The Research & Innovation Cell (RIC) at MNR Medical College is officially open — inviting undergraduate and postgraduate students to apply for mentored research grants beginning the 2026 academic year.
MNR Medical College today announced the establishment of its Research & Innovation Cell (RIC), a dedicated body designed to foster a research-first culture from the very first year of medical education. The initiative, spearheaded by the college's Medical Director and Academic Registrar, is part of MNR's founding commitment to producing not just clinicians, but evidence-generating medical professionals.
What is the Research & Innovation Cell?
The RIC is a structured academic body that provides MNR students and faculty with a framework, funding pathway, and mentorship network to pursue original medical research. Unlike departmental projects, the RIC functions as a cross-disciplinary platform — enabling students from MBBS, MD, MS, and allied health programs to collaborate on multi-speciality research.
The cell will be led by a Faculty Research Coordinator appointed in each department, with a central governing committee chaired by the Dean of Research at MNR.
How Students Can Apply
Applications for the 2026 inaugural research grant cycle are open from March 15 to May 31, 2026. Interested students must:
- Submit a 500-word research proposal outlining the hypothesis, methodology, and expected outcomes.
- Identify a faculty mentor from the relevant department who agrees to co-guide the project.
- Attach their academic record (minimum 65% aggregate for UG students).
- Attend the mandatory Research Orientation Workshop scheduled for April 5, 2026.
"Every great medical discovery began with a student who dared to ask why. At MNR, we want to institutionalize that curiosity — not as an elective, but as a core part of how we train our doctors." — Dr. Ananya Krishnamurthy, Medical Director, MNR Medical College
Grant Structure & Funding
The RIC will award three tiers of research grants in its inaugural year:
- Seed Grant — ₹25,000 for pilot studies and exploratory research (open to MBBS Phase I & II students)
- Project Grant — ₹75,000 for structured 6–12 month research projects (open to MBBS Phase III and PG students)
- Innovation Grant — ₹1,50,000 for multi-speciality collaborative research with publication potential (open to all MNR students with faculty co-investigators)
Key Dates — 2026 Research Grant Cycle
Application opens: March 15, 2026 · Last date to apply: May 31, 2026 · Results announced: June 20, 2026 · Research period: July – December 2026 · Submission of final report: January 2027
What MNR Provides
Approved grant recipients will receive not just funding, but full institutional support, including access to:
- MNR's biochemistry, microbiology, and pathology research labs
- Statistical analysis support from the Biostatistics faculty
- Institutional Review Board (IRB) guidance for ethical clearance
- Library and journal access via PubMed, Cochrane, and MEDLINE
- Presentation slots at MNR's Annual Research Day symposium
Projects that demonstrate publication-ready outcomes will receive additional support from MNR's academic editorial team to submit findings to peer-reviewed journals indexed with PubMed or Scopus.
A Foundation Built for Research
MNR Medical College is one of the few institutions in Karnataka to establish a formal research grant cell from its very first academic year. The RIC is part of a broader institutional strategy that includes a planned PhD program in collaboration with a partner university, a biannual medical journal published by MNR, and a National Medical Research Conference to be hosted on campus starting 2027.
For more information and to download the application form, students can visit the Academic Office at Block C or email research@mnrmedicalcollege.com.
