Desert Medicine Research Centre (DMRC), Jodhpur

Desert Medicine research Centre (DMRC), Jodhpur is one of the permanent institutes of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), a Government of India’s apex autonomous organization for bio-medical research in the country. The ICMR established the centre in 1984 with a mandate to undertake and promote research on health problems specific to desert areas, study the changing patterns of health problems especially in view of various developmental activities taking place in the region and strengthen the scientific and technical expertise of state as well as local health agencies. The DMRC, Jodhpur has contributed to generate baseline data on nutritional problems faced by the population of desert areas, understanding of transmission dynamics of vector borne diseases in the changing ecology of desert areas, other health problems like silicosis, hypertension, renal stones, specific maternal-child health issues, elimination of guinea worm disease, etc. Besides centre is running several programmes on dengue, malaria, vector bionomics, insecticide resistance, novel herbs with potential as insecticides as well as anti-infective agents, hypertension, and various nutritional deficiencies in vulnerable populations aiming to establish itself as centre of excellence on these problems with special reference to desert ecology. Centre’s research programmes and R&D efforts has helped DMRC, Jodhpur to emerge as plate form for leadership both at national and international levels.