[6] The founders of the institute are Tulsi Das, Santokh Singh Anand, Pran Nath Chuttani, B N Aikat, Sant Ram Dhall and Bala Krishna.

[8] PGIMER is involved in research for the rural and community related environment and health problems.

The focus of research has been on tackling diseases like diarrhea, tuberculosis, malaria, amoebiasis, systemic vasculitis, relapsing polychondritis, HIV, leprosy, hepatitis, anaemia, leukaemia, hypertension, atherosclerosis, thalassemia, dental caries, oral cancer, stone disease, cancer, and sexually transmitted infections.

Recently, some highly advanced bio techniques like ultracentrifugation, LC-MS, scanning electron microscopy and whole genome sequencer have been installed in the CSIC, research block B.

Admission to post doctoral and postgraduate courses conducted at PGIMER is made twice a year.

Clearance from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and National Medical Commission, New Delhi is required before the students are accepted.

[10][11][12] In August 2017, the INR 495 crore budget for setting up a similar second satellite center at Una, Himachal Pradesh was approved.