Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi, the apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research, is one of the oldest medical research bodies in the world
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is the apex and premier medical research organization in the country which spearheads planning, formulation, coordination, implementation and promotion of biomedical research. It is one of the oldest medical research bodies in the world. In 1911, Government of India made a historic decision to establish Indian Research Fund Association (IRFA) with the specific objectives of sponsoring and coordinating medical research in the country. After Independence, in 1949, the IRFA was re-designated as the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) with considerably expansion in its functions and activities. The ICMR has a vision to translate research into action for improving the health of the population.
The Council's research priorities coincide with the National health priorities such as control and management of communicable diseases, fertility control, maternal and child health, control of nutritional disorders, developing alternative strategies for health care delivery, containment within safety limits of environmental and occupational health problems; research on major non-communicable diseases like cancer, cardiovascular diseases, blindness, diabetes and other metabolic and haematological disorders, mental health research and drug research (including traditional remedies). All the ICMR’s efforts are undertaken with a view to reduce the total burden of disease and to promote health and well-being of the population. The Council is involved in promotion of biomedical research in the country through intramural as well as extramural research.
The mandates of the Council are:
- Apex body in India for formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research
- Conduct, coordinate and implement medical research for the benefit of the society
- Translating medical innovations in to products/processes
- Introducing products/processes in to the public health system
- Generate, manage and disseminate new knowledge.
- Increase focus on research on the health problems of the vulnerable, the disadvantaged and marginalized section of the society.
- Harness and encourage the use of modern biology tools in addressing health concerns of the country.
- Encourage innovations and translation related to diagnostics, treatment, methods/ vaccines for prevention.
- Inculcate a culture of research in academia especially medical colleges and other health research institutions by strengthening infra-structure and human resource.
- Integrate research in different systems of medicine.
