India Hub
Improving surgical outcomes through collaborative research
NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Global Surgery @India Hub
The NIHR GSU hub in India is based at Christian Medical College & Hospital, a 125 year old institute in Ludhiana Punjab.
The India hub is situated in Ludhiana Punjab and is responsible for conducting research projects with its focus areas being surgical site infection & cancer. Beyond that the hub has been involved in diverse areas of surgical research including health economics, rural surgery, tuberculosis etc.
The hub has started developing India centric research projects for the for possible collaboration with other hub countries and beyond. These new studies are being developed from the GlobalSurg India Data Centre at Ludhiana. The data centre is also involved in many aspects of training and education in Global Surgery research and service delivery.
The India team is now preparing to role out its rural based Community Engagement Initiative.
An exciting prospect of the India hub is now the development of a Rural Surgery Research hub which will be based at a remote hospital which will give an impetus to rural surgery research.
The India hub leads and coordinates research at 101 Indian hospitals which include clinical trials at 25 hospitals and cohort studies at 76 hospitals across India. Our partner hospitals include large urban hospitals and teaching institutions as well as smaller remote hospitals giving an accurate representation of the population case mix in India.
The overwhelming enthusiasm amongst Indian surgeons and increasing number of spoke hospitals has necessitated opening two sub hubs in the Southern and Eastern parts of the country at:
- Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, South India
- Tata Medical Centre, Kolkata, Bengal, East India

Dr Dhruva Ghosh
Hub Director

Dr Kavita Bhatti
Deputy Hub Director

Dr Parvez Haque
Deputy Hub Director

Monika
Staff Nurse

Naveen James
Research Nurse

Mr Alisha Bhatt
Research Nurse

Dr Anil Luther
Prinicipal Investigator (Cheetah)

Dr Sreejth
Prinicipal Investigator (Eagle)

Dr Ritu Mahajan
Sr Project Manager/ Ludhiana Hub CEI Lead

Atul Suroy
Hub Manager

Dr Amit Mahajan
Local Investigator

Jyoti
Data Manager

Dr Deepak Singh
Country CEI Lead
NIHR Global Surgery Unit International Hubs & Centres
Collaborating India Spoke Hospitals
Institute Name | City | State |
Christian Medical College | Vellore | Tamil Nadu |
Lady Willingdon Hospital | Manali | Himachal Pradesh |
Madhipura Christian Hospital | Madhipura | Bihar |
Chinchpada Christian Hospital | Chinchpada | Maharashtra |
Padhar Hospital | Betul | Madhya Pradesh |
Government Medical College & Rajendra Hospital | Patiala | Punjab |
St Stephens Hospital | New Delhi | Delhi |
Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER) | Chandigarh | |
Makunda Christian Leprosy & General Hospital | Makunda | Assam |
Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital | New Delhi | Delhi |
Christian Hospital Herbertpur | Herbertpur | Uttarakhand |
Kasturba Medical College | Manipal | Karnataka |
Baptist Hospital Tezpur | Tezpur | Assam |
Tata Medical Centre | Kolkata | West Bengal |
Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) | Srinagar | Jammu & Kashmir |
Government Medical College & Hospital | Chandigarh | |
All India Institute of Medical Sciences | Rishikesh | Uttarakhand |
All India Institute of Medical Sciences | Jodhpur | Rajasthan |
Kalpana Chawla Govt Medical College | Karnal | Haryana |
King George’s Medical University | Lucknow | Uttar Pradesh |
Tata Memorial Hospital | Mumbai | Maharashtra |
Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences | Kochi | Kerala |
All India Institute of Medical Sciences | Bhubhaneshwar | Odisha |
Homi Bhabha Cancer Research Hospital & Research Centre | Sangrur | Punjab |
Maulana Azad Medical College | New Delhi | Delhi |
Clinical trials at the India Hub:
FALCON was the first randomised control trial in which India recruited 800 patients. 9 hospitals participated in this study which included remote rural hospitals.
CHEETAH closed in India, with 21 hospitals participated and recruited 4000 patients.
Sub Studies within trials (Falcon & Cheetah) like TALON where video follow-ups were being validated and a total of 556 patients were recruited.
KIWI looking at the health resource costs of wound management and captured 322 patient records.
FEATHER was our qualitative research looking at barriers in follow for surgical patients.
CROCODILE was an India based study focusing on capturing Catastrophic Expenditure and barriers to referral pathways in patients suffering from Colon Cancers. This study is now been completed and may be a template of further studies on catastrophic expenditure in other cancers.
Malnutrition is a major public health issue in LMICs and is the subject of a United Nations 2025 Sustainable Development Goal.
The CRANE WP2 study aimed to assess nutritional status of patients undergoing cancer surgery in low- and middle-income countries.
The India hub studied Clinical Patterns and Treatment Outcomes in children with Abdominal Tuberculosis. The study is now in the process of preparing three papers on clinical aspects, community engagement and health economics. Our papers on clinical aspects and community engagement are to be presented at the British Association of Pediatric Surgeons Congress and the World Congress of Pediatric Surgery respectively.
The India hub at Ludhiana collaborated with the Global Surg team in the Philippines to work on STARFISH, a pump-priming study looking at the levels of stoma care and its perceptions amongst patients, caregivers and doctors.
PENGUIN is a perioperative Randomized Controlled Trial, which is a unique collaboration of anesthetists and surgeons working towards the reduction of post operative Pneumonia and Surgical Site Infections. Penguin is ongoing in 18 participating hospitals in India. This trial has opened up perioperative research at the India hub.
India centres are also participating in EAGLE which focuses on a quality improvement intervention to reduce anastomotic leak following right colectomy and ileocecal resection. India, presently has the largest number of participants outside of Europe
Cohort Studies:
- GlobalSurg – CovidSurg Week: Determining the optimal timing for surgery following SARS-CoV-2 infection
- Outcomes of Elective Cancer Surgery During The Covid-19 Pandemic Crisis: An International Multicentre, Observational Cohort Study (CovidSurg – Cancer)
- CovidSurg 3 study assessing outcomes of surgery in Covid-19 Infection
Community Engagement Initiative
Community Engagement and Involvement is a way of working with local communities, to collaborate in identifying research priorities, planning implementation strategies as well as dissemination of research outcomes.
The India hub has done some initial ground work on developing CEI through their pump priming study on tuberculosis.The framework of CEI in India has been developed and is now divided into rural and urban CEI setups.
The CEI network will be led in India by Dr Deepak Singh and the co-lead will be Dr Ritu Jain. Already a lot of ground work in meeting healthcare workers, community leaders and patient representatives have been involved in developing this exciting project.
Future Projects and Directions:
CRANE Feasibility Study
A Nutritional Feasibility Study to develop an affordable and perioperative oral nutritional intervention in patients undergoing elective surgery in India. This study will work towards developing the main CRANE trial.
FOXTROT India
Improving cancer care in the global south has led us to develop work on Foxtrot India, a Pilot Randomised Trial Evaluating Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Older and/or frail patients with locally advanced but operable colon cancer leading on from the FOXTROT stable of trials.
GIRAFFE
GIRAFFE will involve using artificial intelligence and adaptive learning to instil behavioural change in post-operative care in surgical teams which will then be validated by a randomized trial.
PROTECTSurg
ProtectSurg is the next perioperative care randomized trial of GlobalSurg which aims at testing whether Nitric Oxide nebulization decrease post-operative respiratory complications in major surgery. The India hub is presently applying for necessary permissions to conduct this trial
Indian Surgical Outcomes Study
Taking a leaf out of the African Surgical Outcomes Study, the India hub is planning a similar Indian Surgical Outcomes Study which will hopefully help in planning policy and guidelines to give Access to safe surgery which we feel is a basic human right.
Presently there is lack of surgical outcomes study in India or South Asia.
India Sub Hubs
In India our thrust in the next few years will be branching into Community Engagement, Policy Documents, Health Economics and Education and Training, Sub Hubs are in the process of being established to expand the Global Surgery Research Collaborative (GSU) in India. The three Sub Hubs in collaboration with the Hub will be a platform for GSU India to conduct surgical research studies across more regions of the country and South Asia as well as improvements in quality assurance in research.
Data Analysis Lab
A data analysis lab has been set up in CMC Ludhiana where we focus to develop locally relevant research projects as well as encourage surgical research and training for medical students, surgical registrars, surgical consultants and research personnel. The research and training will be led by the India hub and medical education consultants. Training modules on research, data collection and management will be developed here
Rural Surgery Research Network
GlobalSurg along with the India hub is developing Rural Surgery Research Network which will function across all our hubs to conduct rural surgical research. This network will be led by Dr Philip Alexander at the Lady Willingdon Hospital Manali with its administrative and support areas being provided by the India Hub.
A Rural Surgery fellow position has also been established who will be working alongside the team from Birmingham.
Surgical Nurses Research Network
Nurses are an integral part of a surgical team and without better surgical nursing care there is little hope of improving surgical outcomes. The India hub is spearheading the development of a surgical nurse’s research network as part of Global Surg. This network is envisaged to conduct independent surgical nursing research aimed at improving care as well as providing training in research to nurses across our network.
Spoke Hospitals In India
Christian Medical College & Hospital
Ludhiana Punjab Parvez David Haque pdhaque@gmail.com |
Christian Medical College
Vellore Tamil Nadu Rohin Mittal |
Lady Willigndon Hospital
Manali Himachal Pradesh Philip Alexander |
Madhipura Christian Hospital
Patna Bihar Arpit Mathew |
Chinchpada Christian Hospital
Chinchpada Maharasthra Deepak Samson |
Padhar Hospital
Padhar Madhya Pradesh Ashish Choudhrie |
c
Patiala Punjab Ashwani Kumar |
St Stephens Hospital
Delhi Delhi Subrat Raul |
Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research
Chandigarh Chandigarh Nitin Peter |
Makunda Christian Leprosy & General Hospital
Makunda Assam Moloti Kichu |
Goverment Medical College & Hospital
Chandigarh Chandigarh Ak Attri |
All India Institute of Medical Sciences
Rishikesh Uttrakhand Rajkumar HS |
All India Institute of Medical Sciences
Jodhpur Rajasthan Sanjeev Mishra |
Kalpana Chawla Govt Medical College, Karnal
Karnal Haryana Gourav Thami |
King Geroge’s Medical University, Lucknow
Lucknow UP Shivrajan |
Baptist Hospital Tezpur
Tezpur Assam Sanish Philip |
Tata Medical Centre
Kolkata West Bengal Bipradas Roy |
Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS)
Srinagar Jammu & Kashmir Asif Mehraj |
Kasturba Medical College
Manipal Karnataka Vijay Kumar |
Christian Hospital Herbertpur
Dehradun Uttrakhand Viju John |
All India Institute of Medical Sciences
Bhubhneshwar Odisha Dr Madhabananda Kar |
Homi Bhabha Cancer Research Hospital & Research Center
Sangrur Punjab Dr Sophia Jaswal |
Maulana Azad Medical College
New Delhi New Delhi Dr Lovenish Bains |
Government Medical College
Trivandrum Karnataka Dr Yadev |
Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences
Kochi Kerela Dr Anupama |
Nair Hospital
Mumbai Maharashtra Dr Charu |
Jawaharlal Institute Of Postgraduate Medical Education And Research
Pudducherry Puducherry Kalayrasan R |
Apollo Hospital
Mumbai Maharasthra Rahul Ghodke |
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Government Medical College
Jabalpur MP Sanjay Yadav |
Madras Medical College
Chennai TN Sabu |
Jubilee Mission Medical College
Thrissur Kerela Alfie Kavalkat |
KVG Medical College & Hospital
Sullia Karnataka |
Government Medical College
Srinagar JK Arshad Rashid |
All India Institute Of Medical Sciences
Bhopal MP Vaibhav Jain |
Dr. Rela Institute & Medical Centre
Chennai TN Ashwin RamMohan |
Max Institute Of Cancer Care
Delhi Delhi Sanjeev Kumar |
Zydus Hospital
Ahmedabad Gujarat Dhaivat Vaishnav |
All India Institute Of Medical Sciences
Raipur Chattisgarh Habib Karim |
Kovai Medical Centre & Hospital
Coimbatore TN Anbu Subbian |
Aster RV Hospital
Bangalore Karnataka Dhananjaya I Bhat |
Jupiter Hospital
Thane Maharashtra Phadnis |
Yenepoya Medical College Hospital
Mangalore Karnataka Anjum Ifthikar |
Shree Vighnaharta Superspeciality Hospital
Dhule Maharashtra Ammanya |
Fortis Hospital Mulund
Mumbai Maharashtra Mahesh |
All India Institute Of Medical Sciences
New Delhi Delhi Shilpa |
Government Hospital
Velayuthampalayam Tamil Nadu Satish Muthu |
Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital
New Delhi Delhi Rohit Bhardwaj
|
Artemis Hospital
Gurugram Haryana Monish Raut |
Sir Gangaram Hospital
New Delhi Delhi Arun Maheshwari |
Government Dental College and Hospital
Hyderabad Telangana Nissi Evelyn |
Mazumdar Shaw Cancer Centre Narayana Health
Bengaluru Karnataka Vijay Pillai |
Indian Spinal Injuries Centre
New Delhi Delhi H S Chhabra |
Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital
Mumbai Maharashtra T B Yuvaraja |
Government Gousia Hospital
Srinagar JK Imtaz Wani |
Institute Of Liver and Biliary Sciences
New Delhi Delhi Sindwani |
Gandhi Medical College
Bhopal MP Nitu Mishra |
Sujatha Hospital
Cuddalore TN Sujatha Sekhar |
BYL Nair Hospital
Mumbai Maharashtra Ashni Dharia |
Lilavati Hospital And Research Centre
Mumbai Maharashtra Deo Sharma |
Osmania General Hospital
Hyderabad Telangana Srinivas |
Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences & Research
New Delhi Delhi Tajamul |
Mahatma Gandhi Cancer Hospital And Research Institute
Vishakapatnam AP Chandu |
Blue Venus Plastic And Cosmetic Surgery Clinic
Raipur Chhattisgarh Prathma |
Victoria Hospital
Bangalore Karnataka Malli |
Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences
Lucknow UP Basant |
Rainbow Children’s Hospital
Hyderabad Telengana Lavanya Kannaiyan |
Medical College
Kolkata WB Suvendu Maji |
Bengal Cancer Foundation
Purba Bardhaman WB Suvendu Maji |
Santokh Ba Durlabhji Memorial Hospital
Jaipur Rajasthan Prachi |
Lokmanya Hospital for Special Surgery
Pune Maharashtra Vivek Sodhai |
Cancer Institute (WIA) Regional Cancer Centre
Chennai TN Kalpna |
Gian Sagar Medical College & Hospital
Patiala Punjab Nishilp |
Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital
Sawangi Maharashtra C Mahakalkar |
DY Patil Hospital
Mumbai Maharashtra Sachin Kale |
Shri Krishna Hospital and Pramukhswami Medical College
Anand Gujrat Hardil Majumdar |
Shree Krishna Hospital
Karamsad Gujrat Tanishq Sharma |
Soni Hospital
Nagpur Maharashtra Anushri |
Sri Shankara Cancer Hospital and Research Centre
Bengaluru Karnataka Kaviajain |
Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences
Bengaluru Karnataka Sumit Thakar |
Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Medical Sciences & Research
Ambala Haryana Navneet Chaudhary |
Kerudi Cancer Hospital
Bagalkot Karnataka Irappa Madabhavi |
Topiwala National Medical College
Mumbai Maharashtra Aseem Parekh |
Synergy Institute of Medical Sciences
Dehra Dun Uttarakhand Rahul Gupta |
Institute Of Neurosciences
Kolkata WB Indranil Ghosh |
Cachar Cancer Hospital & Research Centre
Cachar Assam Ravi Kannan |
Government Medical College
Orai UP |
Basavatarakam Indo American Cancer Hospital & Research Institute
Hyderabad Telangana Dr T. Subramanyeshwar Rao |
Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Sawangi (Meghe)
Wardha Maharashtra Dr Chandrashekhar Mahakalkar |
Paalana Institute of Medical Sciences
Palakkad Kerela Dr Vijay Ramachandran |
Medical College and SSG Hospital
Vadodara Gujarat Dr Tapen Patel |
Army Research and Referral Hospital
New Delhi New Delhi Dr Sumesh Kaistha |
Kidwai memorial Institute of oncology
Bengaluru karnataka Dr Ramchandra pallavi |
Cancer Institute Adyar
Chennai Tamil Nadu Dr Ramakrishnan |
Thanjavur Medical College and Hospital
Thanjavur Tamil Nadu Polamreddy Bala Mahesh |
Dyanad Medical College
Ludhiana Punjab Jaspal Singh |
Goa Medical College
Bambolin Goa Jude Rodriguse |
Bringing together surgeons, researchers and policy makers to set the local research agenda according to patient need in LMIC and ensuring all patients have the opportunity to take part in our research.