Discovery research aimed at finding novel interventions (basic research) and validation in in-vivo models. If there is proof of concept of a biomarker which is to be taken for commercialization, is an example of such a study. Projects can focus on diagnostics, devices, therapeutics or vaccines and may include phytopharmaceuticals and traditional medicines and genomic methods/algorithms/tools for personalized medicine etc.

Development research aimed at developing interventions for screening, diagnosis, prevention, treatment of diseases/conditions or make existing interventions simpler, safer, more efficacious, or more affordable. Examples of such research includes development of Point of care tests, molecular diagnostic tests, medical devices, animal models for diseases appropriate dosage and formulations, artificial intelligence and machine learning predictive tools/models to solve health problems, phase-1and phase 2/3 (or equivalent phase) clinical trials of vaccine and therapeutics etc.

Delivery research or implementation research aimed at learning how to overcome barriers in delivering effective interventions to the people who need them. This will include health system-based interventions to increase access, and to successfully implement national health programme or schemes, reducing inequity and improving quality of health care. Some examples include learning how to achieve single digit neonatal mortality rate in a district, how to integrate newer technological interventions into primary health care system to improve health and wellbeing of the population, how to optimize functioning of Ayushman Arogya Mandir (Health & Wellness centers) or how we can reduce treatment gaps for mental health conditions.