The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is the apex Government Organisation in India for the formulation, coordination, and promotion of biomedical research, operating under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It is one of the world's oldest medical research bodies, tracing its origin to the Indian Research Fund Association (IRFA), which was established in 1911 by Sir Harcourt Butler to sponsor and coordinate medical research. Following independence, the IRFA was re-designated as the ICMR in 1949, significantly expanding its scope to address the nation's evolving health challenges.
The ICMR works by promoting research through both intramural and extramural funding. Intramural research is conducted through its network of 26 national institutes and 6 regional medical research centres, which focus on national health priorities like communicable diseases, maternal health, and non-communicable diseases. Extramural support is provided as grants to Indian scientists outside its institutes. The ICMR is funded by the Government of India through the Department of Health Research. It connects to the broader health ecosystem by establishing key institutions like the Clinical Trials Registry - India in 2007 and collaborating internationally with bodies such as the WHO and NIH (USA).
The ICMR has undergone significant recent changes to streamline research and localize data. In May 2026, it introduced a single ethics committee system for multicentre medical studies, replacing the fragmented, site-by-site review process to reduce delays and expand research reach. Furthermore, a mandate issued in February 2026 requires clinical trials to focus on Indian body types and lifestyle patterns, ensuring that medical data is directly applicable to India's diverse population. The ICMR also updated the national dietary guidelines in 2024 with the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), increasing the recommended vegetable intake and setting specific targets for added sugar.