The Indian Council of Medical Research under the Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, convened SANVAD 2026 from February 19 to 21 at the ICMR National Institute of Malaria Research in New Delhi, bringing together nearly 400 doctoral scholars along with senior scientists, policymakers and academic leaders from across the country.
SANVAD, short for Scholars’ Assembly for Next gen Ventures to Advance their Development, is an annual rotating national platform designed to strengthen doctoral research quality, promote innovation and nurture leadership among PhD scholars within the ICMR network. Conceptualised as a decentralised initiative, it is hosted each year by a different ICMR institute to foster institutional collaboration and expose scholars to diverse research ecosystems. Following the inaugural edition at ICMR National Institute of Malaria Research, the 2027 edition will be hosted by the ICMR National Institute of Nutrition in Hyderabad.
The three day conclave focused on enhancing doctoral rigour, strengthening research capacity and encouraging innovation oriented thinking. It provided structured opportunities for networking and collaboration, enabling meaningful interaction between scholars and experts from academia, industry and policy domains.
The event featured distinguished speakers who addressed diverse aspects of scientific inquiry and public health. Anil Kumar Gupta, founder of the Honey Bee Network, SRISTI, GIAN and NIF, urged scholars to pursue research rooted in societal needs and grassroots innovation. In a session on Innovation in Research Bridging Societal Needs and Industry Readiness, Vishwajeet Kumar, Founder of Community Empowerment Lab, emphasised the importance of translating research knowledge into tangible community impact. In the domain of clinical research, Kameshwar Prasad highlighted the need to bridge bench research and bedside practice to achieve meaningful health outcomes.
A key highlight was the technical session on Health Communication Translating Science for Impact. Experts underscored the role of strategic communication in ensuring that research findings inform policy, build public trust and effectively reach communities. The session reinforced that impactful research must go beyond publication and be communicated clearly and persuasively to influence practice and societal change.
The final day featured an interactive town hall with Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, Department of Health Research and Director General, ICMR. Engaging directly with scholars, he addressed questions on science policy linkages, research funding ecosystems and emerging opportunities for young investigators. He urged scholars to pursue serious and meaningful research, cautioning against what he described as tick box research. He encouraged doctoral candidates to go beyond minimum academic requirements and voluntarily contribute to high quality research publications, while learning to manage both professional pressure and stress constructively.
Industry and academic leaders including Keyur Parekh, Kavita Singh, Manoj Dhar and Neeru Saini shared insights on global health research trends, pharmaceutical innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration and evolving career pathways in academia, industry and public health systems.
Technical sessions on Systematic Reviews and Evidence Synthesis, as well as presentations on national research resources such as NAMS, ONOS and INFLIBNET, provided scholars with practical tools to strengthen their academic work. A dedicated session titled What After PhD Career Pathways and Choices offered guidance on navigating careers across research institutions, policy bodies and private sector innovation ecosystems.
Scholars actively participated in Mindstorm at ICMR Research Quiz 2026 along with oral and poster presentation sessions. These platforms showcased the diversity and depth of doctoral research across ICMR institutes and encouraged peer learning, expert feedback and interdisciplinary collaboration.
In his concluding remarks, Anup Anvikar, Director, ICMR National Institute of Malaria Research, described SANVAD 2026 as a visionary platform fostering meaningful networking, interdisciplinary dialogue and collaborative growth among doctoral scholars. He expressed hope that similar initiatives would be institutionalised across other ICMR institutes to further strengthen India’s national research ecosystem and nurture future scientific leaders.
The conclave concluded with a valedictory session and awards ceremony recognising outstanding research presentations and scholarly contributions, marking the culmination of a three day programme dedicated to advancing high quality doctoral research and innovation in public health sciences.
