NADEEM BALLOCH at 17:05, 4 May 2026

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{{short description|Medical Research Institute in Kolkata, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox research institute
| name = National Institute for Research in Bacterial Infections
| image = National Institute for Research in Bacterial Infections Logo.svg
| image_upright = .6
| nickname = NIRBI
| motto =
| former_name = National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED)
| established = {{circa|{{start date and age|df=yes|1962}}}}
| type = [[Medical research]]
| research_field = * [[Diarrheal diseases]]
* [[Intestinal infectious diseases]]
* [[HIV/AIDS research]]
* [[Antimicrobial resistance]]
| city = [[Kolkata]]
| state = [[West Bengal]]
| country = India
| campus = P-33, CIT Road, Subhas Sarobar Park, [[Phoolbagan]], [[Beliaghata]]
| coordinates = {{coord|22|33|53.51|N|88|23|49.18|E|region:IN-WB_type:edu|display=title, inline}}
| director = [[Santasabuj Das]]
| affiliations = [[AcSIR]]
| operating_agency = [[Indian Council of Medical Research]]
| website = {{Official URL}}
|}}
'''National Institute for Research in Bacterial Infections''' or '''NIRBI''' (also known as '''ICMR-NIRBI''') previously known as ''National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases''<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 May 2024 |title=Renaming of ICMR Institutes in pursuance of interim recommendations made by the Performance Evaluation Committee |url=https://www.niced.org.in/noticeboard/documents/2024/Renaming-ICMR-Institutes-28May2024.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240601235655/https://www.niced.org.in/noticeboard/documents/2024/Renaming-ICMR-Institutes-28May2024.pdf |archive-date=1 Jun 2024 |access-date=1 Jun 2024 |website=[[Indian Council of Medical Research]] 16//18/2024-Admn./e-184719 28 May 2024}}</ref> is an Indian medical institute that conducts research and develops prevention and treatment and control strategies related to [[enteric disease]]s and HIV/AIDS. The headquarter of NIRBI is located at [[Kolkata]], [[West Bengal]]. NIRBI is affiliated to [[Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 Aug 2023 |title=AcSIR 2024 Brochure |url=https://acsir.res.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/001-AcSIR-2024-brochure-compressed.pdf |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241013231413/https://acsir.res.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/001-AcSIR-2024-brochure-compressed.pdf |archive-date=13 October 2024 |access-date=1 Aug 2023 |website=AcSIR }}</ref> and financed by [[Indian Council of Medical Research]].<ref name="Cleanliness: Success in Water Borne Diseases">{{cite journal |last1=Debnath |first1=Falguni |last2=Deb |first2=Alok Kumar |last3=Sinha |first3=Abhik |last4=Chatterjee |first4=Pranab |last5=Dutta |first5=Shanta |title=Cleanliness: Success in Water Borne Diseases |journal=Indian Journal of Medical Research |date=1 January 2019 |volume=149 |issue=7 |pages=105 |doi=10.4103/0971-5916.251666 |url=http://www.ijmr.org.in/text.asp?2019/149/7/105/251666 |access-date=1 July 2020 |language=en |issn=0971-5916|doi-access=free |pmc=6515739 }}</ref><ref name="NICED profile">{{cite web |title=NICED : Profile |url=http://www.niced.org.in/niced/NICED-Profile.htm |website=www.niced.org.in |access-date=1 July 2020}}</ref>

== History ==
[[Eastern India]] and the [[Gangetic Plain]] have had a long history of cholera and related epidemics.<ref name="Journal of Postgraduate Medicine">{{cite journal |title=National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases. |journal=Journal of Postgraduate Medicine |date=1 July 2000 |volume=46 |issue=3 |pages=231 |url=http://www.jpgmonline.com/text.asp?2000/46/3/231/269 |access-date=1 July 2020 |language=en |issn=0022-3859}}</ref> Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) set up a [[cholera]] research centre at Kyd Street, [[Kolkata]], [[West Bengal]].<ref name="Clinically perfect">{{cite news |title=Clinically perfect |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/education/clinically-perfect/cid/607273 |access-date=1 July 2020 |work=telegraphindia.com}}</ref> The aim of establishing this centre was to conduct research related to cholera and other enteric diseases. In 1979, the cholera research centre was renamed to National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED). In 1980 the institute received the [[World Health Organization]]'s recognition as "WHO Collaborative Centre for Research and Training on Diarrhoeal Diseases".<ref name="Unlikely heroes The New Indian Express">{{cite news |title=Microbiologists in Bengal emerge unlikely heroes in COVID-19 time |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kolkata/2020/apr/03/microbiologists-in-bengal-emerge-unlikely-heroes-in-covid-19-time-2125407.html |access-date=1 July 2020 |work=The New Indian Express}}</ref>

The state-of-the-art viral diagnostic and research laboratory (VRDL) at ICMR-NIRBI is established under the [[Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories|VRDL]] network by the Department of Health Research, [[Ministry of Health and Family Welfare|Ministry of Health & Family Welfare]], Government of India. It was set up as part of the scheme "Establishment of a Network of Laboratories for Managing Epidemics and Natural Calamities" to enhance the infrastructure for viral diagnostics across the country. The laboratory became operational in July 2015.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Yengkhom |first=Sumati |date=28 Feb 2015 |title=City to get high-end virus lab |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/city-to-get-high-end-virus-lab/articleshow/46409215.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250625051028/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/city-to-get-high-end-virus-lab/articleshowprint/46409215.cms |archive-date=25 June 2025 |access-date=28 Feb 2015 |work=[[The Times of India]] Feb 28, 2015, 02.42 PM IST}}</ref>

In 2019, ICMR-NICED established the first National [[Antimicrobial resistance|Antimicrobial Resistance]] Hub in India, funded by ICMR, reflecting its expanded role in addressing contemporary health challenges.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Dutta |first1=Shanta |last2=Chakraborty |first2=Debjit |date=24 Nov 2022 |title=Antimicrobial resistance: Here is how National AMR hub helps contain the silent pandemic |url=https://www.downtoearth.org.in/health/antimicrobial-resistance-here-is-how-national-amr-hub-helps-contain-the-silent-pandemic-86180 |access-date=24 November 2022 |website=[[Down to Earth (magazine)|Down to Earth]] 24 Nov 2022, 1:59 pm}}</ref>

During the [[COVID-19 pandemic in India]] (2020), NICED and their microbiologists and researchers played an important role. According to a news article published in ''[[The New Indian Express]]'' in April 2020, the scientists were working round the clock in shifts.<ref name="Unlikely heroes The New Indian Express" />

In 2022 the institute planned open to a [[rural health]] research unit in [[North Bengal Medical College and Hospital]]. Around ₹ 4 crore will be spent on the infrastructure. For the unit, an MoU has been signed between NBMCH and ICMR, detection of [[Acute Encephalitis|acute encephalitis]] syndrome, [[Alcoholic liver disease|alcoholic liver diseases]], [[skin diseases]] found in tea gardens, diaorrhea and other [[Localized disease|localised diseases]] can be done faster. It will help in early intervention and treatment.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Paul |first=Binita |date=Dec 12, 2022 |title=Calcutta-based NICED to open research unit at NBMCH |work=[[The Telegraph (India)|The Telegraph]] Dec 12, 2022 05:33 AM IST |location=[[Siliguri]] |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/calcutta-based-niced-to-open-research-unit-at-nbmch/cid/1903360 |url-status=live |access-date=Dec 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219015847/https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/calcutta-based-niced-to-open-research-unit-at-nbmch/cid/1903360 |archive-date=Dec 19, 2022}}</ref>

In early 2026, a mobile [[BSL-3]] laboratory was established at ICMR-NIRBI in Beliaghata, Kolkata. Deployed by [[National Institute of Virology|NIV Pune]] following [[Nipah virus infection|Nipah]] cases in Barasat, this facility enables onsite RT-PCR confirmation, significantly accelerating diagnostic timelines and strengthening regional viral surveillance.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Yengkhom |first=Sumati |date=17 Jan 2026 |title=Nipah testing facility comes to Kolkata |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/nipah-testing-facility-comes-to-kolkata/articleshow/126586949.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260116184008/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/nipah-testing-facility-comes-to-kolkata/articleshow/126586949.cms |archive-date=16 Jan 2026 |access-date=16 Jan 2026 |work=[[The Times of India]] {{!}} Jan 17, 2026, 01:06 IST |location=[[Kolkata]]}}</ref>

== Organisation and administration ==
Divisions:
{{div col}}
* [[Bacteriology]]
* [[Biochemistry]]
* [[Bioinformatics]]
* [[Clinical Medicine]]
* [[Data Management]]
* [[Electron Microscopy]]
* [[Epidemiology]]
* [[Immunology]]
* [[Parasitology]]
* [[Pathophysiology]]
* Training & Extension
* [[Virology]]
* ICMR-NICED Virus Laboratory

{{div col end}}

== Academic collaborations ==
In January 2024, [[Okayama University]] renewed its MoU with (NICED), now known as ICMR-National Institute for Research in Bacterial Infections (ICMR-NIRBI) for collaborative research in infectious diseases.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 Jan 2024 |title=Renewal of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Collaborative Research with the National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (India) |url=https://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/eng/news/index_id12801.html |access-date=24 Jan 2024 |website=okayama-u.ac.jp}}</ref>

== Recognition ==
In 1968 the institute was given the status of "International Reference Centre for Vibrio Phage Typing" by the [[World Health Organization]] (WHO).<ref name="Journal of Postgraduate Medicine" /> In 1980 the institute received the recognition as "WHO Collaborative Centre for Research and Training on Diarrhoeal Diseases".<ref name="Unlikely heroes The New Indian Express" />

NICED (now ICMR-NIRBI) has developed a Shigella vaccine,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Koley |first=Hemanta |date=28 June 2023 |title=A story of Shigella vaccine development in ICMR-NICED involving multidimensional approaches |url=https://ijpas.org/index.php/ijpas/article/view/162 |journal=Indian Journal of Physiology and Allied Sciences |volume=75 |issue=2 |pages=58–75 |issn=0367-8350 |via=[[Phycological Society of India]]}}</ref> licensed in 2019, but human trials are pending, with potential availability by 2026 if successful.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sarkar |first=Deepanjana |date=25 April 2019 |title=Landmark: ICMR, NICED Develop Shigella Vaccine For Treatment Bloody Diarrhea And Dysentry |url=https://speciality.medicaldialogues.in/landmark-icmr-niced-develop-shigella-vaccine-for-treatment-bloody-diarrhea-and-dysentry |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927055256/https://speciality.medicaldialogues.in/landmark-icmr-niced-develop-shigella-vaccine-for-treatment-bloody-diarrhea-and-dysentry |archive-date=27 September 2020 |access-date=25 April 2019 |work=Medical Dialogues}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|http://www.niced.org.in}}

{{Kolkata topics}}
{{COVID-19 pandemic}}
{{COVID-19 pandemic in India}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Medical research institutes in India]]
[[Category:Research institutes in Kolkata]]
[[Category:1962 establishments in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Research institutes established in 1962]]
[[Category:Research institutes in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Indian Council of Medical Research]]
[[Category:BSL3 laboratories in India]]

National Institute for Research in Bacterial Infections - Revision history

NADEEM BALLOCH at 17:05, 4 May 2026