Govt Approves BRCP Phase III to Boost Biomedical Research

By global On Oct 1, 2025

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 1st Oct: The Union Cabinet has approved Phase III of the Biomedical Research Career Programme (BRCP), continuing the partnership between the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the Wellcome Trust (WT), UK.

The programme, implemented through the India Alliance SPV, will run from 2025-26 to 2030-31, with provisions for an additional six years (2031-32 to 2037-38) to support fellowships and grants approved until 2030-31. The total outlay is ₹1,500 crore, with DBT contributing ₹1,000 crore and WT ₹500 crore.Phase III of BRCP aims to nurture top-tier scientific talent, promote interdisciplinary biomedical research, strengthen research systems, and reduce regional disparities in scientific capacity. The programme includes:

Early Career and Intermediate Research Fellowships in basic, clinical, and public health research.
Collaborative Grants Programme offering Career Development Grants and Catalytic Collaborative Grants for multi-investigator teams.
Research Management Programme to enhance research infrastructure, mentorship, networking, and international partnerships.

Phase III is expected to train over 2,000 students and postdoctoral fellows, generate high-impact publications, support patentable discoveries, and increase opportunities for women in research. Around 25–30% of collaborative programmes are expected to reach Technology Readiness Level 4 (TRL4) or above, while expanding engagement in Tier-2 and Tier-3 institutions across India.

The BRCP, launched in 2008-09, has positioned India as a global hub for biomedical research. Phase III builds on earlier successes, aligning with India’s national priorities and global benchmarks to further strengthen talent, capacity, and translational research.