New Delhi: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Department of Health Research (DHR) have called on the government and private hospitals to show interest in launching a pan-Indian network of clinical research institutes, which will be known as the Indian clinical trial name. & Education Network (INTENT).

“INTENT plans to provide evidence-based, cost-effective, scientifically-based and culturally appropriate solutions to diseases and health issues of national and / or regional significance … It will provide a single platform to conduct a range of tests Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs) that will allow harmonization of testing methods, pooling of results and rapid completion of projects, as well as inclusive representation of diverse Indian communities, ”the document states. ICMR.

The clinical trials network will operate on a hub and spoke model with a coordination center located at the ICMR-DHR.

“The hubs will be spread across the six regions of the country (North, South, East, West, Center and North-East) and will function as a nodal point for RCTs in this region,” the document said.

Advanced Clinical Trial Centers (ACCTs) will include reputable medical schools or hospitals with rich experience and expertise in randomized clinical trials.

The ICMR document states that each regional hub will have an inclusive expansion plan so that the newly identified potential partner agency or institutes and organizations are integrated into the regional network.

The identified multidisciplinary research unit (UMR), the model rural health research unit (MRHRU) will act as the regional clinical trials unit (URRC), responsible for the day-to-day operation and monitoring of clinical trials.