Championing Innovation Since 1911: Our History

History
of
ICMR

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IRFA (now ICMR)

 

Set up

Indian Research Fund Association (IRFA) is established by Sir Harcourt Butler on November 15.

1911

 

IJMR

 

starts

The Indian Journal of Medical
Research (IJMR) starts (now a leading peer-reviewed indexed journal of biomedical research).

1913

 

ICMR

 

NIn

The 'Beri-Beri Enquiry' under Sir Robert McCarrison is set up (now known as National Institute of Nutrition or NIN, Hyderabad).

Image of birth place of National Institute of Nutrition

Beri Beri Enquiry in Pasteur Institute, Coonoor, birth place of National Institute of Nutrition.

1918

 

research on

 

indigenous drugs

Research on indigenous drugs (under Col. R.N. Chopra at the Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine, Kolkata) initiated.

1919

 

malaria survey

 

of india

Central Malaria Organization known as "Malaria Survey of India" forms under the guidance of Lt. Col. S.R. Christophers with its first station set up in Karnal.

 

first

 

publication

First publication of "Records of Malaria Survey of India" (later renamed as Journal of Malaria Institute of India, then Indian Journal of Malariology, and now Journal of Vector Borne Diseases).

1927

 

hygiene and

 

public health centre

The Governing Body of IRFA sets up the Institute of Hygiene and Public Health at Kolkata.

1932

 

nutritive value

 

of indian food

The Nutritive Value of Indian Foods and Planning of Satisfactory Diets" is published for the first time for India.

1937

 

the first ever

 

biomedical Research fellowship

The first-ever biomedical research fellowship scheme is initiated by IRFA aimed at nurturing health research in India.

1941

 

transmission

 

cycle of Kala-azar

Transmission cycle of the parasite of Kala-azar is elucidated, which helps in prevention and control of the disease.

1942

 

recommended

 

dietary allowances

Recommended Dietary
Allowances (RDA) are made for the first time for the Indian context and are updated every 10 years.

Image of Diet Survey in Progress

Diet Survey in Progress

1944

 

Filariasis

 

Control

National Programme for the control of Filariasis in association with the Malaria Institute of India is initiated.

1949

 

Renaming of

 

IRfa AS ICMR

IRFA is renamed to the Indian Council of Medical Research.

Image of Delivery of DEC medicated salt by vendors to the community for filariasis control.

Delivery of DEC medicated salt by vendors to the community for filariasis control.

1949

 

ICMR

 

NIV

The Virus Research Centre is set up in Pune (now known as National Institute of Virology or NIV, Pune).

Image of Renaming of Rockefeller Centre to National Institute of Virology

Renaming of Rockefeller Centre to National Institute of Virology.

1951

 

bombay blood

 

group

A new blood group, the Bombay blood group is discovered by Dr. H.M. Bhatia and his team in Bombay which saves numerous lives.

1952

 

ICMR

 

Awards

The ICMR receives a grant from Col. Amir Chand for instituting a system that rewards research being conducted in Indian Medicine.

1953

 

ICMR

 

NIRRH

The Contraceptive Testing Unit and the Reproductive Physiology Unit is set up in Bombay (now known as National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health or NIRRH, Mumbai).

1954

 

TB

 

Survey

The ICMR organizes the first nation-wide tuberculosis survey.

1955

 

ICMR

 

NIRT

The Tuberculosis Chemotherapy Centre is set up in Madras (now known as National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis or NIRT, Chennai).

1956

 

kyasanur

 

forest disease

Kyasanur forest disease (commonly called Monkey Fever) is discovered in the Sagar-Soraba district of Karnataka.

Image of The Kyasanur Forest Fever virus: from discovery to creating vaccine.

The Kyasanur Forest Fever virus: from discovery to creating vaccine.

1957

 

ICMR

 

NIIH

The Blood Group Reference Centre is established at Bombay (now known as National Institute of Immunohaemotology or NIIH, Mumbai).

1957

 

home-based

 

treatment of TB

Demonstrated for the first time in the world that home-based treatment of TB is as successful as hospital- based treatment.

1959

 

ICMR

 

NARFBR

ICMR takes over the Laboratory of Animal Information Services Centre (LAISC)established in the campus of the Cancer Research Institute, Bombay, which then shifts to Hyderabad in 1976 and renamed as NCLAS in 1992 (now functioning as National Animal Resource Facility for Biomedical Research or NARFBR, Hyderabad since 2016).

1959

 

headquarters

 

office

The ICMR Headquarters office moves in its newly constructed building in Ansari Nagar, New Delhi.

1960

 

ICMR

 

NICED

The Cholera Research Centre is established at Calcutta (now known as National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED), Kolkata).

1962

 

directly observed

 

treatment, short course (DOTS)

First ever pioneering study demonstrated that a fully supervised twice weekly regimen of streptomycin and isoniazid was as effective as unsupervised daily administration of PAS and isoniazid, laying the foundation of Directly Observed Treatment, Short Course (DOTS).

Image of treatment, short course (DOTS)

DOTS

1964

 

ICMR

 

NIP

The Indian Registry of Pathology is set up at New Delhi (now known as National Institute of Pathology or NIP).

1965

 

ICMR

 

NIOH

Occupational Health Research Institute is set up at Ahmedabad (now known as National Institute of Occupational Health or NIOH).

1966

 

singh's

 

cell line

Cell culture from mosquito tissues is established (known as Singh's cell line and used all over the world in the study of arboviruses).

 

chandipura

 

virus

Chandipura Virus is discovered as a causal agent for human encephalitis.

Image of Chandipura Virus

Chandipura Virus

1967

 

iron-folate

 

supplement

Iron-folate supplement is recommended to pregnant women. (Later implemented in the national programme in 1970).

1968

 

protein

 

energy malnutrition

ICMR dispels the myth that protein deficiency is the main reason for malnutrition and highlights the calorie gap as the actual bottle neck in Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM).

1969

 

night

 

blindness

National Prophylaxis Programme against Nutritional Blindness due to Vitamin A Deficiency is initiated after a series of trials by ICMR.

 

Human Leukocyte

 

Antigen Department

Establishment of first Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) department in India to provide tissue typing facilities for renal transplantation facilities at Blood Group Research Centre (BGRC), Mumbai.

1970

 

home

 

available fluids

The demonstration of Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) to prevent mortality due to diarrhea is carried out. Home available fluids (HAF) such as Sherbat (salt, sugar, lemon, either singly or in combination) or tender coconut water and pressed rice water is found to be effective as well.

1971

 

National Nutrition

 

Monitoring Bureau

ICMR sets up a chain of Regional Centres of National Nutrition Monitoring Bureaus, in different parts of India.

1972

 

Goiter

 

 

ICMR demonstrates iodized salt controls endemic Goiter prevalence.

 

Ina

 

Antigen

The Ina blood group antigen was discovered by Dr. Badakere and his team at NIIH, and consequently, the Indian blood group system. Antibodies against this antigen carry clinical significance.

1973

 

ICMR

 

VCRC

The Vector Control Research Centre (VCRC) is established at Pondicherry.

1975

 

ICMR

 

NJILOMD

ICMR takes over the Central JALMA Institute for Leprosy at Agra, established by the Japanese Leprosy Mission for Asia- JALMA (now known as National JALMA Institute for Leprosy and Other Mycobacterial Diseases or NJILOMD, Agra).

 

ICMR

 

NIMS

Institute for Research in Medical Statistics (IRMS) is set up (now known as National Institute of Medical Statistics or NIMS, Delhi).

1976

 

ICMR

 

NIMR

The Malaria Research Centre is established at Delhi (now known as National Institute of Malaria Research or NIMR).

1977

 

ICMR

 

NICPR

The Cytology Research Centre is set up in New Delhi (now known as National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research or NICPR, Noida).

1979

 

Chingleput

 

Trial

'Chingleput Trial' (the largest ever-trial) demonstrates inefficiency of BCG vaccine in adults.

 

Hepatitis E

 

Trial

Human Hepatitis E Virus is discovered.

 

Ethics

 

Policy

Policy on ethical considerations involved in research on human subjects released.

1980

 

National Cancer

 

Registry Programme

The National Cancer Registry Project starts with the establishment of Population and Hospital based Cancer Registries.

1981

 

ICMR

 

RMRIMS

ICMR takes over the Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (RMRIMS) at Patna to research on vectorborne diseases especially Kala Azar.

 

ICMR

 

RMRC-B

Regional Medical Research Centre at Bhubaneswar (RMRC-B) is set up.

1981

 

ICMR

 

RMRC-NE

Regional Medical Research Centre at Dibrugarh (RMRC-NE) is set up.

1982

 

ICMR

 

RMRC-PB

Regional Medical Research Centre at Port Blair (RMRC-PB) is set up.

1983

 

first

 

genetic atlas

The first genetic atlas of Indian tribes is compiled.

1984

 

ICMR

 

NIRTH

Regional Medical Research Centre for Tribal Health at Jabalpur is set up (now known as National Institute of Research in Tribal Health OR NIRTH).

 

ICMR NIIRNCD

 

(FORMERLY DMRC)

Desert Medicine Research Centre at Jodhpur is set up (now known as National Institute of Implementation Research in Non- Communicable Diseases or NIIRNCD).

1984

 

Test

 

Tube Baby

ICMR partners in India's scientifically established test tube baby at IRR (now NIRRH), Mumbai.

Image of ICMR partners in India's scientifically established test tube baby at IRR (now NIRRH), Mumbai

Test tube baby, Harsha with her child.

1986

 

HIV Sero-

 

Surveillance

ICMR demonstrates the presence of HIV infection in India in 1980s and supports initiation of country-wide serosurveillance.

 

Brugia

 

Filariasis

Shertalai Project: Demonstrated control of Brugian filariasis through IDVC methods.

 

Malaria

 

Control

Demonstrated bioenvironmental control of Malaria.

1986

 

PG Course in

 

Medical Entomology

Initiated M.Sc. in Public Health Entomology – the only course of its kind offered in India.

1990

 

NARI

 

ICMR

National AIDS Research Institute (NARI) is established at Pune.

1992

 

New Phage

 

Typing Scheme

A new phage typing scheme for V. cholerae biotype El Tor strain is developed.

 

New Cholera

 

Strain

A new toxigenic strain of V. cholerae 0139 is detected and characterized.

 

Leptospirosis

 

 

Identified Andaman Fever as Leptospirosis, first reported In Andaman Islands among convicts during 1929.

1993

 

Salt

 

Fortification

Double fortification of cooking salt with iron and iodine is achieved.

1994

 

ICMR

 

NIE

National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE), Chennai is established.

1994

 

New

 

Leptospira Serogroup

Isolated and identified new serovar of new serogroup of Leptospira for first time causing pulmonary hemorrhages.

1996

 

kala azar

 

treatment

Miltefosine is validated as treatment for Kala Azar.

2002

 

polio

 

research

ICMR contributes significantly to Polio Research and Global Polio Eradication Program and helps in achieving Polio free status in India.

2003

 

Immune
chromatographic

 

dipstick kit

Supports development of Immune-chromatographic dipstick kit for the rapid diagnosis of cholera.

 

PPE for

 

tobacco harvesters

Personal protective equipment (PPE) for tobacco harvesters is produced. Seamless knitted nylon gloves are found to be most suitable, durable, and feasible for the workers.

2004

 

Indigenous
MAC-ELISA

 

testing kits

Indigenous development of MAC-ELISA kits against dengue, chikungunya and Japanese encephalitis viruses for diagnostic use in National Vector Borne Disease Control Program (NVBDCP) is carried out.

2004

 

Direct

 

Agglutination Test

Direct Agglutination Test (DAT) is established for early diagnosis of Kalazar.

 

Junior

 

Research Fellowship

ICMR Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) is initiated to support young scientists to pursue research.

2005

 

lymphatic

 

filariasis

Policy change in the national programme for Lymphatic Filariasis elimination to replace the single drug therapy with combination therapy.

 

Acute

 

Flaccid Paralysis

Identified acute flaccid paralysis for the first time that resembles Guillean-Barre syndrome - a complication of chikungunya, carrying implications for treatment.

2006

 

ICMR

 

NITM

Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC), Belgaum is set up (now known as National Institute of Traditional Medicine or NITM, Belagavi).

2006

 

DHR

 

 

Department of Health Research (DHR) is created with support from ICMR in September.

 

CTRI

 

 

Clinical Trial Registry of India CTRI (CTRI), a free and online public record system for registration of clinical trials being conducted in India is launched.

2007

 

school of
public health

 

Chennai

School of Public Health is established at National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai.

2008

 

ICMR

 

NIREH

National Institute for Research in Environmental Health (NIREH) is established at Bhopal.

2010

 

west nil

 

virus

Lineage 1 West Nile Virus (highly pathogenic lineage with outbreak potential in Western countries) is detected for the first time in India, in Kerala.

2011

 

ICMR

 

NCDIR

National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (NCDIR) is set up at Bangalore.

2011

 

Bhopal Memorial

 

Hospital

Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre, Bhopal is transferred to ICMR for providing clinical services to Bhopal Gas Tragedy victims.

 

Pathogen

 

Detection Kit

A new test for detection of pathogens in food is developed and transferred to industry.

2012

 

BSL 4 lab

 

 Image of The first high end biosafety level-IV laboratory (BSL)

The first high end biosafety level-IV laboratory (BSL) facility is established in Pune for epidemic preparedness and management.

 

MRU

 

ICMR initiates establishment of networks of Multi-Disciplinary Research Units (MRUs), Model Rural Health Research Units (MRHRUs), Viral Research & Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDLs).

2013

 

JENVAC

 

VACCINE

Indigenous vaccine 'JENVAC' for Japanese Encephalitis is launched.

 

AMR

 

Surveillance

Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network established.

2013

 

Vitamin A
and Iron

 

ESTIMATION KITS

Dried Blood Spot (DBS) – collection kit for sub-clinical deficiency of Vitamin A and an ELISA-based kit to estimate iron in the blood are launched.

2015

 

micronutrient
mix for

 

Anaemia

ICMR develops a micronutrient mix (containing seven micronutrients) to fight against anaemia.

 

TB

 

Consortium

India TB Research Consortium established.

2016

 

WHO-FCTC

 

Knowledge Hub on Smokeless tobacco

National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research becomes seventh knowledge hub of WHO-FCTC (Framework Convention on Tobacco Control), globally.

2016

 

Disease

 

Burden estimates

The India State Level Disease Burden Report is released which was the first comprehensive state wise disease burden estimation.

 

New

 

Diagnostic Kits

ICMR has launched three new diagnostic kits for the detection of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) Sheep and Goat, Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in Cattle, Japanese Encephalitis virus (JEV) from Mosquitos.

2017

 

occupational

 

safety

Personal cooling garments for workers operating in high temperatures are developed.

2017

 

Samrat Ashok

 

Tropical Disease research centre

Samrat Ashok Tropical Disease Research Centre is established at Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna.

 

ViraL outbreak

 

Containment

Successfully contained Zika, Nipah and Canine Distemper Virus.

2018

 

ICMR

 

RMRC-G

Regional Medical Research Centre Gorakhpur (RMRC-G) is setup by upgrading the NIV field unit established in 2008.

2018

 

research

 

pLATFORM

RESEARCH 'Regional Enabler for South East Asia Research Collaboration for Health' platform launched in partnership with WHO and 10 countries to combat emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases in SE Asia Region.

 

detection kit for

 

Nipah Virus

Point of Care diagnostic test for Nipah Virus is developed.

2019

 

mera

 

india

Launched Malaria Elimination Research Alliance (MERA) India to fast track malaria elimination.

 

E-cigarettes

 

Ban

E-cigarettes ban Bill passed based on evidence report by ICMR.

2019

 

Ethics

 

Guidelines

ICMR "National Ethical Guidelines in Biomedical and Health Research Involving Human Participants, 2017" became legally binding under New Drugs and Clinical Trial Rules, 2019.

 

Ethics

 

Registry

National Ethics Committee Registry for Biomedical and Health Research (NECRBHR) is set up also known as the NAITIK Portal.

2019

 

India Africa

 

Platform

Established India-Africa Health Sciences Collaborative Platform (IAHSP) to initiate and strengthen India-Africa strategic partnership in the areas of Health Research.

 

AMR

 

Hub

Antimicrobial Resistance Hub and National Repository of Antimicrobial Resistant Bacteria (NRAMRB) at ICMR-NICED is inaugurated in September in Kolkata.

2019

Brought out the special issue of IJMR titled "Gandhi and Health @150" to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

2019

 

COVID-19

 

Pandemic

SARS-CoV-2 is first reported in India by NIV Pune.

Isolated the virus.

Developed RT-PCR & ELISA for diagnosis.

Image of Laboratory Investigations in National Institute of Virology, Pune.

Laboratory Investigations in National Institute of Virology, Pune.

2020

Image of Transmission electron microscopy image of SARS-CoV-2.

Transmission electron microscopy image of SARS-CoV-2.

2020