08-07-2025
Securing 74 grants in just two years is a testament to PGI's relentless pursuit of excellence: Dr Rajiv Bahl
'PGI Chandigarh is truly a national treasure, a hub where the brightest minds converge to push the boundaries of medical science. Over the past two years alone, PGI has secured 74 grants, with nearly half dedicated to developing new interventions and technologies. This is a testament to PGI's relentless pursuit of excellence and its vital role in India's innovation ecosystem,' said Dr Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, Department of Health Research and Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research.
Addressing the 62nd Institute Foundation Day celebrations of PGI as the chief guest, ICMR director deneral lauded PGI's crucial role in clinical trials and translational research during his keynote address themed on 'Creating more physicians, scientists and innovators in leading medical institutes'. 'PGI's position as one of the primary institutes conducting phase one clinical trials outside industry showcases our capacity to bring cutting-edge therapies from bench to bedside. This is essential for making India a global leader in medical research and development.'
Highlighting the importance of integrating research with clinical practice, Dr Bahl said that the 'future of Indian healthcare rests on our ability to develop new interventions and diagnostic tools. ICMR's focus on evidence-based research, combined with its commitment to training physician scientists, is essential for India's journey toward self-reliance in medical technology'. Dr Bahl emphasised the importance of engineer-doctor industry partnership to create science and research into innovation to reach out to patients as he highlighted 'ICMR's strategic collaborations with IITs, AIIMS, and other premier institutions exemplify our collective commitment to bridging medicine and technology. The pioneering devices developed here, such as the infrared hematoma detector and Mobi-lab, have already garnered international attention, even impressing global leaders like Bill Gates. It's a proud moment for India and a validation of our leadership in healthcare innovation.'
Sharing ICMR's vision for Viksit Bharat, Dr Bahl underpinned that the goal is to support Indian scientists and entrepreneurs in creating first-in-the-world technologies. 'The recent challenge grants and patent support programmes of ICMR are designed to catalyse this spirit of innovation, ensuring India remains at the forefront of medical breakthroughs.'
Earlier, Prof Vivek Lal, Director of PGI, acknowledged the PGI team's diligence and hard work amid an exponentially growing patient burden. 'We make up for infrastructure gaps through relentless passion.'
Thirty-one PGI employees were honoured for their outstanding service on the occasion.
