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Public Health News Analysis
Research Infrastructure Sharing Ecosystem (P-RISE): A Policy Review
Image Credits: Dr. Thamizhmaran
Author: Dr. Anubhav Mondal
Updated on :
August 23, 2023
Health Research, Data Quality, Research Infrastructure, Policies, Fund utilisation, Cost-effective research
DHR's P-RISE Policy document was created to offer guidelines on appropriate sharing and responsible management of research infrastructure available in ICMR institutes, taking into consideration the need for having a defined research infrastructure sharing and access policy. This will maximize lab capability and is a step in the right direction to enhance health research.
Why in the news?
The resources in a few ICMR Labs would be made available for research by academics from public and private medical colleges as well as private sector R&D teams, as announced in the Union Budget of India for 2023–24.
The Department of Health Research and the Indian Council of Medical Research has developed a draft policy on the sharing of research infrastructure called the Policy on Research Infrastructure Sharing Ecosystem (P-RISE) in response to this.
Purpose of the policy
This plan seeks to
Create a framework that will give researchers access to the ICMR's centralized network of infrastructure for scientific research, ensuring the optimum use of the facilities that are currently in place and improving health research.
To give a detailed overview of how researchers from medical colleges, universities, and other institutions can use the excellent research resources in ICMR labs (even through institutes in Tier II cities).
To encourage research outreach and networking.
To improve the quality of data used in health research.
To ensure cost-effective research outcomes and.
To prevent duplication of research infrastructure.
To make it easier for researchers working in institutions with limited infrastructure to access sophisticated instrumentation, enabling them to perform good research.
To establish a system of incentivization for the host institutes/researchers to facilitate sharing and utilization of the research facilities. This would ensure optimal use of the research infrastructure that is now accessible.
Why was this done?
ICMR has been working hard to advance biomedical health research in the nation. The Council has established a strong network of biomedical research facilities across the nation in response to the growing demand from the Indian research community for access to cutting-edge technology and equipment for medical and scientific study.
The ICMR's highly developed laboratories, which have been built and maintained throughout the years, can also be used efficiently and effectively for national academic advancement and scientific advancement in the field of health research. By ensuring high-quality research findings and fostering new research, the plan to share and effectively utilize these research laboratories created with public funds with researchers around the nation will enhance health research.
Challenges in the past
Due to the high cost of equipment and the ensuing maintenance and operating expenses, access to state-of-the-art facilities for health research infrastructure is restricted in India.
Another constraint is a small pool of skilled workers capable of using such complex equipment.
Since there are more researchers in the health field every day, it is crucial that mechanisms for access to vital scientific infrastructure be put in place to enable qualified researchers and institutions who don’t have access to such resources.
The colleges and universities in the medical, dental, and pharmacy fields as well as other research-focused organisations comprise a sizable pool of researchers whose scientific output is constrained or compromised because they have little or no access to the necessary research infrastructure. By making the current lab facilities accessible to all researchers, this gap can be closed to a large extent.
Benefits
To ensure that the research facilities and equipment offered by ICMR institutes are utilized as efficiently as possible by the Indian research community.
To make better use of the funds allocated by DHR-ICMR, MOHFW by transferring advanced infrastructure and equipment to ICMR institutions. As a result, the price of acquiring and maintaining research infrastructure would be reduced.
To meet the unmet needs of researchers, academics, and private groups for access to state-of-the-art research infrastructure, thereby encouraging research and boosting the country's scientific output.
The majority of ICMR labs around the nation undoubtedly include very advanced research equipment, but there is no information and no clarification on this. When numerous of them exist and are likely not being used at multiple facilities, investments are made in comparable or similar instruments. Therefore, the policy on the sharing of research infrastructure might maximize investment and the capacity of experts to utilize cutting-edge technology.
This will provide cost-effective research outcomes, and higher-quality health research data, and it should operate within set time frames to avoid duplication of research infrastructure.
Concern
However, there are certain problems and worries with this approach as well; chief among them is the implementation.
The implementation needs to be straightforward and practical to motivate researchers.
The directors of these labs should make sure that these facilities are required to be opened and that they are used for carrying out thorough testing.
All permits must be quick and should be valid for a limited duration, as to allow other researchers to use equipments as well.
Conclusion
This document was created to offer guidelines on appropriate sharing and responsible management of research infrastructure available in ICMR institutes, taking into consideration the need for having a defined research infrastructure sharing and access policy.
In fact, the announcement of 157 new nursing colleges and a new program for research by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman gave this initiative to share research infrastructure momentum in pharmaceuticals, compelling businesses to make investments in priority sectors for research and development.
Scientists claim that although ICMR labs have cutting-edge infrastructure and sophisticated apparatus, these components are underused because of lengthy approval processes, onerous paperwork, and bureaucratic hurdles.
DHR's P-RISE action on structured research infrastructure is here sharing to maximize lab capability is a step in the right direction for the research community.
References:
1. Research Infrastructure Sharing Ecosystem (P-RISE) [Internet]. 2023 [cited 2023 Aug 10]. Available from: https://dhr.gov.in/sites/default/files/New%20Policy%20on%20Research%20Infrastructure%20Sharing%20Ecosystem%20(PRISE)_0.pdf
2. Ramesh S. ICMR boost to health research is a pragmatic but belated move [Internet]. www.bizzbuzz.news. 2023 [cited 2023 Aug 10]. Available from: https://www.bizzbuzz.news/eco-buzz/icmr-boost-to-health-research-is-a-pragmatic-but-belated-move-1225570
3. Scientists view DHR’s P-RISE move on structured research infrastructure sharing to maximize lab capability [Internet]. pharmabiz.com. [cited 2023 Aug 10]. Available from: http://pharmabiz.com/NewsDetails.aspx?aid=159674&sid=1