Tamil Nadu: 20 medical colleges to have research excellence centres, says ICMR DG

Chennai: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is looking to set up centres for excellence in research in at last 20 medical colleges across the country, said Dr Soumya Swaminathan, director general of ICMR here on Wednesday.

While delivering the convocation address at the 29th convocation of Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University here she said, “We will select best performing and interested colleges to set up these centres which can become like Harvard Medical School or John Hopkins Medical School in future.” Tamil Nadu is expected to have at least two of these twenty centres. “Globally, people should know that these institutions are producing top class medical research. The funding for medical research is also needs to be increased and I am sure it will happen,” she said.

She also said the council is looking to improve the number of studentships. Currently, around 1,000 studentships are being offered for which the students will get Rs 10,000 to do a short term researches.

“TB free Chennai a different kind of movement will be launched soon where private and public sector will come together. The patient is the center of the programme it will ensure the patients and their family are properly treated,” she added. Around 2,925 students received their degrees in person and 166 received medals for exceptional performance.