The Indian Council of Medical Research is abbreviated as ICMR. It was founded in New Delhi and is India’s premier body for all types of formulation, coordination, and promotion of research happening in the area of biomedical. It is one of the oldest research and development organizations in the entire World. In fact, it has good recognition even on remote bases as well as international bases. The ICMR has always sought to meet the expanding needs of biomedical scientific discoveries.
It is aware of all the increasing health problems in India and strives to find answers for all of them. As well as addressing the rising concern for medical advances, this document aims to address the rising concern for scientific advancement in the nation. The ICMR has gone a long way from its days as the IRFA, but the Council is aware that it still has a long way to go in terms of scientific accomplishments and health goals.
Background configuration of ICMR
The Indian Research Fund Association (IRFA), the highest organization dealing in the field of biomedical research, was initially addressed as the Indian Research Fund Association (IRFA) around the early days of 1911. Those days, they were primarily concerned with supporting various types of scientific activity. After the independence of India, there were several major modifications in the county’s demographics. This IRFA noticed a significant change as well. It was renamed the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in 1949, with a much broader scope of activities.
Major functions of ICMR
On a national basis, the ICMR contains 26 institutes that focus on different aspects of the medical sector, such as leprosy research. Tuberculosis and cholera. It has six regional research centres for AIDS, malaria, and other diseases. They address themselves to solve all the regional problems and improve the country’s demographic fundamentals. In this approach, they are attempting to enhance the overall health of the community through improved research-based solutions. They seek to improve or create research capacity in various geographic locations of the country.
They are carrying out quite note-worthy works in the field of research efforts. Control and management of communicable diseases, fertility control, maternal and child health, control of nutritional disorders, development of alternative strategies for health care Providing environmental and occupational health services, containing them within safe limits; researching major non-communicable diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, blindness, diabetes, and others (including other remedies). All of these initiatives are being made in order to minimize the overall illness load and increase population health and well-being.
Other activities of ICMR
One of the major activities of the ICMR is the promotion of extramural research through the establishment of Centres for Advanced Research in various research areas based on existing expertise and infrastructure in selected departments of Medical Colleges, Universities, and other non-ICMR Research Institutes. Aside from that, the ICMR finances task force studies that emphasize a time-bound, goal-oriented approach with clearly stated aims, precise time limits, standardized and uniform techniques, and, in many cases, a multicentre structure. Open-ended research is carried out on the basis of grant-in-aid proposals submitted from scientists in non-ICMR Research Institutes, Medical Colleges, and Universities situated throughout the nation. Collaborative research initiatives with other institutes, such as the one with the Institute of Pathology in Delhi, and the NCRM, are also carried out.
Major links to the health workforce crisis
In addition to research activities, the ICMR promotes human resource development in biomedical research by offering research scholarships, short-term visiting fellowships, short-term research studentships, and a variety of training programs and workshops offered by ICMR Institutes and Headquarters.
Names of institutes which are coming under ICMR
- ICMR National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (NCDIR), Bengaluru
- ICMR National Institute for Research in Environmental Health (NIREH), Bhopal
- ICMR National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (NICPR), Noida
- ICMR National Institute of Malaria Research (NIMR), Delhi
- ICMR National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE), Chennai
- ICMR National Institute of Immunohematology (NIIH), Mumbai, etc.
- ICMR National Institute for Implementation Research on Non-Communicable Diseases, Jodhpur
- ICMR National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (NIRT), Chennai
- ICMR National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health (NIRRCH), Mumbai
Conclusion
Taking everything into account, it can be stated that the correspondence and importance of ICMR in the biomedical research context is significant. The ICMR is presently supported by the Government of India via the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and is capable of providing efficient development of the medical industry.