Patna: Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) has been awarded an Excellence Award by the Department of Health Research under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, after its Multidisciplinary Research Unit (MRU) was ranked among the country’s top institutions for research performance.
The award was presented in New Delhi to Dr Namrata Kumari, head of microbiology and nodal officer of the MRU, by Anupriya Patel, Union minister of state for health, and Dr Rajiv Bahl, director general of the Indian Council of Medical Research and secretary of the Department of Health Research.
The recognition follows an annual review conducted under the Medical College Research Connect 2026 programme, which assessed 123 medical colleges across India. Eight institutions secured full marks – 10 out of 10 – for their research facilities and academic environment. IGIMS was the only institute from Bihar to receive the MRU Excellence Award.
The MRU was established to promote research, education and the development of new treatment techniques, and is open to students and faculty from all departments. According to Prof Kumari, the Indian Council of Medical Research maintains year-round engagement with participating colleges and confers awards based on annual evaluations.
As part of the recognition, the institute will receive both recurring and non-recurring grants. The non-recurring component will be used to upgrade research infrastructure and procure equipment. The MRU will also be strengthened with the appointment of two scientists, two technicians and a data entry operator, alongside a contingency grant of Rs 20 lakh.
Dr Binde Kumar, director of the institute, said several initiatives had been introduced over the past three years to encourage research among MBBS students, postgraduates and faculty members. At a recent board of governors meeting, it was decided that research proposals with the potential for international collaboration or significant advances in clinical technology would be eligible for financial assistance of up to Rs 5 lakh.
He said the recognition under the Medical College Research Connect programme signalled strong support from the central government for the institute’s research ambitions. Congratulating faculty and students, he urged them to continue pursuing innovative work.
Institute officials said the enhanced funding and staffing would expand opportunities for national and international collaborations, publications, fellowships and training programmes. Students from MBBS, postgraduate, super-specialty (DM-MCh) and DNB courses are expected to benefit from greater access to structured research support.
The institute said the strengthened research ecosystem would ultimately improve the quality and reliability of patient care, promote evidence-based treatment, support the development of new therapies and enhance diagnostic capabilities.
