National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR)
POINT (39.2929403 -6.8063908)
About us
The National Institute for Medical Research Tanzania (NIMR) is a parastatal organization under the Ministry responsible for Health established by Parliament Act No. 23 of 1979. NIMR has the mandate to carry out, promote, monitor, control, coordinate and evaluate health research.
NIMR’s role is to provide evidence-based recommendation to the Government of Tanzania towards introduction, revision or change of health policies.
The institute is made up of eight research centres and six research stations distributed geographically countrywide and in relation to prevailing disease burden. The NIMR centres are: Amani, Mbeya, Muhimbili, Mwanza, Ngongongare, Tabora, Tanga, and Tukuyu. The NIMR stations are: Kilosa, Handeni, Hydom, Korogwe, Amani Hill and Gonja. The institute has a Traditional Medicine Production Unit in Dar es Salaam.
The human resource capacity at NIMR is approximately 1,000 staff; with 157 research and laboratory scientists of which 40% are PhD holders.
Research activities are guided by The National Health Research Priorities.
Vision: To be an institution of excellence for advancement of health research and development in Tanzania and beyond.
Mission: To conduct, coordinate, regulate and promote scientifically and ethically sound, high quality health research and deliver evidence-based information that is responsive to the needs of human wellbeing.
Research Capacity and Excellence
Traditional Medicine Research Department: A herbal medicine production unit under NIMR Headquarters. NIMR has a dossier of seven herbal products undergoing registration ranging from treatment towards malaria, liver disorders, diabetes and cholesterol control, benign prostrate hypertrophy, opportunistic infections, and for colds.
Bio Safety Level (BSL) 4 Mobile Laboratory for disease outbreak response for Risk Group 3 - 4 Pathogens e.g. Ebola virus, Marburg virus.
BSL 1 – 3 Laboratory facilities for: Entomology; Molecular Biology; Virology; Immunology; Tuberculosis; Microbiology; Parasitology; Biochemistry; Haematology; investigational Medicinal Products (IMP) e.g. traditional medicinal products
Field sites with facilities e.g. dispensaries; experimental huts; mosquito spheres; animal houses; insectaries;
Facilitation of training of post-graduate students, fellowships, placement
National Ethics Review framework. NIMR hosts the Medical Research Coordinating Committee (MRCC). The MRCC facilitates ethical review through the National Health Research Ethics sub-Committee (NatHREC).
- Traditional Medicine Research
Specialised healthcare services
Opportunities
Research programmes
Research ethics review and regulations
NIMR registers all health research activities conducted in Tanzania
NIMR grants Ethics certificates for Health Research conducted in Tanzania. There are Research Ethics Committees (RECs)and Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) which have been registered to issue ethics certificates on behalf of NIMR to Tanzanian citizens.
Tanzania National Food Authority (TFDA) is responsible for the regulatory affairs of clinical trials.
Research permits for foreign individuals are issued by the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH)