start MSc course in clinical research and drug development.

The MoU was signed on Friday evening in the presence of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy here. The MoU would enable the NIMS to launch the course to offer internationally recognised clinical trial training programmes on a par with the US and European standards.

Officials of the Health Department explained that students with MBBS, BDS, Pharma, and degrees in life sciences like biotechnology would be eligible to seek admissions into the course through an aptitude test. As many as 25 students would be admitted into the course in the first phase. The WHRI designed the course curriculum. Teaching doctors of NIMS would form the faculty. Professors of the WHRI would lecture the students through video conference and conduct group discussions.

The course would be upgraded in the second phase with the NIMS and the WHRI would start clinical research for treating cardiovascular diseases, endocrinology and pharmacogenomics. The Biotechnology Department of the Union government has promised to release funds for the programme, the officials added.