Curtain Raiser Sh Ghulam Nabi Azad to give away the ICMR awards

New Delhi, September 21, 2013: The Union Health Minister Sh Ghulam Nabi Azad will distribute the ICMR awards for 2009 and 2010 on 24th September 2013. As many as 19 scientists are being awarded for 2009 while ICMR awards for 2010 will be given to 30 scientists. The JALMA Trust Fund Oration award for 2007 will also be presented this year. 

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is the apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research. It is one of the oldest medical research bodies in the world. The Government of India set up the Indian Research Fund Association (IRFA) in 1911 to sponsor and coordinate medical research in the country. Several important changes have been made in the organisation and activities of the IRFA, after independence. In 1949, it was redesignated as the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) with considerably expanded scope. The ICMR is funded by the Government of India through the Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. 

The Council’s research priorities are undertaken with a view to reduce the total burden of disease and to promote health and well-being of the population. These are directed to address the following- 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). 

Over the period spanning 2009-2013, the ICMR team has worked towards providing affordable indigenous technologies for public health applications. Research has focused on development of indigenous reagents for H1N1 and indigenous vaccines for H1N1. It has also launched a programme on translation of 75 leads for development of affordable diagnostic reagents/ assays, including indigenously developed tests for diabetes; diagnostic tests for TB, disease caused by lung fluke, methods of mosquito control, and several other infections and cancer. It has also developed a magnifying device (Magnivisualizer) for cervical cancer screening in the field by visual screening. 

Recognizing the contribution made by the biomedical scientists in various spheres of research, the ICMR has instituted various awards and prizes. While many of the awards are annual, few are given every other year. The awards recognize the contribution of young scientists as well as those who work in the underdeveloped parts of the country. Awards also felicitate the work done by women scientists. — CCI Newswire