The Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) continue to strengthen their long-standing collaboration under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) promoting scientific exchange, mutual learning, and capacity building in health research and bioethics.
As a continuation of the recent engagement during the international meeting Health Research and Innovations in Public Health: Exchange of Good Practices across the RESEARCH Platform (August 2025), ten officials from NHRC participated in an Exposure Visit to the ICMR Bioethics Unit under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, in New Delhi from 16–20 February 2026.
The visit aimed to enhance scientific exchange, strengthen research governance and regulatory systems, and promote capacity building in bioethics and health research. The inaugural session was graced by the Additional Director General of ICMR, followed by technical sessions covering:
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ICMR National Ethical Guidelines
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Department of Health Research (DHR) governance mechanisms
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Clinical Trial Registry of India
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Fellowships and research grants
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Health Technology Assessment in India
Field visits were organized to key institutions to understand India’s regulatory and accreditation systems, including the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), Quality Council of India (QCI), National Institute of Malaria Research (NIMR), and Indian Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR). These visits provided valuable insights into regulatory oversight, quality assurance, research implementation, and health systems management.
The delegation also held a high-level dialogue at ICMR headquarters focusing on strengthening technical cooperation in bioethics and research governance. Additionally, NHRC representatives participated in the India AI Impact Summit, including a session on safe and trusted AI, where discussions emphasized ethical use of AI in health research, data protection, confidentiality, and safeguards in emerging technologies.
Overall, the exposure visit significantly enhanced institutional partnerships, strengthened mutual understanding of research regulatory systems, and reinforced a shared commitment to advancing South–South collaboration in bioethics, health research, and capacity building.
