The annual Kochon Prize is given by the Kochon Foundation
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), has been awarded the International Kochon Prize 2017 for its contribution to the National Programme in Tuberculosis research.
The Kochon Prize, which is endowed by the Kochon Foundation, a non-profit foundation registered in the Republic of Korea consists of a USD $65,000 award. The announcement of ICMR as the winner came on Tuesday from Nigerian health minister Isaac Folorunso Adewole at the inaugural function of the End TB summit that was presided over by prime minister Narendra Modi. WHO director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was also present on the occasion. It was presented at a private dinner later in the evening.
ICMR is the apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research. It is one of the oldest medical research bodies in the world
ICMR through its TB Consortium has accelerated the efforts for Research and Development of TB in the country. The TB consortium is working with public and private institutes, to guide the country’s research efforts towards the development of point-of-care diagnostics, shorter treatment regimens and an effective vaccine for Tuberclosis.
The award was received by Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda, along with other top officials of the department of health research, including Dr Soumya Swaminathan, former DG ICMR, currently holding the post of DDG at the WHO headquarters in Geneva.
ICMR is the apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research. It is one of the oldest medical research bodies in the world. ICMR’s research priorities align with the National health priorities. These efforts are undertaken with a view to reduce the total burden of disease and to promote health and well-being of the population. ICMR promotes biomedical research in the country through intramural as well as extramural research.
ICMR in its original avatar predates the independence of India. In 1911 the then government of India under British rule set up the Indian Research Fund Association (IRFA) with that was to coordinate and anchor medical research in India with the objective of undertaking scientific quests into health issues that were typically Indian e.g malaria.
That organisation post independence evolved into the ICMR.
