Full Form of ICMR

Updated February 13, 2023

ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research)

The full form of ICMR is the Indian Council of Medical Research. It is one of the oldest and largest medical research organizations worldwide. The Indian government established it to plan, coordinate, and advance biomedical research. To provide medical students the chance to become familiar with research methodology while directed by their seniors on the ongoing research programs, ICMR launches many short team fellowship opportunities. The certificate obtained through the fellowship programs helps students get better employment, internships, and the opportunity to apply directly to ICMR. This article contains all the essential details on ICMR, from its history to its fascinating facts.

(Image Credit: ICMR)

Establishment of ICMR

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) was first established in 1911 and was previously known as the Indian Research Fund Association (IRFA). The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Department of Health Research partner with the Government of India in funding the ICMR.

The primary goal of the ICMR is to support and finance national medical research. To research diseases like tuberculosis, cholera, leprosy, malaria, AIDS, kale-azar, nutrition, vector control, reproduction, food and drug toxicology, medical statistics, oncology, immune-hematology, etc., the ICMR has established 26 national institutes. In addition to focusing on local health issues, the six regional medical research centers of the ICMR seek to develop or enhance research capacities across the nation’s many regions.

Governing Body of ICMR

The ICMR’s governing body is under the direction of the Health Minister of India. ICMR receives technical and scientific support from a Scientific Advisory Board of respected experts in numerous biomedical areas.

Here are some of the activities done by the general governing body of ICMR.

• Various Steering Committees, Scientific Advisory Committees, Scientific Advisory Groups, Expert Groups, etc., assist the Board by assessing and managing Council’s numerous research projects.
• The Council carries out research both inside and outside of institutions. Over time, the Council has strengthened the foundation and procedures for extramural research.
• The Council promotes research in the field of biomedical science within and beyond institutions around the country. Over time, the Council has expanded both the theoretical underpinnings and the methodologies of extramural research.
• It comprises 30 research institutes/centers of the Council. These national institutes have a mission to conduct intramural research.

Function of ICMR

The ICMR’s responsibility is to create, manage, and exchange new knowledge. It also focuses on studying the health problems the vulnerable and underprivileged face and minority groups in society suffer. Utilize and advance the application of modern biological methods to address national health concerns.

Here are some functions of ICMR:

• ICMR provides funds to enhance biomedical and health research.
• ICMR supports proposals in fundamental/strategic research, development and evaluation tool, and clinical and operational research.
• Additionally, it offers to fund the researchers working for universities, medical schools, post-graduate institutes, and reputable nongovernmental organizations engaged in research and development.
• The International Council for Medical Research (ICMR) also runs an international fellowship program for the training and research of biomedical experts in other nations and provides chances for foreign scholars to visit and exchange experiences.

Activities of ICMR

As a knowledge-generating organization, the ICMR has made exceptional contributions to the study of numerous diseases of national concern, including malaria, Japanese encephalitis, AIDS, and tuberculosis. It has also contributed to the fields of nutrition, reproduction, and maternal and child health. They also engage in the additional activities described below.

• Providing National Health Programs like National Malaria Eradication Programme, National Disease Control Programme, National ADIS Control Programme, National Tuberculosis Programme, and many more.
• Using numerous programs, ICMR promotes the growth of human resources in carrying out research in biomedical science. The programs include Research Fellowship, Short-Term Visit Fellowship, and several training and workshop programs.
• The ICMR also grants schemes and scholarships to promote good quality research in medical colleges through students pursuing post-graduate courses and improve visibility and accessibility for their research work.

Achievements of ICMR

After having an idea about the full form of ICMR and other related information about it, let us look at the significant achievements of the ICMR over the last three years:

• The National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research has ranked the seventh smokeless tobacco knowledge hub in the world by the WHO-FCTC (Framework Convention on Tobacco Control)
• It published the first comprehensive estimate of illness burden in India in 2017.
• Zika, Nipah, and the canine distemper virus all were successfully contained in 2018.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) and ten nations joined hands with ICMR to start “RESEARCH” in 2019.
• Covid Vaccine trials, manufacturing, and testing of Covid-19 were all possible with the help of ICMR.

Interesting Facts about ICMR

Here are some facts about the ICMR from the past few years.

• The ICMR carried out the first-ever national TB survey in 1955.
• ICMR popularised the home-based management of tuberculosis. It proved that TB home-based treatment was as effective as hospital-based treatment in 1959.
• The Indian Parliament approved a bill banning electronic cigarettes. E-cigarettes were the subject of a report on evidence from ICMR in 2019.
• A platform called the India-Africa Health Sciences Collaborative Platform (IAHSP) was first established to advance health research between India and Africa.

Conclusion

Mentioned above are a few noteworthy and fascinating facts regarding the ICMR. It is the most excellent option if you want to begin your medical career with ICMR. This post also offers information on several fellowship programs and schemes to help you launch your career and use their offerings. Hope this article has helped you understand the full form of ICMR and its various facts.