Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research

What Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research does

The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) is a semi-autonomous biomedical research institute of the University of Ghana, established in 1979 and headquartered at Legon, Accra. It is Ghana's leading biomedical research facility and operates as the national reference laboratory and as the Africa CDC/WHO Regional Genomic Sequencing Hub for pathogen genomics. Its core mandate is to conduct innovative research into communicable and non-communicable diseases (malaria, HIV, COVID-19, tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases, antimicrobial resistance, nutrition), to provide high-end laboratory diagnostic, monitoring, and surveillance services in support of national and global health, and to build health-services capacity through graduate programmes and professional training. The institute runs eight research departments supported by four Core Facilities: Flow Cytometry, MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry, HPLC Analysis, and Genomics and Bioinformatics (next-generation sequencing). It also maintains BSL-3 containment, molecular diagnostics (PCR), serological testing (ELISA), and a novel diagnostic platform under development for emerging pathogens including hantaviruses. Products and services include Sickle Cell Diagnostic Services, a Clinical Safety Laboratory, Parasite Detection and Disease Diagnosis, Clinical Trial Support, food and water bacteriology for industry, and a National Influenza Centre network of 29 sentinel sites feeding WHO GISRS.

The institute's business model is anchored in three revenue streams: (1) core government funding channeled through the University of Ghana, (2) international research grants from EDCTP, NIH, Wellcome Trust, JICA, and others (including the Wellcome Trust DELTAS Africa award of approximately EUR 7.0 million), and (3) fee-for-service diagnostic and contract research services for government health agencies, academic and research collaborators, and Ghanaian food and water producers. Training revenue flows from the JICA Third Country Training Programme, which has trained 72 biomedical scientists from West and Central Africa since 2019, and from new MPhil and PhD programmes in One Health. NMIMR does not operate on commercial pricing models; core research is publicly funded and pricing is not disclosed. Customer segments span Government Health Agencies (Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service, NTD/TB programmes), International Health Organizations (WHO, Africa CDC, JICA), the Academic and Research Community, the Food Industry, Healthcare Professionals across Africa, and Endemic Communities reached through outreach. Distribution is direct and institutional: national reference laboratory relationships, regional sequencing hub mandate, JICA training collaboration, and a 29-sentinel influenza surveillance network - with no commercial channel partners, APIs, or product integrations.

Name

Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research

Legal name

Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research

Website

https://noguchi.ug.edu.gh

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research is a semi-autonomous University of Ghana biomedical research institute in Accra that conducts infectious and non-communicable disease research, operates as Ghana's national reference laboratory and Africa CDC/WHO Regional Sequencing Hub, and provides diagnostic, surveillance, and training services to government health agencies across West Africa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biomedical Research Services

NAICS

Medical Laboratories (621511), Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (6215), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Reference Laboratory Networks (e.g., TB, HIV, Influenza) (HLAJAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Global Health Research, Evidence & Technical Assistance Organizations (HLAJAKAN), Disease-Specific Global Programs (HIV/TB/Malaria/NTDs) (HLAJAKAF)

Keywords

• Biomedical research
• Infectious disease diagnostics
• Genomic sequencing services
• Public health surveillance
• Clinical laboratory services

Headquarters

HQ city

Accra

HQ country

Ghana

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Core funding from Government of Ghana through University of Ghana
2. International Research Grants: Funding from international bodies including EDCTP, NIH, Wellcome Trust for specific research projects
3. Laboratory Diagnostic Services: Fee-for-service diagnostic testing for sickle cell, clinical safety, parasite detection, and disease diagnosis
4. Training Programme Fees: Third Country Training Programme conducted for healthcare professionals from across Africa with JICA support
5. Contract Research Services: Bacteriological analysis of food and water for producers/companies

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research conducts innovative biomedical research into communicable and non-communicable diseases including malaria, HIV, COVID-19, tuberculosis, Buruli ulcer, and antimicrobial resistance. It provides high-end laboratory diagnostic and surveillance services as Ghana's national reference laboratory, and offers capacity-building through graduate programmes (MPhil/PhD in One Health) and the JICA Third Country Training Programme for African healthcare professionals.

Product overview

The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research is a leading biomedical research facility in Ghana providing a portfolio of diagnostic laboratory services and core research facilities. The service offerings include Sickle Cell Diagnostic Services, Clinical Safety Laboratory, Parasite Detection and Disease Diagnosis, and Clinical Trial Support. The Institute operates four Core Facilities: Flow Cytometry, MALDI-TOF (mass spectrometry), HPLC Analysis, and Genomics and Bioinformatics (including Next-Generation Sequencing). Additionally, the Institute offers academic programs including MPhil and PhD degrees in One Health, addressing interdisciplinary training in human, animal, and environmental health. The portfolio is structured as service-oriented offerings rather than commercial software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sickle Cell Diagnostic Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Screened 2,500 participants and identified 26 confirmed Buruli ulcer cases (1,040 per 100,000 prevalence) in community screening programme
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

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

• Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026JICA collaborates with NMIMR on the Third Country Training Programme since 2019, enhancing laboratory skills for infectious disease detection across Africa. The programme has trained 72 biomedical scientists from West and Central Africa. JICA also supported the establishment of Advanced Research Laboratories. 2027 marks 100 years since Dr. Hideyo Noguchi arrived in Ghana and 70 years of bilateral cooperation between Ghana and Japan.
• World Health Organization (WHO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWHO supports NMIMR as a Sample Receipt Centre partner and Regional Genomic Sequencing Hub. WHO representatives participate in training programmes and Ebola preparedness assessments. NMIMR shares influenza surveillance data through WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Response System (GISRS).
• Africa CDC / African Union CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNMIMR serves as the Noguchi Africa CDC Regional Sequencing Hub under the African Pathogen Genomics Initiative, providing pathogen genomics support to West African countries.
• Washington University in St. Louis, USAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on HIV research including McDonnel Academy funding for COVID-19 impact on HIV care in Ghana. Provides training opportunities for PhD students and postdoctoral fellows with research visits.
• Yale University, USAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaboration on HIV cure research infrastructure and related infectious disease studies.
• Wellcome Trust Sanger InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on tuberculosis research, particularly genomic epidemiology and strain analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex.
• Swiss Tropical and Public Health InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on tuberculosis research including strain analysis and comparative genomics of MTBC lineages.
• Swiss TPH / Stop Buruli ConsortiummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-institutional consortium including Swiss TPH, Heidelberg University Hospital, and others for Buruli ulcer research and wound care, funded by UBS Optimus Foundation, Stop Buruli, and others.
• Ghana Atomic Energy CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on food safety research and environmental toxicants biomonitoring.
• WACCBIP (West Africa Centre for Cell Biology of Infection Pathogens)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on food safety, one health research, and infectious disease capacity building at University of Ghana.
• US Naval Medical Research Unit 3 (NAMRU-3), CairomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on influenza surveillance and respiratory pathogens with Ghana Armed Forces participation.
• US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to strengthen surveillance of influenza and other respiratory viruses in Ghana through technical assistance and capacity building.
• London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership on influenza surveillance and respiratory disease research.
• University of GhanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNMIMR is a semi-autonomous institute of the University of Ghana, providing academic programmes including MPhil and PhD in One Health, with administrative support and governance through UG structures.
• Amsterdam University Medical CentremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Laboratory of Experimental Virology under Prof. Ben Berkhout and Dr. Alexander Pasternak for HIV research and postdoctoral training.
• National AIDS/STIs Control Programme, GhanamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on HIV research including cervical cancer screening for women living with HIV and HIV drug resistance surveillance.
• Ghana Health ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government partner for disease surveillance, outbreak response, and implementation of national health programmes including NTDs, TB, and malaria.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH): Swiss institute delivering research, teaching, and services in tropical and infectious diseases. Already a NMIMR collaborator on TB and Buruli ulcer; comparable in scientific scope, although significantly larger and more internationally diversified.
• Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI): Ethiopian biomedical research institute focused on infectious diseases including TB, HIV, and NTDs. Comparable to NMIMR in operating model, government affiliation, and emphasis on diagnostics and capacity building.
• National Institute for Communicable Diseases (South Africa): South Africa's national public health reference laboratory supporting surveillance, outbreak response, and specialised diagnostics across the SADC region. Directly comparable as a national reference lab with WHO collaborating centre functions.
• Institut Pasteur de Dakar: Senegalese biomedical research institute operating reference labs, vaccine production, and epidemic surveillance for West Africa. Comparable to NMIMR in scope, regional reference-lab mandate, and integrated training capacity.
• Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI): Kenya's flagship biomedical and public health research institute operating reference laboratories, disease surveillance, and training programmes across East Africa. Directly comparable to NMIMR as a national research institute delivering diagnostics, genomic surveillance, and capacity building on the continent.
• Ifakara Health Institute: Tanzanian health research organisation running reference lab services, disease surveillance, and training programmes. Comparable to NMIMR in mandate and operating model as an African public-interest research institute.
• Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at LSHTM (MRCG): West African biomedical research unit delivering infectious disease diagnostics, vaccine trials, and genomic surveillance. Comparable to NMIMR in mission, regional role, and integration of clinical, laboratory, and training functions.

Broad incumbents

• Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC): Continental public health agency coordinating surveillance and response across African Union member states. NMIMR operates as a regional sequencing hub under Africa CDC; comparable as the upstream coordinating body for the same surveillance mission.
• Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM): German tropical medicine research institute providing reference diagnostics, surveillance, and capacity building. Comparable in scientific depth and laboratory specialisation, though operating from a high-resource setting with a broader global remit.

Regional players

• Centre Pasteur du Cameroun: Cameroonian member of the Institut Pasteur international network delivering diagnostics, research, and training in Central Africa. Comparable reference-lab and training function, but serving a different sub-region than NMIMR.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NMIMR_UG
• Facebookfacebook.com/NoguchiLegon
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nmimr
• Instagraminstagram.com/nmimr_Legon

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research