Indian Council of Medical Research/ICMR
⦿ Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is India’ supreme body to formulate, coordinate and promote biomedical research.
⦿ It was formed in 1911 when it was known as Indian Research Fund Association (IRFA). In 1949, IRFA was renamed ICMR.
⦿ India’s first indigenous COVID-19 vaccine named ‘Covaxin’ has been developed and manufactured by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with ICMR.
⦿ It comes under the Department of Health Services (DHS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW).
⦿ The headquarters of ICMR is in New Delhi.
⦿ ICMR hosts Clinical Trials Registry – India (CTRI). It was established on 20th July 2007
⦿ It has been publishing the Indian Journal of Medical Research (IJMR) since 1913.
⦿ ICMR’s National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) was established in 1918 as ‘Beri Beri Enquiry’ at the Pasteur Institute, Coonoor, Tamil Nadu.
⦿ Union Health Minister of India presides over the governing body of ICMR.
⦿ There are 27 institutes/regional medical research centres under ICMR.
⦿ ICMR started its research on indigenous drugs in 1919
⦿ In 1937, ICMR published ‘Nutritive Value of Indian Foods and Planning of Satisfactory Diets’ for the first time in the country
⦿ In 1949, ICMR initiated the National Programme for the control of Filariasis.
⦿ In 1955, the first nationwide tuberculosis survey was conducted by ICMR
⦿ ICMR has been conducting annual rounds of vaccination in the region since 1990.
⦿ ICMR made home-based treatment of Tuberculosis known worldwide. In 1959, it demonstrated the success of TB home-based treatment which is as good as hospital-based treatment
⦿ In 2013, it launched a vaccine against Japanese encephalitis, “JENVAC.”
⦿ In 2018, Zika, Nipah and Canine Distemper Virus were successfully contained.
⦿ In 2019, ICMR partnered with the World Health Organization (WHO) and 10 nations to launch ‘RESEARCH’.
⦿ Also in 2019, IMCR launched an initiative to fast track the elimination of Malaria, called ‘MERA’.
⦿ In September 2019, The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Bill was passed by the Indian Parliament. ICMR had provided an evidence report against e-cigarettes.
⦿ To promote health research between India and Africa, India-Africa Health Sciences Collaborative Platform (IAHSP)) was launched.
Imp. for IAS/IFoS Prelims, AC(CAPF) & and CDS(IMA,OTA)Exam
