ICMR-CHAMP: first high-altitude medicine centre to come up at Keylong
Why in the news
A Health Ministry curtain raiser issued on 11 October 2026 said Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda will lay the foundation stone of the ICMR Centre for High Altitude Medicine and Public Health Research (ICMR-CHAMP) at Keylong on 12 October 2026.
Key facts
- Location: Keylong, Lahaul & Spiti district, Himachal Pradesh.
- It will be ICMR’s first dedicated centre for high-altitude medicine and public health research.
- Set up by: Indian Council of Medical Research, under the Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
- Partners: Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS), national research institutions and the Himachal Pradesh government.
- The ceremony is to include release of a commemorative special postal cover and saplings planted under the Green ICMR Campus Initiative.
Research focus
| Area | Examples |
|---|---|
| Clinical and physiological | High-altitude physiology and acclimatisation, mountain medicine, disaster medicine |
| Disease and population health | Climate-sensitive and emerging diseases, infectious and non-communicable diseases, maternal and child health, nutrition, mental health |
| Technology | Digital health, telemedicine, drone-based healthcare logistics, real-time disease surveillance |
About ICMR
The Indian Council of Medical Research works under the Department of Health Research. Dr. Rajiv Bahl is Secretary, DHR and Director General, ICMR. The new centre aims to boost multidisciplinary research and capacity building for high-altitude and climate-sensitive regions.
Exam angle
- ICMR-CHAMP: Centre for High Altitude Medicine and Public Health Research at Keylong.
- Keylong is in the Lahaul & Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh.
- Key partner: Armed Forces Medical Services.