The AIIMS on Tuesday constituted a six-member committee to inquire into the deaths of 49 children during clinical trials in the past two years. The team is headed by Prof Madhuri Behari, Head of the Department (HoD) of Neurology. The other members are Dr Renu Saxena, HoD Hematology and member secretary, ethics committee, Prof Balram Bhargav, Department of Cardiology, Dr Y K Gupta, HoD Pharmacology, Dr S N Dwivedi, HoD Biostatics, and Dr D K Sharma, Medical Superintendent.

"The team has been directed to submit its report within seven days," said Shailesh Yadav, Deputy Director Administration, AIIMS.

While the premier institute maintained that the children did not die due to any new drug tried on them, "the report will make sure that nothing unforeseen happened during the trials," added a doctor.

Claiming that all checks and balances were maintained during the trials, HoD Paediatrics Dr V K Paul said all 49 children were mortally sick and died naturally, not due to any drugs used in the trials.

In reply to an RTI application, filed by Uday Foundation, an NGO, the AIIMS administration said as many as 49 kids had died during clinical trials of new medicines in the institute here since 2006.