Roche Pharma India has completed the first phase of its Advanced Inclusive Research (AIR) Site Alliance programme, forging collaborations with ten major government hospitals across the country. The initiative has already trained nearly 400 professionals — including investigators, ethics committee members and operational staff — in line with global Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards.

This concerted effort is designed to strengthen the clinical trial readiness of government institutions, aligning with the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation’s (CDSCO) priority to increase government site participation in Phase 3 and 4 clinical trials. It also complements the Pharmaceutical Research and Innovation Policy (PRIP), which calls for stronger industry–academia partnerships to drive R&D capabilities, clinical infrastructure development and global competitiveness in innovation.

The 10 Partnering Institutions

• AIIMS, Rishikesh
• Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi
• PGIMS, Rohtak
• Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital & Research Centre, Muzaffarpur
• Balco Medical Centre, Raipur
• Government Medical College, Aurangabad
• Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health, Bengaluru
• Dr. Bhubaneswar Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI), Guwahati
• Kalyan Singh Super Speciality Cancer Institute & Hospital, Lucknow
• Acharya Harihar Post Graduate Institute of Cancer, Cuttack

With India representing 17% of the world’s population yet contributing to less than 4% of global clinical trials, this alliance aims to close the gap and accelerate patient access to breakthrough therapies. By building digital capabilities, streamlining internal processes, and delivering targeted training, the AIR Site Alliance seeks to bring cutting-edge clinical research to public healthcare institutions and include India’s diverse population in global evidence generation.

“By equipping leading government hospitals with global-standard clinical trial capabilities, we are helping to bring innovations faster to India. This is a crucial step toward building equitable healthcare and shaping treatments that are relevant for India,” said Dr. Sivabalan Sivanesan, Country Medical Director, Roche Pharma India.

Echoing this sentiment, Dr. Amit Sehrawat, Associate Professor, Medical Oncology & Hematology at AIIMS Rishikesh, remarked, “Public–private collaborations like this can significantly boost India’s research capacity and give patients earlier access to life-saving innovations.”

Dr. Vyunkta Raju K N, Professor, Paediatric Neurology at Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health, added that the programme has been “transformational” in equipping investigators and ethics committees to conduct global-standard research.

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As India accelerates its journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047, initiatives like the AIR Site Alliance could play a pivotal role in positioning the country as a global hub for clinical trials, driving faster access to innovative therapies and delivering equitable healthcare outcomes to its population.

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