By: IPP Bureau
Last updated : August 27, 2026 8:34 am
The programme will focus on research-to-policy translation, implementation science, real-world evidence, community participation, research integrity and AI in health research
India’s health research ecosystem is expanding rapidly, with growing research activity and advances in areas including digital health and artificial intelligence. However, translating research findings into changes in clinical practice, healthcare delivery and public policy remains a key challenge.
This gap will be a central theme at the BMJ Research Forum South Asia 2026, scheduled to be held in New Delhi on September 5, 2026.
Convened by BMJ, the Forum will bring together researchers, clinicians, policymakers, healthcare leaders and innovators to examine what enables—or prevents—research from moving beyond publications and datasets into hospitals, health programmes and policy decisions.
The programme will focus on research-to-policy translation, implementation science, real-world evidence, community participation, research integrity and AI in health research.
Major General (Prof) Dr Atul Kotwal, ICMR-Dr A S Paintal Distinguished Scientist Chair and President, IAPSM, will deliver the keynote address titled “Translating Evidence into Health System Impact: Building the Foundations for Policy, Programmes and Practice.” Dr Kamran Abbasi, Editor-in-Chief, The BMJ, will deliver the opening address.
The Forum will feature speakers including Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Chair, M S Swaminathan Research Foundation and former Chief Scientist, WHO; Padma Shri Dr Abhay Bang, Co-founder, SEARCH; Professor (Dr) Narendra Kumar Arora, Chief Scientist & Mentor, The INCLEN Trust International and President, AIIMS Bilaspur; and Dr Upasana Arora, Managing Director, Yashoda Group of Hospitals.
Senior representatives from ICMR, AIIMS, NABH, Koita Foundation and other research and healthcare institutions will also participate.
A key session, “Translating research into practice: institutional pathways to real-world impact in India,” will explore why promising research often struggles to achieve large-scale adoption. Discussions will examine institutional culture, governance, collaboration and the role of implementation science in closing this gap.
Another session, “From evidence to implementation: An Indian research-to-policy journey,” will focus on how research evidence can inform guidelines, public policy and clinical practice. The “Community Voice Panel: Nothing About Us Without Us” will bring patients and communities into discussions around research priorities and the research process.
AI will also feature prominently through the session “AI and the Future of Health Research: Opportunity, Risk and Responsibility.” Rizwan Koita will lead discussions on the growing application of AI in health research, alongside questions around ethics, transparency, scientific integrity and trust.
“India has no shortage of research or research talent. The bigger opportunity is to close the gap between evidence and implementation. The real measure of research success is whether it changes clinical practice, informs policy or improves outcomes for patients,” said Dr Prashant Mishra, Managing Director, BMJ India & South Asia.
The Forum will additionally feature an abstract spotlight session and poster competition, with five top-rated abstracts selected for short presentations. Outstanding abstracts and posters will be recognised during the closing plenary.