INDIAN COUNCIL OF MEDICAL RESEARCH (ICMR)
As early as in 1911, the Government of India set up the
Indian Research Fund Association (IRFA) with the specific
objective of sponsoring and coordinating medical research in
the country. After independence, several important changes
were made in the organisation and the activities of the
IRFA. It was redesignated in 1949 as the Indian Council of
Medical Research (ICMR) with considerably expanded scope of
functions. The ICMR is funded by the Government of India
through the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
History of ICMR
The ICMR has always attempted to address itself to the
growing demands of scientific advances in biomedical
research on the one hand, and to the need of finding
practical solutions to the health problems of the country,
on the other. The ICMR has come a long way from the days
when it was known as the IRFA, but the Council is conscious
of the fact that it still has miles to go in pursuit of
scientific achievements as well as health targets.
IMPORTANT MILESTONES:
1911: First meeting of the Governing Body of the Indian
Research Fund : Association (IRFA) was held on November 15,
1911 (at the Plague Laboratory, Bombay, under the
Chairmanship of Sir Harcourt Butler). : Articles of the
Association were considered and a Scientific Advisory Board
was constituted at the same meeting.
1912 : At the 2nd meeting of the Governing Body, a historic
decision was taken to start a journal for Indian Medical
research.
1926: IRFA received the first munificient public
contribution of Rs.1 lakh from the Maharaja of Parlakimedi.
1949: IRFA was redesignated as the Indian Council of Medical
Research (with Dr. C.G. Pandit as its first Director).
1960: The ICMR Headquarters office moved in its newly
constructed building situated at Ansari Nagar.
1982: The Management Information System (MIS) of the ICMR
Headquarters was established, in collaboration with the WHO,
Geneva.
1983: Reviewing Committee of ICMR constituted in 1983,
brought out its Report in 1984.
1985-The Audio-visual Programme Unit of the ICMR
Headquarters was set up at Jamia Milia (which was shifted to
Malaria Research Centre in 1991).
1987-The National Science Day was celebrated for the first
time by the ICMR Headquarters and all its Institutes/Centres
in February 1987 through exhibitions, lectures,
demonstration campaigns etc. (This has now become an annual
event).
1991-80th Anniversary celebrations of ICMR were launched by
ICMR Headquarters and its permanent Institutes (in different
parts of India) on November 15, 1991.
1992
-As part of the 80th Anniversary celebrations of ICMR, the
tradition of arranging lectures/orations by eminent
scientists was revived during 1992. In this series, Dr.
Sarala K. Subba Rao, Deputy Director, Malaria Research
Centre; Dr. Abhay Bang, Society for Education, Action &
Research in Community Health, Gadhchiroli Maharashtra; and
Dr. P.N. Tandon, Bhatnagar Fellow, Department of
Neurosurgery, AIIMS, New Delhi, delivered orations/lectures
in February and May 1992 respectively.
-All major Research Institutes of ICMR in different parts of
India organized scientific activities like workshops, open
houses/ exhibitions etc. throughout the year as part of the
80th Anniversary of ICMR.
-For the first time, a health science symposium in Hindi
(swasthya vigyan sangoshthi)was organized by ICMR
Headquarters in September 1991 (as part of the Hindi week).
1994-Dr.G.V. Satyavati took over as the new Director-General
of ICMR in July 1994. She is the first woman scientist in
the country to head not only ICMR, but any Research agency
in independent India.
1995-ICMR took steps to establish Information &
Communication Networking system including provision of E-
mail facility for all the institutes of the Council.
1995-For the first time, ICMR took steps to formulate
guidelines for technology transfer through Sponsored
Research, Consultancy, Technical Services, etc. to be
undertaken by ICMR scientists in various Institutes/Centres.
-The 85th Anniversary celebrations of ICMR were launched in
November 1995, by organising year-long awareness programmes
regarding ICMR contributions in the field of Medical
Research, through ICMR institutes located in different parts
of India. Symposia/seminars on different health topics were
also organised during different months (from November 1995
to November 1996).
1996: The new (reconstituted) Scientific Advisory Board of
the ICMR met on January 30-31, 1996.
1997: In January 1997, the Governing Body of the ICMR
unanimously approved the proposals formulated by the Council
for undertaking Contract Research, Consultancy, Technical
Services, etc. The various laboratories and Institutes of
the Council have already initiated certain projects under
this scheme in collaboration with the State Governments,
industry, Public Sector Undertakings, etc.
1997: The ICMR received a generous donation of endowment
from His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al-Said, the Ruler
of Oman in April 1997. This endowment will be used to
strengthen national facilities in Epidemiology and Clinical
Pharmacology in the Council, including the creation of two
chairs (one each in these two important areas).
STRUCTURE OF ICMR:
Governing Body:
The Governing Body of the Council is presided over by the
Union Health Minister. It is assisted in scientific and
technical matters by a Scientific Advisory Board comprising
eminent experts in different biomedical disciplines. The
Board, in its turn, is assisted by a series of Scientific
Advisory Groups, Scientific Advidsory Committees, Expert
Groups, Task Forces, Steering Committees etc. which evaluate
and moniter different research activities of the Council
REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTRES:
1981-84: A chain of Regional Medical Research Centres was
set up : at Bhubaneswar (1981), Dibrugarh (1982), Port-Blair
(1983), Jabalpur (1984: for Triibal Health), Jodhpur (1984:
named as Desert Medicine Research Centre).
PRIORITIES&POLICIES :
The Council's research priorities coincide with the National
health priorities such as control and management of
communicable diseases, fertility control, maternal and child
health, control of nutritional disorders, developing
alternative strategies for health care delivery, containment
within safety limits of environmental and occupational
health problems; research on major non-communicable diseases
like cancer, cardiovascular diseases, blindness, diabetes
and other metabolic and haematological disorders; mental
health research and drug research (including traditional
remedies). All these efforts are undertaken with a view to
reduce the total burden of disease and to promote health and
well-being of the population.
The Council promotes biomedical research in the country
through intramural as well as extramural research. Over the
decades, the base of extramural research and also its
strategies have been expanded by the Council.
Intramural research is carried out currently through the
Council's (i)21 Permanent Research Institutes/Centres which
are mission-oriented national institutes located in
different parts of India and address themselves to research
on specific areas such as tuberculosis, leprosy, cholera and
diarrhoeal diseases, viral diseases including AIDS, malaria,
kala-azar, vector control,nutrition, food & drug toxicology,
reproduction, immunohaematology, oncology, medical
statistics, etc. and (ii) 6 Regional Medical Research
Centres which address regional health problems, and also aim
to strengthen or generate research capabilities in different
geographic areas of the country.
Extramural research is promoted by ICMR through (i) Setting
up Centres for Advanced Research in different research areas
around existing expertise and infrastructure in selected
departments of Medical Colleges, Universities and other non-
ICMR Research Institutes.(ii) Task force studies which
emphasise a time-bound, goal-oriented approach with clearly
defined targets, specific time frames, standardized and
uniform methodologies, and often a multicentric
structure.(iii) Open-ended research on the basis of
applications for grants-in-aid received from scientists in
non-ICMR Research Institutes, Medical colleges, Universities
etc. located in different parts of the country.
In addition to research activities, the ICMR encourages
human resource development in biomedical research through
(i) Research Fellowships (ii) Short-Term Visiting
Fellowships. (iii) Short-Term Research Studentships. (iv)
Various Training Programmes and Workshops conducted by ICMR
Institutes and Headquarters.
For retired medical scientists and teachers, the Council
offers the position of Emeritus Scientist to enable them to
continue or take up research on specific biomedical topics.
The Council also awards prizes to Indian scientists, in
recognition of significant contributions to biomedical
research. At present, the Council offers 38 awards, of which
11 are meant exclusively for young scientists (below 40
years).
PROCEDURES FOR RESEARCH ACTIVITIES:
Ad-hoc Research Schemes
Objective
In order to encourage individual initiatives in biomedical research
by scientists on subjects of their own interest, open-ended
research through ad-hoc research schemes is funded by the
Council. Scientists working in permanent positions, in non-ICMR
Institutions such as Medical Colleges, Universities, Laboratories
and other non-ICMR research institutes are eligible to apply to
the ICMR for financial assistance for carrying out individual
projects in their specific fields of interest.
Who can submit a proposal
Any scientist working in a permanent position in a Medical
College, Research Institute, or University, anywhere in the
country including Government, Semi-Government, Private or
registered bodies can apply for financial assistance for
biomedical research.
When and how to submit a proposal
Proposals are received throughout the year on the prescribed
format, which can be obtained on request from the Director-
General, ICMR. Thirty copies of the completed application are to
be submitted. All projects involving research on human beings
must be cleared by the Ethical Committee of the respective
institute.
Areas of research support Financial support is provided by
the Council in all areas related to health and biomedical
sciences. However, among the priority areas identified by
the ICMR, are the following Communicable diseases including
viral diseases, cholera and enteric diseases, tuberculosis,
leprosy, malaria, filariasis, kala-azar, vector control etc.
Reproductive health including fertility control.Maternal &
Child Health. Nutritional and major metabolic disorders.
Primary health care, alternative health care systems. Non-
communicable diseases including degenerative, mental,
cardiovascular, neurological, ophthalmic and haematological
disorders, oral health, cancer etc. Occupational and other
environment related health problems. Drug research including
medicinal plants and indigenous/or traditional systems of
medicine. Basic medical research in disciplines such as
anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, immunology, molecular
biology, genetics, etc.
Maximum Limit of Cost of Project:
No specific limit, average cost Rs. 5 lakhs.
Components of grant:
Research staff, Equipment, Contingencies, Travel allowance
Items not allowed:
Basic infrastructure and building, foreign travel, expensive
equipments.
Mechanism of implementation:
(i) Procedure followed in approving a new project
The criteria adopted by the ICMR in evaluating such project
proposals include relevance of the topic to national health
priorities and/or possible advancement of knowledge in that
particular area, availability of basic infrastructure in the
host Institution; capability of the applicant to undertake
the project, and the scientific merit of the proposal. The
proposals which are received throughout the year are
reviewed by Project Review Committees (PRCs) constituted by
the ICMR for different subject areas. Most of these projects
are also reviewed by subject specialists before being
considered by the PRCs. Final approval is given by DG, ICMR.
The duration of ad-hoc research scheme is usually for 3
years. Sanction being accorded initially for 1 year, with
annual renewals on the basis of report evaluation.
(ii) Project Monitoring Mechanism :
Reports on the progress of work done under the research
scheme will be submitted to the Council annually. If a
report is not submitted, the scheme is liable to be
discontinued immediately without any notice. Annual reports
are evaluated by PRCs with or without additional peer
review. Prior permission of the Council shall be obtained if
the investigator desires to discontinue the scheme before
the expiry of the approved duration.
A final report of the work done is required to be submitted
within one month from the date of termination of the scheme.
The report is to be sent to the Council along with a list of
the expendable and non-expendable items of stores.
Highlights of ICMR Activities and Achivements
Virus Diseases
Japanese Encephalitis (JE) is also known as brain fever and
is caused by mosquito borne viruses. The ICMR's Centre for
Medical Entomology, Madurai, has developed a surveillance
system for detection of the JE virus in wild caught
mosquitoes, which is being further developed as an early
warning system for JE outbreaks. The ICMR's National
Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune has been monitoring the
occurrence of this disease in different parts of India and
has evaluated the safety and the effectiveness of a vaccine
against this disease. The NIV has also produced a vaccine
against a disease known as Kyasanur Forest Disease which is
seen in certain parts of Karnataka state of South India. The
NIV has also conducted a wide range of studies on hepatitis.
Scientists of this institution have indigenously developed
tests for diagnosis of hepatitis A, and E, which are in the
process of being commercialized.
VIRUS
1952: The Virus Research Centre was set up at Pune (renamed
as the National institute of Virology in 1978); A new blood
group, the Bombay group was discovered by Dr. H.M.Bhatia and
colleagues at Bombay.
1957: The Blood Group Reference Centre was established at
Bombay (renamed as the Institute of Immunohaematology in
1982); Kyasanur forest disease was discovered by scientists
of the Virus Research Centre in the Sagar-Sorab district of
Karnataka.
1985-The Centre for Research in Medical Entomology (CRME)
wasestablished at Madurai.
Tuberculosis and Leprosy
Tuberculosis and leprosy are major public health problems in
India having medical as well as social dimensions. The
difficulties of diagnosing these diseases, and the long
duration of treatment required without posing danger to the
community in general, have resulted in efforts being made to
shorten the duration of treatment while keeping the patients
at home. The Indian efforts in this direction have provided
models of health care delivery, which have been adopted, as
well as adapted by several countries for tuberculosis
control. Similarly, ICMR efforts in the monitoring of
treatment using combinations of newer drugs for leprosy have
resulted in substantial decline in leprosy prevalence' in
India in recent years. The contributions of the Tuberculosis
Research Centre, Chennai, and the Central JALMA Institute
for Leprosy, Agra, have played a very important role in the
formation of strategies and policies for the national
control programmes for these conditions. The TRC, in
particular, has carried out several operational research
studies recently, which have direct relevance to the Revised
National TB Control Programme Strategy involving DOTS. ICMR
has recently completed a major vaccine trial on leprosy.
TUBERCULOSIS:
1955: The ICMR organized a tuberculosis survey on a national
basis through its special committee on tuberculosis.
1956: The Tuberculosis Chemotherapy Centre was set up at
Madras (which was redesignated as the Tuberculosis Research
Centre in 1978);
LEPROSY:
1976: ICMR took over the Central Jalma Institute for
Leprosy at Agra, which was established by the Japanese
Leprosy Mission for Asia (JALMA) in 1967; The Division of
Publication & Information was established in ICMR
Headquarters; Medicinal Plants of India-volume-I was
published and released in September 1976.
1988
-A Field Unit of CJIL, Agra for Epidemiology of Leprosy was
established at Avadi in Tamil Nadu.
-A series of scientific symposia (vigyan sangoshthi)in Hindi medium
were launched, in 1988 by lCMR through its Institutes. The first
symposium in this series on Leprosy was held at CJIL, Agra.
Malaria and Filariasis
Malaria is a disease which had been expected to be
eradicated in the 1960s. After considerable success in the
initial phases with a programme dependent on insecticide
spraying, there was resurgence of this disease due to
several factors such as the malarial parasite becoming
resistant to the drugs used, the mosquito which carried the
parasite and infected the human being becoming resistant to
the various insecticides available, and finally the rising
costs of insecticides leading to inadequate supplies.
Further, the recognition has also come about that spraying
of insecticides is not without its own effects on the health
of people and on the environment. Thus, the strategy, now is
to develop and apply environment friendly methods using
biological control measures as well as techniques to prevent
breeding of mosquitoes and controlling transmission of
diseases by mosquitoes such as malaria, filariasis, Japanese
encephalitis etc. Such Integrated Disease Vector Control
(IDVC) strategies have been demonstrated by the ICMR's
Malaria Research Centre, Delhi, Vector Control Research
Centre, Pondicherry and the Centre for research in Medical
Entomology, Madurai. Studies on the socio-economic impact of
filariasis, feasibility of use of insecticide impregnated
bednets for reducing man- vector contact etc. have also been
undertaken.
MALARIA:
1918-1920: The 'Beri-Beri Enquiry' was started at Coonoor;
'Quinine and Malaria Enquiry' was initiated ; Kala-azar
Ancillary Enquiry was started; Research on Indigenous Drugs
was initiated.
1927: Fructification of the plans of Lt.Col. S.R.
Christophers for creation of a Central Malaria Organization
as "Malaria Survey of India" (by absorbing the Central
Malaria Bureau at Kasauli and the Enquiries on Quinine and
Malaria and Indian Culicidae); An Experimental Malaria
Station was set up at Karnal as a part of Malaria Survey of
India.
The Publication of "Records of Malaria Survey of India" was
started.
1977: The Malaria Research Centre was established at Delhi.
Diarrhoeal Diseases
The ICMR's National institute of Cholera and Enteric
Diseases (NICED), Calcutta, has played a leading role in the
formulation and modification of the strategies utilized by
the Diarrhoeal Diseases Control Programme. Use of oral
rehydration solutions as well as of home available fluids in
the management of diarrhoea in children has been pioneered
by this institution. More recently, a new strain of Vibrio
(Vibrio cholerae Ol39) has been identified and its spread
within India has been monitored. Subsequent changes in the
cholera strains in the country have also been kept track of
by the NICED, which is also involved in the development of a
new vaccine for cholera in collaboration with certain
institutes under the Council for Scientific & Industrial
Research (CSIR) and support from the DBT. This vaccine has
now reached the human trials stage. Studies have also shown
a progressive increase in the prevalence of drug resistance
among strains of organisms causing bloody diarrhoea
(Shigellosis) and typhoid fever (Salmonellosis). These
findings have initiated a rethinking on the drug treatment
policies for these infections.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus/AIDS
Even prior to the detection of the Human Immunodeficiency
Virus (HIV) in India, the ICMR had taken steps to determine
if this virus had gained a foothold in the country, by
introducing limited screening in a few centres. After the
first case of HIV infection was reported in India in 1986,
by one of these centres, the ICMR rapidly established a
system all over the country for determining the spread of
the virus, the routes of transmission, the groups of people
most likely to be affected (on the basis of their
behavioural practices - such as sexual promiscuity, drug
abuse, etc.) Once the system was established, it was handed
over to the Govt. of India as part of the national
surveillance system for HIV and AIDS. The National AIDS
Research Institute (NARI), Pune, (an ICMR Institute) has
carried out pioneering studies on the epidemiology of HIV,
characterisation of the virus, social and behavioural
aspects of HIV infection etc. The epidemiology of HIV
infection due to intravenous drug abuse in North East India
was delineated by the ICMR Unit for AIDS in the North East.
AIDS:
1986-ICMR set up a network of Reference/Surveillance Centres for
AIDS in almost all states of India.
1987-A National AIDS Research Institute (NARI) was set up at Pune.
Noncommunicable Diseases
In the field of Noncommunicable Diseases, ICMR supported
studies have provided authentic information on the burden of
cancer, blindness and mental illness in the country. These
led to either the formulation or the modification of
national health programmes in these areas. Strategies for
delivery of services to tackle these problems, utilizing the
existing health infrastructure in the vast rural areas of
the country have also been developed and tested. The
research carried out on all these problems is
multidisciplinary with a strong component of epidemiology,
health services research, testing of alternative
technologies, social sciences etc., apart from basic
research aimed at understanding the pathogenesis, immune
mechanisms etc. ICMR's research efforts have contributed
significantly to policy formulation in each of the above
health problems. ICMR's effort in determining the burden of
cancer in India (through a cancer registry network) laid the
foundation for the National Cancer Control Programme. In the
area of mental health, the ICMR's effort in the late 1970s
and early 1980s provided the basis for formulation of a
National Mental Health Programme. The ICMR Centre for
Advanced Research on Community Mental Health, located in the
National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences,
Bangalore, made significant contributions to the strategies
for community based mental health care.
CANCER:
1945: A Clinical Research Advisory Committee was appointed
as a first step to enable greater attention being paid to
clinical research and the development of research in medical
colleges; A Clinical Research Unit (the first research unit
of IRFA attached to a medical institution) was established
at the Indian Cancer Research Centre, Bombay.
Reproductive Health & Maternal and Child Health
ICMR has conducted studies in rural and urban - slum
communities for the identification of high risk mothers and
outcomes of their pregnancies. Simple anthropometric
parameters have been developed for detecting 'at risk'
mothers likely to give birth to low birth weight babies.
Intervention programmes to improve the quality and coverage
of minimal essential services (high risk approach) through
existing health care services have helped in the evolution
and implementation of the safe motherhood and child survival
package.
The ICMR has also made other significant contributions in
the field of Maternal and Child Health, Contraception etc.
where the thrust has been on developing methods or
approaches for improving the quality and quantity of
services in rural areas, enhancing access to the people, and
in demonstrating the safety and efficacy of various
contraceptive techniques. These findings have a great role
to play in the national programme on maternal and child
health, such as by reorientation of the training of health
functionaries, decentralization of targets and community
education at the Primary Health Centre level.
In the area of Contraceptives, the ICMR has prepared
guidelines for doctors for tubal sterilization, medical
termination of pregnancy,intrauterine devices, and oral
contraceptives. Methods for male contraception are being
investigated. Through the network of Human Reproduction
Research Centres (HRRC) set up by ICMR in 33 medical
colleges, an effort was made to determine the choices made
by acceptors offered a 'cafeteria' of contraceptive options
alongwith information on the beneficial as well as known
side-effects of these methods. This approach appears to have
the potential to improve overall acceptance of
contraception.
1954: TheContraceptive Testing Unit and the Reproductive
Physiology Unit were set up at Bombay (The Institute for
Research in Reproduction came into being by an amalgamation
of these two Units, in 1970).
Nutrition
Primarily through the ICMR's National Institute of
Nutrition, Hyderabad more than 650 different categories of
foods - cereals, millets, pulses, oils and fats , vegetables
, milk and its products, fruits etc. have been analysed for
energy, protein, fat, vitamin and mineral contents.
Information generated by this activity is compiled in the
publication 'Nutritive Value of Indian Foods'. The National
Vitamin A Prophylaxis Programme was formulated on the basis
of ICMR studies. The National Anaemia Prophylaxis Programme
(NAPP) was evaluated and a revised dose of iron and folic
acid was recommended for pregnant women, and the NAPP was
redesignated as the National Anaemia Control Programme
(NACP). Elaborate surveys carried out on preschool children
resulted in the formulation of supplementary feeding
programmes for vulnerable groups. Cost effective technology
has been developed for the double fortification of salt with
iodine and iron to fight the twin problems of iron and
iodine deficiency disorders.
NUTRITION:
1925: Research on Nutritional diseases was started at
Coonoor (by Col.McCarrison under 'Deficiency Diseases
Enquiry').
1937: A course of training in Nutrition was started at the
Nutrition Research Laboratories at Coonoor; "The Nutritive
Value of Indian Foods and Planning of Satisfactory Diets"
was prepared (which has now been reprinted repeatedly).
1959: The Nutrition Research Laboratories at Coonoor were
shifted to Hyderabad in 1959.
1969: The Nutrition Research Laboratories at Hyderabad was
renamed as the National Institute of Nutrition (at its
golden jubilee); Professor P.N. Wahi took over as the
Director-General of ICMR (in February); The Division of
Reproductive Biology & Fertility Control was
created at the ICMR Headquarters.
1972: ICMR set up a chain of Regional Centres of National
Nutrition Monitoring Bureau, in different parts of India.
1929: The 'Deficiency Diseases Enquiry' was converted into
a Centre of Nutrition Research (with Col. McCarrison as its
first Director);
1993
-National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, celebrated its platinum
jubilee in 1993 by organizing several scientific activities
throughout 1993, culminating in the International Symposium on
Nutrition during November 25-27, 1993.
Tribal Health
The ICMR's Regional Medical Research Centre, Jabalpur, has
conducted studies on the health and nutritional problems of
several tribal populations of Madhya Pradesh. The findings
have enabled certain segments of tribal populations to
benefit from Government support in the form of a monthly
cash assistance, in view of their disabilities. Counselling
as a measure for prevention of certain inherited disorders
such as thalassemia and sickle cell anaemia has been taken
up as a result of the research effort.
Indigenous Drugs / Traditional Medicine Research
About 15 years ago, the ICMR revived a programme of research
on Indigenous Drugs / Traditional Medicine. The strategy
adopted in this programme was disease-oriented by selecting
a few refractory conditions ( in which allopathy had not
been very successful), for which claims existed in the
indigenous system of medicine for providing therapeutic
treatment or techniques. The use of an Ayurvedic medicated
thread called Kshaarasootra in treating anorectal fistula
has been demonstrated to be as effective as modern surgical
techniques, without the need for surgery and
hospitalization. Studies on other conditions such as
hepatitis,diabetes mellitus, and bronchial asthma were also
undertaken., with particularly significant findings in the
case of herbal medicines for diabetes mellitus. More
importantly, methodological issues related to the carrying
out of clinical trials with herbal medicines have seen
progress.
Information Systems
In the early 1980s, with WHO support, ICMR set up an Integrated
Research Information System (IRIS). IRIS is now in a position to
provide information on inventories of scientists, past and current
projects being supported by the ICMR in the extra-mural sector, brief
information on the research findings of projects, publications from
projects, inventories of equipment, etc. A Bioinforamtics Centre has
been recently setup in the council. It is proposed to establish on
strong communication link between ICMR institutes ans headquarters
through this centre. Research results and other relevant information
of ICMR institutes will be published on Internet through this centre.
A web site has been created for the ICMR on the Internet. The
ICMR-NIC Centre for Biomedical Information, identified as the Indian
MEDLARS Centre provides round the clock access to MEDLARS users
through NICNET. The Centre has also developed lndMED, a database
on the Internet, of Indian biomedical publications not included in
international databases. Efforts for enhancing the capabilities of the
ICMR's Information Systems are continuing with both internal
resources as well as with WHO support.
JOURNALS AND PUBLICATIONS OF ICMR:
-1913-14 :The Indian Journal of Medical Research was started
in 1913-14 (under the authority of the Director-General,
Indian Medical Services).
-Medicinal plants of India-volume 2 was published and
released in July 1987.
-1989: In the Platinum Jubilee year of the Journal, i.e.
1989 a decision was taken to bifurcate the journal on an
experimental basis and to introduce several new features.
Since January 1989 the journal was published in two
Sections, viz., Section A: Infectious Diseases and Section
B: Biomedical Research other than Infectious diseases.
1980-The Integrated Research Information System of the
Council(IRIS)-the Management Information System of the ICMR
Headquarters became fully operational.
-ICMR Patrika-the Hindi version of ICMR Bulletin was
launched (in July 1986).
-A Hindi debate was organized, for the first time,by lCMR on
September 15,1993 on the topic "How successful is the use of
Hindi in scientific literature?" in which young & middle
level scientists of various Technical Divisions of ICMR
(Hqrs and Delhi based ICMR Institutes/Centres) participated.
The features introduced include publication of review
articles on topics of national interest and relevance and
also reprinting of path-breaking researches which are
considered as major national/ international landmarks in
medical research as IJMR Classics. Some of these include
U.N. Brahmachari's original research on the chemotherapy of
kala-azar, R.N. Chopra's research on medicinal plants, C.G.
Pandit's classical work on endemic fluorosis and classical
studies on the effects of low proteins on intermediary
metabolism of hepatic ferritin by S.G. Srikantia.
1994-The two sections of the Indian Journal of Medical
Research were merged into one with effect from January 1994
(based on a readership survey).
-The ICMR-NIC Centre for Biomedical Information was
established. This became 'Online' with MEDLARS for supply of
bibliographic information in 1988).
1996- The Indian Journal of Medical Research brought out
special issues, as part of the 85th year celebrations of
ICMR, on Nutrition Research (November 1995), and Diarrhoeal
Diseases (July, 1996). The ICMR Bulletin also brought out
special issues on such topics as Nutrition, Tuberculosis,
AIDS, Tribal Health, Diarrhoeal Diseases, etc. so as to
coincide with the theme selected for a particular month as
part of the 85th year celebrations (between November 1995
and November 1996). As part of the global theme initiative
coordinated by JAMA, USA, the January 1996 issue of the IJMR
was devoted to Emerging and Reemerging Infections.
ICMR Awards and Prizes
INDIAN COUNCIL OF MEDICAL RESEARCH AWARDS AND PRIZES
1.Basanti Devi Amir Chand Prize for Research on any subject
in BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES (Annual).
2.Dr.P.N. Raju Oration Award (Value Rs.5000) for research on any
subject in Biomedical Sciences (to be given in alternate years,
for a subject to be notified each time)
3.Sandoz Oration Award for Research in CANCER (Value Rs.2,500/- and a
Gold Medal) (in alternate years)
4.Dr.Y.S. Narayana Rao Oration Award (Value Rs.4,000) for Research in
the field of MICROBIOLOGY (in alternate years)
5.Chaturvedi Kalawati Jagmohan Das Memorial Award (Value Rs.2,000 and a
Gold Medal) for Research in the field of CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
(once in three years)
6.Dr. Kamala Menon Medical Research Award (Value Rs.5,000) for Research
in the field of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics (in alternate
years)
7.Kshanika Oration Award (Value Rs.5000) for a Woman Scientist for
Research in any field of BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES.(Annual)
8.Dr.M.K.Seshadri Prize and Gold Medal (Value Rs. 10,000/-) for the
PRACTICE OF COMMUNITY MEDICINE (in alternate years)
9.M.N.Sen Oration Award (Value Rs.5,000/-) for the PRACTICE OF
MEDICINE (once in three years )
10.JALMA Trust Fund Oration Award (Value Rs.5,000 and a Gold Medal) in
the field of LEPROSY (Annual)
11.Dr. J.B. Srivastav Oration Award (Value Rs.10,000) in the field of
VIROLOGY (to be awarded in alternate years)
12.ICMR Prize for Biomedical Research for Scientists belonging to
UNDERPRIVILEGED COMMUNITIES (Value Rs.10,000) (Annual)
13.ICMR Prize for Biomedical Research in UNDER-DEVELOPED AREAS
(Value Rs.10,000)(Annual)
14.BGRC Silver Jubilee Oration Award (Value Rs.5,000/-) for HAEMATOLOGY
and IMMUNOHAEMATOLOGY (in alternate years)
15.Smt. Swaran Kanta Dingley Oration Award (Value Rs. 10,000) in the field
of REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY (in alternate years)
16.Dr. M.O.T. lyengar Memorial Award (Value Rs.4,000) in any of the
fields of MALARIA, FILARIASIS, PLAGUE OR MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(Annual)
17.Prof. B.K. Aikat Oration Award (Value Rs.3,000) in the field of
TROPICAL DISEASES (in alternate years)
18.Dr. Vidya Sagar Award (Value Rs.5000) in the field of MENTAL HEALTH
(to be awarded in alternate years)
19.Amrut-Mody Unichem Prize (Value Rs.10,000) for Research in the
fields of 'GASTROENTEROLOGY', and 'CARDIOLOGY & NEUROLOGY' (in
alternate years)
20.Amrut-Mody Unichem Prize (Value Rs.10,000) for Research in the
fields of 'MATERNAL & CHILD HEALTH' and 'CHEST DISEASES' (in
alternate years)
21.Chaturvedi Ghanshyam Das Jaigopal Memorial Award (Value Rs.3,000/- & a
Medal) for Research in the field of IMMUNOLOGY (in alternate
years).
22.Lala Ram Chand Kandhari Award (Value Rs.5,000) for Research in the
field of DERMATOLOGY AND SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES (in
alternate years)
23.Smt. Pushpa Sriramachari Award (Value Rs.5,000 and a Silver Medal) in
the field of PATHOPHYSIOLOGY (clinical or experimental) (for
scientists above 45 years of age only in alternate years)
24.Dr.Prem Nath Wahi Award (Value Rs.30,000) for CYTOLOGY AND
PREVENTIVE ONCOLOGY (in alternate years).
25.Dr.D.N.Prasad Memorial Oration Award (value Rs. 20,000 and a medal)
in the field of PHARMACOLOGY (in alternate years)
Prize/Award for scientists Above 45 years of age on January 1st of
the current year
26.Prof. Surindar Mohan Marwah Award (Value Rs. 25,000) in the field of
GERIATRICS (once in two years)
Prizes/Awards for young scientists Below 40 years of age on
January 1st of the current year
27.Four Shakuntala Amir Chand Prizes (Value Rs. 1,500 each) for Research
on any subject in MEDICAL SCIENCES (Annual)
28.Raja Ravi Sher Singh of Kalsia Memorial CANCER AWARD (Value Rs.2,000)
(in alternate years)
29.Dr. V.N. Patwardhan Prize (Value Rs.7,000) in NUTRITIONAL SCIENCES
(in alternate years)
30.Tilak Venkoba Rao Award (Value Rs. 1,000) in the fields of
PSYCHOLOGICAL MEDICINE and REPRODUCTIVE PHYSIOLOGY (in alternate
years)
31.Dr. T., Ramachandra Rao Award (Value Rs.3,000) in the field of
MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY (in alternate years)
32.Dr. C.G.S. lyer Oration Award (Value Rs. 1,500) in the field of
LEPROSY (in alternate years)
33.Dr. Dharamvir Datta Memorial Oration Award (Value Rs.3,000) in the
field of LIVER DISEASES (in alternate years)
34.Prof.B.C.Srivastava Foundation Award (Value Rs.5,000/-) in the field of
COMMUNITY MEDICINE (in alternate years)
35.Smt. Kamal Satbir Award (Value Rs.5,000) in the field of RESPIRATORY
ALLERGY AND CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE LUNG DISEASE (Annual)
36.Major General Saheb Singh Sokhey Award (Value Rs.10,000) in the field
of COMMUNICABLE DISEASES (Annual)
37.Dr. H.B.Dingley Memorial Award (Value Rs.5,000) in the field of
PAEDIATRICS (Annual)
Contact Address
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi,
the apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and
promotion of biomedical research, is one of the oldest
medical research bodies in the world.
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In the context of the changing public health scene, the
balancing of research efforts between different competing
fields, especially when resources are severely limited, is a
typical problem encountered in the management of medical
research, particularly in developing countries. Infectious
diseases and excessive population growth have continued to
constitute the major priorities to be addressed in medical
research throughout the past several decades. In addition to
tackling these issues, in recent years, research has been
intensified progressively on emerging health problems such
as Cardiovascular diseases, Metabolic disorders (including
diabetes mellitus), Mental health problems, Neurological
disorders, Blindness, Liver diseases, Hearing impairment,
Cancer, Drug abuse, Accidents, Disabilities etc.. Research
on Traditional Medicine/Herbal Remedies was revived with a
disease-oriented approach. Attempts have been made to
strengthen and streamline Medical Informatics and
Communication to meet the growing demands and needs of the
biomedical community. The Council is alert to new diseases
and new dimensions of existing diseases, as exemplified by
the rapid organization of a network of Surveillance Centres
for AIDS in different states of India in 1986.
Director General,
Indian Council of Medical Research,
Post Box No. 4911
Ansari Nagar,
New Delhi-110029
Telephone : 91-11-6567136 , 91-11-6560707 ,91-11-6963980 , 91-11-6962794
Telex : 031-73067
Fax : 011-6868662
Gram : SCIENTIFIC
E-Mail -icmrhqds@sansad.nic.in
