Exploring the Fundamentals of Biomedical Research: An Overview and Its Significance
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has made the Basic Course in Biomedical Research (BCBR) compulsory for postgraduate medical students and teachers. This course, offered by the National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE) under the ICMR, is integral to medical education and faculty development.
For postgraduate medical students, completing the BCBR course is mandatory and must be done by the end of their second semester, as per the Board of Governors (Medical Council of India) notification dated December 11, 2019. For medical teachers, completion of the BCBR course is compulsory for promotion to various teaching posts as mandated by regulatory amendments notified on February 12, 2020.
The BCBR is a self-paced online course offered throughout the year, allowing flexible enrollment and completion schedules. The course includes assignments for each lecture, which must be completed. Passing all assignments is required to be eligible for the proctored final exam.
Participants must appear for an online, offsite, proctored examination to receive the official course completion e-Certificate. Exam registrations open periodically, with recent exam dates including August 3 and August 31, 2025. The e-Certificate issued upon passing the proctored exam is the only valid proof of course completion recognized by ICMR-NIE.
The course covers research methodology, ethical considerations, study designs, and recently added modules on manuscript and grant proposal writing to better prepare candidates for biomedical research. The BCBR course is designed to strengthen the foundation of medical research in India.
In summary, the BCBR course equips both students and teachers with the necessary knowledge. Participants of the BCBR course must appear for an online, offsite, proctored examination to receive the course completion e-Certificate. Postgraduate students must complete the BCBR course by the end of their second semester, as per the amendments. The official online e-Certificate from the BCBR course is the only valid proof of course completion. Exam details and schedules are regularly updated on the official course website (nie.gov.in/icmr_sph/BCBR).
[1] https://nie.gov.in/icmr_sph/BCBR [2] https://nie.gov.in/icmr_sph/BCBR [3] https://nie.gov.in/icmr_sph/BCBR
- The BCBR course, which is a requirement for postgraduate medical students and teachers, covers topics such as medical research methodology, ethics, and grant proposal writing, making it an essential part of health-and-wellness, education-and-self-development, and science.
- Participants of the BCBR course, integral to medical education and faculty development, must complete all assignments and pass the proctored final exam to earn the official course completion e-Certificate, which is required for promotion and recognized by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE).
