On a day that began with posters lining the corridors and ended with big questions about the future of healthcare, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, marked AIIMS Research Day 2026 as a celebration of ideas, innovation, and impact.

Inside the Jawaharlal Auditorium, faculty members, clinicians, researchers, and students gathered not just to present data, but to share stories of discovery—how research at AIIMS is shaping clinical care, influencing national health policy, and reaching some of the most remote corners of the world.

Throughout the day, undergraduate and postgraduate students, residents, doctoral scholars, and nursing students took to the stage for platform presentations and poster sessions. Their work reflected the growing culture of inquiry at AIIMS, where research now runs in parallel with patient care and medical training, and increasingly cuts across disciplines.

Setting the tone, AIIMS Director Prof. M. Srinivas described Research Day as a moment of reflection and renewal. “It allows us to recognise excellence, encourage young investigators, and ensure that our science remains relevant to the nation’s health needs,” he said, reiterating the institute’s focus on innovation, translational research, and patient-centred outcomes.

As the programme unfolded, Dean (Research) Prof. Nikhil Tandon offered a wider view of the institution’s research landscape. With more than 1,000 funded projects and investments exceeding ₹300 crore, AIIMS today anchors one of the country’s most active public-sector biomedical research ecosystems. He noted that 57 AIIMS scientists rank among the world’s top two per cent of researchers, a distinction supported by advanced core facilities, dedicated clinical research units, and a growing innovation and entrepreneurship programme.

That emphasis on translation—from laboratory to bedside to policy—was evident throughout the day. Prof. Tandon highlighted how AIIMS-supported innovations have led to 30 start-ups, attracted over ₹25 crore in external funding, and informed national clinical guidelines and public health programmes, ensuring that research findings do not remain confined to journals.

The future-facing theme gained momentum with the Research Day address by Chief Guest Dr. Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, Chief Executive Officer of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation. Speaking on Artificial Intelligence for Science and Engineering, he outlined how AI is accelerating discovery and transforming problem-solving. Institutions like AIIMS, he said, are essential in ensuring that these technologies translate into real benefits for public health and national development.

Perhaps the most vivid illustration of that promise came during a live demonstration that held the audience’s attention: a telerobotic ultrasound system that allows doctors at AIIMS New Delhi to conduct real-time diagnostic imaging thousands of kilometres away. Developed in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and already deployed at India’s Antarctic research station Maitri, the system uses a robotic arm controlled through a haptic interface to perform abdominal, cardiac, trauma, and vascular scans. The demonstration offered a glimpse into how advanced diagnostics could reach remote regions, disaster zones, and underserved communities.

Alongside innovation, the day also celebrated achievement and leadership. The programme featured the AIIMS Excellence Awards, the launch of new institutional initiatives including the Faculty Entrepreneurship Policy and the Clinical Trials Compendium, and the AIIMS Diamond Jubilee Oration. Delivered by Dr. Shalender Bhasin, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, the oration explored the science of extending health span and its implications for societies and economies.

A panel discussion titled “The Need to Dream Big: Grand Challenges” encouraged participants to look beyond incremental progress and imagine bold research goals, while the announcement of awards for outstanding platform and poster presentations brought the day to a close.

The momentum for Research Day had begun earlier, with poster exhibitions and evaluations held on 28 and 29 January 2026. By the end of the main event, AIIMS Research Day 2026 had done more than showcase numbers or achievements—it told the story of an institution using science, collaboration, and imagination to shape the future of healthcare in India.