The National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (NIRT) is an internationally recognized institution for Tuberculosis (TB) research. It is a Supranational Reference Laboratory and a WHO Collaborating Centre for TB Research and Training. Recently, an International Centre for Excellence in Research (ICER) in collaboration with NIH was established at the Centre. The NIRT is equipped with modern equipments such as a auto analyser for performing biochemical tests, a Titretek muti-scanner for immunological tests, Flow cytometry for measuring CD4/CD8 cells, Cobas amplicor HIV-1 monitor, DNA sequencer, Real time PCR, HPLC and LCMS, digital X-ray machine, BSL-2 facility, Confocal microscope etc. The NIRT continues the fight against tuberculosis continuously and efforts are being made to throw light on the changing principles of chemotherapy and allied aspects of tuberculosis such as immunology.

• 1. Publications: Scholarly articles (1668), Annual Reports (32), TB Alert (141 volumes), HIV Monitor (36 volumes), News Bulletin (27), MDP_Genesis & Achievements-A Monograph -2014, dedicated to tuberculosis research 1956-2010, Booklet on Prof. Wallace Fox and Booklet on Dr. V. Kumaraswami. 2. The centre has conducted more than 50 randomized controlled trials to develop better regimes for the treatment of pulmonary and extra pulmonary TB. 3. Revolutionized domiciliary treatment of TB. 4. Directly observed treatment short course (DOTS) was first tested at NIRT. 5. Trained over 5000 RNTCP personals during the last decade. 6. Published over 1100 research articles. 7. Conducted the largest BCG vaccine trial ever (Chengleput trial) and showed that BCG did not protect against adult forms of TB. 8. Demonstrated that the DOTS strategy reduces prevalence of TB in the community. 9. Short course chemotherapy (SCC)-NIRT has contributed to the shortening TB treatment from 24 months to 03 months.