Manipal, October 08th, 2025: The Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), an Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University, inaugurated the ICMR–MAHE Centre for Advanced Research (CAR) at the Manipal Hospice and Respite Centre (MHRC), following the award of a INR 12.84 crore grant from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
The Centre is led by Dr. Naveen Salins, Professor and Head of the Department of Palliative Medicine and Supportive Care, Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Manipal, as Principal Investigator, with Dr. Arun Ghoshal, Assistant Professor, serving as Co-Principal Investigator.
The inauguration ceremony was graced by Dr. Ashoo Grover, Scientist G and Head, Division of Delivery Research, ICMR, as Chief Guest, and Dr. Roopa Shivashankar, Scientist E (Medical), Division of Delivery Research, ICMR, as Guest of Honour. The event was presided over by Dr. H. S. Ballal, Pro-Chancellor, MAHE, and organised by Dr. Sharath K. Rao, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Health Sciences), MAHE. Distinguished participants included Dr. Anil K. Bhat, Dean, KMC Manipal, and Dr. Cherian Varghese, Director, Prasanna School of Public Health.
In his address, Dr. Ballal noted that the collaboration between ICMR and MAHE represents “the highest level of national recognition for MAHE’s research culture,” underscoring the University’s commitment to science that heals and research that transforms. Dr. Sharath K. Rao further outlined MAHE’s strategic roadmap for advancing health research and innovation.
The Centre for Advanced Research (CAR) seeks to address a critical gap in India’s healthcare system the need for ethical, compassionate, and evidence-based care for patients with advanced and terminal illnesses in Intensive Care Units (ICUs). The Centre will design and evaluate a Multifaceted Comprehensive Appropriate Care Package (MCACP) integrating palliative care principles into critical care settings.
Building upon MAHE’s pioneering BLUE MAPLE framework, developed and implemented at Kasturba Hospital and KMC Manipal, which has already influenced national end-of-life care standards, the CAR will now expand this initiative nationwide. The project will establish a multi-centre collaborative network of ten clinical centres and seven technical partners, advancing the reach and impact of this transformative model.
Encompassing multiple disciplines medicine, nursing, bioethics, health economics, law, and public health the Centre embodies MAHE’s One Health–One Humanity philosophy. By co-developing and testing a scalable model of appropriate ICU care for advanced illness, CAR aims to inform policy, enhance health-system responsiveness, and align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
With a strong legacy in research, innovation, and translational excellence, MAHE continues to strengthen its role as a leader in India’s health-research ecosystem. The establishment of the ICMR–MAHE Centre for Advanced Research reaffirms the university’s mission to integrate science, ethics, and empathy in healthcare delivery, setting new national and global benchmarks in ICU and palliative-care research through interdisciplinary and implementation science.
