Union Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers Smt. Anupriya Patel inaugurated the Department of Health Research’s Medical Colleges Research Connect 2026 at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in Chanakyapuri, marking the start of a two-day national conference aimed at strengthening India’s health research ecosystem.
The conference, being held on February 26–27, has brought together representatives from over 100 medical colleges across the country where Medical Colleges Research Units (MRUs) have been established under the Central Sector Umbrella Scheme for promoting health research infrastructure in India. The initiative is designed to build capacity and enhance the quality of biomedical research conducted within medical colleges.
The event was attended by Abhijat Chandrakant Sheth, Chairman of the National Medical Commission, who participated as Guest of Honour.
During the inaugural session, the Union Minister reiterated the Government of India’s commitment to advancing health research and strengthening biomedical innovation. She acknowledged the research efforts undertaken by medical colleges and urged faculty members to elevate research standards to support India’s broader development goals under the Viksit Bharat vision.
The allocation of ₹4,800 crore to the Department of Health Research further reinforces the Centre’s focus on expanding biomedical research capacity and supporting institutional infrastructure nationwide.
Over the course of the conference, participating institutions are presenting progress reports on their research activities and engaging in interactive lectures, workshops and symposia. Sessions are focused on improving grant proposal writing, expanding training opportunities and addressing technical aspects of biomedical research.
The programme is intended to facilitate knowledge exchange, encourage collaboration and enhance the ability of researchers to conduct high-quality biomedical research at their respective institutions.
