The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) invites Expressions of Interest (EOI) for participation in the "Breast Cancer study to Improve Survival in the UT of Jammu & Kashmir." This implementation research study aims to improve breast cancer survival rates through a Hub and Spoke model, with a coordinating centre located at ICMR Headquarters. Selected research groups, state representatives, and the ICMR Secretariat will co-develop the detailed protocol for the study.

Overview

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), under the Department of Health Research (DHR), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, is the apex biomedical research body in the country. ICMR is planning to initiate the Breast Cancer study to Improve Survival in Jammu and Kashmir to address low survival rates in breast cancer patients. The study will identify hospitals with best survival rates for breast cancer from India, which could mentor institutes of Jammu and Kashmir with poor survival rates through a Hub and Spoke model to bring uniformity in breast cancer treatment, improve quality of life, and increase survival rates.

Structure and Approach

• Coordinating Centre: Located at ICMR Headquarters, providing funding for human resources and mentoring activities for the hub.
• Hub: Located in Jammu and Kashmir or another state, functioning as the nodal point for the J&K region. The hub will be an institute, medical college, or hospital of repute with experience and expertise in conducting multicentre studies, and will act as the mentoring body for the region.
• Spokes: Limited to Jammu and Kashmir region only. These centres will include institutes, medical colleges, or hospitals of repute with oncology departments that render services to cancer patients in the J&K region.

Eligibility Criteria

Hub Eligibility

• Government or private medical colleges, institutes, or hospitals
• Hospital Breast Cancer Registry (HBCR) in the institute is mandatory
• At least 1,000 new breast cancer cases reported per year
• Hospitals with facility of Ayushman Bharat scheme for cancer patients
• Hospitals with survival rates of >90% at two years in stage II breast cancer
• HBCR with >80% follow-up of registered breast cancer patients
• Preferably a multi-disciplinary team of investigators with experience of initiating or participating in multi-centric studies (>5 years)
• Endorsed by the Head of the Institute or College
• Institute must have Departments of Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Radiation Oncology and Pathology, and a team of clinicians, pathologists, surgeons, and medical oncologists

Spoke Eligibility (J&K only)

• Government or private medical colleges, institutes, or hospitals in Jammu and Kashmir
• At least 200–300 new breast cancer cases reported per year
• Hospitals with facility of Ayushman Bharat scheme for cancer patients
• Preferably a multi-disciplinary team of investigators
• Endorsed by the Head of the Institute or College
• Institute must have Departments of Medical Oncology, Surgery and lab facilities, and a team of clinicians, pathologists, surgeons, and medical oncologists

Application Process

Interested parties must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) in the prescribed format through online mode only at https://epms.icmr.org.in. The submission portal will open from 28th May 2026. The Principal Investigator must submit on behalf of the proposed team of scientists or professionals who have regular employment in Indian medical institutes, research institutes, universities, colleges, recognized R&D laboratories, government and semi-government organizations, and NGOs. The PI must not have more than five ongoing research proposals funded by ICMR or a total grant amount exceeding ₹25 crores from ongoing ICMR-funded projects. Inclusion of at least one Co-PI from the PI's institute is mandatory.

Key Dates and Timeline

• Release of Call: 20th May 2026
• Last Date for Submission of EOI: 19th June 2026, 17:00 hrs
• Shortlisting of EOI: 30th June 2026
• Proposal Development Workshop: 30th July 2026
• Submission of Full Proposal: 20th August 2026, 17:00 hrs

Project Duration and Budget

The project duration will be up to four years, with an additional period of up to six months for preparatory activities (with no additional costs). Final site budgets will be developed by selected research team(s) under the guidance of ICMR. In the EOI, an estimated budget outline is required without budget justification at this stage.

Contact Information

For queries related to the call, please contact:

Dr. Nisha K Jose
Program Officer
Division of Development Research
Indian Council of Medical Research
Ansari Nagar, New Delhi – 110029
Email: jose.nisha@icmr.gov.in

For technical concerns related to the application process, contact: Email: po.epms@icmr.gov.in