OBJECTIVES

1. To present proper direction so as to enhance the overall atmosphere of biomedical research.
2. To streamline the operational aspects of the research activities in the institute.
3. To promote mission oriented and theme based inter-departmental, inter-institutional and inter-country research collaborations.
4. To build-up mechanisms for a periodic assessment of research projects/schemes.
5. To suggest better coordination with the funding agencies for encouraging time bound research activities.
6. To coordinate Intramural research grants for the faculties.

The following are the members of the Research Committee: 

SOP for Extramural Research Projects: 

• One page concept note along with approximate budget, source of funding, and collaboration if any, to be submitted to the Director. After the approval by the Director, full proposal should be submitted to Research Cell as per the recommended proforma. (Annexures 1-3) 
• In case only concept note has to be submitted to the funding agency, the PI can submit the concept note after due approval from the Director, with a copy to the Research Cell. When the concept note is shortlisted, the same has to be intimated to the Research Cell and a full proposal has to be submitted.
• Research cell will review the proposal and will advise any improvement if required. The PI may be called for presentation/discussion of the proposal.
• After the incorporation of the suggested changes to the satisfaction of the committee, the committee will issue an approval for further submitting the proposal to ethics committee.
• After the clearance from ethics committee, the PI will submit the proposal to the intended funding agency.
• If ethical clearance is not needed at the stage of initial submission, the PI may submit the proposal to the extramural agency after scientific approval
• If the proposal gets the funding, same will be intimated to the Research Cell. 
• PI will submit the annual progress report to the research Cell for review. (Annexure 4)
• PI will also submit the final completion Report in a prescribed format to research Cell with Utilization Certificate. (Annexure 5)
• The committee will coordinate the change in PI, in case of transfers / any other matter related to the externally funded projects.

SOP for Intramural Research Projects:

• After the approval of Director, call for intramural proposal will be announced.
• After the Research Cell receives the intramural proposals, the proposals will be sent for external review to two experts. The reviewers will score the proposals using a scoring scale. (Annexure 6) 
• After the receipt of the external review, a merit list will be prepared. 
• The research cell will also review the shortlisted proposals as per the merit list for methodological rigor and budget review, and will advise the investigator to modify if required. The PI may be called for presentation/discussion of the proposal.
• After the satisfactory modifications, the merit list will be submitted to the Director for approval.
• The Research Cell will issue a clearance to PI for further submitting the proposal to ethics committee.
• The grant will be released after the submission of IEC clearance.
• PI will submit the annual progress report to the research Cell for review.
• PI will also submit the final completion Report to research Cell with Utilization Certificate.
• The committee will coordinate the change in PI, in case of transfers.
• The grant should be used/ procurements are to be done as per the Institute policies. 

SOP for Non-funded projects:

• Full proposal should be submitted to Research Cell as per the recommended proforma.
• Research cell will review the proposal and will advise any improvement if required. The PI may be called for presentation/discussion of the proposal.
• After the incorporation of the suggested changes to the satisfaction of the committee, the committee will issue an approval for further submitting the proposal to ethics committee.
• PI will submit the annual progress report to the research Cell for review.
• PI will also submit the final completion Report to research Cell.

Other key considerations:

• Proposals shall have to be submitted by 05th of every month. The proposals will be reviewed by 20th of each month. The proposals will be responded within a maximum of three weeks. In special circumstances, emergency meetings could also be convened. The proposals will be reviewed by subject expert/methodology expert or an external reviewer, if required.
• All proposals should be duly forwarded by the Head of the Department
• If faculty or non-faculty is involved in any project outside the institution, the same has to be intimated to the Research Cell.

Reporting to the Director

The Research Cell will submit a quarterly and an annual report to the Director, AIIMS, Nagpur in a specified format
 

PROCEDURE FOR SUBMISSION & APPROVAL OF EXTRAMURAL/COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS

PROCEDURE FOR SUBMISSION & APPROVAL OF INTRAMURAL PROJECTS (FUNDED)

PROCEDURE FOR SUBMISSION & APPROVAL OF NON-FUNDED PROJECTS

Guidelines for Intra-mural research

1. The duration of each project is ordinarily limited to 24 months period.
2. All Permanent faculty members Professor, Additional Professor, Associate Professors and Assistant Professors are entitled to the funding of the intramural projects.
3. Faculty members must have at least one year of service from the date of superannuation 
4. Collaboration outside institution is also permitted. Duly selected regular faculty members of this institute will be eligible to be Principal Investigators (PI). 
5. Pool Officers, Senior and Junior Residents, PhD students, Research Associates, Undergraduate and Postgraduate students, and Paramedical staffs cannot be Principal Investigators. 
6. PhD projects will not be allowed to utilize this intramural funding. 
7. The budget shall not ordinarily exceed 5 lakhs. Exceptions will be considered only for outstanding, innovative projects after due sanction by the Director. The budget should be given in detail with full justification for all items. 
8. The funds will be utilized only for purchase of consumable: drugs, chemicals, kits, disposables etc. All items covered under the Learning Resource Allowance Scheme will not be allowed under this scheme. Stationary (office and computer), photocopying will not be allowed. Expenditure for attending conferences or publications from the data of the project will not be allowed. 
9. Funding will not be utilized for man-power and purchase of any permanent items like instruments, machine equipment, computer, books etc. which are not of consumable nature. 
10. Projects should be submitted through the HOD of department. 
11. Funding may be discontinued if the progress reports are not received for evaluation. 
12. In case the PI of any intramural research project avails leave for more than 3 months, he/she shall have to make appropriate arrangements for the work to be completed. The same has to be intimated to the Research Cell.
13. The annual report of the sanctioned project will be submitted by the PI and discussed during the Research Cell meeting. If required PI may be called for discussion.
14. No other intramural project will be considered till the PI has completed his/her previous intramural project and submitted manuscript. 
15. In case of similar merit scores, junior faculty will be given preference over senior faculty 

ANNEXURE 1: PROFORMA FOR SUBMISSION OF PROJECT PROPOSALS

ANNEXURE 2: PROTOCOL TEMPLATE FOR TRIALS/INTERVENTIONAL STUDIES

ANNEXURE 3: PROTOCOL TEMPLATE FOR OBSERVATIONAL STUDIES (COHORT, CASE CONTROL, CROSS SECTIONAL)

ANNEXURE 4: PROFORMA FOR PROGRESS REPORT OF RESEARCH GRANT PROJECT

ANNEXURE 5: PROFORMA FOR COMPLETION REPORT OF RESEARCH GRANT PROJECT

ANNEXURE 6: SCORE SHEET FOR COMPETITIVE SCORING OF INTRAMURAL RESEARCH GRANT PROPOSALS

ANNEXURE 7: BUDGET TEMPLATE

ANNEXURE 8 :  PROJECT TIMELINE TEMPLATE