NIPER Raebareli and AstraZeneca India have signed an MoU to strengthen India’s clinical research capabilities by developing inspection-ready clinical trial sites beyond major metropolitan centres.
New Delhi, October 14 — The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Raebareli, and AstraZeneca India have partnered to strengthen India’s clinical research ecosystem and expand high-quality clinical trial capabilities across emerging regions.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in the presence of Manoj Joshi, Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers. The collaboration supports the government’s Biopharma SHAKTI initiative, which aims to create a stronger biopharma ecosystem in India.
As part of the partnership, 25 clinical trial sites across emerging geographies will be adopted to build a trained workforce and improve site readiness. The programme will focus on capability assessments, targeted mentoring and stronger processes related to ethics, safety and trial feasibility.
The broader Biopharma SHAKTI initiative includes plans to establish 1,000 clinical trial sites across the country, aimed at expanding India’s clinical research capacity beyond the traditional concentration in metropolitan areas.
Under the collaboration, the Department of Pharmaceuticals will provide overall direction and endorsement, while AstraZeneca India will contribute clinical development expertise and bring in domestic and international faculty to support training, governance and site preparedness.
NIPER Raebareli will provide structured training and certification through its Centre of Excellence, helping participating sites improve their ability to meet regulatory and operational standards for clinical trials.
The initiative has been designed as a scalable national model. After the initial proof-of-concept phase, it could be expanded to additional geographies and therapeutic areas beyond oncology.
The partnership is expected to help improve the quality, reach and readiness of clinical research infrastructure in India, while also creating a larger pool of trained professionals capable of supporting trials across different parts of the country.
