Background

The German scientists initiated formal medical research in Tanzania at the end of the 19th century. Among them were Drs Robert Koch and Gustav Giemsa. The two scientists will be remembered for their contributions in the diagnosis of tuberculosis and malaria, After the First World War the British continued with medical research on specific disease problems to satisfy their needs. During the British era, trypanosomiasis research was initiated in western Tanzania as early as 1920s. Medical research centres were institutionalised with the establishment of the East African Medical Survey at Malya near Mwanza in 1947. Later a Filariasis Research Unit was formed in Mwanza. In 1954, the two units formed the then East African Medical Survey and Research Institute, which was later re-named the East African Institute for Medical Research.

With intensification of malaria research in the country, the British Colonial Government established a malaria unit in Muheza in 1949. The unit was later transferred to Amani in 1951. The East African Medical Research Council also established a Tuberculosis Investigating Unit in Dar es Salaam during the late 1960s. During the 1970s, research on onchocerciasis and helminthiasis were intensified in Amani, Tukuyu and Tanga.

With the collapse of the East African Community in 1977, all the institutions established under the Community were rendered non-functional.

The National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) is a parastatal service organization under the Ministry of Health established by the Act of Parliament No. 23 of 1979 and became operational in 1980. NIMR was empowered to take over all health research institutions in the country, which until the demise of the East African Community (in 1977) were administered by the East African Medical Research Council. The establishment of this institute was in recognition by the government of the need to generate scientific data and information required in the development of better methods and techniques of enhancing disease management, prevention and control in the country. The functions of the NIMR, therefore, include the following:

• to carry out, and promote the carrying out of, medical research designed to alleviate disease among the people of Tanzania;
•  to carry out, and promote the carrying of research into various aspects of local traditional medical practices for the purpose of facilitating the development and application of herbal medicine;
• in cooperation with the government or any person or body of persons, to promote, or provide facilities for, the training of local personnel for carrying out scientific research into medical problems;
• to monitor, control and coordinate medical research carried out within Tanzania, or elsewhere on behalf of or for the benefit of the Government of Tanzania, and to evaluate the findings of that research;
•  to establish a system for the registration of, and to register, the findings of medical research carried out within Tanzania, and promote the practical application of those findings for the purposes of improving or advancing the health and general welfare of the people of Tanzania;
•  to establish and operate system of documentation and dissemination of information on any aspect of the medical research carried out by or on behalf of the Institute;
•  to control and manage the affairs of Centres vested in the Institute;
•  to assume responsibility for the control and management of any other Centres which may be established by the Institute or vested in the Institute.
•  to do anything which may be necessary to uphold and support the credit of the Institute and its research findings to obtain and justify public confidence, to overt or minimise any loss to the Institute and to facilitate the proper and efficient performance of its functions.