Regional Medical Research Centre

Welcome to a premier biomedical research hub dedicated to safeguarding the health of island communities. The Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) in Sri Vijaya Puram, under the aegis of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), serves as a beacon of scientific excellence for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Located in the serene Dollygunj area, Post Bag 13, this esteemed institute operates far beyond the scope of a typical hospital, functioning as a specialized research institute that investigates region-specific health challenges. Our team of highly professional staff and expert scientists is deeply committed to understanding and combating the unique disease patterns prevalent among the island population, making a valuable contribution to public health.

For decades, RMRC has been at the forefront of medical discovery, earning global recognition for its groundbreaking work on infectious diseases. The centre is renowned as one of the world's leading facilities for leptospirosis research, a critical area given the disease's prevalence in tropical environments. By blending field studies with advanced laboratory science, housed partly within a state-of-the-art BSL-3 laboratory, we not only diagnose and track diseases but also develop effective prevention and treatment strategies. Our work directly impacts the well-being of the local community, providing evidence-based solutions that inform healthcare policy and practice across the archipelago.

Our Mission and Vision

The core mission of the Regional Medical Research Centre is to serve as the definitive scientific resource for health challenges unique to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. We are driven by a vision of a healthier island population, achieved through meticulous research, surveillance, and community engagement. Our approach is holistic, recognizing that the health of these remote communities is shaped by a complex interplay of environmental, social, and biological factors. We strive to translate our laboratory discoveries into tangible actions, fostering a culture of preventive healthcare that is both evidence-based and culturally sensitive.

Long-term sustainability in public health is a cornerstone of our philosophy. We are not just responding to outbreaks; we are building a resilient ecosystem of disease surveillance that can predict and preempt future threats. By training local healthcare workers and collaborating with national and international partners, we ensure that knowledge and capacity are deeply embedded within the island's infrastructure. This commitment transforms our centre from a research facility into a dynamic force for enduring health security, ensuring that no community is left behind in the pursuit of well-being.

Core Research Services

The services provided by RMRC are fundamentally rooted in advanced investigation and analysis. A primary function is our comprehensive disease surveillance program, which actively monitors the prevalence and patterns of infectious and non-communicable diseases across the islands. This involves extensive field work in diverse ecosystems, from dense tropical forests to coastal villages, collecting samples and health data that paint a detailed portrait of regional health. This epidemiological intelligence is crucial for the government's rapid response teams and shapes the allocation of medical resources where they are needed most.

Supporting our field studies is a suite of world-class diagnostic laboratories. The centre boasts a high-containment BSL-3 laboratory, a facility that permits our scientists to safely study dangerous airborne pathogens. This capability is not merely an asset for the islands; it positions RMRC as a critical node in the global network for emerging infectious disease detection. Our lab services extend to providing specialized confirmatory diagnostics for local clinics, enhancing the diagnostic accuracy for complex cases and reducing the time to effective treatment. This synthesis of field epidemiology and high-tech laboratory science forms the backbone of our operational excellence.

Specialized Expertise in Tropical Diseases

The tropical climate of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands creates a fertile ground for vector-borne illnesses, making our specialized research in this domain exceptionally vital. RMRC has established itself as a global authority on leptospirosis, a severe bacterial infection that poses a significant public health risk in humid regions. Our investigations cover every facet of the disease, from understanding the ecology of the bacteria in animal reservoirs to developing rapid diagnostic tests and evaluating vaccine candidates. This concentrated focus has yielded insights that are cited worldwide, directly influencing how clinicians in tropical zones diagnose and treat this often-misdiagnosed condition.

Beyond leptospirosis, our centre dedicates extensive resources to the study of other endemic tropical diseases. Our scientists are actively decoding the transmission dynamics of scrub typhus, dengue, chikungunya, and malaria. The work encompasses entomological surveys to map vector populations, molecular characterization of pathogens, and clinical studies to understand disease progression and immunity. By untangling the ecological webs that sustain these diseases, we provide the foundational knowledge necessary for effective vector control programs and preventive medicine strategies, ultimately reducing the disease burden on the island's fragile ecosystem.

Why Choose RMRC for Collaborative Research

The Regional Medical Research Centre is not just a research body; it is a collaborative partner for global health advancement. Choosing to work with us means entering a nexus of unparalleled field access and sophisticated scientific inquiry. Our institutional ethos is built on a foundation of public service and scientific integrity, where every study is conducted with the goal of achieving a measurable public health outcome. Faculty and visiting researchers benefit from a rich, multidisciplinary environment where epidemiologists, microbiologists, entomologists, and social scientists converge to solve problems from multiple angles. This integrated approach ensures that research questions are not just answered but are framed within the real-world context of the communities they are meant to serve.

Furthermore, our connection to the local population is a defining strength. Decades of trust-building have granted us an intimate understanding of the island's health-seeking behaviors, cultural nuances, and logistical challenges. This trust is invaluable for conducting longitudinal cohort studies and community-based intervention trials with high retention rates. Collaborators also gain access to our extensive biological sample repository and a longitudinal database of health indicators. The RMRC provides a unique platform where cutting-edge biomedical technology meets grassroots community engagement, creating a fertile ground for impactful, translational research that can bridge the gap between laboratory science and clinical reality.

Community Impact and Public Health Initiatives

Our dedication to the community extends well beyond the walls of our Dollygunj campus. RMRC actively designs and implements public health interventions tailored to the island's specific vulnerabilities. We conduct community-based filariasis and tuberculosis screening programs, reaching remote settlements accessible only by boat. Health education is a major pillar of our outreach, with our scientists and staff frequently engaging with tribal groups and rural residents to raise awareness about preventable diseases, promote hygiene practices, and dispel health-related myths. These sessions are not generic lectures but carefully crafted dialogues that respect local traditions while communicating life-saving information.

A crucial component of our community service is capacity building. We offer regular training workshops and short-term courses for healthcare providers, laboratory technicians, and community health workers stationed on outlying islands. By elevating the local skill base, we empower the community to become the first line of defense against disease outbreaks. We also provide clinical consultation services to the public and private hospitals in Sri Vijaya Puram and Bamboo Flat. Whether it is analyzing an unusual cluster of fevers or advising on antimicrobial resistance patterns, our expert team functions as a silent, steadfast guardian, ensuring that clinical decisions are backed by robust scientific evidence.

Our Leadership and Professional Team

The remarkable achievements of the centre are driven by a team of exceptionally dedicated and highly professional staff. At the helm are internationally recognized scientists whose expertise spans a spectrum of biomedical disciplines, from clinical immunology to environmental microbiology. These experts are deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of researchers, fostering a culture of curiosity, rigour, and ethical conduct. Their guidance ensures that every study conducted at RMRC meets the highest standards of scientific validity and integrity, consistently producing findings that withstand global peer review and influence national health guidelines.

The scientific leadership is powerfully supported by a skilled corps of technical and administrative personnel. Our laboratory technicians possess specialized expertise in managing sophisticated equipment and handling high-risk pathogens within the BSL-3 suite with flawless precision. Field workers, who navigate challenging terrains and weather to collect vital data, are the linchpin of our epidemiological success. This cohesive unit operates with a shared vision, where the administrative team ensures seamless operational support, allowing scientists to dedicate their complete focus to research. This synergy of talent and dedication is the engine of our world-class output and reputation.

Location and Operational Details

The Regional Medical Research Centre is strategically situated in the serene Dollygunj area, easily accessible from the capital city of Sri Vijaya Puram within the South Andaman district. Our official mailing location remains the historic Post Bag 13, a well-known designation in local communications. The campus is designed to foster an atmosphere of focused inquiry, providing our teams with controlled environments necessary for sensitive biological work, away from the bustle of the main city, yet close enough to maintain strong collaborative ties with the nearby Andaman and Nicobar Islands Institute of Medical Sciences (ANIIMS) and administrative headquarters.

Visitors and collaborators seeking to reach us can utilize the prominent JPM7+VV location code for precise navigation in digital mapping services. Our physical address is fully integrated into the local landscape near Bamboo Flat, a central point that connects the research hub with the broader island community. For specific appointments, laboratory access, or administrative inquiries, we maintain a direct line of communication. While our research often takes us deep into the archipelago, this Dollygunj facility remains the nerve centre of our operations, where data is analyzed, specimens are processed, and strategies to protect the health of millions are formulated daily.

Contact and Engagement

Engaging with the Regional Medical Research Centre is a streamlined process designed to facilitate scientific collaboration and community interaction. For all professional inquiries, research proposals, and partnership discussions, the primary telephonic point of contact is +91 3192 251 158. Our administrative staff efficiently directs communications to the relevant departments to ensure your questions are addressed promptly. The center’s physical mail continues to rely on the established Post Bag 13, Dollygunj, Sri Vijaya Puram, Andaman and Nicobar Islands 744103, India, a reliable channel for official documentation and correspondence.

As a digital gateway to our work, our official website, http://www.rmrc.res.in/, serves as a comprehensive repository of our research programs, recent publications, and organizational milestones. We encourage scholars and public health professionals to explore this resource to understand our evolving scientific priorities and current findings. The centre welcomes ethically sound clinical trials and academic studies. By reaching out through these channels, you become part of a vital network dedicated to unraveling complex medical mysteries and turning scientific insight into a powerful tool for community health protection across the Bay of Bengal’s shimmering archipelago.