ICMR Full Form, Know About Its History, Significance and Main Functions

ICMR stands for Indian Council of Medical Research. It is India's top organization for medical research. It was started in 1911 and works to find solutions for health problems in the country. ICMR supports research, trains scientists and helps improve public health in India.

Akansha Arora Last updated on April 18th, 2025 03:30 pm

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is India’s most important organization for medical research. It was started in New Delhi and plays a big role in creating, supporting and promoting research in the field medicine and health. It is one of the oldest research organizations in the world and is respected both in India and internationally. ICMR works hard to solve the health problems of the country through science.

Full Form of ICMR

ICMR stands for Indian Council of Medical Research. It is India’s top organization for medical research. It was started in 1911 and works to find solutions for health problems in the country. ICMR supports research, trains scientists and helps improve public health in India.

History and Background of ICMR

In the year 1911, ICMR was first known as the Indian Research Fund Association (IRFA). In the early days, its main aim was to help scientific research. After India gained independence, many changes were made in the country, including this organization. In 1949, IRFA was renamed the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The new name came with a wider role and more responsibilities in health and science.

Main Functions of ICMR

ICMR has 26 institutes across India, each working on different health topics like leprosy, tuberculosis cholera and more. It also has six regional centers that focus on diseases like AIDS and malaria. These centers work to solve health problems in different parts of the country.

ICMR is involved it:

Controlling diseases that spread easily (communicable diseases)
Helping with mother and child health
Working on fertility control
Fighting nutritional problems
Studying big health issues like cancer, diabetes, heart diseases and blindness
Improving health care strategies and safety at workplaces

Extra Work by ICMR

ICMR also supports research outside its own centers. It gives money and help to universities, colleges and private industries that are doing important medical research. It starts special projects with fixed goals and time limits to study important health topics. ICMR also does collaborative work with other research institutes, such as the institute of Pathology in Delhi.