The Indian Council of Medical Research or ICMR is the premier Indian body responsible for coordination, formulation and promotion of every kind of biomedical research. It is one of the oldest bodies in the world, conducting medical research. The ICMR has always been responsible for answering the growing demands of scientific pursuits in biomedical research and also finding the solutions to the health problems of the country in a practical and affordable manner.
Starting the journey in the year 1949, ICMR started its journey as IRFA. It is funded by the Government of India, under the Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The body basically works for promoting the health priorities of the country like controlling and managing communicable diseases, controlling fertility, looking after maternity and child health, controlling nutritional disorders and much more. Some other functions, it relentlessly works for are working for environmental and occupational health problems, research on diseases like cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, blindness, metabolic and haematological disorders etc. The Council is also responsible for promoting every kind of biomedical research in the country through extramural as well as intramural research. The base for the extramural research and it’s strategies are looked after by the Council.
One of the most beautiful qualities of true friendship is to understand and to be understood. - Lucius Annaeus Seneca