A high-level media delegation from Odisha, currently on an exposure visit to Assam organised by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Bhubaneswar, under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, visited the ICMR-National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) in Dibrugarh today.
During the visit, the journalists interacted with Dr Suman Kanungo, Director of ICMR-NIHR, along with leading scientists, researchers, and public health experts to gain firsthand insights into the institute’s cutting-edge healthcare research and community interventions.
The delegation was briefed on the centre’s ongoing initiatives in biomedical research, disease surveillance, diagnostic breakthroughs, and community health strategies. Discussions focused on how scientific research is translated into practical solutions to improve public health outcomes across the region.
Established on July 12, 1982, ICMR-NIHR Dibrugarh has grown into a premier hub for biomedical innovation and health research in North East India. It currently operates six regional centres across Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura. Approval has also been granted for a new centre in the Senapati district of Manipur. Additionally, new biomedical research centres are slated to become operational soon in Guwahati and Tripura.
The institute has made major strides in diagnosing and researching complex diseases such as Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES), Japanese Encephalitis (JE), and Rickettsial infections. During the COVID-19 pandemic, its regional laboratory conducted nearly 3.9 lakh RT-PCR tests.
ICMR-NIHR has also played a crucial role under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme. In 2025, the institute transferred its indigenous CRISPR-Cas-based tuberculosis diagnostic platform to domestic manufacturers, enabling affordable and widespread testing. Furthermore, its targeted community health interventions in tea gardens successfully reduced hypertension rates among workers from 60.8% down to 30%. The institute continues to drive critical research across all eight North Eastern states covering nutrition, cancer, anaemia, and hemoglobinopathies.
This visit by Odisha’s media representatives is expected to highlight the transformative healthcare preparedness, scientific research, and community-driven interventions reshaping public health in Assam and the wider North Eastern region.
