Shaping India’s Future through Biomedical Research Programme

• 13 Oct 2025

Source: PIB 

Why in News?  

The Union Cabinet has approved Phase-III of the Biomedical Research Career Programme (BRCP), shaping India’s next frontiers in science through biomedical research and strengthening the nation’s innovation capacity in line with Viksit Bharat 2047. 

What is the Biomedical Research Career Programme (BRCP)? 

• About: The BRCP is a flagship Indo-UK initiative launched in 2008–09, the programme is jointly implemented by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, and the Wellcome Trust, UK. 
  • BRCP aligns with national missions such as Atmanirbhar Bharat, Swasth Bharat, and Startup India. 
  • Phase II of the BRCP was launched in 2018–19 with an expanded portfolio and broader research areas.  
  • Phase III will be implemented from 2025–26 to 2030–31, with an extended service phase up to 2037–38. 
• Main Objectives 
  • Build a world-class biomedical research ecosystem in India. 
  • Support scientists at all career stages  from early-career to senior researchers through fellowships and grants. 
  • Encourage interdisciplinary, ethical, and translational research that directly improves healthcare and public health outcomes. 
  • Phase-III targets training 2,000 researchers, advancing 25–30% projects to Technology Readiness Level (TRL-4) and above, promoting patentable research, and increasing women scientist participation by 10–15% for greater inclusivity. 
• Achievements:  The BRCP has supported 721 research grants and played a key role in shaping India’s COVID-19 research response. 

What are India’s Emerging Frontiers in Biomedical Research and Innovation? 

• Genomics & Human Genetics: Initiatives like GenomeIndia and UMMID (Unique Methods of Management and Treatment of Inherited Disorders) map India’s genetic diversity to enable precision medicine and early diagnosis of rare diseases. 
  • dbGENVOC, developed by DBT-National Institute of Biomedical Genomics (NIBMG), is the world’s first public oral cancer genomic database, hosting over 24 million variants to support prevention, diagnosis, and treatment in India. 
• Infectious Disease Biology: India's research on Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Tuberculosis (TB),  malaria, Covid-19, and dengue, led to innovations like the Dengue Day 1 test and HIV Tri-Dot+Ag test. 
• Vaccine Development: Supported by the Indo-US Vaccine Action Programme (VAP), India has developed key indigenous vaccines such as ROTAVAC and Covaxin. 
  • Current efforts target diseases like dengue, malaria, and pneumonia, enhancing self-reliance and export potential. 
• Diagnostics & Medical Devices: Tools like Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) based tests, indigenous Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) kits, and affordable devices improve early detection and healthcare access. 
• Therapeutics & Drug Repurposing: India is accelerating affordable drug development by repurposing existing drugs for new indications. This approach shortens clinical trial timelines and regulatory approvals, making therapies more accessible for India’s large population. 
• Biomedical Engineering & Biodesign: Under Production Linked Incentive scheme for promoting domestic manufacturing of Medical Devices (PLI MD), India develops low-cost implants, assistive devices, and medical instruments, reducing dependence on imports. 
• Maternal & Child Health: Programs like GARBH-ini study pre-term births and developmental risks to improve maternal and child care. 
  • National Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) supports R&D for affordable, evidence-based solutions to address AMR, lifestyle diseases, and malnutrition. 
  • Initiatives like BioCARe (career development of unemployed female scientists), Janaki Ammal Award (recognizes outstanding contributions to the field of taxonomy), and women-focused incubators promote gender inclusivity and leadership.

India as the ‘Pharmacy of the World’ 

• Global Recognition: India is globally known as the “Pharmacy of the World” for its role in supplying affordable vaccines, medicines, and medical supplies worldwide, especially during the Coivd-19 pandemic. 
  • India's pharma industry is considered to be the world's third largest by volume and 14^th in terms of value of production. 
• Export Growth: Drug and pharmaceutical exports rose by 8.36%, from 2023 to 2024. 
  • Exports increased from USD 15.07 billion in 2013–14 to USD 27.85 billion in 2023–24. 
  • India exports to around 200 countries, with top markets including the USA, Belgium, South Africa, the UK, and Brazil. 
• Biotechnology Boom: India’s biotech sector expanded from USD 10 billion (2014) to USD 130 billion (2024) and is projected to hit USD 300 billion by 2030. 
  • Growth is evenly distributed across metro, Tier-I, and rural markets ( with 30% share each).

What Measures can Ensure Long-Term Sustainability of Biomedical Research in India? 

• Policy and Regulatory Reforms: Establish a National Biomedical Research Authority (NBRA) to streamline ethical clearances and data governance. 
  • Integrate open science frameworks for transparency and collaboration. 
• Financial and Institutional Sustainability: Create a National Biomedical Innovation Fund (NBIF) for continued support post-2037. Strengthen public–private partnerships (PPP) for translational research and manufacturing. 
• Regional Research Clusters: Develop BioInnovation Hubs in Tier-2/3 cities to decentralize R&D capacity and promote local employment. 
• Skill Development and Education: Introduce biomedical innovation fellowships and interdisciplinary curricula in medical and engineering institutions. 
• Monitoring and Impact Assessment: Use AI-driven dashboards to track fellowship outcomes, technology readiness, and gender parity metrics. 

Conclusion 

The BRCPI, alongside initiatives like BioE3, is propelling India towards becoming a global hub for affordable and impactful biomedical innovation. Aligned with DG-3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG-9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), it strengthens healthcare, fosters inclusivity, and advances scientific leadership on the world stage. 

Drishti Mains Question: 

Biomedical research is central to achieving India’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. Discuss.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

1. What is the Biomedical Research Career Programme (BRCP)? 
BRCP is a flagship Indo-UK initiative aimed at building a world-class biomedical research ecosystem in India. 

2. What are India’s emerging frontiers in biomedical research? 
Key areas include genomics, infectious disease biology, vaccine development, diagnostics, therapeutics, biomedical engineering, maternal & child health, and public health nutrition. 

3. What is dbGENVOC and its significance? 
dbGENVOC, developed by DBT-NIBMG, is the world’s first public oral cancer genomic database with 24+ million variants, supporting prevention, diagnosis, and treatment in India.