National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis

What National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis does

The National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (ICMR-NIRT) is a Government of India research institute established in 1956 and headquartered in Chetpet, Chennai, under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) within the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It functions as the National Reference Laboratory for Tuberculosis and operates 16 specialized divisions covering bacteriology, biochemistry, clinical pharmacology, clinical research, epidemiology, health economics, immunology, virology and biotechnology, statistics, and social and behavioural research. The institute delivers TB research services spanning clinical research, diagnostics development, treatment protocol optimization, and epidemiological studies, and offers academic programs including PhD (with AcSIR), Internship/Dissertation, and capacity-building workshops for medical colleges and NTEP staff.

ICMR-NIRT's technical infrastructure includes BSL-3 and ABSL-3 composite facilities with a biorepository at Tiruvallur, advanced flow cytometry (BD FACS Symphony A5 SE), LCMSMS, and molecular diagnostics including tNGS for drug-resistant TB. It operates a Technical Resource Centre for evidence-based guidelines, an HTAIn Regional Resource Hub for health economics, and the Model Rural Health Research Unit (MRHRU) in Madurai, with additional units in Vellore and Tiruvallur. Service offerings include REDCap-based data capture, the IN-CXR chest X-ray analysis tool, systematic reviews, and stakeholder consultation platforms. The institute is funded entirely through government budgetary allocations, with no commercial pricing; outputs are delivered to NTEP, state health departments, medical colleges, and WHO/SEAR partners free at the point of use. Strategic partnerships span McGill University, BD Biosciences, Thermo Fisher, The UNION, Boditech Med, Anderson Diagnostics, and AYUSH institutions such as the National Institute of Siddha and CCRS.

Name

National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis

Legal name

ICMR National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis

Website

https://nirt.res.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

ICMR-NIRT is a Government of India research institute under ICMR, headquartered in Chennai, that serves as the National Reference Laboratory for Tuberculosis, conducting clinical, diagnostic, immunological, and epidemiological TB research while training medical staff and shaping national TB policy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tuberculosis Research and Diagnostics

NAICS

Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (62151), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (541690)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)

akta.pro primary industry

Tuberculosis & Mycobacterial Diseases (HLAKAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

National Public Health Reference Laboratories (HLAJAIAA), Disease-Specific Global Initiatives (HIV/TB/Malaria/NTDs) (HLAJAOAE), General Infectious Disease (HLAKAGAA), Molecular & Genetic Testing (PCR/NGS/qPCR) (HLAGADAF)

Keywords

• Tuberculosis research
• Infectious disease diagnostics
• Clinical trials research
• Epidemiological surveillance
• Public health research

Headquarters

HQ city

Chennai

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Research Funding: As an Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) institute under the Government of India, NIRT operates entirely on government funding for tuberculosis research, public health initiatives, and capacity building programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

NIRT is a government research institute under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) that conducts clinical, operational, and basic research on tuberculosis. It provides specialized TB diagnostic services, operates field research units for epidemiological studies, runs vaccine and drug clinical trials, and offers technical support and training to India's National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) and medical institutions.

Product overview

ICMR National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (NIRT) is a premier government research institute under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Government of India. The institute functions as a National Reference Laboratory for Tuberculosis and conducts comprehensive TB research across 16 specialized divisions including Bacteriology, Biochemistry, Clinical Pharmacology, Clinical Research, Epidemiology, Immunology, Virology & Biotechnology, and Health Economics. The institute offers academic programs (PhD and Internship/Dissertation), operates Technical Resource Centre for evidence synthesis, maintains a Regional Resource Hub for Health Technology Assessment (HTAIn), and operates the Model Rural Health Research Unit (MRHRU) in Madurai. NIRT provides research services, training programs, and tools such as IN-CXR chest X-ray analysis and REDCap data management platform to advance tuberculosis elimination efforts in India.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TRC (Technical Resource Centre): Technical Resource Centre for evidence-based guidelines and systematic reviews
• HTAIn Regional Resource Hub
• MRHRU Madurai
• Wings of Support

Products and services

• TB Clinical and Operational Research

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Signing of MoU between ICMR-NIRT and CCRS for promotion of collaborative research for TB elimination through Siddha integration, exploring integrated solutions leveraging Siddha formulations as adjuncts to conventional TB treatment.
• McGill University, CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 December 2025ICMR-NIRT collaborated with McGill University to conduct a five-day Advanced TB Diagnostics capacity-building workshop from December 15-19, 2025. The workshop brought together participants from National TB Programmes, public sector institutions, medical colleges, laboratories, industry partners and TB programmes from India and South-East Asian Region countries.
• Madras Christian College (MCC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2025ICMR-NIRT collaborated with Madras Christian College and Agaramthen Panchayat Office to organize a Tuberculosis Awareness Programme for 45 sanitation workers on October 14, 2025.
• BD BiosciencesmajorTechnology or Integration · 2 September 2025Department of Immunology at ICMR-NIRT collaborated with BD Biosciences for a 2-day flow cytometry workshop titled 'Beyond the Horizon' on September 2-3, 2025. BD provided expertise on spectral plus imaging flow cytometry and high parameter multi-color flow cytometry panel design, with hands-on sessions on the BD FACS Symphony A5 SE Cell Analyzer.
• Directorate of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Government of Tamil NaducoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2025Collaboration with Directorate of Public Health & Preventive Medicine and NHM-TN for HTA sensitization program. Event attended by Principal Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu and Joint Secretary of Department of Health Research, Govt. of India.
• Thermo Fisher ScientificmajorTechnology or Integration · 25 April 2025ICMR-NIRT celebrated International DNA Day on April 25, 2025 in collaboration with Thermo Fisher Scientific. The event featured product exhibition with 'Touch and Feel' experience and technical presentations on cutting-edge technologies in cell imaging and protein & cell analysis.
• Anderson Diagnostics and LabsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 April 2025Department of Biochemistry of ICMR-NIRT collaborated with Anderson Diagnostics and Labs for World Laboratory Day 2025 symposium titled 'Labs Save Lives' at Robert Koch Auditorium, emphasizing crucial role of laboratory professionals in diagnosis and public health.
• National Institute of SiddhamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 March 2025ICMR-NIRT collaborated with National Institute of Siddha for World TB Day 2025 awareness event at Agathiyar Arangam, Tambaram. Prof. Dr. G. Senthilvel, Director highlighted role of Siddha nutrition in TB prevention.
• Women's Collective ForummajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 February 2025ICMR-NIRT collaborated with Women's Collective Forum to organize the 2nd Regional TB Stakeholders Consultation meeting on February 28, 2025 at New Delhi. Delegates from Central Tuberculosis Division, WHO, ICMR, NGOs, private and government pulmonologists, The UNION, STOP TB partnership and World Bank participated.
• Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family WelfarecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 January 2025Technical Resource Centre of ICMR-NIRT jointly organized a two-day workshop on Systematic Reviews of Diagnostic Accuracy and GRADE with DHR. Dr Rajiv Bahl, Director General of ICMR & Secretary of DHR, addressed participants and highlighted importance of capacity building.
• Madurai Medical CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 October 2024Model Rural Health Research Unit (MRHRU) Madurai launched at MEU Hall, Madurai Medical College during first LRAC meeting. Director of Public Health, Tamil Nadu, delivered inaugural address with collaboration between ICMR-NIRT and Madurai Medical College for rural health research.
• The UNION (International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 July 2024Three-day Training of Trainers workshop on 'Comprehensive strategy for Retention In TB Infection Cascade of Care' (CRITIC ToT) jointly organized by ICMR, ICMR-NIRT & The UNION under South East Asia Regional RESEARCH Platform. Participants from Kerala and 4 SEAR countries (Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Indonesia, Nepal) attended.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• FIND (Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics): Global non-profit driving development and delivery of diagnostics for poverty-related diseases, especially TB (including tNGS for drug-resistant TB which NIRT also uses). Operates adjacent to NIRT in TB diagnostic research and validation.
• ICMR National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE): Sister ICMR institute in Chennai specializing in epidemiology and field-based research. Directly comparable as a peer ICMR research institute with overlapping mandate in TB epidemiology and population health research.
• Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI): Indian government autonomous institute under DBT focused on translational research including infectious diseases and vaccine/diagnostic development. Comparable as an India-based translational health research institute with BSL facilities and clinical research programs.
• International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The UNION): International scientific organization focused on TB and lung disease, with which NIRT directly collaborates on training (CRITIC ToT) and South-East Asia regional research platforms. Operates in the same TB research, capacity-building, and policy advocacy space.
• Christian Medical College (CMC) Vellore: Indian tertiary care and research institution with strong infectious disease and clinical trial capabilities; comparable as a medical research and academic medical center operating in India, often partnering with ICMR on TB and infectious disease research.
• St. John's Research Institute: Bangalore-based research institute with strong infectious disease, epidemiology, and clinical trial capacity in India. Comparable as an India-focused clinical and public health research organization working on TB, HIV, and nutrition.

Emerging players

• Stop TB Partnership: Global multi-stakeholder partnership hosted by UNOPS accelerating TB elimination. NIRT has directly partnered with Stop TB Partnership on regional stakeholder consultations, making it a comparable participant in TB elimination advocacy.

Broad incumbents

• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID): U.S. government research institute under NIH focused on infectious diseases including TB. Directly comparable as a publicly funded infectious disease research powerhouse with high-containment labs and global health policy influence.
• All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS): Premier Indian government medical research and teaching institution with extensive infectious disease, immunology, and clinical trial capacity. A direct peer as another ICMR-aligned government medical research powerhouse with national scope.

Regional players

• Desmond Tutu TB Centre, Stellenbosch University: South African TB research center with strong translational research and clinical trial capabilities for TB/HIV. Comparable as an academic TB research center operating in a high-burden country, though focused on a different geography (Africa vs. India).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/icmrnirt1
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ICMR-NIRT
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nirt
• Instagraminstagram.com/icmr_nirt

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis