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インド医学研究評議会（ICMR ）は、インドにおける生物医学研究の策定、調整、推進のための最高機関であり、世界で最も古く、最大の医学研究機関の1つです。[ 2 ]
ICMRは、インド政府の保健研究局、保健家族福祉省を通じて資金提供を受けている。[ 3 ] [ 4 ] 2007年、同組織は臨床試験のインド国家登録機関である臨床試験登録機関（Clinical Trials Registry - India）を設立した。[ 5 ]
ICMRの26の国立研究所は、結核、ハンセン病、コレラ、下痢性疾患、エイズを含むウイルス性疾患、マラリア、カラアザール、ベクター制御、栄養、食品および医薬品の毒性学、生殖、免疫血液学、腫瘍学、医療統計など、特定の健康トピックに関する研究を行っています。その6つの地域医療研究センターは、地域の健康問題に焦点を当て、また、国内のさまざまな地理的地域で研究能力を強化または創出することを目指しています。[ 4 ]
評議会の研究優先事項は、感染症の制御と管理、出生率の抑制、母子保健、栄養障害の制御、医療提供の代替戦略の開発、環境および職業上の健康問題の安全限界内での封じ込め、がん、心血管疾患、失明、糖尿病、その他の代謝性および血液疾患などの主要な非感染性疾患の研究、精神保健研究、医薬品研究（伝統的な治療法を含む）といった国の保健優先事項と一致しています。これらの取り組みは、疾病の総負担を軽減し、国民の健康と福祉を促進することを目的として行われています。[ 4 ]
In 1911, the then British Government of India set up the Indian Research Fund Association (IRFA) with the specific objective of sponsoring and coordinating medical research in the country. It was established by Sir Harcourt Butler on November 15 that year.[6] After independence, several important changes were made in the organisation and the activities of IRFA. It was redesignated as the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in 1949, with a considerably expanded scope of functions.[7]
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 advisory committees, expert groups, task forces, steering committees etc. which evaluate and monitor different research activities of the council.[7]
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.[7]
Intramural research is carried out currently through the council's 30 permanent research institutes/centres which are mission-oriented national institutes located in different parts of India. The institutes pursue specific areas of research such as COVID-19, tuberculosis, leprosy, cholera and diarrhoeal diseases, viral diseases including Rotavirus, dengue, COVID-19, Ebolavirus, Influenza, Japanese encephalitis, AIDS, malaria, kala-azar, vector control, nutrition, food & drug toxicology, reproduction, immunohaematology, oncology, and medical statistics. Six Regional Medical Research Centres address regional health problems, and also aim to strengthen or generate research capabilities in different geographic areas of the country. It has also been involved in research related to rare diseases like Handigodu syndrome.
Extramural research is promoted by ICMR by establishing 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. The ICMR also funds task force studies which emphasise a time-bound, goal-oriented approach with clearly defined targets, specific time frames, standardised and uniform methodologies, and often a multicentric structure. Open-ended research is conducted on the basis of applications for grants-in-aid received from scientists in non-ICMR Research Institutes, Medical colleges and Universities located in different parts of the country. Collaborative research projects with other institutes such as that between Institute of Pathology, Delhi and NCRM are also undertaken.[8]
ICMR's Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDL) for diagnosis of the viral and other infectious diseases is gradually evolving and is proposed to be the largest network of laboratories for timely identification of viruses and other agents causing morbidity significant at public health level and specific agents causing epidemics and/or potential agents for bioterrorism and undertake research for identification of emerging and newer genetically active/ modified agents. In addition to research activities, ICMR also provides international fellowship programme for research and training and exposure of Indian biomedical scientists in various countries as well as offering opportunities to scientists from developing countries to come and work in Indian institutes/laboratories. It is also the secretariat for Health Ministry's Screening Committee (HMSC) meeting organised monthly for consideration of international collaborative research projects. It also encourages human resource development in biomedical research through Research Fellowships, Short-Term Visiting Fellowships, Short-Term Research Studentships, and various training programmes and workshops conducted by ICMR institutes and headquarters.[9]
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 as well as those who work in the underdeveloped parts of the country.[10] At present, the council offers 38 awards, of which 11 are meant exclusively for young scientists (below 40 years). ICMR has supported research into bacteriophage therapy as a promising alternative to antibiotics for managing drug-resistant bacterial infections. Its activities include the isolation, characterization, and formulation of therapeutic phages, evaluation of their efficacy against multidrug-resistant pathogens, and investigation of phage–antibiotic synergy. ICMR has also provided funding to leading research institutes such as the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, to advance preclinical and clinical studies on phage therapy.(ref. https://www.the-microbiologist.com/features/antimicrobial-resistance-and-phage-therapy-in-india/1386.article)
The Indian Journal of Medical Research is published under the auspices of the council.