The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has issued a call for research proposals from academic institutions and non-governmental organizations to develop and validate new diagnostic tools and treatment regimens for tuberculosis (TB). This initiative is part of India's intensified campaign to eliminate the disease as a public health threat by 2030.
Funding Under the TB Research Accelerator Programme
Under the ICMR TB Research Accelerator Programme, eligible institutions will receive financial support to create diagnostic tools, treatment strategies, and other innovations aligned with the central government's target. The programme prioritizes research across diagnostics, treatment, prevention, and operational research. Key focus areas include rapid detection of drug-resistant TB, novel screening strategies—including artificial intelligence-based tools—new anti-TB drug discovery, and evidence-based approaches to nutritional support for TB patients.
ICMR has specified that only products and solutions with an established proof of concept will be considered for funding, signaling a focus on technologies ready for validation and scale-up.
Progress and Challenges in TB Control
Although India has made steady progress in reducing TB-related deaths, the disease remains the world's leading cause of mortality from a single infectious agent. According to official data, TB mortality in India declined from 28 deaths per lakh population in 2015 to 21 per lakh in 2024. The National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) aims to strengthen early diagnosis, case reporting, transmission control, treatment adherence, and social support to achieve the 2030 elimination target.
ICMR stated that accelerating the development of new diagnostics, drugs, vaccines, and implementation research models remains central to this effort. The TB Research Accelerator Programme is designed to align scientific research with national programme priorities and speed up the translation of promising innovations into public health interventions.
Recent Study Highlights Benefits of Shorter Regimens
The latest funding push comes months after an ICMR study found that shorter treatment regimens for drug-resistant tuberculosis significantly reduce treatment duration, adverse effects, and mortality while also proving to be more cost-effective than conventional therapies. The urgency is underscored by India's drug-resistant TB burden. According to the latest India TB Report, the country recorded nearly 64,000 multidrug-resistant TB cases in 2023, accounting for almost one-third of the global caseload.
